The start of the trilogy about the fate of Azeroth's world soul began with the trailer for the new World of Warcraft expansion. Anduin Wrynn appeared for the first time as a broken man. As of today, The War Within is moving closer to release. Early Access has begun. Almost at the same time, the add-on is proving to be a fan magnet for the Gamescom 2024. And not without reason! There are already rumors in the gaming world that it will be the best since Legion. Blizzard has waved the magic wand. In addition to the new continent of Khaz Algar and an exciting storyline, many new features await players. One highlight: a solo mode is being introduced.
After the announcement of the new World of Warcraft expansion "The War Within", Anduin flickers across the screen, no longer in control of his own mind. As players of the Shadowlands already know, he was tortured by the dungeon master in the Maw and bound to him with runes of power. The aim was to force the young king into battle against the Archon. But Anduin was able to defend himself against his tormentor. However, his bloody line of death and destruction was irreversible. Deeds that he never overcame. At least that is what the trailer for the new add-on conveys.
New images appear that reveal more: Azeroth's World Soul turns to Anduin, Alleria, Thrall, Jaina and Khadgar for help. Xal'atath has appeared again! A character that many players may still be familiar with from Legion and Battle for Azeroth. Ready to further weaken the World Soul as a Herald of the Void, and in possession of an artifact, "The Dark Heart," that seems threatening, but whose extent of power remains hidden in the dark. What is clear, however, is that Xal'atath is counting on the support of an invincible army of Nerubians. She wants to achieve what was denied to the Old Gods: ultimate power over Azeroth. Cut. To answer the World Soul's calls for help, Alleria Windrunner sets out to find Xal'atath.
New quest areas, instances and raids
The game is played on the new continent Khaz AlgarThe journey into the unknown begins on the Isle of Dorn (Isle of Dorn - level 70 to 73), the only above-ground zone in The War Within, whose capital Dornogal forms the new hub for players of both factions. The island is located off the western coast of Pandaria and is the starting point of the new expansion. Bathed in lush green, this is the home of the titanium-forged Earthen. A new, allied dwarven race that has already been spotted in the past as NPCs in Ulduar and elsewhere in Azeroth. The twist is that with the Earthen you can freely decide for the first time whether you want to play on the Horde or Alliance side. The activation the earthen is done by completing the required quests and the leveling campaign:
- The storyline of The War Within:
Against the current,
News from the underground,
A light in the darkness,
What binds us together and
The machines march to war. - level-up campaign: "New Beginning at the Low Point".
- machinist Kittrin: Repair your broken tools for "Reforged Destiny".
- council president Merrix: Help in "Bad Business" to restore stability in Dornogal.
- Urtago and Korgran: Help with the ceremony "As He Leaves".
- Urtago: Required in "The Burden of Duty" your help to take on her new role.
The racial abilities of the Earthen sometimes sound funny, but are anything but silly:
- "eating minerals"- Earthens do not eat. They are always full and therefore do not need pleasant-sounding buff food like “banana pudding with beef”. If the ability "Eating Minerals" activated, gems can be eaten by Khaz Algar to gain satiety for the following bonuses:
Bern – Endurance
Emerald – Tempo
Onyx – Mastery
Ruby – Critical Hit Value
Sapphire – Versatility - "creature of the Titans"- Each equipped item receives a plus of 10% to the base armor value.
- "Amazing Miracles"- Discovering a location gives a whopping 200% additional exploration experience.
- "Azerite surge"- The Earthen carry a spell that, when cast, unleashes the power of Azerite, dealing fire damage in a cone that has a 2 minute cooldown and brings beneficial effects through empowerment:
1 – Causes fire damage
2 – Heals allies hit by the effect.
3 – The enemy with the highest health takes additional damage. - "Hyperproductive“: Finesse is increased by 2%, giving additional materials when gathering.
After unlocking the Earthen, you can classes Hunter, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock or Warrior can be chosen. Depending on personal preference, the player can choose from a variety of adjustments, such as bright skin colors, various dwarven beard customizations, and gem coverings that can be used to beautify the character.
The next stop on The War Within is a journey into the depths of the cave system of Khaz Algar. The resounding depths (Ringing Deeps – levels 73 to 75) are home to the “machine talker“. A people of the earthens who use the power of the Titan machines. In the gigantic cave, maintenance, work and service take place. When the players leave the dwarven industrial area, they continue to the healing fall (Hallowfall – level 75 to 78). Although this zone is also underground, the area near the water appears brilliantly bright. This is due to a sun-like glowing crystal that is set in the cave ceiling and is worshipped by the Arathi, a people who have been at war with the spider-like Nerubians for ages. In keeping with this, Azj-Kahet (Level 78 to 80) as the last underground area and terror capital of Khaz Algar. Here Xal'atath mutates and gathers masses of spider-like nerubians for her nefarious purpose.
Delves as a new form of employment
The Depths (Delves) offer a completely new gaming experience in the history of World of Warcraft:
A solo mode has long been an essential part of board gamers' lives and is often a prerequisite for buying a game. With The War Within, solo gaming has found its way into the content of Blizzard's MMORPG, fulfilling the desire of many. The Depths is a hidden treasure vault containing dungeons. Thanks to this innovation, improving the character with epic equipment is possible even after reaching the final level, either alone or with a group of up to five friends. Solo players are accompanied by an NPC who heals and deals damage at the same time, the well-known dwarven archaeologist Brann Bronzebeard. Access to the Depths can be found using icons on the world map. The short format dungeons are supposed to last around a quarter of an hour. With each successful run, new levels of difficulty are unlocked and the character's bond with Bronzebeard increases. What is particularly surprising is that the weekly treasure troves (Wednesday rewards) also apply to the solo dungeons.
War Pack: A Highlight of the Addon
The war pack revolutionizes the leveling and equipping of all characters account-wide:
All of the characters on an account can now belong to your own war pack. The prerequisite for this is that they are marked as favorites. A variable function that allows new characters to be added or old ones to be deselected. On the start screen, you can recognize your pack by the fact that they are standing together in front of a virtual campfire. The war pack allows achievement and reputation levels, flight routes, collections, tokens and the pack bank to apply to the entire account. Warbound (account-wide) weapons and armor can be easily shared with another character via the war pack bank. An innovation that many players welcome. Up until now, it was often considered tedious to level up new characters. This should change in the future. What is particularly interesting for fashionistas is that since The War Within, transmog templates can be used for all characters regardless of the material. This allows chain wearers, for example, to use a transmog made of fabric.
The hero talent trees are unlocked from level 71. Behind this innovation are talent trees in miniature format that appear between the two old favorites. When creating them, Blizzard was inspired by the most powerful heroes in World of Warcraft. This is evidently reflected in their design. The new hero talents offer two different trees with eleven talents each to choose from for each specialization. The first talent point is unlocked from level 71. These must be distributed, as usual, on the branches of the hero tree. The majority of the new talents are passive and are intended to strengthen the character's abilities overall. There are currently 39 specializations to choose from:
- Druid: Guardian of the Grove, Chosen of Elune, Wildstalker, Druid of the Claw
- demon hunter: Reaver of the Aldrachi, Devil-Scarred
- Hexenmeister: Soul Harvester, Hell Caller, Diabolic
- Hunter: Guardian, Pack Leader, Dark Ranger
- warrior: Colossus, Butcher, Bergthan
- magician: Sunfury, Frostfire, Spellcaster
- Mönch: Master of Harmony, Shado-Pan, Medium of the Exalted
- Paladin: Lightsmith, Herald of the Sun, Templar
- Priests: Voidweaver, Oracle, Archon
- Ruffer: Chrono Guardian, Ruby Adept, Scale Commander
- Schamane: Stormbringer, Farseer, Totemicist
- Villain: Deathstalker, Trickster, Fatebound
- death knight: Horsemen of the Apocalypse, San'layn, Deathbringer
Khaz Algar currently offers players thirteen Depths, eight Dungeons, a Raid , and a battlefield that must be passed:
- With level 70 to 73, on the Isle of Dorn, the Depths: "Earthcrawl Mines","Fungal Folly" and "Kriegval's Rest“ and the Dungeons: "The breeding ground" and "Glutbräu mead brewery".
- With level 73 to 75, in the resounding depths, the Depths: "The Waterworks" and "The Dread Pitt", the battlefield: (10 against 10) "Deephaul Ravine" and the Dungeons: "The Stone Vault" and "Darkflame Rift".
- With level 75 to 78, in the healing fall, the Depths: "Mycomancer Cavern","Nightfall Sanctum","The Sinkhole" and "Skittering Breach" and the Dungeons: "Morgenbringer" and "Priory of the Holy Flame".
- With level 78 to 80, in Azj-Kahet, the Depths: "The Spiral Weave","Tak-Rethan Abyss","The Underkeep" and "Zekvir's Lair", the Dungeons: "Ara-Kara, City of Echoes" and "City of Threads“As well as the Raid: "Palace of the Nerub'ar".
Dynamic dragon riding has been slightly improved, in sky riding renamed and extended to all mounts.
The Early Access of The War Within started today, August 23rd at 00:00. To access it, you must purchase the Epic Edition. You can experience and test it for four days until the full release on Tuesday, August 27th at 00:00. Not all of the content is available during early access:
- The whole Continent Khaz Algar is accessible.
- The Kampagne and all side quests are activated.
- Fame can be collected from the new factions.
- collective professions may collect materials.
- The new allied dwarven people Ideren can be unlocked.
- At level 71, the new heroic talents to get voted.
- The new maximum level of 80 can be achieved.
- Depths (Miniature dungeons) can be entered up to level 3. In the new WoW solo mode or together with four friends.
- Eight Dungeons are ready to be conquered. Four during leveling and the rest from the end level (level 80).
- The introductory quest to sky riding can be played.
Not available until the full release of The War Within:
- world quests and -Events
- upgrades of items by Coat of Arms.
- Depths from Tier 4 (September 11th)
- Dungeons on Heroic, Mythic 0 (September 11th) and Mythic+ (September 18th)
- raid: Palace of the Nerub'ar (September 11th)
Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
|
ZMan, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A... * |
43,29 EUR |
* = affiliate link. If you purchase via one of the links, we receive a portion of the purchase price as a commission. There are no additional costs for you, but you can support our portal by doing so. Last updated on September 8.02.2025, XNUMX / Affiliate links / Images from the Amazon Product Advertising API. Images from Amazon PA API.