Ascendant Venomstones arrive in Midnight's mid-season refresh the week of October 20, 2026. They drop from every Heroic or Mythic raid boss, Mythic+ +10 and higher, Tier 11 Bountiful Delves and Nightmare Prey Hunt Champion gear chests. Turn in 10 at the Catalyst in Silvermoon City to raise the item level of a fully upgraded Season 2 weapon, trinket or necklace. The crest cap also lifts that week.
Ascendant Venomstones: quick facts
| Available from | Week of October 20, 2026 ("Ascending with Venomstones") |
| Drop sources | Every Heroic or Mythic raid boss; Mythic+ +10 and higher; Tier 11 Bountiful Delves; Nightmare Prey Hunt Champion gear chests |
| Cost per upgrade | 10 Venomstones |
| Where to spend | The Catalyst in Silvermoon City |
| Eligible items | Weapons, trinkets and necklaces: fully upgraded Season 2 Hero or Myth track, or maximum-quality Tidal Crafted |
| Item level gained | Not yet stated by Blizzard |
| Same week | Crest cap lifted |
The mid-season refresh, week by week
- Week of October 6: after the quests "In the Catalyst's Shadow" (Decimus, Voidstorm) and "Prismatic Potential" (Orin Straylight, Silvermoon City), Orin offers "Umbral Blessings of the Catalyst".
- Week of October 13: patch 12.1.5 goes live (Americas on October 13, Europe after its own maintenance on October 14). The quest "Ancient Depths, Ancient Venom" opens.
- Week of October 20: "Ascending with Venomstones" starts, Venomstones begin dropping and the crest cap comes off.
What is the Nebulous Voidcore from Orin?
Once you finish the two lead-in quests, Orin Straylight in Silvermoon City will trade you one extra Nebulous Voidcore (a bonus roll) per week. You can pay with gold, Voidlight Marl or Veteran Mistcrests. One Voidcore a week is small, but it's one more shot at a trinket or weapon you've been chasing since August, and it's live two weeks before Venomstones.
Which items should get Venomstones first?
Only weapons, trinkets and necklaces qualify, and they must already be fully upgraded on the Hero or Myth track, or crafted at maximum quality. In practice, finish crest-upgrading your weapon and best trinket before October 20 so your first 10 stones have somewhere to go. Blizzard hasn't said how many item levels each upgrade adds, so don't plan a build around a specific number yet.
What does lifting the crest cap actually change?
From the week of October 20 you are no longer limited by the weekly crest cap. Alts and late starters can upgrade gear as fast as they can earn crests. For mains, it means that last Myth slot you were rationing crests for can finally be finished in one go.
What is the fastest way to farm Venomstones?
Pick the source you already run. Raiders get them from every Heroic or Mythic Venomous Abyss boss. Keystone pushers need +10 or higher. Solo players can use Tier 11 Bountiful Delves or Nightmare Prey Hunts. Blizzard hasn't published how many stones each source gives, so measure your own weekly haul before you commit to a route.
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