Gnomish Mind Control Cap: Recipe, Effect and Malfunctions

◆What the cap does

Gnomish Mind Control CapBinds when equippedHeadCloth50 Armor+14 SpiritDurability 45 / 45Requires Engineering (215)Use: Engage in mental combat with a humanoid target to try and control their mind. If all works well, you will control the mind of the target for 20 sec..... (30 Min Cooldown)

As a helm it is unremarkable: uncommon quality, 50 armor, +14 Spirit, binds when equipped. What matters is the Use effect: you engage in mental combat with a humanoid up to 30 yards away, and on success the target becomes your combat pet for 20 seconds with the standard pet action bar. Any engineer with 215 skill can use the cap; no specialization is needed to wear it.

Important mechanics in 1.12.1:

• it works on humanoids only — beasts, undead monsters, elementals and dragons are not valid targets;
• since patch 1.11 the target must not be in combat, so the cap is used before a fight starts;
• since patch 1.8 the effect is subject to diminishing returns in the Charm category — repeated controls in PvP get shorter; see our article on diminishing returns;
• a hunter or warlock with an active pet gets a message that a creature is already summoned — dismiss your pet first.

The effect resembles the priest's Mind Control from the priest abilities list, but it is shorter and needs no long cast: the cap is instant.

◆How to make the Mind Control Cap

The recipe is available to Gnomish Engineers only:

1. Level Engineering to 200 with our engineering guide and take the Gnomish Engineer specialization — the quest is described in the Gnomish Engineering guide.
2. Raise your skill to 235.
3. Learn the recipe for 26 silver from Tinkmaster Overspark in Tinker Town, Ironforge, or from Oglethorpe Obnoticus in Booty Bay.
4. Keep a Blacksmith Hammer and an Arclight Spanner in your bags to craft it.

Mithril and truesilver are the main expense; farming routes are in our mithril ore farming guide.

◆Known malfunctions

Gnomish devices are famous for being unpredictable, and the cap is no exception. According to Wowpedia it has two known malfunctions:

• no effect — nothing happens, but the 30 minute cooldown is still triggered;
• reverse control — the user becomes mind controlled by the target. If you use the cap while shapeshifted (for example, in druid cat form), this malfunction does not trigger.

The game does not show exact failure chances, so never build critical tactics around the cap.

Use in PvE and PvP

Gnomish Mind Control CapItem effectRange: 30 ydInstant30 min cooldownEngage in mental combat with a humanoid target to try and control their mind. If all works well, you will control the mind of the target for 20 sec.....

In dungeons the cap works as extra crowd control: take over a humanoid from a pack before the pull so it fights on your side. General crowd control techniques by class are covered in our crowd control guide.

In PvP the cap is used on enemy players who have not entered combat yet — for example on the approach to the flag in Warsong Gulch or near a cliff edge. Battleground rules and typical situations are in the battleground guide. Keep diminishing returns in mind, and the risk of reverse control at the worst possible moment.

Tips

• Keep the cap in your bags and put it on right before use — 14 Spirit is rarely worth your main helm slot.
• Do not use it near cliffs or large enemy groups: reverse control is especially dangerous there.
• Consider the full gnomish utility kit — rocket boots and the Gnomish Cloaking Device complement the cap well; goblins get the Jumper Cables XL instead.

◆Related pages

• Engineering utility gadgets in 1.12: repair, resurrection, teleports
• Goblin Jumper Cables
• Rocket boots
• Gnomish Engineering
• Engineering guide 1–300
• Engineering combat gadgets

Ready to test gnomish technology on your enemies? Register on WoW x5 and connect to the server — with x5 rates you will reach the gnomish specialization much faster.