Reforging

Introduced to Azeroth by the Highborne, Reforging (also called thaumaturgy) allowed undesired stats on gear to be exchanged for more useful stats. It allowed 40% of a single secondary stat (such as critical strike, dodge, haste, hit or parry rating) or spirit to be exchanged for another secondary stat or spirit. Reforging was handled by NPCs known as Arcane Reforgers located in the major cities. The cost of reforging an item was equal to its sale value. Restoring an item to its original state was free. Stats could only be exchanged for other stats which are not already on the gear. Earlier in Cataclysm's development, reforging was planned to be an ability of Jewelcrafters, Engineers, Tailors, Blacksmiths and Leatherworkers, who would have been able to create items similar to enchantment scrolls which other characters could use to reforge their gear.

Reforging pointers:

• [[File:Pointer reforge on 32x32 old.png]] in range of reforger [[File:Pointer reforge off 32x32.png]] out of range of reforger

It has been stated that Reforging was not intended to be used routinely on all items, like Enchanting, but to allow more classes to conceivably roll on potential upgrades, rather than being forced to disenchant.

• – Stormwind City
• – Orgrimmar
• – Shrine of Seven Stars
• – Shrine of Two Moons
• – Proving Grounds
• – on the Grand Expedition Yak

The four primary stats—Agility, Intellect, Stamina, and Strength—were not able to be reforged. Additionally, attack power, spell power, resilience, weapon speed or damage and armor could not be modified with reforging.

The following secondary stats could have been reforged to another secondary stat that was not already on the piece of equipment:

• Critical Strike
• Dodge
• Expertise
• Haste
• Hit
• Mastery
• Parry
• Spirit

• Before Patch 4.0.1, caps on statistics like the hit rating cap and spell haste cap were very important to itemization decisions as people decided what to keep and how to enhance it. Reforging, however, made that much easier; the best-in-slot item for any class and spec would very often be the available item with the highest item level, and any undesirable stat could be reforged to a more preferred one.
• The problem of finding the best possible reforge of any given set of gear is an NP-complete problem.