How To Gear Up In The War Within Season 1

With the release of The War Within expansion in World of Warcraft, players start to explore a wealth of new content and to face the challenges that await in Season 1 it is important to gear up appropriately. This guide aims to provide an in-depth overview of all available gearing options, including item-level breakdowns, upgrade paths, and strategies to maximize your gear progression.

Whether you’re a seasoned raider, a dedicated Mythic+ dungeon runner, or a player who prefers outdoor world content, this guide will help you navigate the myriad ways to obtain gear and prepare for the toughest content in The War Within.

Gear Upgrading Systems in The War Within

Gearing in The War Within revolves around a structured upgrade system that categorizes gear into several tracks, each associated with specific activities and item levels. As you progress through these tracks, your gear becomes more powerful, allowing you to tackle increasingly difficult content.

The following sections break down these upgrade tracks, explaining where to obtain gear for each track and how to maximize your item level.

Upgrade Tracks and Associated Activities

In The War Within, gear is classified into the following upgrade tracks, each tied to various content and activities:

1. Explorer Track: For players engaging in more accessible content such as World Quests, early Delves, and Normal Dungeons.
2. Adventurer Track: Slightly more challenging content like higher-tier World Quests, Weekly World Events, and Heroic Dungeons.
3. Veteran Track: Targeted at players participating in Weekly World Events, LFR raids, Mythic dungeons, and mid-tier Delves.
4. Champion Track: Focuses on endgame content, including World Bosses, Mythic+ Keystones (2-6), Normal raids, and higher-tier Delves.
5. Hero Track: For those engaging in Heroic raids, higher Mythic+ Keystones (7-10), and the most difficult Delves.
6. Myth Track: The pinnacle of gearing, available through Mythic raids and the highest Mythic+ Keystones (10+).

Each track offers a range of item levels that players can acquire through their preferred activities. The following table provides an overview of the item levels associated with each upgrade track and the corresponding activities:

Upgrade Track	Activities	Item Level Range
Explorer	World Quests, Normal Dungeons, Delve Tiers 1-2	558 - 580
Adventurer	World Quests, Weekly World Events, Heroic Dungeons, Delve Tiers 3-4	571 - 593
Veteran	Weekly World Events, LFR Raid Bosses, Mythic Dungeons, Delve Tiers 5-6	584 - 610
Champion	World Bosses, Mythic+ Keystone 2-6, Normal Raid Bosses, Delve Tiers 7-11	597 - 619
Hero	Heroic Raid Bosses, Mythic+ Keystone 7-10, Delve Tiers 7-11 Great Vault	610 - 626
Myth	Mythic Raid Bosses, Mythic+ Keystone 10+	623 - 639

Gearing Sources in TWW

The War Within offers a diverse range of activities for players to obtain gear. Whether you prefer to explore the world, engage in instanced content, or challenge yourself in raids, there’s a gearing path for you.

World Quests and Outdoor Content in Khaz Algar

Khaz Algar is the central hub of outdoor content in The War Within expansion. After completing the main campaign, players gain access to various World Quests scattered throughout the region. These quests are a key source of gear, especially for players just starting their journey or those who prefer open-world content over instanced activities.

• World Quests: As you explore Khaz Algar, you’ll encounter numerous World Quests offering gear rewards. The item levels range from 561 (Explorer track) to 571 (Adventurer track), making them ideal for getting your character started with basic gear.
• Special Assignments: This is a new type of World Quest in The War Within that becomes available after completing three regular World Quests in a specific zone. Special Assignments reward Seasoned Adventurer's Cache, which can drop gear ranging from 571 to 584 item level (Adventurer/Veteran tracks).
• World and Zone Events: Khaz Algar hosts several weekly world events that provide valuable gear. Participating in these events not only offers an engaging gameplay experience but also a chance to acquire powerful items.

Example Events

• Spreading the Light (Hallowfall): Complete this event to receive a Radiant Cache with gear ranging from 571 to 584 item levels. Bonus objectives also reward Lamplighter Supply Satchels, which drop 561 item-level gear.
• Theater Troupe (Isle of Dorn): Involves creating a theater show, rewarding the Theater Troupe’s Trove with gear between 571 and 584 item level.
• Awakening the Machine (Ringing Deeps): Protect Speaker Kuldas from waves of enemies to earn an Awakened Mechanical Cache, containing gear between 571 and 584 item levels.

These events are not only a fun break from more routine tasks but also provide an excellent opportunity to boost your gear level as you progress through the expansion.

World Bosses

World Bosses return in The War Within with new challenges and rewards. These bosses rotate weekly and are a must-do for any player looking to maximize their gear quickly. At the start of the season, the first of four World Bosses will be available. 

World Bosses in Season 1

• Kordac;
• Aggregation of Horrors;
• Shurrai;
• Orta.

Defeating these bosses offers a chance to obtain gear at item level 603, placing them on the Champion track.

World Bosses are an excellent way to obtain high-level gear early in the season, especially for players who may not have immediate access to higher-difficulty content like Mythic+ or raids.

Delves: Regular and Bountiful

Delves are a new form of content in The War Within, offering players two types of experiences: Regular Delves and Bountiful Delves. Each type provides unique rewards and challenges, making them a core part of the gearing process.

Regular Delves

• Regular Delves are accessible to all players and provide a steady stream of gear up to Tier 3 difficulty. These delves cap at item level 554, making them suitable for players in the early gearing stages. However, they do not offer upgrade tracks, so players seeking more substantial rewards should aim for Bountiful Delves.

Bountiful Delves

• Bountiful Delves represent the end-game version of delves and offer significantly better rewards. These delves drop gear with an upgrade track, starting at 561 item level (Explorer track) and scaling up to 616 (Hero track) at Tier 11.
  • Restored Coffer Keys: To maximize your rewards from Bountiful Delves, you’ll need to collect Restored Coffer Keys, which unlock Bountiful Coffers. These keys are obtained by collecting Coffer Key Shards from World Quests, Radiant Echoes, and outdoor events in Khaz Algar.
  • Delve Tiers and Rewards: As you progress through the tiers, the item level and quality of gear increase. For example, Tier 1 starts at 561 (Explorer track), while Tier 11 can drop gear at 616 (Hero track). Completing higher-tier delves also rewards you with additional bonuses, including currencies, curios, and other valuable items.

Delve Tier Level	Bountiful Delve Rewards	Great Vault
1	561 (Explorer 2/8)	584 (Veteran 1/8)
2	564 (Explorer 3/8)	584 (Veteran 1/8)
3	571 (Adventurer 1/8)	587 (Veteran 2/8)
4	577 (Adventurer 3/8)	597 (Champion 1/8)
5	587 (Veteran 2/8)	603 (Champion 3/8)
6	590 (Veteran 3/8)	606 (Champion 4/8)
7	597 (Champion 1/8)	610 (Hero 1/6)
8	603 (Champion 3/8)	616 (Hero 3/6)
9	603 (Champion 3/8)	616 (Hero 3/6)
10	603 (Champion 3/8)	616 (Hero 3/6)
11	603 (Champion 3/8)	616 (Hero 3/6)

Bountiful Delves also provide gear suitable for players focused on high-end Mythic+ dungeons and Heroic raids, making them a vital part of your gearing strategy.

Dungeons: Normal, Heroic, Mythic, and Mythic+

Dungeons continue to be a core component of gearing in The War Within. Each dungeon difficulty provides progressively better rewards, with Mythic+ offering the most valuable gear for players dedicated to pushing keys.

Normal and Heroic Dungeons

• Normal Dungeons: These are the starting point for most players, offering gear at item level 554, which is perfect for those in the early stages of gearing. Normal dungeons drop items on the Explorer track.
• Heroic Dungeons: A step up from Normal, Heroic Dungeons provide gear on the Adventurer track, with item levels up to 580 at the end of the dungeon. Heroic dungeons also have a chance to drop higher-tier gear from the Great Vault, making them a valuable activity for regular players.

Difficulty	End of Dungeon	Great Vault
Normal	554	N/A
Heroic	580 (Adventurer)	593 (Veteran)
Mythic	593 (Veteran)	603 (Champion)

Mythic Dungeons

• Mythic 0: The baseline for Mythic dungeons, dropping gear at item level 593 on the Veteran track. Mythic 0 is an excellent option for players who are starting to transition from Heroic dungeons to more challenging content.

Mythic+ Dungeons

• Mythic+: The scaling difficulty of Mythic+ dungeons makes them a prime source of high-level gear. As you complete higher keystone levels, the rewards increase significantly, both at the end of the dungeon and from the weekly Great Vault.

Keystone Level	End of Dungeon	Great Vault
2	593 (Veteran)	603 (Champion)
3	593 (Veteran)	603 (Champion)
4	597 (Champion)	610 (Hero)
5	597 (Champion)	610 (Hero)
6	597 (Champion)	610 (Hero)
7	603 (Champion)	616 (Hero)
8	603 (Champion)	616 (Hero)
9	610 (Hero)	623 (Myth)
10+	616 (Hero)	629 (Myth)

Mythic+ rewards are tied to both the level of the keystone and the number of dungeons completed each week. Completing a higher number of dungeons at a higher keystone level increases the quantity and quality of gear you can select from the Great Vault.

• Valor Points: Earned from completing Mythic+ dungeons, these points can be used to upgrade gear obtained from dungeons, allowing you to improve the item level of pieces you acquire through Mythic+ runs.

Mythic+ is one of the best ways to quickly increase your gear level, especially if you can consistently complete higher keystone levels.

Raids: Nerub-ar Palace

Raids are the pinnacle of organized group content in World of Warcraft, offering some of the best gear available in the game. Nerub-ar Palace is the first raid of The War Within expansion and serves as the primary source of high-end gear during Season 1.

Raid Difficulties and Gear

Nerub-ar Palace is available in four difficulties, each offering progressively better rewards:

• Looking for Raid (LFR): Provides gear at item levels ranging from 584 to 593, making it accessible to more casual players or those looking to supplement their gear from other sources.
• Normal Difficulty: A step up from LFR, Normal difficulty rewards gear ranging from 597 to 606 item level. Normal raids are suitable for players progressing through mid-tier content.
• Heroic Difficulty: For more advanced players, Heroic difficulty offers gear between 610 and 619 item levels. Heroic raids are challenging but highly rewarding for those who can complete them.
• Mythic Difficulty: The highest raid difficulty, Mythic, drops gear ranging from 623 to 639 item level. This gear is the best available in the game, making Mythic raids the ultimate goal for top-end raiders.

Raid Release Schedule

• Phase 1: The raid opens with the first three bosses available on all difficulties. These initial encounters will help players start earning raid-quality gear and set the stage for further progress.
• Phase 2: The next three bosses become available, offering even more challenging content and better rewards.
• Final Phase: The final two bosses, including the end boss, open up, providing access to the most powerful gear in the raid.

Each phase of the raid offers an opportunity to acquire more powerful gear, and progressing through the raid is a key part of gearing up during Season 1.

Raid Gear Sets

• Tier Sets: Nerub-ar Palace introduces new tier sets for all classes, with unique bonuses for both 2-piece and 4-piece set combinations. These bonuses can significantly enhance your character’s performance, making acquiring and upgrading your tier set a top priority.

Tier sets drop from specific bosses within the raid, and they can also be obtained through the Great Vault, providing multiple avenues to collect your set.

Raid Preparation

To succeed in Nerub-ar Palace, it's important to prepare thoroughly:

• Gear Requirements: Ensure that your gear is at an appropriate level for the raid difficulty you're attempting. For LFR, item level 580 or higher is recommended, while for Normal, item level 600+ will help ease the challenge.
• Consumables: Bring plenty of consumables, including flasks, potions, food, and augment runes. These will give you an edge in challenging encounters.
• Tactics and Coordination: Study the boss mechanics and coordinate with your raid team. Raids in The War Within require precise execution of tactics and strong team communication.

Raiding is not only a path to obtaining the best gear but also a rewarding experience that requires teamwork and skill.

Upgrading Gear with Valorstones and Harbinger Crests

As you obtain gear from various sources, you’ll want to upgrade it to maximize its potential. The War Within introduces Valorstones and Harbinger Crests as key currencies for upgrading gear.

Valorstones

• Valorstones are earned through completing various activities, including Mythic+ dungeons, delves, and raids. These stones are used to upgrade gear up to a certain item level cap based on the activity and gear track.

Harbinger Crests

• Harbinger Crests are another currency used to upgrade gear and come in different tiers based on the content difficulty.

Crest Type	Source	Upgrade Potential
Weathered Harbinger Crest	World Quests, Heroic Dungeons, LFR	Explorer/Adventurer
Carved Harbinger Crest	Weekly World Events, World Bosses, Mythic 0-3, Normal Raid	Adventurer/Veteran
Runed Harbinger Crest	Mythic+ 4-8, Heroic Raid Bosses	Veteran/Champion
Gilded Harbinger Crest	Mythic+ 9+, Mythic Raid Bosses	Champion/Hero/Myth

Upgrading Gear

• Visit Cuzolth and Vaskarn in Dornogal, the main hub, to upgrade your gear. These NPCs offer upgrade services in exchange for Valorstones and Harbinger Crests, allowing you to improve the item level of your gear.
• Upgrade Limits: Each piece of gear has an upgrade limit based on its initial item level and the track it belongs to. For example, gear obtained from Heroic raids can be upgraded to a higher level than gear from Normal raids or World Quests.

Upgrading your gear is essential to keeping pace with the difficulty of the content in The War Within, especially as you progress into higher Mythic+ dungeons and raid difficulties.

Maximizing Your Gear in The War Within

The War Within expansion offers a diverse and rewarding gear progression system that caters to a wide range of playstyles. Whether you're exploring the vast regions of Khaz Algar, delving into dungeons, or taking on the toughest raid encounters, there's a gearing path tailored to your preferences.

To summarize

• World Quests and Outdoor Content: Start your gearing journey with World Quests, Special Assignments, and Weekly World Events in Khaz Algar.
• Delves: Progress through Regular and Bountiful Delves for consistent gear upgrades and key materials.
• Dungeons: Utilize Normal, Heroic, and Mythic dungeons to improve your gear, with Mythic+ offering the highest rewards outside of raids.
• Raids: Challenge yourself in Nerub-ar Palace to obtain the best gear available, including powerful tier sets.
• Upgrade Your Gear: Use Valorstones and Harbinger Crests to upgrade your gear and keep pace with the increasing difficulty of endgame content.

By strategically engaging with these content types and efficiently upgrading your gear, you'll be well-prepared to face the challenges of The War Within and emerge victorious in Season 1. Happy adventuring! If you want to gain gear quickly, but don’t have enough time to put into the game, you might want to check out our The War Within gearing services here at Boosthive