players can now equip items up to the highest level they have been

data/sql/updates/db_characters/2026_05_16_00.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+-- DB update 2026_05_15_00 -> 2026_05_16_00
+--
+ALTER TABLE characters
+ADD COLUMN max_level_earned TINYINT(3) UNSIGNED NOT NULL DEFAULT 1;

src/server/game/Entities/Player/Player.cpp

@@ -2474,6 +2474,16 @@ void Player::GiveLevel(uint8 level)
 
     SetLevel(level);
 
+    // Set max level earned
+    CharacterDatabase.Execute(
+        "UPDATE characters "
+        "SET max_level_earned = GREATEST(max_level_earned, {}, {})"
+        "WHERE guid = {}",
+        oldLevel,
+        level,
+        GetGUID().GetCounter()
+    );
+
     UpdateSkillsForLevel();
 
     // save base values (bonuses already included in stored stats

src/server/game/Entities/Player/PlayerStorage.cpp

@@ -2385,7 +2385,27 @@ InventoryResult Player::CanUseItem(ItemTemplate const* proto) const
         return EQUIP_ERR_NO_REQUIRED_PROFICIENCY;
     }
 
-    if (GetLevel() < proto->RequiredLevel)
+    QueryResult levelQuery = CharacterDatabase.Query(
+        "SELECT max_level_earned FROM characters "
+        "WHERE guid = {}",
+        GetGUID().GetCounter()
+    );
+
+    uint8 maxLevelEarned = 0;
+
+    if (levelQuery)
+    {
+        maxLevelEarned = levelQuery->Fetch()[0].Get<uint8>();
+    }
+
+    uint8 currentLevel = GetLevel();
+
+    if (maxLevelEarned < currentLevel)
+    {
+        maxLevelEarned = currentLevel;
+    }
+
+    if (maxLevelEarned < proto->RequiredLevel)
     {
         return EQUIP_ERR_CANT_EQUIP_LEVEL_I;
     }