WoW The War Within Delves Guide

Heroes of Azeroth, a fresh danger stirs deep below the surface! Welcome to our WoW The War Within Delves guide, where we’ll explore the exciting new activity coming with the expansion. These Delves take inspiration from past systems such as Island Expeditions, Scenarios, and even Torghast, combining them into a brand-new experience. With Delves, you’ll have a dynamic way to play while chasing exclusive rewards. In this guide, we’ll cover the activity, how it works, and—most importantly—the WoW Delves loot that makes it worth your time.

Delves perfectly fit into the underground theme of the expansion. Most of the action takes place in subterranean kingdoms, and this content is being placed on the same level as Mythic+, raids, and PvP in terms of progression. While the instances are smaller in scale, as we’ll explain later, they are considered a huge new feature of the endgame. Let’s dive in.

Delves Changes in Season 2 Patch 11.1 and 11.1.5

Season 2 of The War Within brings important changes to Delves, including new challenges, Brann’s tank specialization, and revamped rewards. These updates keep the system engaging and ensure progression feels worthwhile. Here’s what you can expect:

1. New Delves:
   Excavation Site 9: Found in the Writhing Fields of the Ringing Deeps, revolving around Black Blood and missing excavators.
   Sidestreet Sluice: A sewer-themed adventure in Undermine, full of poisoned waters and objectives like All That Glitters, Mr. DELVER, and Teleporter Tantrums.
   Underpin's Demolition Competition: A special Season 2 nemesis challenge inside the Demolition Dome.
2. New Specialization for Brann:
   Tank Brann: Equipped with a shield and pistol, this version taunts enemies and improves group experience for healers. Added alongside his existing healer and DPS roles.
3. Tier Adjustments:
   Season 2 resets progression, beginning everyone at Tier 4. Higher Tiers offer tougher encounters with significantly better loot, especially Tiers 9–11 with more Runed and Gilded Undermine Crests.
4. Updated Map Mechanics:
   Existing maps now include new mechanics for variety. Bountiful Delves are more evenly distributed thanks to improved rotation logic.
5. Brann’s Companion Upgrades:
   Level cap raised to 80 with faster leveling to 60. New curios and powers such as Shield Alert, Heroism Cannister, and Silencing Potion have been added.
6. Delve Map System Changes:
   Higher chance to get a Delve Map if one didn’t drop, though limited to one map per week for balance.
7. New Affixes:
   Underpin’s forces replace normal mobs from Tier 4 onward, tied to the Nemesis Strongbox affix.
8. Improved Rewards:
   Treasure Wraiths drop more meaningful loot, and both vignette and treasure powers now have stronger effects.
9. New Vignettes and Treasure Powers:
   Items like the Amorphous Relic and Porcelain Arrowhead Idol appear as curios. Additional powers enhance Brann’s combat roles.
10. Narrative and Flavor:
    The Underpin steals Brann’s iconic hat, and players must recover it. Until then, he wears random hats for comic relief.

Season 2 makes Delves a core system for progression. If you’re new, the rest of this guide will cover the basics in detail.

WoW The War Within Delves Explained

Delves are a new type of PvE content located across Khaz Algar, the subterranean continent central to the expansion. These are compact solo or 5-player dungeons designed to be cleared in under 15 minutes.

You’ll always be joined by an NPC companion who adds lore, guidance, and combat support. Unlike temporary events such as Plunderstorm, Delves are here to stay as long-term content for players at all levels.

Rewards gained from Delves are integrated into the main endgame progression alongside raids and Mythic+. If raiding is too time-intensive, Delves give you another route to progress. They’re optional, but rewarding enough to matter.

Delves occur directly within the open-world environment, meaning no loading screens. While instanced, they blend dungeon-like structure with more dynamic layouts. Final challenges vary from run to run, though you’re always guaranteed loot at the end.

Each playthrough can differ with new mechanics, puzzles, and traversal elements to keep things interesting. Delves also scale across 11 Tiers of difficulty, unlocking higher challenges and loot as you progress. In Season 2, all players start from Tier 4.

The key highlight is NPC companions. They can heal, DPS, or tank depending on how you customize them, making them a crucial part of the gameplay loop. Their Curios further expand strategy, giving them combat or utility powers.

Brann Bronzebeard

For Seasons 1 and 2, Brann Bronzebeard is your assigned companion. His level progression carries across both seasons, and he can fill healer, DPS, or—new in Season 2—tank roles. His abilities vary depending on role, and Curios can boost him further.

DPS Abilities:

• Ancient Weapon Oil: Temporary Fire damage buff to a player’s attacks.
• Gryphadin's Battle Harness: Calls a gryphon to bombard enemies after major cooldowns.
• Ice Trap: Slows or roots enemies for control.
• Monkey Leash: Summons Glibb for movement speed buff.
• Steel Traps: Damages enemies over time when triggered.
• Thirty Yards of Rope: Frees players from stuns and bonds.
• Volley: AoE arrow attack.

Healer Abilities:

• Aegis of Ironforge: Creates a protective shield zone.
• Ancient Alchemy Stone: Increases healing received.
• Antidote Salve: Cleanses Poison and Disease.
• Bag of Snacks: Heals players over time.
• Dwarven Medicine: Healing potions placed near allies.
• Emergency Supplies: Instant heal when players drop low.
• Relic of Uldum: Channels area healing.
• Tranquilizing Blow Dart: Removes Enrage and Magic buffs from enemies.

Common Abilities:

• Aspect of the Turtle: Defensive cooldown when Brann is low health.
• Brann's Epic Egg: Summons a devilsaur after CC effects.
• Feign Death: Causes enemies to ignore him.
• Flint and Tinder: Builds campfires post-combat.
• Ol' Faithful: Ranged weapon attack.
• The Bronzebeard Spirit: Self-heals after big damage.

Tank Specialization:

Introduced in Season 2, Brann can tank using a shield and pistol, making him perfect for runs where you’d rather focus on healing or DPS.

WoW War Within Delve Tiers

Originally, Delves started at Tier 1 and progressed upward. In Season 2, however, all characters begin at Tier 4, with Tiers 1–3 retired from seasonal content. Tier 4 unlocks once you’ve hit level 80, completed the campaign, and geared up appropriately. Each completed Tier unlocks the next until Tier 11.

Groups are restricted to the highest Tier all members have cleared, ensuring fairness. Once unlocked, Delves and their Tiers are shared across your Warband.

Tiers 9–11 exist mostly for achievements and prestige, though Season 2 enhances their rewards with Runed and Gilded Crests.

How to Find Delves in WoW The War Within

Most Delves have obvious entrances, though hidden ones also exist. Each new zone features 2–4 Delves, with locations shown below:

Delve	Location
Earthcrawl Mines Kriegval’s Rest Fungal Folly	Isle of Dorn
Skittering Breach Nightfall Sanctum The Sinkhole Mycomancer Cavern	Hallowfall
The Waterworks The Dread Pit Deepwalker Hold	The Ringing Deeps
The Spiral Weave Tak-Rethan Abyss The Underkeep Zekvir's Lair	Azj-Kahet
Excavation Site 9	Writhing Fields
Sidestreet Sluice	Undermine

Examples include the Earthcrawl Mines on the Isle of Dorn, the Sinkhole in Hallowfall, and the Dread Pit in the Ringing Deeps. Objectives and encounters rotate weekly for dynamic replayability.

You can track progress at the Delver’s Headquarters in Dornogal (coords: 48, 44). This hub includes vendors Reno Jackson and Sir Finley Mrrgglton, and a UI tab dedicated to Delves.

WoW Delves Rewards

Rewards are a big reason to engage with Delves. Here’s what you can earn:

Gear and Item Levels

Delves drop class-specific loot scaling from 610 item level at Tier 1 up to 639 at Tier 8 Bountiful. With Great Vault upgrades, this reaches 649. Gear follows standard upgrade tracks (Adventurer → Veteran → Champion → Hero). Using a Restored Coffer Key on a Bountiful Coffer guarantees better quality loot.

Currencies

Undercoins: Used for gear, cosmetics, and mounts.
Resonance Crystals: Spent on cosmetic armor and rewards.

Mounts

• Delver's Dirigible: A customizable airship mount tied to Bountiful Delves.
• Delver's Gob-Trotter: Season 2’s mount with unlockable cosmetics.
• Ivory Goliathus: A beetle earned via the “Glory of the Delver” meta-achievement.

Companion Upgrades

Daily Delves grant bonus XP to Brann, boosting his power. New Curios and upgrades improve his performance each season.

Cosmetics

Rare cosmetics include themed helms such as the Soporific Shroom Cap, Taken Candle, and Deep Nautic Helm.

Bountiful Delve Rewards

Extra incentives include Radiant Echo currency, reputation bonuses, Delver’s Bounty maps, and special coffers containing gear and cosmetics. Keys to unlock coffers are acquired through open-world play and vendors at the headquarters.

Bonus Events and Great Vault

Delves contribute to Great Vault objectives (2, 4, or 8 completions). Bonus weeks increase rewards, offering further incentives.

The War Within Delves Achievements

Achievements tied to Delves cover nemesis fights, cosmetics, exploration, and volume-based milestones. Highlights include:

Season 2 Nemesis Achievements

• My New Nemesis: Defeat The Underpin.
• Let Me Solo Him: Solo defeat The Underpin on ?? difficulty.
• Breaking the Bank: Kill Underpin on ?? difficulty (Title: %s, the Real Deal).
• The Hataclysm: Change Brann’s hat ten times after recovering it.

Mount and Cosmetic Unlocks

Achievements unlock schematics, toys, and mounts like the Gob-Trotter.

Tier Progression

“Algari Delver” achievements are earned by completing Tiers at certain roles and difficulties.

Exploration & Discovery

Achievements tied to discovering secrets, solving puzzles, and looting curios.

Volume-Based

Complete 500 Delves for “Delver %s” and 1,000 for “Infinite Delver %s.”

All seasonal achievements become Feats of Strength after the season ends.

F.A.Q.

What are Delves in WoW The War Within?

Delves are a fresh feature introduced in The War Within expansion. These compact adventures come with shifting objectives and can be completed either solo or with a group, without restrictions on roles or classes.

How to find Delves in WoW The War Within?

Delves are located throughout the new Khaz Algar zones. Their entrances appear directly on your map, and since they’re integrated into the open world, you can walk right in to begin your run.

Are WoW The War Within Delves endgame content?

Yes. Delves are designed to stand alongside Mythic+, raids, and PvP as endgame content. That said, introductory versions are accessible earlier on, while higher-difficulty tiers open up as you approach max level.

How to get WoW The War Within Delves loot?

Each Delve concludes with a chest containing rewards such as gear and collectibles. Additionally, Delves contribute to your weekly Great Vault, giving you another path to valuable loot.

Conclusion

Although small in scope, Delves are anything but filler. They stand as a new endgame path alongside raids, M+, and PvP. Shorter in length yet dynamic in design, they give busy players a way to keep pace with gear and rewards. With companions like Brann, Curios, mounts, achievements, and loot-filled coffers, Delves provide endless replayability. And don’t forget—the system ties into the Great Vault, making it an important weekly activity. Upon launch, 12 Delves are available, with a 13th planned soon after. No special unlocks are needed—just find the entrance and start your adventure.

We’ll continue updating this guide as new developments arise. Stay tuned for more Delves coverage!