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Harbinger Crests play a big role in the gear upgrade system for World of Warcraft: War Within. If you're trying to get the most out of your endgame progression, you'll want to understand how Carved Harbinger Crest and Runed Harbinger Crest can supercharge your upgrades. In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know to earn, use, and optimize these crests. Whether you're focused on raiding, Mythic+, or crafting, this guide has you covered.

With the launch of War Within, Blizzard has introduced Harbinger Crests, a major upgrade over last season’s Dreaming Crests. From the early-stage Weathered Harbinger Crest to the top-tier Gilded Harbinger Crest, these crests allow players to level up their gear efficiently. The Carved Harbinger Crest is great for players advancing through normal raids and mid-tier Mythic+ dungeons, while the Runed Harbinger Crest caters to more advanced content like heroic raids and higher keystones. Whether you're pushing PvE content or farming through world quests, these crests are essential.
Yes, Legendaries in War Within can be upgraded using Harbinger Crests. Depending on your upgrade tier, you’ll need the appropriate crest, such as a Runed Harbinger Crest or a Carved Harbinger Crest. These powerful items are part of a progression system that encourages players to farm content suited to their current level of power, slowly improving their gear with every tier.
Participating in the new raid content is one of the primary ways to earn Harbinger Crests. The type of crest you earn depends on the difficulty of the raid. For example, normal raid bosses often drop Carved Harbinger Crest, while heroic bosses will drop Runed Harbinger Crest. You’ll need to target the appropriate raid tier to farm the crests you’re after and steadily boost your item level.
Let’s take a closer look at the different types of Harbinger Crests available in War Within. From starter-level to endgame rewards, each crest plays a role in your character’s progression.
| Gear Type | Item Level Range | Required Harbinger Crests | Commentary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer’s Set | up to 585 | Weathered Harbinger Crest | Great for exploring. Boost your gear and take on new challenges easily. |
| Adventurer’s Set | up to 590 | Carved Harbinger Crest | Perfect for gear crafters. Use these as you adventure across Azeroth. |
| Veteran’s Set | up to 604 | Runed Harbinger Crest | For dungeon lovers. Unlock higher item levels and up your game. |
| Champion’s Set | up to 619 | Runed Harbinger Crest | Great for tackling tougher Mythic keys and raids. Power up your gear! |
| Hero’s Set | up to 616 | Gilded Harbinger Crest | For serious raiders. Get ready for some of the toughest fights. |
| Myth’s Set | up to 629 | Gilded Harbinger Crest | For top players. These are your ticket to the highest levels and gear. |
Each type of Harbinger Crest—Weathered, Carved, Runed, and Gilded—has a weekly cap of 150. That means you can earn up to 150 of each crest type every week, allowing you to pace your upgrades. Whether you're stockpiling Carved Harbinger Crest for mid-level gear or pushing hard for Runed Harbinger Crest to get heroic-level upgrades, weekly limits help manage progression.
| Crest Type | Where to Get | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Weathered Harbinger Crest | Heroic difficulty dungeons, LFR Nerub-ar Palace, outdoor activities | Kickstart your gear upgrades, useful for newcomers or casual gameplay. |
| Carved Harbinger Crest | M0 dungeons, Normal Nerub-ar Palace, some outdoor activities | Push your gear further, ideal for high-end PvE content. |
| Runed Harbinger Crest | +4 to +8 keystones, Heroic Nerub-ar Palace | Transform into Enchanted Aspect’s Awakened Crest for ultimate upgrades. |
| Gilded Harbinger Crest | +9 or higher keystones, Mythic Nerub-ar Palace | Significant upgrade, boosts early gear item levels. |

You don’t have to worry about running out of inventory space when farming crests. The game allows you to stack plenty of each crest type, including Carved Harbinger Crest and Runed Harbinger Crest. This makes it easier to plan your upgrades over several weeks, giving you flexibility in when and how you spend your crests.
Creating Enchanted Harbinger Crests is another layer of the upgrade system. To do this, you'll first need to obtain Nascent versions of the crests. For instance, converting your Runed Harbinger Crest into an enchanted version will require 45 of them. The Carved Harbinger Crest also plays its part in crafting upgraded materials for your gear. If you don’t have time to grind for all the materials, consider using the Auction House—and don’t forget, you’ll need enough WoW gold to cover the cost!
| Crest Name | Required Materials |
|---|---|
| Enchanted Weathered Harbinger Crest | 1 Nascent Weathered Harbinger Crest, 50 Storm Dust, 5 Gleaming Shard |
| Enchanted Runed Harbinger Crest | 1 Nascent Runed Harbinger Crest, 100 Storm Dust, 10 Gleaming Shard, 1 Refulgent Crystal |
| Enchanted Gilded Harbinger Crest | 1 Nascent Gilded Harbinger Crest, 150 Storm Dust, 15 Gleaming Shard, 2 Refulgent Crystal |
If you're new to Harbinger Crests, start with Weathered Harbinger Crest from early content. As you progress, aim for Carved Harbinger Crest in normal raids and Runed Harbinger Crest in heroic content to take your gear to the next level. These crests are essential tools for staying competitive in World of Warcraft: War Within.
And remember—crafting, upgrading, and trading all cost gold. Visit Gamer Choice for trusted WoW gold services to make sure you’re always ready to buy what you need, whether it’s materials, crafted gear, or raid consumables. Stay ahead of the game and maximize your progression today!