The War Within, the tenth expansion for the World of Warcraft video game, launched on August 26, 2024, and is already dazzling with new content expanding the world of Azeroth lore. Let’s see what you can expect!

The War Within marks the start of the unique Worldsoul trilogy, featuring three expansions to the legendary MMORPG, World of Warcraft (that includes The War Within plus future WoW: Midnight and WoW: The Last Titan).

Although Epic Edition’s pre-orders for 3-day Early Access are no longer available, the title introduces many new features revolutionizing the familiar gameplay. For more details about what you can expect from this expansion, continue reading our comprehensive World of Warcraft: The War Within overview!

All Editions and What’s Included

Players who pre-ordered the expansion before August 22, 2024, got access to bonus content, including three days of Early Access (in Epic Edition) and the World of Warcraft: Dragonflight expansion (in all editions). They are no longer available in Early Access (Dragonflight is now a part of the subscription), but expect plenty of exciting additions within each version.

Base Edition

  • World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion
  • Enhanced level 70 character boost
  • 500 Trader’s Tender to use in Trader’s Post

Heroic Edition

  • World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion
  • Enhanced level 70 character boost
  • 750 Trader’s Tender to use in Trader’s Post
  • Algarian Stormrider Mount with Skyriding and four color variants
  • Upgradable Stormrider’s Attire Transmog set with 3 additional color options earnable through completing “The Stormrider’s Bond” quest from Stormrider Bruelda in Dornogal

Epic Edition

  • World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion
  • Enhanced level 70 character boost
  • 1000 Trader’s Tender to use in Trader’s Post
  • Algarian Stormrider Mount with Skyriding and four color variants
  • Upgradable Stormrider’s Attire Transmog set with 3 additional color options earnable through completing “The Stormrider’s Bond” quest from Stormrider Bruelda in Dornogal
  • Squally, the Storm Hatchling pet, with 3 additional sibling pets to collect
  • Sandbox Storm Gryphon toy
  • Deepdweller’s Earthen Hearthstone effect

World of Warcraft: The War Within – All New Features

New Areas

The expansion comes with a brand-new area, the land of Khaz Algar. The spot is located deep beneath the surface, full of mysterious passages leading to the Nerubian empire of Azj-Kahet, where the Harbinger of the Void (or Xal’atath) is gathering an army of Nerubians to conquer Azeroth. The first individuals to see visions of this danger are the orc Thrall and Anduin Wrynn (the rightful ruler of Stormwind).

New Race: The Earthen

The Earthen is a new allied race forged by the Titans from living stone to help shape Azeroth. They are a playable race available to both the Horde and the Alliance. Once players complete the War Within level-up campaign and a specific quest sequence marked with the Earthen Allied Race icon on one character, the race becomes available to their entire account. Earthen can choose from 9 available classes: Monk, Mage, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Paladin, Shaman, Warrior, and Warlock. The starting pet of the new race is Proto Ram, and the mount is Reins of the Slatestone Ramolith. Reaching level 50, players also receive the Heritage of the Earthen – Feat of Strength and the Earthen Heritage Armor. Earthen race has dedicated racial traits: Azerite Surge, Hyper Productive, Ingest Minerals, Titan-Wrought Frame, and Wide-Eyed Wonder.

The Earthen is a new allied race forged by the Titans
The Earthen is a new allied race forged by the Titans Image credit: Blizzard

New Warbands System

Players playing multiple characters on the same account can now enjoy the revolutionary Warbands system designed to share progression. That means all characters on a single player can share progress for easier leveling up. The new system includes:

  1. Warband Bank for easy transfer of items and reagents between characters.
  2. Transferrable Currencies to transfer currencies between playable characters on the same account.
  3. Transferrable Gear for unlocking gear transmogs previously unavailable to some characters.
  4. General Progression for integrating reputation, transmogs, delves, flight paths, and achievements.

Warbands system designed to share progression
Warbands system designed to share progression Image credit: Blizzard

New Endgame Content: Delves

Delves are new endgame content for players who reached levels 70 and 80. Each represents a short instance for 1-5 players accompanied by an available NPC. They are fully integrated with seasonal content, so beating such an adventure can result in epic loot, even for solo players.

Delves are new endgame content for players who reached levels 70 and 80
Delves are new endgame content for players who reached levels 70 and 80 Image credit: Blizzard

New Classes of Talents

Hero Talents are a completely separate character development system, enhancing various properties of the current class. They are unlockable from level 71, and each divides into specific specializations that refresh familiar development mechanics. Players can earn one talent point per level between levels 71 and 80, and there are 39 trees of three combinations for each class (except Demon Hunter with two and Druid with four). The list of available Hero Specs for each class includes:

  • Rider of the Apocalypse, San’layn, and Deathbringer for Death Knights
  • Chronowarden, Ruby Adept, and Scalecommander for Evoker
  • Master of Harmony, Shado-Pan, and Conduit of the Celestials for Monk
  • Aldrachi Reaver and Fel-Scarred for Demon Hunter
  • Sentinel, Pack Leader, and Dark Ranger for Hunter
  • Lightsmith, Herald of the Sun and Templar for Paladin
  • Keeper of the Grove, Elune’s Chosen, Wildstalker, and Druid of the Claw for Druid
  • Sunfury, Frostfire, and Spellslinger for Mage
  • Voidweaver, Oracle, and Archon for Priest
  • Deathstalker, Trickster, and Fatebound for Rogue
  • Stormbringer, Farseer, and Totemic for Shaman
  • Soul Harvester, Hellcaller, and Diabolist for Warlock
  • Colossus, Slayer, and Mountain Thane for Warrior

New Classes of Talents
New Classes of Talents Image credit: Blizzard

Enhanced Skyriding

Known from the Dragonflight expansion, Skyriding will now be available to all players upon arrival to Khaz Algar. And that’s not all, as Skyriding Glyphs are collectable throughout the new location’s map, there’s an earnable Skyriding Proficiency, and 464 mounts offer Skyriding as a transportation method. Players can also switch between Steady Flight and Skyriding depending on their preferences.

Skyriding
Skyriding Image credit: Blizzard

New Cross-Realm Guilds

With The War Within pre-patch, Cross-Realm Guilds are now available for players from different servers to enjoy Mythic Raiding as part of Season 1.

New Dungeons

The expansion offers a selection of new dungeons, with Mythic Season 1 available since September 17, and includes:

  1. Level-up Dungeons: The Rookery, The Stonevault, Priory of the Sacred Flame, and City of Threads
  2. Max-level Dungeons: Cinderbrew Meadery, Darkflame Cleft, The Dawnbreaker, and Ara-Kara, City of Echoes
  3. Mythic Season 1 New Dungeons: Ara-Kara, City of Echoes, City of Threads, The Stonevault, and The Dawnbreaker
  4. Previous Expansion Dungeons: Mists of Tirna Scithe, The Necrotic Wake, Siege of Boralus, and Grim Batol

New Dungeons
New Dungeons Image credit: Blizzard

Arachnophobia Mode

Since the new expansion features a lot of spider-like enemies, Blizzard Entertainment decided to cater to players who don’t want to see them on the screen. With Arachnophobia Mode, players can now replace spiders with other creatures.

New expansion features a lot of spider-like enemies
New expansion features a lot of spider-like enemies Image credit: Blizzard

New Raid: Nerub’ar Palace

Nerub’ar Palace is an eight-boss raid located in Azj-Kahet, featuring tier rewards. Players can access it by completing a short questline and The War Within campaign at the highest level. Boss encounters split into four tiers, resulting in different levels of loot.

The War Within Expansion – FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Do I need to buy a World of Warcraft subscription to play The War Within expansion?

Yes – to play The War Within expansion, you must have an active subscription or non-recurring game time.

Do I have to buy the Dragonflight expansion separately now that The War Within is out?

No – Dragonflight is free as part of an existing and active World of Warcraft subscription. All previous expansions except The War Within are part of the game content if you already have an active subscription.

Can I play The War Within solo?

According to official sources: “With the release of The War Within there are more ways than ever to carve your own path through the challenges and tales of World of Warcraft— and you can choose to take them on as a solo player.” For more information, check out this link: Going Solo in World of Warcraft: A Hero’s Journey

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