WoW The War Within Patch 11.1 Preparation Guide
21.01.2025 - 06:46:07
Game Guides , World Of Warcraft
WoW The War Within patch 11.1 is set to be a major content drop for the game and we’re sure you’re excited. Before you start grinding your characters in preparation, here’s our own preparation guide that will help you take the optimized path before the patch arrives.
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There’s a treasure trove of rewards that you can earn, complete, and prepare for before they vanish with the arrival of Season 2. With the new season comes a complete reset for many of these rewards, so this is the time to act. Let’s dive into what’s available and why you don’t want to miss out.
The Season One Delver's Journey
One of the standout opportunities in Season 1 is the Delver's Journey. Not only does this provide several customization options for your Delves Mount, but you can also snag a few awesome toys along the way.
At the end of this journey, you’ll gain access to a 50% discount on Cofer Keys, a fantastic boon for gearing up your alts. This discount allows you to grab a ton of Cofer Keys at an appealing rate, enabling you to head into those Bountiful Delves and collect some easy 600 item-level Champion gear.
If luck is on your side with maps, you might even secure some 610 gear.
The Zeir Challenge
Don’t overlook the Zeir Challenge, a Season 1 solo boss event. Completing Zeir on both difficulties rewards you with the Spine Back cosmetic piece and the void-themed version of the Delver’s Durable Mount. This unique mount is a must-have for collectors.
Even if you’re running short on time, make it a priority to finish this before Season 2 kicks off because this is your last chance to grab this distinctive cosmetic.
Portal Summoning for Mythic+ Dungeons
If dungeons are more your speed, there’s a neat perk waiting for you in Mythic+ content. Completing a dungeon at Mythic+10 or higher grants you a teleportation spell to that dungeon.
This spell lets you traverse The War Within with ease. Imagine the convenience of quickly getting to any dungeon without the hassle of long travel times. If you’re aiming to streamline your journeys, this reward is well worth the effort.
Neobar Palace Final Boss Mount
The Sky Razer Mount, dropped by the final boss in Neobar Palace, is another enticing reward to chase. This mount can drop on any difficulty—be it Normal, Heroic, or Mythic. However, the Mythic version boasts a red variant, adding a special flair.
If you’re committed enough to farm Mythic Neobar Palace weekly, this mount might just be yours.
Additionally, don’t forget about the "Ahead of the Curve" achievement. Completing Neobar Palace on Heroic difficulty earns you this coveted accolade. Having this achievement under your belt serves as a badge of honor, showcasing your competence to potential groups or guilds.
It’s a surefire way to set yourself up for raiding success in Season 2.
PvP Mounts and Rewards
PvPers have plenty to aim for as well. Winning matches above a 1K rating will net you the Sky Flare Mount, a sleek and stylish addition to your collection.
For those achieving Gladiator rank, the Forged Gladiator Fel Bat Mount awaits. Both mounts will disappear with the onset of the next season, so if you’re invested in PvP, now’s the time to hit those arenas or battlegrounds.
There are going to be some new mounts coming next season and you probably don’t want to be overwhelmed with all the collection that’s going to happen. It’s best to start getting what you need as early as now so that you’ll only focus on the new ones once the new patch arrives.
Key Achievements and Rewards
There’s a wide range of achievements you can work toward, with some incredible rewards attached to them. Many of these will disappear when the season ends, so it’s important to knock them out while you still can.
Major Achievements to Pursue
As mentioned earlier, earning your Ahead of the Curve achievement is a must if you want to make it easier to join groups or guilds for next tier’s raid.
Beyond that, if you’re someone who’s conquering Mythic raids, you can also earn the coveted Mythic Raid Mount. It’s no small feat, but for those clearing Mythic content, the reward is well worth it.
For PvPers, reaching a 1,000 rating gets you a PvP cloak, while hitting a 2,400 rating secures you the PvP Tabard. Both of these rewards are visually striking and serve as trophies of your PvP prowess.
Another must-have is the Diamond Mech Suit. You’ll need to achieve a Mythic+ rating of 2,000 before the season ends to claim this mount, which stands out as one of the most impressive in the game.
Siren Isles Ring and Plunder Storm Rewards
Upgrading your Siren Isles Ring to item level 658 is another key goal. This ring is incredibly powerful, and we’ll delve more into its significance later.
Additionally, the Plunder Storm event, which recently began, offers exclusive rewards available only before Patch 11.1 launches. These items are worth grabbing if you want to head into the new season with the best possible setup.
Take note of these achievements and rewards, save this list if you need to, and make sure you’re ticking them off before the opportunity disappears.
Luckily, the Siren Isles quest isn’t as long as you’d expect it to be so there’s still a lot of time to finish everything before the new season and patch arrives.
Key Events Leading Up to Patch 11.1
In addition to achievements, there are several events happening before Patch 11.1 that you won’t want to miss. These events are a fantastic way to gear up and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Weekly Heroic Gear Opportunities
Each week, you have the chance to earn a couple of pieces of Heroic gear. This includes loot from the Heroic raid, starting at an item level of 610 and going as high as 619. These drops can include rare and highly sought-after items like the Mad Queen's Mandate and the Seal of the Poison Packed Ring.
The latter, with its powerful on-hit effect, can significantly boost your character’s power heading into the next season. Make it a priority to participate every week to maximize your chances of securing some of the best loot in the game.
Darkmoon Faire and Its Perks
The Darkmoon Faire will make a timely appearance just before Patch 11.1. This event offers a 10% reputation buff, which is incredibly useful for leveling up your Renown faster.
You can also earn extra profession knowledge during the Faire, giving you a head start on making gold through professions in the new patch. Don’t miss the opportunity to take advantage of these benefits.
Delves Bonus Event
The Delves Bonus Event is another key event to watch for before the new season begins. Reports vary on what exactly the event entails, with some suggesting a 25% XP boost for your Brand Companion, while others indicate that it offers additional rewards at the end of each delve.
Regardless, it’s an excellent opportunity for leveling alts or completing more delves. This event kicks off the week of January 22, so mark your calendar and make sure to take full advantage of it.
These events and rewards are the perfect way to ensure you’re fully prepared for what lies ahead in Patch 11.1. Don’t let these opportunities pass you by!
All of these events come with amazing rewards which can greatly reduce the time you need to take in grinding. Hopefully, you’re able to max out these opportunities ASAP.
Leveling Up Brann Bronzebeard
Another crucial step in preparing for Season 2 is leveling up your Brann Bronzebeard companion. It’s been confirmed that Brann will be sticking around for the next season, and he’s gaining some exciting new capabilities.
In Season 2, Brann will have a tanking option and a fresh set of abilities. Based on testing feedback from the PTR, these new abilities are shaping up to be incredibly solid, making him an even more valuable companion.
Leveling Brann past level 10 grants him a 5% increase in either healing or damage per level, stacking up to the current max level of 60 for this season. This scaling makes him significantly more powerful, enabling you to complete delves faster and more efficiently.
Brann’s enhanced strength will be especially helpful for tackling challenges like the Zeir fight or farming high-level crests to push your gear as far as possible before Season 2 begins.
If you’re a solo player aiming to gear up for the next season, investing in leveling Brann is a game-changer. His increased power will make delves more manageable and open up opportunities for farming valuable loot. Make it a priority to work on Brann’s levels before the season ends.
Taking Advantage of the Turbulent Timeways Event
Before Season 1 wraps up, the Turbulent Timeways event provides an unparalleled opportunity to level up your alts. This event is one of the most efficient leveling methods in World of Warcraft’s recent history.
With the bonus XP system in place, you can level a character from 70 to 80 in just a few hours. In fact, during this event, it’s possible to level a brand-new character from level 1 to 80 in under 11 hours of playtime—and that’s without even being particularly efficient.
The process revolves around running Timewalking dungeons, which provide stacking XP bonuses. After completing five dungeons, you gain a 20% XP bonus. An additional 10% bonus is granted on top of that, for a total of 30% increased XP.
Combine this with Skyflying, burning through low-level zone quests, heirloom gear, and queuing for dungeons, and you’ll find yourself leveling at lightning speed.
Beyond the efficiency, this leveling process is genuinely enjoyable. It’s a chance to explore old zones, dive into nostalgic content, and experiment with classes you haven’t played before.
If you’re interested in trying out new classes, especially with the changes coming in Patch 11.1, now is the perfect time to level up those characters.
Rush Through Mythic Dungeons For Rewards
The state of Mythic Plus in World of Warcraft has been a hot topic, especially with recent announcements about the changes coming in Patch 11.1.
These updates bring hope for a more balanced and enjoyable experience, but not without raising some serious concerns along the way.
Addressing Longstanding Issues
Mythic Plus in The War Within has struggled with numerous issues, including reward systems, tank and healer frustrations, interrupt-heavy mechanics, and the dominance of certain meta specs like Augmentation Evoker.
While some fixes have been implemented, others are planned for Season 2, sparking a mix of excitement and skepticism. Let’s take a closer look at the changes and their potential impact.
Reward System Overhaul
One of the most significant changes involves improving the reward structure for Mythic Plus. Players will now receive more appropriate amounts of Crest rewards (CRS) regardless of whether a dungeon is timed or not.
This is a step in the right direction, addressing the psychological frustration of facing tough dungeons with little payoff. While the difficulty itself isn’t inherently bad, feeling under-rewarded for your effort certainly exacerbates the issue.
Augmentation Evoker Changes
A major adjustment is the limitation on Augmentation Evoker's buffs, which will no longer apply to tanks and healers. This change aims to align Augmentation with other DPS specs by focusing its benefits on damage output rather than survivability or utility.
While this makes Augmentation more comparable to traditional DPS specs, it also removes its unique tank-boosting niche. Whether this balances the spec or simply diminishes its appeal remains to be seen.
Tank Buster Adjustments
Tanks have long faced the brunt of Mythic Plus frustrations, dealing with overwhelming damage and mechanics that limit their ability to pull efficiently. The tuning down of tank busters and the reduction of punishing mechanics are much-needed changes.
However, the current PTR version seems to contradict these announcements, with tanks still experiencing brutal damage spikes. This disconnect between promises and implementation has left many players frustrated, particularly those who have already stepped away from tanking due to these challenges.
Slower Combat and Fewer Mechanics
Another promising change is the reduction of interrupt-heavy mechanics in dungeons. By increasing cast times and simplifying spell rotations, players will have more time to react and manage their utility cooldowns.
This adjustment aims to create a more manageable pacing for combat, which could alleviate the exhaustion many players feel from constantly juggling multiple mechanics in every pack.
Take, for example, the new dungeon Operation: Floodgate. Initial testing has shown a reduced number of mechanics per pack, making pulls less overwhelming compared to older dungeons like Gmol.
While Floodgate has proven to be a breath of fresh air, other dungeons still carry the excessive mechanics that have plagued Mythic Plus in recent seasons.
Current PTR Frustrations
Despite the optimism surrounding these changes, the PTR experience has been underwhelming. Reports of bugs, one-shots, and unmanageable healer requirements have made testing the new dungeons far from enjoyable.
The delayed PTR build and its apparent disconnect from announced changes have left many testers feeling disrespected, as they volunteer their time and effort to provide feedback for a game they love.
While there is hope that Season 2 will bring much-needed improvements to Mythic Plus, the current state of testing raises concerns about the implementation of these changes. The Marksmanship Hunter rework, for instance, has showcased the potential for fun and engaging design on the PTR, proving that meaningful updates can be done right.
Ultimately, the success of Mythic Plus in Season 2 depends on Blizzard's ability to address player feedback, implement promised changes, and ensure that the experience remains challenging without becoming exhausting or unbalanced.
Preparing Your Alts for Season 2
Gearing fresh level 80 characters is easier than ever right now. After hitting max level, head to the Siren Isles, where you can gear up quickly by completing story quests and local objectives. In less than an hour, you can secure a full set of 584 gear, giving your character the power needed to jump into Tier 8 delves.
From there, delves become an excellent source for Champion gear. With a bit of luck, you might even obtain maps leading to 610-level pieces. This gearing process is fast, efficient, and sets you up perfectly for Season 2 content.
Additionally, you’ll want to acquire the Siren Isles ring, which provides a massive boost in item level and stats. With the right gems slotted into this ring, your character’s power will skyrocket, giving you a significant edge as you prepare for what’s ahead.
Collecting Armor Sets
Now is the perfect time to secure your PvE or PvP armor sets before the new season begins. Whether you’re a veteran or gearing up a fresh level 80 character, there are straightforward ways to complete your set.
Running the current raid on your desired difficulty is one of the easiest methods, as it provides access to tier pieces and set bonuses. Alternatively, you can use leftover Catalyst charges to instantly transform qualifying gear into transmog pieces for your desired set.
This approach is especially helpful if you’re starting fresh, as it allows you to complete your armor set quickly and efficiently.
Preparing Professions for the New Season
One aspect of preparation that often gets overlooked is getting your characters and professions ready for the upcoming season. With a new season comes fresh opportunities to make gold, and this is where professions can shine.
A significant change is the introduction of a profession knowledge reset. This allows you to respec your profession points and allocate them wherever you’d like.
For example, if you have characters with Inscription maxed out, you can shift their specialization into Vantis Runes for the new raid or Contracts for the new zone. By focusing your profession knowledge on these high-demand items, you’ll be positioned to make a substantial amount of gold at the start of the season.
To maximize your profession preparation, make sure you’re:
- Completing all crafting orders weekly to earn profession knowledge.
- Finishing the weekly knowledge quests available in the capital cities.
- Utilizing events like the Darkmoon Faire to gain extra knowledge points.
By doing this across multiple characters, you’ll accumulate a surplus of knowledge points, enabling you to craft high-value items and maintain a steady gold income. For example, concentrating on key crafting items could bring in 5,000 to 10,000 gold per character per week.
The influx of returning players in the new season will create a surge in demand for crafted items, offering a prime opportunity to make a profit. The more prepared your professions are, the better you’ll be able to capitalize on this demand.
Ready For 11.1?
Other than our guide above, there’s lots you can do first to prepare for the upcoming patch. You can even try building a new Blood Death Knight before the next patch arrives so you’ve got a powerful character with you.