Finally, after an eagerly anticipated wait, World of Warcraft The War Within has arrived! Despite not being the largest expansion Blizzard has dropped, it is undeniably a much-needed one, packed with new content and essential adjustments. Let’s take a deep dive into The War Within to uncover all that it has in store.
Everything New in The War Within
First, let’s highlight all the fresh features in The War Within before we delve into each one in detail. Here are the key additions:
- Brand new landmass: Khaz Algar
- The new race playable by both factions: The Earthen
- New endgame mechanic: Delves
- New class mechanic: Hero Talents
- New account-wide progression system: Warbands
- 8 new dungeons + 1 new raid
- Abundance of balance changes and system tweaks
With so much to cover, let’s begin from the top and explore everything The War Within has in store.
Khaz Algar – The World Within Azeroth Itself
The new piece of land introduced in The War Within is Khaz Algar, nestled within the depths of Azeroth itself. Khaz Algar, also known as Sector AR-938, was uncovered by an Earthen expedition dispatched by the titan keepers to survey this uncharted territory.
Following a communication breakdown with their surface compatriots, the expedition established a separate earthen kingdom deep within Azeroth’s belly.
Isolated and maintaining the original Earthen traits, the new earthen kingdom represents a distinct faction, maintaining their sturdy “earthen look” untouched by the Curse of Flesh that transformed their surface brethren into Dwarves.
The Regions of Khaz Algar
Khaz Algar comprises four distinct regions: Isle of Dorn, The Ringing Deeps, Hallowfall, and Azj-Kahet.
The Isle of Dorn, the initial region, houses the capital city of the Earthen, Dornogal, serving as the central hub for all activities in Khaz Algar for both the Alliance and the Horde.
The Ringing Deeps harbors a vast cave system inhabited by the Machine Speakers, a unique breed of Earthen maintaining the Titan Machines.
Hallowfall, situated to the north, is home to the Arathi, in perpetual conflict with the Nerubians who frequently attack their borders.
Lastly, Azj-Kahet, the Nerubians’ homeland and the domain of Xal’atath, the Harbinger of the Void, acts as the ultimate challenge in Khaz Algar.
Khaz Algar is set to host four new world bosses:
- Kordac, the Dormant Protector
- Aggregation of Horrors
- Shurrai, Atrocity of the Undersea
- Orta, the Broken Mountain
Meet the Earthen
The Earthen, a race of titan-forged beings sharing ancestry with the Dwarves, have a distinct lineage remaining unaffected by the Curse of Flesh. Neutrality, a unique racial trait, enables both factions to play as the Earthen, who possess intriguing abilities:
- Azerite Surge: Deals fire damage to enemies and heals allies in a cone-shaped area
- Hyper Productive: Enhances Finesse by 25, increasing chances of finding additional minerals when mining
- Ingest Minerals: Consume Khaz Algar gems instead of regular food for special effects
- Titan-Wrought Frame: Boosts base armor from equipped items by 10%
- Wide-Eyed Wonder: Yields 100% more experience upon discovering new locations
Notably potent at tanking and mining, the Earthen prove to be pivotal additions for players venturing into these roles.
Delves, What are They?
Delves represent a new kind of instance in The War Within, tailored for smaller groups of 1-5 players with brief run times of 10-20 minutes. Distinguished by random hazards and mob spawns, each delve guarantees a unique experience.
Of particular interest is the companion mechanic, automatically assigning an AI companion to fill in roles when not in full composition. Companions can heal or engage in combat, leveling up across characters. Delves, accessible via the Delver’s Headquarters, span Tier 1 to Tier 11, presenting escalating challenges and rewards.
What’s This About Hero Talents?
Introducing Hero Talents to WoW’s class system, allowing players to refine character specialization by emphasizing specific traits. Unlocking at level 71 with a talent point per level up to 80, each class features three hero talent trees, facilitating experimentation with minimal respec costs.
Warbands! A Much Needed QoL Addition
Addressing monotonous grinding, the Warband mechanic enhances the gameplay experience. Embracing an unofficial group concept across all characters, Warbands promote shared progress and convenience, including a Warband Bank for item and gold transfer.
With diverse features like Warbound gear, achievements, and currencies, Warbands streamline in-game activities, notably simplifying inventory management.
The New Dungeons and Raids
Marking the release of 8 new dungeons and the Nerub’ar Palace raid, The War Within elevates the PvE environment. While the raid unlocks later post-launch, the new dungeons spotlight fresh challenges and rewards for players.
What the New Raid Has to Offer
Nerub’ar Palace emerges as an 8-boss raid in Azj-Kahet, leading players through a series of formidable encounters before confronting Queen Ansurek. Coupled with a distinct armor set, this raid promises an engaging journey with exclusive rewards.
The New Dungeons
Among the eight new dungeons, players will explore leveled and max-level environments offering diverse experiences within The War Within, catering to a wide range of playstyles.
The New Mytic+ Season 1 Dungeons
Season 1 introduces 8 mythic dungeons, expanding on existing locations and introducing new challenges. With progressive difficulty and rewards, these dungeons invite players to test their mettle in the Mythic+ environment.
Notable Changes
Complementing the major additions, The War Within introduces significant quality-of-life improvements and system enhancements that contribute to a more streamlined gaming experience.
Cross-Realm Guilds are Here!
The addition of cross-realm guilds provides a seamless guild experience, enabling players from different realms to collaborate and engage in shared activities without restrictions.
Skyriding Improvements
Revisiting the beloved Skyriding feature, The War Within introduces enhancements like toggleable Skyriding and Stable Flying, expanding mount options and customization opportunities.
The New UI Changes
Revamped UI screens, including updated Map Legend and Spellbook screens, alongside the Arachnophobia Mode toggle, contribute to a more intuitive and visually appealing user interface in The War Within.
Profession Changes & Tweaks
Professions receive adjustments and updates, enhancing gameplay diversity and balance while offering fresh experiences across crafting and gathering disciplines.
Expansion Pre-Order Bonuses
The War Within presents a range of pre-order bonuses across three tiers, each providing unique rewards and incentives for early adopters. From access to previous expansions to exclusive mounts and in-game items, pre-ordering offers added value to players.
The War Within Schedule
Key dates for The War Within are as follows:
- August 22nd: Early Access
- August 26th: Full Release
- September 10th: Season 1 begins, Raid Finder Wing 1 opens, & certain dungeons unlock
- September 17th: Mythic raids and Mythic+ Dungeons become available, Raid Finder Wing 2 opens
- September 25th: Raid Finder Wing 3 opens