The Burning Crusade introduces a wide range of hidden vendors, alternative currencies, and powerful rewards that many players overlook during early progression. Unlike other expansions, nearly every zone in Outland features its own unique currency system tied to specific vendors, offering valuable gear, gems, consumables, and reputation bonuses.
In Phase 1 especially, several strong upgrades are already available through PvP objectives and faction vendors in Orgrimmar and across Outland. However, many players remain unaware of these easily accessible power sources.
In this guide, we’ll break down these vendors, currencies, and rewards so you can maximize your character’s strength without relying solely on raid drops or expensive Auction House purchases. Let’s break everything down.
1. PvP Gear Vendors – Hall of Legends
The first vendor group worth discussing is the PvP gear vendors located in the Hall of Legends in Orgrimmar. This is the same location where players previously purchased their level 60 PvP gear. However, what many players may not realize is that the belts, bracers, and boots available there are extremely strong and function as pre-BiS alternatives.
When compared directly to common pre-raid gear pieces, the difference in stats is minimal. In some cases, these items are even competitive with early raid drops. For example, certain bracers compare very closely to popular pre-BiS options, with only small stat differences.
These items can cost as little as 10 Warsong Marks, making them very accessible. Some of them include a red socket, which is particularly valuable for optimization. While you may lose a small amount of stamina, strength, or agility compared to pure PvE items, you gain resilience, which adds flexibility and survivability. Although the original example referenced a druid, these pieces are very powerful and usable for most classes in Phase 1.
2. Officer’s Accessory Quartermaster – Epic Gems
Right next to the standard PvP vendors is the Officer’s Accessory Quartermaster, an extremely important vendor that many players are unaware of. While this vendor sells strong rings and necklaces, the most important items available here are epic gems.
For just 2,855 Honor—which can easily be earned through a round of PvP daily quests—you can purchase a powerful epic gem tailored to your class.
These are currently the only epic gems available in Phase 1:
- Bold Ornate Ruby (+20 Attack Power) – 2855 Honor
- Runed Ornate Ruby (+12 Spell Damage) – 2855 Honor
- Smooth Ornate Dawnstone (+10 Critical Strike Rating) – 2855 Honor
- Gleaming Ornate Dawnstone (+10 Spell Critical Strike Rating) – 2855 Honor
- Inscribed Ornate Topaz (+10 Attack Power +5 Critical Strike Rating) – 3525 Honor
- Potent Ornate ToPaz (+6 Spell Damage +5 Critical Strike Rating) – 3525 Honor
These gems are Unique-Equipped, meaning you can only equip one of each type.
If you are a caster, you likely want a Runed Ornate Ruby + an Ornate Topaz. If you are melee, you probably want a Bold Ornate Ruby + Inscribed Ornate Topaz.
Because these are the only epic gems in Phase 1, they are extremely valuable and easy power upgrades.
3. Spirit Sage Gartok – Terokkar Forest
Next, we move to Terokkar Forest and the Spirit Shard vendor tied to control of the Auchindoun towers. When your faction controls the towers, you earn Spirit Shards by killing bosses inside:
- Mana-Tombs
- Sethekk Halls
- Shadow Labyrinth
- Auchenai Crypts
There is also a daily quest that requires capturing one of the Auchindoun towers. Completing this quest rewards 1,000 Honor and 12 gold. It is a very simple daily that many players complete on multiple characters to generate Honor for gear and epic gems.
With Spirit Shards, you can purchase several strong rewards. There are useful rings available, including:
- Seal of the Exorcist – A spell hit and spell damage ring that is particularly strong for Paladin tanks and still usable for Druids.
- Band of the Exorcist – A PvP-focused ring that provides stamina, hit, crit, resilience, and attack power, making it very useful while leveling.
These rings are usable at level 67, which makes them very practical during dungeon farming or while progressing through Outland content.
However, one of the best uses of Spirit Shards is purchasing mana potions. These function the same as Super Mana Potions and are extremely useful for all characters. You can mail them to alts or sell them on the Auction House for profit. For many players, once they have obtained the gear they want, buying mana potions becomes the most efficient use of their shards.
The Spirit Shard vendor also sells early helmets with meta sockets. Exorxist's Leather Helm can be used at level 66, costs 18 shards, and is among the earliest helmets in the expansion that provide a meta socket. While they are not best-in-slot, they are very strong for their level.
You can also purchase meta gems such as:
- Swift Windfire Diamond (+20 Attack Power with minor movement speed)
Swift Starfire Diamond (+20 Spell Damage with minor run speed Increase)
These are excellent budget options for players who do not want to invest hundreds of TBC gold into high-end meta gems like the Relentless Earthstorm Diamond early on. For players working on pre-BiS gear without a large gold supply, this becomes a very practical alternative.
4. Hellfire Fortifications - Hellfire Peninsula
The final vendor is actually through the Thrawmar PvP adventure in Hellfire Peninsula. You will get a quest called Hellfire Fortifications, which requires you to capture Overlook, Stadium, and Broken Hill. Completing it rewards:
- 1,000 Honor
- 9 Gold at max level
- 3 Marks of Thrallmar.
You can also earn the Marks of Thrallmar by participating in PvP around the towers.
Marks of Thrallmar can be exchanged for several rewards. There are lesser gems available, but these are the same level of gems currently in the game:
- Mighty Blood Garnet (+14 Attack Power), which is the same as a bule normal gem.
- Stark Blood Garnet (+8 Spell Damage), which is the same as a red normal gem.
- Barbed Deep Peridot (+3 Satmina +4 Critical Strike Rating)
- Notched Deep Peridot (+3 Satmina +4 Spell Critical Strike Rating)
These cost 10 marks, meaning after a few days of participation you can obtain one.
There are also some rings available:
- Band of the Victor
- Circlet of the Victor
They are not particularly strong at max level, but may still be decent options at level 60 during early progression.
One of the most powerful rewards available through Thrallmar is Thrallmar’s Favor. In Hellfire Peninsula and Hellfire Citadel, increases Thrallmar reputation gained from killing monsters by 25% and experience gained by 5% for 30 minute duration.
While it does not stack with the common 10% reputation buff from other sources, it is extremely strong for players farming Thrallmar reputation for important rewards such as the Stormcaller weapon for Horde or equivalent Alliance weapons. If you are pushing reputation grinds early, this buff can significantly accelerate your progress.
