Some of World of Warcraft's seasonal events have been going on for most, if not all, of its 20-year reign. Most years, nothing changes. This year's "Love is in the Air" event has some fancy new items to grab!

The majority of the content is found in the Gala of Gifts. It's located outside Orgrimmar and Stormwind, depending on your faction. If you're in Dornogal, there's a portal directly to the Gala near the bank.

Sweep them off their feet with a new mount

Most collectors will be happy to see a new mount available: the Love Witch's Sweeper. It's a stylish little getup that combines the speed and sleekness of a motorcycle with the sophistication of a witch's broom. Getting a handle on this sweet ride requires a bit of luck, as it's only available from the Heart-Shaped Box dropped by Apothecary Hummel.

To take a swing for the mount, use Group Finder to queue up for the Crown Chemical Co. mini-dungeon. By default, you can hit Ctrl+I to pull up that menu, and find the dungeon in the drop-down. It's just the one fight inside with three different enemies. Beat them, claim your loot, and open the box that's put into your inventory. Best of luck to you!

Give 'em the gold shoulder

The next new item is purchasable from a holiday vendor in the Gala of Gifts. It's an ensemble featuring the Truly Heartfelt Spaulders and Truly Heartfelt Shoulder Cape. They're perfect accents for anyone with a lovely pink and gold outfit in need of some accompanying shoulders.

The ensemble sells for 40 Love Tokens. These are special event currency that can be collected by doing the Chemical Crown Co. story questline, Gala dailies, and beating Apothecary Hummel in the mini-dungeon.

A rose by any other name

The final new item is for all the pet collectors out there. The Living Rose is an elemental type pet that looks like it crawled straight out of the Emerald Dream. It's only 40 Love Tokens, so you won't be breaking the bank or your heart to collect it.

The post What’s new in the Love is in the Air event in World of Warcraft 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

Raiding, Mythic Dungeons, and PVP may be the way to get the best gear in World of Warcraft, but there's only one place to get the best-looking gear. The Trading Post is celebrating two years of giving you horrific choice paralysis.

This month's reward for completing your Adventure Journal

For completing your Traveler's Log in February, you'll receive the Ornate Pink Lunar Festival Attire ensemble. It's a flashy new outfit to celebrate Lunar New Year in-game. It feels a little too specialized towards certain audiences, though. While my Pandaren Mage would love to rock the Lunar Festival attire, it doesn't look quite as spiffy on my orc hunter. The weapons, however, are top-notch.

As an added bonus, it's the two-two year anniversary of the Trading Post! You can earn an additional 500 Trader's Tender by completing another 1,000 points worth of Traveler's Log activities. Not only that, but an additional vendor is available with several returning items at discounted prices! We'll have a chart for all those items available at the end of the article.

Mercifully, the general Tender shop is fairly light on costs, so long as you're not doubling down on pets. But that sale of previous items is going to be difficult to resist. You might be better off getting anything from the sale first, as most of the seasonal items in the main shop will likely return next year.

Our Top 5 Trading Post picks for February 2025

The rest of the February 2025 Trading Post items

Returning items for the February 2025 Trading Post

The Quickest Way to complete your Adventure Journal this month

Most of the time, you'll get a lot of points towards your goal of 1000 just by playing the game normally. But if you're looking to tear through them as fast as possible to get those shiny new rewards, we understand. That's why we have this list of the best ways to get those points.

Timewalking offers quick and easy points every time it's available. With the Turbulent Timeways event going on right now, there's a different Timewalking event every week for the rest of the month. It shouldn't be a problem to knock these out every week for easy points. Replace Classic with Burning Crusade for next week, and so on. Plus, Lunar Festival and Love is in the Air events are going on now, making things even easier!

• Complete 10 Quests - 100 points - As long as they give experience, or are max level, any 10 quests will do. It's highly recommended you mix this with Timewalking. You get another 100 for doing 25 and 50 total quests each.
• Defeat 25 Dungeon Bosses - 100 - If you keep on your Timewalking, you should have this by the end of the week.
• Lunar Festival: Collect an Elder's Moonstone - 50 points - If you're already doing this for the event, you'll get 50 easy points. Collect 10 for an extra 150 points. It's not related to the journal, but if you opt to collect 75 of them, you'll be able to earn a new Lunar Launcher rocket mount.
• Love is in the Air: Complete All 6 Daily Quests - 100 points - Not only is this doable very quickly, but several other event missions give 100 points. You can earn them by completing the Crown Chemical Co. Storyline, Defeating Apothecary Hummel in the dungeon, and completing "The Gift of Self-Care" in 3 different ways, among others. Check your journal for the full list.
• Defeat the Bosses on the Siren Isles - 50 points - Defeating 1 Elite or Rare monster on Siren Isle will net you 50 points, and downing 5 of them gives you another 100. If you're working on catching up your characters or grinding for Siren Isle appearances, make sure to hunt some baddies down.
• Open 5 Runed Storm Caches - 70 points - Similarly, these are super easy to find on the small island. You'll see a golden trail lead you to one while you're wandering around. You'll get 30 points for finding one, and the other 70 for finding 4 more.
• Defeat a Khaz Algar World Boss - 100 points - Find the world boss for the week and join a group to take them out. You'll probably be doing this every week anyway.
• Timewalking: Complete 15 Quests in Outlands - 100 points - Until February 11, you can complete easy quests in Pandaria, or Pandaria Dungeons, to earn an easy 100 points.
• Timewalking: Defeat 5 Outlands Raid Bosses- 100 points - From 2/4 until 2/11, go to Outlands and solo some low-level raids to get cheap points. Next week, do the same for Lich King, and then Cataclysm after.
• Timewalking: Gather Herbs, Ore, Skins, or Fish in Outlands - 100 points - Until February 11, collecting resources in Outlands can grant a quick stack of points. Level up some old professions while you're at it!
• Timewalking: Complete 1 Burning Crusade Timewalking Dungeon - 25 points - Doing any Timewalking dungeons is super easy. Additionally, do another 4 of them to get 100 points.
• Darkmoon Faire: /cheer while Riding the Carousel or a Sandbox Tiger - 50 points - Find a way to the Darkmoon Faire in Mulgore or Goldshire and pop by for a quick 50 points.
• Plunderstorm - 20-50 points - Killing 10 enemies gets you 50 points, and another 50 points at 20 and 40 enemies. This is cumulative and can be NPCs as well as players. You can also get 40 for looting 2 chests, with another 40 at 10 chests. Finally, killing Pieces of Hate gets you 20 points.

The Trading Post is World of Warcraft's Battle Pass, kind of

For those of you who might just be coming back for The War Within, The Trading Post is a monthly activity that's very similar to a Battle Pass, but it's free. It's accessible via the Adventure Journal (CTRL+J). Complete different objectives within it and earn points. Fill the progress bar by the end of the month, and you'll earn a unique reward along with Traders Tender.

You'll find The Trading Post and a treasure chest in your capital city, as well as Dornogal. You get 500 Trader's Tender each month, and the opportunity to earn another 500 through the Adventure Journal. There's sometimes an extra way to earn more Tender, like pre-ordering the Epic Edition of The War Within. As a new month starts, these items rotate out for a new list. You have the opportunity to freeze one item you can't afford and hold it for months. But if you miss out on something else you wanted, don't stress! Most items return at some point.

What's returning for the Trading Post Anniversary special vendors?

In Dornogal, a short distance from the normal Trading Post vendors are some new ones. These special vendors offer selections of previously available items, most at discounted rates. We have a full list of those items for you below.

Previous Monthly Rewards

Every month, completing 1000 points on your Adventurer's Journal gets you a special reward. Several of them have never been made available again until now. These aren't offered at any sort of discount, and the cost is quite steep. Make sure you REALLY want this item if you missed out on it earlier.

Supplier Offa's Appearance Sale

Various transmog items are available at some decent discounts. Whether it's a single item or an ensemble, check out what he has for sale.

Supplier Toffa's Weapon Sale

Whether bright and flashy or low and dirty, there's a weapon for everyone in Toffa's gallery.

Supplier Mizix's Mounts, Pets and Toys Sale

The final collection leaves you choosing between fun toys, cool mounts, and adorable pets. Good luck!

The post Best World of Warcraft Trading Post items for February 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

World of Warcraft Plunderstorm Season 2 is already live inside the game, and you can win a variety of rewards in the experimental game mode.

The new event began earlier on January 14 and will be continuing until February. Over the course of five weeks, you'll be able to get a lot of Plunder, which can be exchanged for a variety of rewards that feature toys, pets, and more.

Let's take a look at all the new and returning rewards that are available in World of Warcraft Plunderstorm Season 2.

How to get rewards in Plunderstorm Season 2

The reward mechanism underwent a major change in the second season. Unlike the last one, the Plunder you get can be directly used at event vendors to buy what you want. This also lets you focus on rewards that you find interesting and skip that you don't.

First, let's take a look at all the new rewards.

All new rewards in Plunderstorm Season 2

Here are all the fresh items that have been added to the Season 2 rewards.

All returning rewards in Plunderstorm Season 2

Apart from new rewards, you can also get items that were made available originally in the last Plunderstorm event.

Now that you know all the available rewards, start grinding to get as much Plunder as you can.

The post Plunderstorm Season 2: All Rewards, Mounts, and Transmogs appeared first on Destructoid.

It’s hard to believe that we’ve crossed over into 2025, and it’s now officially closer to 2030 than 2020, but here we are. MMOs are still dominating the gaming space, and they’re an incredible way to meet friends, have fun, and work towards goals without too much pressure. 

There are a lot of MMOs out there, and it can be hard to decipher which ones are still worth playing. New titles are released all the time, and they either quickly build up a solid player base or they fade into obscurity with a few cult followers. Of course, MMOs, by definition, are “massively multiplayer”, so player numbers definitely count when it comes to deciding what to play. 

Here are 10 MMOs that are worth playing in 2025. 

World of Warcraft

It’s almost staggering that World of Warcraft is now over 20 years old, but it’s been an absolute behemoth in the MMO sphere since it was released back in 2004, and it shows no signs of slowing down. It’s had ten major updates in the last two decades, with one released every two years and the last one in 2024. 

Although there isn’t likely to be anything major added in 2025 according to this schedule, there is never a shortage of things to do or classes to try out new characters, making World of Warcraft an absolute must for any MMO fan. 

The Elder Scrolls Online

A decade younger than World of Warcraft but now an absolute mainstay in the genre, Elder Scrolls Online takes everything beloved from the in-game universe that brought us Oblivion and Skyrim with an MMO twist. Design and tweak your character to your own taste and then set out into Tamriel. 

Prior to 2025, Elder Scrolls Online received annual chapter releases, but this is set to change. ZeniMax Online Studios announced in December 2024 that they would be making the shift towards seasonal updates, so there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming months and a whole world of content to catch up on in the meantime. 

Brighter Shores

Brighter Shores is one of the more recently released titles on this list and perhaps the most risky addition as well. According to SteamDB, the highest total number of players to ever have been concurrently playing is only 21,272, but I don’t think that should be held against creator Andrew Gower of RuneScape fame. 

For a start, it’s free to play (up to a certain point in the main story) and while the graphics are certainly dated by today’s standards, they’re definitely appealing to those who played RuneScape previously and want a new challenge. You’ve got nothing to lose by giving it a try, and with incredibly low system requirements, you don’t even need a particularly high-end setup to play. Just be prepared for a grind, as nothing comes easy in Brighter Shores.

Path of Exile 2

As the most recently released title on this list, Path Of Exile 2 has quickly become one of the most-played games on Steam alone and reaches approximately 300,000 players per day without taking into account those who are on different platforms. It’s still in early access, with new features, classes, and updates planned in the coming months, so there’s a lot to look forward to. 

There’s also a lot to currently do. At first glance, progression through the game and evolution of your character looks akin to studying for a university thesis, but it’s easy to get the hang of things, and as you explore Wraeclast, you’ll find a lot to fall in love with. 

Final Fantasy XIV

Final Fantasy XIV turns 12 years old in 2025 if you measure from the moment Naoki Yoshida took over development and transformed the faltering MMO into A Realm Reborn. It’s been a solid constant in the genre ever since and still pulls in around 200,000 players a day, even in the downtime between content updates. 

Admittedly, I may be biased when it comes to this, as it’s definitely my most-played MMO title, and I have 9,000 hours sunk into it. But Eorzea is filled with things to experience and people to meet, both NPCs and other players, who never fail to make it worth your time. Plus, with the recent update to the free trial, you can now play from the beginning of A Realm Reborn to the end of Stormblood without spending a penny. That’s a lot of content and certainly nothing to complain about. 

Dune: Awakening

One of only two titles on this list that haven’t actually been released yet, Dune: Awakening is definitely an MMO to keep an eye on in 2025. The action takes place on what’s described as “the most dangerous planet in the universe,” and if you’ve ever so much as heard of Dune, then you’ll absolutely believe that description to be true. 

Although there are limited details available about the game and no set release date other than “2025”, Dune: Awakening shows a lot of promise and potential. Character creation looks to be filled with detail, progression looks just complicated enough to keep it interesting, and there’s even a base-building element, letting you create a safe oasis away from the threat of Sandworms. Hopefully. 

Throne and Liberty

Throne and Liberty was developed and published by NCSoft and released through Amazon Games into early access at different times through 2023 and 2024, depending on your location. It reached North America and Europe in October 2024 and quickly attracted a huge number of players to the world of Solisium.

There are a large amount of microtransactions in Throne and Liberty, but try not to let that put you off. They’re not strictly necessary, although they do definitely provide an edge, so you can get through content without spending a penny because the initial game itself is free at a basic level. There are surprisingly cute elements, such as the Amitoi, and the world of Solisium is beyond stunning.

Chrono Odyssey

Korean MMO Chrono Odyssey is stuck with a “to be announced” tag on Steam when it comes to a release date, but it’s supposedly coming at some point in 2025, and it’s definitely worth watching. With a focus on time manipulation, there’s definitely something that stands out about Chrono Odyssey, something that makes it just different enough from anything else on this list. 

Set to include a variety of different biomes to explore, all of which will change according to the seasons or time of day, meaning there’s no shortage of things to get excited over. We’re promised six classes to try out, multiple weapons to get to grips with, and “extensive customization” to look forward to. There will be some microtransactions, but they won’t be necessary to win.

Albion Online

Albion Online is a free-to-play MMO that is constantly receiving updates, including the Rogue Frontier update that’s set to drop soon with a whole new range of content centered on the theme of Smugglers. There’s always something to do in Albion and always something to wait for, making it perfect for anyone who loves the MMO genre. 

Set in the world of Arthurian legend, there aren’t any classes in Albion Online. Instead, the weapon and gear you equip define how you can fight and earn Fame to increase your skills. All items are made by players, with a completely player-driven economy, so you can easily thrive if you have the skills. The map is absolutely huge, and you’ll have the opportunity to enter PVP zones as you explore if you’re brave enough. 

The Lord of the Rings Online

I’m a sucker for the universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien, but you don’t necessarily have to be to enjoy Lord of the Rings Online, although you’ll likely get more enjoyment out of the incredible recreation of Middle-Earth if you’re on the same page as me. 

The MMO is still being updated and constantly evolving despite first being released way back in 2007, and there’s a roadmap of updates for the months of 2025, so there’s more content on the way. You can craft, fight, and explore Middle-Earth to your heart’s content, and there are twelve classes to choose from, depending on which of the eight races you choose to play as. 

The post Best MMOs to play in 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

Fashion might not be everyone's strong suit, but a good look can have all eyes on you in World of Warcraft. This month's prizes are steam-powered to give your outfit that extra punch. If the goblin-style tech isn't to your liking, there's also a flamboyant mount that's sure to turn heads as you glide by.

This month's reward for completing your Adventure Journal

For completing your Traveler's Log in January, you'll receive the Green Clockwork Contraptions ensemble. This batch of mechanical weapons looks great, and it's a good variety of items to add to your collection. If you prefer a more sunny color scheme, all the weapons are available for purchase in the Tender's Shop separately. There's also a matching outfit for both color schemes available, though you likely won't be able to afford it all unless you've been stockpiling tenders. And let's be real; none of us are that strong.

Our Top 5 Trading Post picks for January 2025

The rest of the January 2025 Trading Post items

Returning items for the January 2025 Trading Post

The Quickest Way to complete your Adventure Journal this month

Most of the time, you'll get a lot of points towards your goal of 1000 just by playing the game normally. But if you're looking to tear through them as fast as possible to get those shiny new rewards, we understand. That's why we have this list of the best ways to get those points. Timewalking offers quick and easy points every time it's available. And, with Turbulent Timeways going on right now, there's a different Timewalking event every week for the next couple of months. It shouldn't be a problem to knock these out every week for easy points. Replace Pandaria with Draenor for next week, and so on.

• Defeat the Bosses on the Siren Isles - 100 points - This is something you should probably be doing anyway to grind for all the Siren Isle bonuses, like high-level gear and new mounts.
• Open 5 Runed Storm Caches - 70 points - Similarly, these are super easy to find in the small island. You'll see a golden trail lead you to one while you're wandering around.
• Timewalking: Complete 15 Quests in Pandaria - 100 points - Until January 14, you can complete easy quests in Pandaria, or Pandaria Dungeons, to earn an easy 100 points.
• Timewalking: Defeat 5 Mists of Pandaria Raid Bosses - 100 points - Until January 14, go trounce some old raid bosses with max-level characters. Great for farming old transmogs and mounts.
• Timewalking: Gather Herbs, Ore, Skins, or Fish in Pandaria - 100 points - Until January 14, collecting resources in Pandaria can grant a quick stack of points. Level up some old professions while you're at it!
• Timewalking: Complete 1 Mists of Pandaria Timewalking Dungeon - 25 points - Doing any timewalking dungeons are super easy. Additionally, do another 4 dungeons to get 100 points.
• Defeat 25 Dungeon Bosses - 100 points - If you do the 5 Pandaria dungeons for timewalking, you'll be mostly done with this one. Go polish off a few more dungeons and call it a day. Note: These don't have to be at-level, so you can go solo some old dungeons for fun to get it.
• Defeat 5 Raid Bosses - 50 points - For these, you can do older raids by yourself with no problem. It's a great way to farm for old transmogs while earning points. If you defeat 20 raid bosses, you'll get 100 more points!
• Darkmoon Faire: Balloon + Pony = Fun - 50 points - Hold a balloon and ride a Darkmoon Pony around the faire. A silly objective for some quick points!
• Darkmoon Faire: Eat a Corn-Breaded Sausage After Your Ride - 25 points - Buy the food item at a vendor and find a ride. It's easier than keeping down a corndog after a real ride.

The Trading Post is World of Warcraft's Battle Pass, kind of

For those of you who might just be coming back for The War Within, The Trading Post is a monthly activity that's not terribly dissimilar from a Battle Pass, but it's free. It's accessible via the Adventure Journal (CTRL+J). Complete different objectives within it and earn points. Fill the progress bar by the end of the month, and you'll earn a unique reward along with Traders Tender.

The Trading Post and a treasure chest are in your capital city. You get 500 Trader's Tender immediately each month, and the opportunity to earn another 500 through the Adventure Journal. There's sometimes an extra way to earn more Tender, like pre-ordering the Epic Edition of The War Within. As a new month starts, these items rotate out for a new list. You have the opportunity to freeze one item you can't afford and hold it for months. But if you miss out on something else you wanted, don't stress! Most items return at some point.

The post Best World of Warcraft Trading Post items for January 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

Rare mount hunters might be familiar with Thrayir's design. The Stormcrow mount was datamined back in Mists of Pandaria, but never made it into any official content. But now, the legend is real, and you can get your hands on this feathered friend! All it takes is a few trips to the Siren Isle during some turbulent weather.

What You Need to Summon Thrayir

This isn't a simple boss drop, so prepare yourself for some legwork to summon this bad boy of the beach. You'll need five different Runekeys from around Siren Isle. Of course, it wouldn't be special if they were lying around, so you'll have to earn each one. Fortunately, these are great things to grab while doing other stuff around the island to grind out some currency for the vendors.

The biggest thing to note is that just about everything you do here has to be during the Seafury Tempest phase of the island. To activate this phase, you'll have to complete the Serpent's Wrath weekly quest. Do this by completing world quests and events around the island. Then, you speak to the NPC Suzie Boltwrench at the quest hub and enter and exit the storm phase. Note, this is Suzie, NOT Sally. They're mistaken often, and they hate it.

• The Whirling Runekey - Find the rare Ksvir the Forgotten. They're in the southernmost room of The Forgotten Vault during a storm phase. This should be a 100% drop.
• Torrential Runekey - Collect 7 Torrential Fragments. They are a low drop chance from any mob on Siren Isle during a storm.
• Thunderous Runekey - Collect 5 Thunderous Fragments. These drop from treasure chests, and as luck would have it; this can be inside OR outside the storm phase.
• Cyclonic Runekey - Drops from Zek'ul the Shipbreaker. You can fight Ze'kul in Deadfin Mire during the Seafury Tempest. This does not appear to drop 100% of the time, so you may have to farm it.
• Turbulent Runekey - Assemble 3 Turbulent Fragments. These are hiding in three locations around the island during the Seafury Tempest phase. Behind an abandoned inn, inside the Rotting Hole cave, and inside the Spirit-Scarred cave. Look for the Kul-Tiran ghosts to find the fragments.

Where to find Thrayir to summon him

Once you have all five Runekeys, head into the Forgotten Vault on Siren Isle. Remember, you can only do this while the Seafury Tempest is assaulting the island with storms. As a reminder, you get to the Forgotten Vault by going into the big cave in the northernmost part of the map and clicking on the Singing Tablet inside.

Once inside, head to the eastern room, you'll see Thrayir's corpse laying on a platform. Use the five runekeys on the interactable pillars surrounding him. One resurrection later, and you'll be rocking an electric new mount!

The post How to get Thrayir, Eyes of the Siren rare mount in World of Warcraft Patch 11.0.7 appeared first on Destructoid.

The introduction of the Siren Isle in World of Warcraft has introduced plenty of new content, and finding the Citrine gems will help you to empower the Cyrce's Circlet further.

The Cyrce's Circlet is a powerful ring that can be obtained as part of the latest patch. You'll obtain it pretty early after arriving at Siren Isle. It's part of the main storyline, so you can't miss it by any chance. Once you obtain the ring, you'll notice that there are three unique sockets on the ring. You can fit the Citrine gems in these spots to apply some amazing buffs.

How to get the Cyrce's Circlet Citrine gems in World of Warcraft

When it comes to Citrine gems, there are two important things to remember.

• A total of 12 Citrine gems can be unlocked, but you can't find all of them on the same day. Some of the gems will require you to complete specific quests and encounter enemies of a certain type. That might not always be possible, so if you want to get all of them, you'll have to take a patient approach.
• The sockets on the Cyrce's Circlet are of three types - Singing Thunder, Singing Sea, and Singing Wind.

So far, we have information about how to unlock a few Citrine gems, and we will update the table once the rest become accessible.

The easiest one to obtain is Windsinger's Ruined Citrine, as it's part of the tutorial quest. It's also the first Citrine gem that you can get and fit in the Cyrce's Circlet. In World of Warcraft, you can also purchase gems from vendors at three locations.

You can purchase the gems from Angorla, Apprentice Tanmar, and Talijora, all of which are located at the main camp in Siren Isle. You can only purchase gems that have already been discovered, but they can be sent to your alternate accounts, reducing the need for grind.

The post All Cyrce’s Circlet Citrine locations and how to use them in World of Warcraft appeared first on Destructoid.

In order to complete the secret quest and obtain the Thrayir, Eyes of the Siren secret mount in World of Warcraft, you'll also need to acquire the Whirling Runekey. Here is how to get the Whirling Runekey in WoW so that you can get the secret Thrayir mount.

Where to get the Whirling Runekey

You can get the Whirling Runekey specifically as a drop off of Ksvir the Forgotten, a rare spawn in The Forgotten Vault at Siren Isle. After entering The Forgotten Vault, head to the southernmost large chamber of the vault, which is where you will find Ksvir in WoW.

Despite being a rare spawn, Ksvir the Forgotten will spawn during the Seafury Tempest phase of the event that takes place during the storm event. The spawn timer for Ksvir during this event is very short, appearing to respawn the rare every five minutes or so.

In order to trigger the storm event you need to complete the Serpent's Wrath weekly quest for Siren Isle by doing World Quests and events around the island. Once triggered, you can speak with the NPC Suzie Boltwrench at the quest hub to enter and exit the storm event.

Defeating Ksvir the Forgotten during the storm event will guarantee the Whirling Runekey to drop.

How to use the Whirling Runekey

The Whirling Runekey is just one of five Runekeys you will need in order to obtain the Thrayir, Eyes of the Siren secret mount. Here are all five Runekeys you will need and how to get them:

• Whirling Runekey - Drops off Ksvir the Forgotten during the storm event
• Torrential Runekey - Drops off any mob during the storm event
• Thunderous Runekey - Acquire and assemble five Thunderous Fragments found in chests around the Siren Isle during the storm event
• Cyclonic Runekey - Drops off Zek'ul the Shipbreaker during the storm event
• Turbulent Runekey - Acquire and assemble three Turbulent Fragments found around the Siren Isle

Once you have all five Runekeys including the Whirling Runekey, activate the Runestones at Thrayir in The Forgotten Vault and you will receive the secret Thrayir mount!

The post How to get the Whirling Runekey in World of Warcraft appeared first on Destructoid.

The latest update for World of Warcraft has added plenty of new content in the form of the Siren Isle, and you can use the Go-Pack to make life easier for you.

Compared to some of the other regions available for exploration, Siren Isle is a lot smaller in size. This naturally means that the amount of time you'll need to spend to travel from one spot to the next will be less, but you can reduce it further using the Experimental Go-Pack. Once obtained, it will cut down your travel time by a lot, and you get to enjoy a really cool-looking tool for your explorations.

How to obtain Experimental Go-Pack in World of Warcraft

You begin your adventures in Siren Isle, and you'll soon come across a quest named Peak Precision. You'll want to pay maximum attention towards completing this specific quest, and that's for good reason.

• Go to Benny Springjet, who can be found at the Ghoststone Diggings in Sire Isle. This area will be shown on your display map of Siren Isle, so finding it won't be an issue.
• Once you've received and activated the quest, you'll get a Go-Pack version. Do note that this Go-Pack is tied to the quest, and it won't be provided to you.
• Use this item to activate survey devices that are spread all around the map. Most of these items are located at the top of cliffs, so the Go-Pack is your only way of accessing these locations.
• The Peak Precision quest also serves as an advanced tutorial that teaches you how to use a Go-Pack effectively.
• Once you've completed the quest, go to Sally Boltwrench, who can be found in the Flotsam Shoal. You can buy the Go-Pack from her in exchange for 10 Flame-Blessed Iron.

Do note that some players have reported that the Rock 'n Stone Revival quest seems to be conflicting with how the Go-Packs work. Make sure to abandon this weekly quest if you face such a problem. You can keep a maximum of ten Go-Packs in your inventory at any given time, and each one of them can last for 30 minutes after activating it.

The post How to get the Go-Pack in World of Warcraft appeared first on Destructoid.

If you've been trying to complete the Legacy of the Vrykul quest in World of Warcraft and failing to do so, then you're not alone.

A bug has reportedly been witnessed by several players, which is preventing them from completing the mission progress and earning all the available rewards. This bug seems to have appeared from the client side, which makes it really difficult for the players to do much. Thankfully, a potential solution is currently available that will let you complete your mission progress.

What is the Legacy of the Vrykul bug in World of Warcraft

The Legacy of the Vrykul is available as a weekly world quest that can be completed to unlock the fresh new special assignment/storm phase that is available on Siren Isle as part of the latest World of Warcraft update. While you can complete it as usual, the problem lies in how the progress is being tracked. After completing the quest, it will show up as 100% completed, but the quest will be stuck. In simpler words, you won't be able to enter the storm phase or special assignment in Siren Isle.

As reported by a few players on the official forum, restarting the game doesn't make any changes to the quest progress. The tracker remains stuck on 100%, but they can't play the storm phase or complete the special assignment.

How to fix the Legacy of the Vrykul bug in World of Warcraft

It's pretty obvious that a bug in the client is the main problem. A permanent solution has to come from the developers as part of an update patch, and that should fix any issue you might be having with the weekly world quest. Here's a temporary fix you can try (as posted on the forum by Meattoem).

• Take the mole machine out of the Siren Isle
• Log out of your game.
• Lob back in and re-enter Siren Isle.

If it works, you should be able to progress and participate in the storm phase/special assignment. That said, this workaround might not work for you, and it's better to wait for an update from Blizzard if that's the case.

The post How to fix the Legacy of the Vrykul bug in World of Warcraft appeared first on Destructoid.

The latest World of Warcraft update adds a bunch of collectible cosmetic and other transmog items including the Stone Carver's Scramseax, a dagger cosmetic. It's easy to obtain, but if you don't know how to do it, you won't be able to interact with the object to actually loot it. Here is how to get the Stone Carver's Scramseax cosmetic in World of Warcraft.

Where to find the Stone Carver's Scramseax

You can find the Stone Carv'ers Scramseax in WoW in The Forgotten Vault on the Siren Isle. You will need to progress through the A Song of Secrets questline that brings you to the Siren Isle and unlocks your Citrine gear. Progress through The Radiant Vault quest and you will access The Forgotten Vault, which you will then be able to access at anytime.

Once inside, the Stone Carver's Scramseax is technically located in the northwestmost chamber of the vault. If you're standing at the entrance to the vault, you'll take your first right to access the chamber that holds the Stone Carver's Scramseax. However, you won't be able to actually loot the cosmetic without first touching the nearby Radiant Citrine and obtaining the Glittering Vault Shard buff.

How to get the Stone Carver's Scramseax

To get the Stone Caver's Scramseax, first head to the southwest larger chamber of The Forgotten Vault and interact with/right-click the yellow Radiant Citrine lying on the ground on the west side of the chamber. Doing so will give you the Glittering Vault Shard buff that lasts for two minutes.

Now that you have the buff, quickly run back to the Stone Carver's Scramseax and you will be able to interact with it and loot the cosmetic as long as you have the buff. While you can make use of movement speed-enhancing abilities to get to the Stone Carver's Scramseax before your buff expires, don't use any transforming or morphing abilities like Shaman's Ghost Wolf or changing into a Druid form as this will remove the buff.

If you've obtained the Glittering Vault Shard toy that drops off Shardsong, you can also use it to get the required buff that will allow you to interact with the Stone Carver's Scramseax.

The post How to get the Stone Carver’s Scramseax in World of Warcraft appeared first on Destructoid.

As live-service games continue to struggle to find a way to work in modern gaming, there's a handful of outstanding titles that continue to improve and grow, which servers as the basis for Destructoid's best ongoing game award.

You'll notice that while all of these games have received substantial updates, expansions, or DLC content this year, none of them actually released this year. That's because to be a truly great ongoing game, you need to prove you can continue to evolve and adapt to the industry and your player's feedback over time.

Here are Destructoid's nominees for best ongoing game of 2024:

Apex Legends

Many battle royales have come and gone, but Apex Legends continues to receive hefty updates each year including the most recent one that reworked the long-popular Lifeline character, introduced Rift Relics which are powerful weapons and abilities that can spawn throughout the game, and more.

Further content updates for Apex Legends have included trying out other game modes like Team Deathmatch, Control, and Gun Run, helping push the title outside of just the battle royale formula. None of them have caught on quite as well, but it's great overall and a promising sight for the over five year old game.

Destiny 2

Even though there are certainly arguments to be made about the future and current community feelings toward the long-running online shooter, Destiny 2 had a big year with the release of its Destiny 2: The Final Shape expansion back in June.

Not to make you feel old, but Destiny 2: The Finale Shape marks the eighth expansion and eighth year of the shooter, and concludes the first major saga of Destiny called the Light and Darkness saga. Even post-expansion release, Destiny 2 continues receiving episodic updates with a new expansion codename Apollo looking to launch in mid-2025.

Diablo 4

Technically the newest title on this list, with the base game releasing on June 5, 2023, Diablo 4 just received its first full-fledged expansion about two months ago with Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred. The expansion added a new class, the Spiritborn, as well as a whole new area called Nahantu.

But the reason Diablo 4 makes this list is because the game continues to improve with each season with major core gameplay and system changes, including the recent Loot Reborn season that completely overhauled the loot system of the ARPG, a much-needed and requested change that has the game heading in the right direction.

Final Fantasy XIV

It's no secret that Final Fantasy XIV has one of the most loyal fanbases when it comes to ongoing games. The MMORPG saw the release of its fifth expansion, Dawntrail, earlier this year, which took to the vibrant continent of Tural, a zone inspired by Latin America and Southeast Asia themes.

After re-releasing with completely reworked systems and combat in 2013, Final Fantasy XIV has continued to receive several major content updates each year as well as a full expansion every couple of years. With the Dawntrail storyline heating up at the end, it's easy to see Final Fantasy XIV continue to be a popular ongoing game for years to come.

Fortnite

Another battle royale on this list, Fortnite continues to grow and add to its universe with frequent seasons and all-new chapters. After a very heavily Marvel-focused chapter that added Doctor Doom, Ironman, Captain America, and more to the shooter, Fortnite launched its Chapter 6 first season just a couple of weeks ago with a Demon Hunters theme.

Fortnite is appealing to all kinds of players as it continues to add unique systems, features, and content not typical of the genre. For example, the current chapter has teased the arrival of Godzilla, which is scheduled to release on January 17, 2025.

Warframe

Another 2013 release, Warframe has continued to evolve over the last decade, transitioning from a mostly online lobby-based multiplayer game to having much more traditional MMORPG features including massive open-world zones.

Today, Warframe released its Warframe: 1999 expansion that takes players back to the city of Hollvania on December 31, 1999, as players experience the new solo-only main quest called The Hex. The free update adds unique 90s-style weaponry and environments as well as exciting new gameplay elements like Protoframes and an exciting new open-world that players can traverse with an Atomibike.

World of Warcraft

2024 is a big year for World of Warcraft, with the release of The War Within expansion but also celebrating an impressive 20 years since the release of the original vanilla WoW. Over those two decades, WoW has received ten expansions with at least two more in the pipeline to release over the next few years making it one of the longest-running and still popular MMORPGs on the market.

With the release of World of Warcraft 20th Anniversary Edition servers—essentially Classic realms, again—World of Warcraft essentially has three versions of the game live at the moment including retail and Cataclysm Classic. And next year, Cataclysm Classic will progress to Mists of Pandaria Classic, extending the timeline of that version of the game by another year or more.

The post Nominees for Destructoid’s Best Ongoing game of 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Yes, 2004, one of the best years in gaming history is nearly legally old enough to drink. That means we're even older, yes, but it's also cause for celebration.

Let's use this opportunity not to count our gray hairs, but to celebrate so many games that most players don't even realize came out in such a short span of time, so long ago.

11. Burnout 3: Takedown

If you miss the Burnout series, that's likely because of its highest point: Burnout 3: Takedown. Gone are the realistic physics of Gran Turismo, in are the most ridiculously fun car crashing mechanics ever put into a game.

No game before or since has made simply driving as fast as you can, and toppling your opponents in the most spectacular ways as fun as Takedown. I cannot, for the life of me, understand how such a seemingly simple yet multifaceted party series has been dormant for so long.

10. Fable

The original Fable remains one of the best answers to the turn-based RPGs that dominated the gaming landscape back then, as well as the best game in the franchise. There's just no beating Fable when it comes to embarking on a journey to become a hero — or a villain.

There's no denying that, in true Peter Molyneux fashion, Fable underdelivered regarding its original promise, but what we ended up getting was good enough to birth a classic. Also, Molyneux can totally defend himself by claiming it wouldn't be much of a fable if all of his promises were based on hard facts.

9. Ninja Gaiden

This was the original "hard game with good graphics" before Dark Souls claimed that distinction.

You could even argue Ninja Gaiden was harder than Dark Souls because it didn't curse you with limited stamina and was still difficult as all hell. And it was much more than that. Ninja Gaiden remains one of the most thrilling and overall best action games ever made. It's sad to see the series lose its mojo with Ninja Gaiden 3 and see Team Ninja pivoting to difficult games that straight-up mirrored the Souls series.

I love Nioh, but I miss Ninja Gaiden's high-octane type of challenge.

8. Doom 3

Upon release, many were let down by DOOM 3. It wasn't as fun as classic Doom, and it just didn't feature anywhere near the variety of fresh gameplay options available in its contemporary shooters. The people who didn't like it back then now even have the hindsight of saying it paled in comparison with the newer Doom titles, but I think they're just looking at it wrong.

If you're into slow-burn horror, Doom 3 is actually one hell of a game, capable of scaring the crap out of modern players even today.

7. Far Cry

I usually accuse the Far Cry series of being all downhill after the first game, but that's not me being mean. Far Cry 2, Far Cry 3, and Far Cry Instincts are all good games, but the original was just better. Remember the awful "Ubisoft tower" mechanic that plagues all Far Cry titles post-3? Remember the incredibly low enemy variety in most of these games? Well, you can forget all of that here.

The original Far Cry might not feature the open world game design you see in the other entries, but it's such a finely crafted (albeit more linear) gameplay experience that you likely won't even notice you're not as free as in other games. If you have never tried it because it's "old", give it a shot. It's totally worth it.

6. Sid Meier’s Pirates

Do you love Sea Of Thieves, Assassin's Creed Black Flag's best moments, and/or were you hyped by the reveal of Skull and Bones? They all exist because of Sid Meier's Pirates, the first — and still best — pirate life simulator.

If you want to have a lot of fun conquering the high seas, this somewhat underplayed masterpiece is something you should try out, because it feels like it hasn't aged a day.

5. World Of Warcraft

Accuse me of cheating all you want because yeah, World Of Warcraft has never really stopped coming out, but '04 was its first year on this land.

It remains the most successful MMO ever since its release and more than earns it this spot on this list. The fact that it will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future more than earns you the right to complain about me not ranking it even higher.

4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Yes, it's no surprise that Konami is releasing Metal Gear Solid Delta by early 2025. They know MGS3 is likely the most beloved entry in the franchise, and that big 20-year-old mark is the perfect time to cash in on a masterpiece.

The original MGS pretty much turned the entire video game industry on its head when it came out. MGS3 could've easily surfed on the tsunami it had created and still managed to sell millions and get high critical praise, but that was not enough. MGS3 dared to change the setting completely to tell a new story, and it worked beautifully.

While I'd argue the Subsistence version that came out a short while later is the definitive version of the game because of the superior camera, Snake Eater remains one of the most epic and gut-wrenchingly awesome prequels of all time.

3. Halo 2

We knew Halo 2 was special as soon as '03s E3 showed one of the best gameplay demos of all time.

We knew Halo 2 was special as soon as we began playing it, even though we quickly learned the E3 demo wasn't part of it — because it was never meant to be more than a cool tech demo.

Courtesy of having to follow up on one of the best debuts of all time, Halo 2's devs at Bungie had to go through hell to clear the high bar set by Halo: Combat Evolved, in record time. Still, the result was not just one of the most memorable (even if disjointed) campaigns of all time, but also what was by far the console generation's best online experience.

2. Grand Theft Auto San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas was the best-selling game of the best-selling console of all time, and it was no fluke.

It came out after GTA 3 and Vice City, two titles that would've deserved that spot had SA not materialized, but San Andreas was the rare sequel to go even bigger than its already humungous predecessors, and still not feel bloated because of it. Getting to wreak havoc not in one, but three different GTA-fied spoofs of real america, the countryside, and finally even getting to swim made SA feel less like a game, and more like an entire saga in one box.

1. Half-Life 2

Naturally, picking the best game out of such an eclectic list will always come down to personal taste — but not this time. I kid, but I honestly do think Half-Life 2 was and, at least until the arrival of Dark Souls, remained the most serious contender for the game of the century.

Half-Life 2 not only amped all the stakes introduced by its stellar predecessor, but it also introduced a wide array of mechanics that feel fresh even so many years later. One of the reasons Half-Life 3 might never materialize is Valve's possible inability to come up with anything even better, and that's ok.

The post Best games that turned 20 in 2024, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

While most of the Warcraft Direct was...well...direct, Blizzard did end the show with a bit of a teaser: Player Housing is finally coming to World of Warcraft. The brief 44-second teaser showed a character walking into his home, with the walls adorned with the head of Onyxia, a Mechanical Shredder statue, and other various items from the popular MMORPG before taking a drink from a mug with the words "Home sweet Home" on it. The teaser ends by showing the World of Warcraft: Midnight logo, hinting that the feature will be part of the upcoming Midnight expansion.

It's a feature that players have wanted since the start of the MMORPG's life back in 2004. Without many details, it's hard to know what exactly we're going to be getting with this, but as long as it's heavily customizable, we can show off some of our best achievements with it, and we can invite our friends, I think that would be a good start. Just no Garrison 2.0, please.

The post World of Warcraft teases much requested feature: Player Housing appeared first on Destructoid.

It's hard to believe, but World of Warcraft is now two decades old. The original vanilla World of Warcraft launched back in 2004, and has since then received ten expansion packs with two more already announced and on the way. As part of the 20th-anniversary celebration, another Blizzard title, Diablo Immortal, is hosting an event to honor the MMORPG's long history.

It would have been awesome to see this event in Diablo 4 as opposed to Diablo Immortal, but I'm assuming the recent release of the first Diablo 4 expansion, Vessel of Hatred, played a role in preventing that. Instead, starting November 13 at 3 a.m. local time, players will be able to take part in the Eternal War during the 20th-anniversary event and acquire event-specific rewards themed around World of Warcraft.

Here are all the rewards you can obtain in the first few tiers of the Eternal War in Diablo Immortal during the event:

• Mourneskull (Two-Star) Legendary Gem
• 1 New World of Warcraft Weapon Skin
• 10 Legendary Crests
• Frostmourne Weapon Cosmetic
• Icecrown Pathway Portal

The Frostmourne Weapon cosmetic and Icecrown Pathway portal were previous available in the Shadow of the Frozen Throne event, so it's possible you already have them. As part of the event, players can then take on the pinnacle boss of the World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King expansion, the Lich King himself. Considered by many to be the most famous—or infamous—character in all of Warcraft, fighting against the Lich King will reward players with Frozen Boons, a new currency that can be used to unlock various cosmetic Weapon Skins for each of Diablo Immortal's eight classes.

I have to admit, these are some pretty legendary Weapon Skins from Warcraft lore including Gorehowl, Atiesh, and Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker. Yes, that Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker. Here are all the Weapon Skins each class can get:

• Barbarian: Gorehowl
• Blood Knight: Remornia
• Crusader: Truthguard
• Demon Hunter: Thori'dal, the Stars' Fury
• Monk: Fist of the Heavens
• Necromancer: Shadowmourne
• Tempest: Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker
• Wizard: Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian

For Diablo Immortal players interested in some PvP, there's also the opportunity to partake in the Cutthroat Basin PvP event. Themed after the popular WoW Battleground Arathi Basin, players will be assigned to either the Horde or Alliance and then fight against the other faction across the Arathi Basin. Victory in the Cutthroat Basin rewards players with progress towards the Eternal War event as well.

The Diablo Immortal 20th anniversary event crossover with World of Warcraft starts on November 13 at 3 a.m. local server time and runs through December 11 at 2:59 a.m. local server time. Players who login to Diablo Immortal and join in on the fun on a Level 10 or higher character during the event will also receive a Treasure Nabbin' Bag cosmetic in World of Warcraft: The War Within.

The post Diablo Immortal celebrates 20 years of WoW with battle against the Lich King appeared first on Destructoid.

You'd have to have bats in your belfry to not enjoy a spooky good time in Azeroth! Whether you're cruising for candy or bobbing for new mounts, we've got a guide to help you out. This event takes place from October 25 to November 8.

What's new for Hallow's End in 2024?

There are new candy buckets to go Trick-or-Treating in this year. They're all scattered around the new Khaz Algar zones, and you can check out our maps below.

A new transmog set is available, and it's especially useful for people who want to save a few hundred of their Trading Post Tenders. It's the Patched Harvest Golem outfit, a recolor of the Trading Post's Ragged Harvest Golem. If you wanna look like a scarecrow monster, but you aren't picky on the color, this is a great way to get the costume.

The pieces of the cosmetic set drop from either the Headless Horseman dungeon boss, or from the Candy Buckets scattered over the world. The accompanying back piece and claw weapon are available from the event vendors in Stormwind and Undercity. Those same vendors also have a new set of shoulders and a cloak head piece.

The Headless Horseman

Players can queue up for a short one-boss dungeon every day using Dungeon Finder. (Cntrl+i by default.) You sign up, run in, and fight the Headless Horseman. There's also a series of wickermen at the start of the dungeon that you can use to increase it's difficulty for yourself. Doing so gives your Loot-Filled Pumpkin better chances at containing the Headless Horseman's Mount. You can also acquire different transmogs, trinkets, and other goodies inside so make sure to queue up every day!

The Lootfilled Pumpkin can also drop the unique dragonriding appearance Windborne Velocidrake: Hallow's End Armor. There's also the adorable pet Arfus, Arthas' ghost dog. You may also walk away with one of the Horseman's items, including a sword and a helmet.

Attack of the Horseman's Shade

A few cities around Azeroth are plagued with visits from the Shade of The Headless Horseman. He'll start setting fire to nearby structures, and players have to work together to put it out. There's a quest from a nearby Orphan Matron that will teach you how to put out the fires so you can prepare for the real thing.

The Shade is only around for a limited time, and the fires will continue to spread if you don't work together to put them out. If you all manage to put them out in time, The Shade will come down and engage in a fight. Defeating him leaves a quest item that you can turn in every day.

The cities attacked are:

• Alliance: Goldshire, Kharanos, and Azure Watch
• Horde: Brill, Razor Hill, and Falconwing Square

The Wickerman's EXP Buff

Find your faction's Wickerman statue for a sweet experience buff. For Horde it's in Lordaeron (the fortress above Undercity), and for The Alliance it's outside Stormwind's front gate. Interact with the ash outside to throw it on the statue, and you'll get a 10% experience and rep buff that lasts for two hours.

If you don't see the ashes, you may need a player to rekindle the Wickerman, which is can be done by talking to nearby NPC's who give the daily quest "A Time to Build."

Tricky Treats and Rewards

Below are the maps of the new bucket locations in Khaz Algar.

You collect Tricky Treats by visiting inns across Azeroth and grabbing from their Trick or Treat buckets. You also get them by completing event quests and doing the Headless Horseman boss fight. These can be spent on items from vendors around the Wickermen above Undercity and outside Stormwind. Here's a list of what you can purchase:

The post World of Warcraft: The War Within Hallow’s End event guide appeared first on Destructoid.

It's been 20 years since the servers for World of Warcraft went live, caught fire, rebooted, and eventually started working. Now's our chance to revisit the last 20 years on Azeroth. There's plenty to do to collect fancy armor redesigns from the olden days, new toys, mounts, and plenty of pets.

The celebration takes place in Tanaris at the entrance to the Caverns of Time. You can use the portal in your faction's capital to get there quickly. You'll find many fun activities, quests, and vendors all over, so check it out!

What can you do during the 20th Anniversary Celebration in WoW?

Celebrating the history of World of Warcraft is no easy task. What do you focus on for 20 years of content? The answer is a little bit of everything! What's great about this event is that it isn't just quests and raids; there are player interaction events, too.

A series of events are on regular rotation, including "Story Time," "Fashion Frenzy," "and Mount Mania." Players can participate in all of them and earn some achievements towards a special mount. Participating in these events is also part of the weekly quest to earn Bronze Celebration Tokens, but more on that later.

"Story Time" has players hanging out while Lorewalker Cho tells a story from Warcraft's history. Players can participate with prompts to do things like cheer and throw rotten apples. "Fashion Frenzy" is like the "Trial of Style," except any number of players can participate. Players get ribbons and run around handing them to the most fashionable people around them. "Mount Mania" asks players to group up and try to summon the same mounts as the host. Odds are you won't have all 15, but with a little luck you'll win the competition! These are very low stakes but extremely fun to play in.

Besides that, players can go hunt down world bosses across Tanaris and other zones. You can also queue for the new Classic Timewalking dungeons. There's also a redone Blackrock Depths raid and a return to previous events like Korrak's Revenge for PVP. There's a lot to do and a lot to earn.

What can you get with Bronze Celebration Tokens?

The biggest reward here is going to be the Eternal Tier 2 sets. Redesigns of iconic sets from the earliest days of WoW are available to collect for all classes. Classes that didn't exist back then have some unique-looking sets. Beyond that, there are some new toys and battle pets, as well as Blizzard Service transmogs. These are in-game item appearances based on the look of the real-life items given to Blizzard employees after many years of service.

How do you get Bronze Celebration Tokens?

There are several ways to get Bronze Celebration Tokens, and most are repeatable. The introductory quests "Meet and Greet" and "Shopping Squee!" are one-time per Warband and give you 10 Tokens each. Truth of the Dark Irons! will give you 5 Bronze.

Completing the weekly quest "Celebrate Good Fun!" gives you 3 Bronze. Weekly events in Khaz Algar grant 1 Bronze each. This means the weekly stuff you've likely already been doing to help gear up. Weekly Quests in Khaz Algar, like the "Call of the Delves" and "Archive: Seeking History," grant 2 Bronze each. To earn 3 Bronze, you'll want to complete the 20th Anniversary-specific weekly quests. These include "The Originals," "Soldier of Time," "Chromie's Codex," "An Original Path through time," and the like. You'll find these quests in the celebration outside the Caverns of Time.

There are repeatable activities as well. Defeating bosses in the Blackrock Depths raid, beating the Anniversary World Bosses, running Classic Timewalking dungeons, the Codex of Chromie scenario, and daily Korrak's Revenge quests all give extra tokens.

Timewarped Badges Rewards

You may have a lot of these stored up already if you're a big fan of doing the Timewalking dungeons. You'll need quite a few to purchase everything. Fortunately, these can be acquired by doing the Classic Timewalking dungeons and related quests. I recommend going for the Titles, as those are least likely to return when Classic Timewalking cycles back into the weekly events in a few months.

What are the Anniversary Event Achievements?

There's a slick new Coldflame Tempest mount to collect. Its design is based on the same Coldflame armaments you can unlock with Bronze Tokens. To get it requires you to complete the meta-achievement "A Cool Twenty Years." That requires the following achievements:

• I Have That One! - Match One Mount during "Mount Mania."
• Pet Mischief - Use a pet disguiser to look like your pet and explore the area.
• Peanut Gallery - React to Lorewalker Cho's stories (using the special command button prompts). You'll need to do this 50 times.
• A Gatecrasher - Defeat at least one of the World Bosses during the WoW Anniversary in Tanaris.
• Fashion Critic - Cast 1 vote at the "Fashion Frenzy."
• Balloonist - Ride one of the celebration balloons. Find the balloon vendor and click on a floating balloon to ride it. Give it a few seconds before you get the achievement.
• An Original - Defeat one of the WoW Anniversary world bosses. This list is Azuregos, Lethon, Taerar, Lord Kazzak, Emeriss, and Ysondre.
• Codex Editor: Ahn'Qiraj - Complete "The Codex of Chromie" scenario.

The Token Collector achievement requires you to collect 100 Bronze Celebration Tokens during the event. It will become a Feat of Strength achievement afterward. Other achievements for this event include:

• A Dark Iron Past - Find the Temporal Missives from Moira within the Blackrock Depths Raid (Timewalking).
• You're in Your Blackrock Depths - Defeat the bosses in the Blackrock Depths Raid (Timewalking).
• A Gatecrasher - Defeat one of the World Bosses in Tanaris.
• The Gatecrashers - Defeat all three of the World Bosses in Tanaris.
• An Original - Defeat one of the original WoW Anniversary world bosses.
• The Originals - Defeat all 6 of the original WoW Anniversary world bosses.
• A Timewalking Journey Back to a Classic Dungeon Time - Complete 6 of the Classic Timewalking Dungeons.
• A Timewalking Step Back to a Classic Dungeon Time - Complete one of the Classic Timewalking Dungeons.
• Upgraded Apparel - Purchase an Eternal Tier 2 set. This reduces the price of your next set from 60 tokens to 40.
• Classy Dresser - Purchase a second Eternal Tier 2 set. This reduces the price of the rest of the sets from 40 to 20.
• Avid Learner - Listen to all three of Lorewalker Cho's stories.
• Frequent Flyer - Ride all four colors of balloons.
• Big Fan - Cast 20 votes in "Fashion Frenzy."
• Mount Master - Match 20 different mounts in "Mount Mania."
• Zoomies! - Get the zoomies for 20 seconds while disguised as your pet. This requires a Pet Mirror, available from a chest near the pet trainers. Then go to the area by the mount and Cho events, and you'll see little treats lying on the ground. Follow them in a path for 20 seconds.
• Photo Op - Take 10 photos using the vista points, accessible by taking the Vista Portals near the "Fashion Frenzy" stage.

What else is in WoW's 20th Anniversary Patch?

The celebration event isn't the only thing that changed with patch 11.0.5. There's a lot of refreshes to old events, big class changes, and more. Check out the list below for a quick rundown.

• Timewalking Changes - 6 dungeons from base WoW have been added to a new Classic Timewalking, which joins the rotation with the expansion weekly events. You can also start these at level 10, rather than 30. The rewards that each vendor offers during the respective expansion's Timewalking have also been refreshed. That means more mounts to collect!
• Dracthyr's Get Some Class - Previously tied to the exclusive Evoker class, Dracthyr can now become Hunters, Priests, Rogues, Warlocks, Mages, and Warriors. They also get some changes to their Racial abilities due to this class update.
• Ascend in Style with New Shaman Forms - Shamans can turn into different Ascendant Elementals based on their spec, and the model is finally getting a much-needed update. Glyphs can be applied to give the new Energetic forms.
• Transmog Collections - Appearance collectors will be happy to know that more work is going into making it easier to collect appearances on any character. This includes class-restricted gear, like the original Tier 2 sets.
• Working from the Warband Bank - Reagents for profession crafting stored in the Warband Bank can now be used for Crafting Orders. This is a welcome change, indeed!

The post World of Warcraft 20th Anniversary Patch Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're diving into World of Warcraft: Season of Discovery, you’ve probably heard about the Bloodied Weapons in Zul'Gurub. These weapons are unique to Season of Discovery and offer serious boosts for your character, so if you’re looking to get your hands on one, here's how you can.

Where to get Bloodied Weapons in WoW Season of Discovery

Bloodied Weapons are powerful loot introduced with the revamped Zul'Gurub raid. They pack impressive stats and can give your character an edge in both PvE and PvP. These weapons weren’t part of the original Vanilla WoW, so they're an exciting addition for longtime players revisiting this content​​. There are a couple of ways and content you can run to get them.

• Run Zul'Gurub: Bloodied Weapons drop from bosses within the revamped Zul'Gurub raid. Key encounters include bosses like Bloodlord Mandokir, Jin'do the Hexxer, and the final boss, Hakkar the Soulflayer. Each boss has its own loot table, so you may need to target specific bosses based on the weapon you're after​.
• Edge of Madness: If you're after more loot, don't miss the "Edge of Madness" event inside Zul'Gurub. This event features rotating bosses and is a great chance for extra rewards, including the rare Bloodied Weapons in question. To participate, you'll need an Alchemist in your team to craft a special potion. This potion is then used in the Edge of Madness subzone within Zul'Gurub to summon one-of-four rotating bosses, each with unique loot of their own:

  • Gri'lek the Wanderer
  • Renataki of the Thousand Blades
  • Hazza'rah the Dreamweaver
  • Wushoolay the Storm-Witch

Like much of WoW’s loot system historically, getting a specific Bloodied Weapon will require some serious luck and a lot of RNG. You may not get what you want on the first try, but persistence has always been the key to getting the gear you want in WoW. Keep clearing Zul'Gurub, and eventually, your perseverance will pay off with a Bloodied Weapon of your own.

The post How to Get Bloodied Weapons in WoW Season of Discovery appeared first on Destructoid.

I’ve always valued the rich variety of activities available in World of Warcraft, from raiding and PvP to Mythic+. However, my feelings about Mythic+, particularly in The War Within, are somewhat mixed these days. On the one hand, it offers an exciting way to stay engaged with the game, presenting numerous opportunities for progression.

On the other hand, it brings along some significant pitfalls and challenges that are getting harder to overlook. Mythic+ often feels like a double-edged sword: while it provides endless chances for improvement, the accompanying issues make me question whether the rewards are truly worth the effort.

The upside of Mythic+ in The War Within

For many players, myself included, Mythic+ is a cornerstone of WoW’s endgame. I’ve sunk countless hours into Mythic+ dungeons over the years because, when everything goes right, it’s a thrilling experience that is easy to enjoy for extended periods of time. There’s nothing quite like pulling off a clean run on a high-level key with your group. It’s challenging, rewarding, and keeps the game interesting week after week. It's such a positive addition to WoW that it's practically become the main event... for better or worse.

Constantly relevant content

One of the biggest perks of Mythic+ is that it’s never really "done." No matter how many keys you complete, there’s always a higher level to push for, new strategies to figure out, and fresh affixes to tackle. This is perfect if, like me, you enjoy the grind. Every week feels like a chance to prove yourself again, and that’s a big part of the appeal. The way difficulty scales means there’s always something to challenge you, no matter how geared or experienced you are.

A great source of Gear

Mythic+ is also hands down the best way to get gear in The War Within. I’ve been able to gear up quickly just by focusing on these dungeons. The Great Vault rewards you for doing multiple dungeons each week, and the gear you get from it is often just as good, if not better than what you’d earn from raiding. For someone who likes mixing up endgame content, Mythic+ has become an essential part of my weekly routine.

But here’s the catch…

As much as I enjoy Mythic+, it’s got some major downsides that weigh on me more and more. First up is the pressure it puts on Raiders. If you’re part of a raid group, especially one aiming for Heroic or Mythic difficulties, running Mythic+ is basically a requirement to keep up in terms of gear. Unfortunately, this is where the grind starts to become... grindy, and that's not a good thing.

Mandatory for Raiders

In The War Within, the pressure to run Mythic+ is heavier than ever. If you’re serious at all about raiding beyond Normal difficulty, there’s genuinely no way to avoid Mythic+. It is a requirement. I find myself logging in not because I’m excited to play but because if I skip Mythic+ for a week, I’ll fall behind my guildmates. What used to be a fun challenge has become something I have to do just to stay competitive in raids. This shift—from raiding being the primary source of gear to Mythic+ taking over—is highly exhausting.

You’re punished if you don’t like It

Even if you’re not into Mythic+, you’re kind of forced into it. I know plenty of people in my guild who aren’t fans of the Mythic+ grind, but they have no choice if they want to keep pace. It sucks to feel stuck running content you don’t enjoy just to stay relevant. If you’re a good raider but don’t run Mythic+, you’ll still end up behind in terms of gear progression, and that creates this weird dynamic where players are punished for not liking a certain part of the game, or at least not wanting to grind it all the time. But, if you don't, you will absolutely suffer in the gearing department, and that just sucks.

Pugging Mythic+ is the worst

Then there’s the nightmare that is pugging (joining a random group of players). Some of my worst experiences in WoW have come from trying to pug Mythic+ runs. The random nature of pugging makes it super stressful, and when things go wrong (which they often do), it’s just a mess. The timer adds unnecessary pressure, and if it becomes clear that you won’t meet the timer, players tend to leave early. Who doesn't love that? I now avoid pugging unless I absolutely have no choice, which limits how much Mythic+ I can realistically do each week. Historically, pugs have never been 'the best' way to run anything in World of Warcraft, but current Mythic+ puts a bright spotlight on the aging problem.

Affixes feel like unnecessary difficulty

More often than not, Affixes add a level of difficulty that can feel more frustrating than fun to play against. Instead of making you come up with creative strategies, they often just punish you for things outside your control. While The War Within managed to fix a lot of these problems, especially by adding buffs to the affix list as well, I feel the main issue remains. While I get that affixes are supposed to keep dungeons fresh, and they do, sometimes they end up feeling like they’re adding spiteful artificial difficulty for the sake of it, rather than improving the gameplay experience with something interesting.

The problem with Raid Loot vs. Mythic+ Loot

One of my biggest gripes with Mythic+ in The War Within, beyond what I've already mentioned, is how it overshadows raiding when it comes to loot. The amount of gear you can get from Mythic+ is ridiculous compared to what you get from raiding. You can run multiple Mythic+ dungeons a week and get top-tier gear from the Great Vault, while raids feel incredibly stingy by comparison. This insane loot disparity is a serious issue that cannot be ignored.

Mythic+ Loot overshadows Raiding

Currently, there's no limit to the amount of loot you can get from Mythic+. Between Raids and Mythic+, there is simply no contest. Raid loot, especially from Normal and Heroic, just doesn’t keep up in terms of power or number of drops. After a few high-level Mythic+ runs, the gear you get from raiding starts to feel underwhelming. It’s a shame because raiding used to be a core part of WoW’s endgame, but when Mythic+ is so much more efficient for gear, it’s hard not to prioritize it over raids. I genuinely don't blame anyone that does.

Fix the Loot Disparity

Blizzard has addressed this before, but it remains a big problem regardless. Raid loot should be more competitive with Mythic+ gear, especially at higher difficulties. They could increase the item level of raid gear or add special bonuses that make it stand out. Another option would be to limit drop frequency or how powerful Mythic+ gear is so it doesn’t completely overshadow raid rewards. I am not a fan of this option though, because I like that Mythic+ is a great source of additional loot. However, loot from Raiding currently serves only a niche purpose, and that makes the whole effort of putting a group together for a raid feel meaningless.

The current disparity in loot between raiding and Mythic+ is pushing more players, myself included, to favor Mythic+ over traditional raiding. While I don’t dislike Mythic+ overall, it’s hard to ignore that raids take significantly longer to complete yet yield far less loot compared to a mode that not only offers better rewards but also an endless supply of them. This creates a serious imbalance that isn't being adequately addressed, leading to frustration for players like me who value the raid experience but aren't being properly rewarded for it.

What needs to change in Mythic+

While I do enjoy certain aspects of Mythic+, it's clear that the system is in need of significant adjustments, and I’m confident I’m not alone in feeling this way. The current setup is unnecessarily punishing and stressful, especially if you’re not running it with a consistent group. If Blizzard wants to make Mythic+ more enjoyable and less of a chore, here’s what I think they should do:

Get rid of the Timer

Since the dawn of Mythic+, the timer has been a source of artificial difficulty for the game mode. For many players, it's one of the most stressful aspects of the system, and honestly, I think it should go. It discourages people from pugging and adds unnecessary pressure to every run. Removing the timer would let players focus more on learning the mechanics and working together without the constant fear of failure via the clock hanging over them.

Instead, Mythic+ should emphasize minimizing deaths, rewarding teams with greater end rewards for fewer deaths. The challenge should lie in the difficulty of the encounters themselves, rather than in racing against a timer, which often shifts the focus to route optimization and speed rather than skillful play and overcoming tough content.

Rework Affixes

Affixes need a complete rework. Instead of adding frustration, they should add a challenge that encourages teamwork and creative thinking. Blizzard should experiment with affixes that don’t just ramp up the difficulty but make the dungeons more dynamic and interesting.

Introduce a Loot Goblin affix that adds a chance for one to spawn in your dungeon. If your team can kill it before it escapes, you'll earn an extra piece of loot. Another potential affix could make enemies explode a few seconds after death, adding a tactical layer to positioning and timing. The key is to move away from affixes that rely on random effects tied to timers: everyone uses addons to manage these anyway. Also, eliminate the flat stat increases to enemies based on affixes, as they add nothing but dull, artificial difficulty.

End Key degradation

Failing a Mythic+ run is already enough of a punishment in terms of wasted time. The extra penalty of key degradation feels totally unnecessary. Removing this would encourage players to push themselves to try higher keys without the fear of losing progress.

In conclusion...

Mythic+ is one of the most engaging parts of WoW’s endgame, but it’s about as far from perfect as it can get right now. The pressure it puts on raiders, the frustrations of pugging, the disparity in loot between Raids and Mythic+, and the stress caused by affixes and the timer all contribute to a system that is overwhelmingly problematic toward the player base. The proof of this statement is everywhere, even on the official WoW forums. With meaningful changes, Mythic+ could evolve into a truly balanced and enjoyable aspect of The War Within. As it stands, though, it remains a blessing rotting in a growing sea of decay, marred by frustration.

The post Mythic+ is both a blessing and a curse in WoW: The War Within’s endgame appeared first on Destructoid.

Since August, World of Warcraft guilds have been reporting a troubling bug: their guild banks, where any member of the guild can store resources, items, and even the game's rarest of loot (like mounts), were wiped out. Whether completely emptied or simply missing items, users reported that the fruits of their labor were vanishing into thin air. As of September, Blizzard's response has left many players with their heads in their hands.

Some items will never be recovered

Community Manager Linxy said in a blogpost over on the Blizzard forums that the core issue was caused by the enabling of cross-realm guilds. As a part of The War Within, many limitations on players' ability to play, trade, and share with each other across both faction and realm were dissolved, making for a more communal experience across the player base.

But that convenience comes at a cost. "Due to how some of the data was lost, we've reached a point where the result will be an incomplete restoration for some guilds, and we do not have a way to restore the remaining missing items for them," says Linxy. Data loss is a backend developer's worst nightmare, especially when that data could be 19-year-old mounts, collectables, and items not even obtainable in the game anymore.

The affected community, needless to say, is in shambles. The bug didn't affect everyone, mind you, but those it has have lost, at worst, nearly two decades' worth of stashed items. The best we can hope for is some form of compensation to those affected, but without the data that shows which items were lost, it really isn't going to be possible to get that history back.

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WoW: The War Within's campaign is rather lengthy and is split into a few parts, which makes it a bit difficult to track the full list of quests involved. Thankfully, I've completed all parts of it and can enlighten you.

The Full Campaign Quest List for WoW: The War Within

As just mentioned, the campaign for The War Within is comprised of three complete parts: The Visions of Azeroth Campaign, the Khaz Algar Leveling Campaign, and the Max-Level Campaign. All three parts make up the entirety of The War Within's campaign, and each requires conditions to be met to begin.

Visions of Azeroth Introduction Campaign for The War Within

To start the Visions of Azeroth, you need to be level 68 before it will appear for you in-game. These are the list of quests involved:

• The War Within
• A Poor Reception
• Azeroth's Voice
• Painful Lessons
• The Bronzebeard Family
• A Mysterious Warning
• Citizens of Dalaran
• Meet the Team
• Strength the Wards
• To Khaz Algar!
• Breach
• Rupture
• Departure
• Adventuring in Khaz Algar

Khaz Algar Leveling Campaign for The War Within

Completion of Adventuring in Khaz Algar, the final quest in the Visions of Azeroth Campaign, will allow you to begin the Khaz Algar Leveling Campaign in its place. This campaign isn't comprised of specific missions to follow, instead directing you to focus on taking quests throughout all four zones of Khaz Algar: Isle of Dorn, The Ringing Deeps, Hallowfall, and Azj-Kahet. Its purpose is to help you reach the maximum level in The War Within: Level 80.

Max-Level Campaign for The War Within

Upon reaching Level 80 and reaching Renown Level 4 with all four major factions, you'll be able to begin the final portion of The War Within Campaign, which sees you confronting Xal'atath while also unlocking the Earthen Allied Race. This portion is broken up into five main chapters.

Against the Current

• The Fleet Arrives
• Embassies and Envoys
• There's Always Another Secret
• What's Hidden Beneath Dornogal
• Preparing for the Unknown
• Urban Odyssey

Ties that Bind

• After the Storm
• Dhar Oztan
• Conduit of the Southern Storm
• Charging Up That Hill
• Heeding the Call
• Rook Rally
• Ground Pounders
• Goldbricking
• Metal and Stone
• Home to Roost
• Strays
• Flight Training 101
• Flight Training 102
• Flight Training 103
• Paying Respects
• The Edicts
• Titanic Failsafe

News from Below

• Gathering Intel
• A Spider's-Eye View
• Creeping THrough Corridors
• Lab Access
• Making of a Monster
• The Queen's Chains
• Rogue Agent
• Go Loud
• Manufactured Mutiny
• News from Below

The Machines March to War

• A Mysterious Signal
• Small Friend, Big Plans
• Factory Recon
• Back to Base
• A Plan Comes Together
• To the Waterworks
• Putting the Works in Waterworks
• Elemental Trepidation
• Shadowvein Extraction
• We Require More Minerals
• The Motherlode
• Back to Where it Began
• It's Sabotage
• The Voice of the Speakers

A Light in the Dark

• A Tide Needing Turned
• The Might of Khaz Algar
• Steel and Flames
• Cutting Off the Legs
• A Light in the Dark
• Return to Dornogal

Completing the Max-Level Campaign will earn you the 'The War Within' achievement and the right to make an Earthen character via unlock, as rewards.

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In WoW: The War Within, players solely looking to experience the overarching storyline of the Nerub-ar Palace raid have the option to run the raid in Story Mode. This mode is not enabled by default, so here's how you can turn it on.

How to enable Story Mode Raids in WoW The War Within

If you don't have time to experience the raid, or you simply don't care enough to do so, Story Mode raids are the perfect way for you to find out what happens next in WoW's overarching storyline. As a new feature added to WoW with The War Within, currently, only the Nerub-ar Palace raid has access to this mode. To turn it on, all you need to do is find Kriz the 'Loyal' near the entrance to Nerub-ar Palace (/way 32, 64).

Talk with him and request to "Enter Nerubar-ar Palace in Story Mode." It should be the only dialogue option he gives you, so you can't miss it. Once enabled, simply enter the raid using the following pop-up, and you'll be directly teleported to the final boss, Queen Ansurek herself.

Even in Story Mode, you must face off against Queen Ansurek and slay her to see the end-of-raid cutscene, which moves the story forward. You won't be alone, though, as a number of capable NPCs will be by your side, allowing you to slay the queen with relative ease. All of the fight's standard mechanics can be completely ignored, making this mode even easier than LFR (Looking for Raid).

As mentioned, this mode is currently only for the Nerub-ar Palace raid, but is meant to be a longstanding feature going forward. You can expect it to be available for every following raid, therefore.

Can you get loot from Story Mode Raids?

Story Mode is designed to allow players to stay current with WoW's ongoing storyline without the pressures of dealing with other people. It is not designed as an alternative to completing the raid, thus you will earn no loot in Story Mode. If you want to complete the raid on an easier difficulty and still get loot, then you need to run LFR, as you can earn gear from completing each wing of it.

How hard are Story Mode Raids in WoW The War Within?

Story Mode raids are designed to be accessible for all players, allowing you to focus on the narrative without being overwhelmed by challenging mechanics. While there are mechanics in place, they are generally forgiving, ensuring that you can progress without the threat of failure. This mode emphasizes the story over difficulty, so you can engage with the story without worrying about being held back by complex encounters.

The post How to start Story Mode Raids in WoW The War Within appeared first on Destructoid.

If you're looking to craft your way to the top in WoW: The War Within, you're going to need a lot of Artisan's Acuity to do so. Artisan's Acuity is a very limited resource, but there are a few ways you can gain more of it when needed.

Where to get Artisan's Acuity in The War Within

Artisan's Acuity is the rarest resource you can obtain when it comes to crafting professions. Unlike most resources, it is not obtained via gathering. Instead, it comes most commonly as a byproduct of successful first-time crafts.

First-time Crafts

A first-time craft is exactly what it sounds like: crafts done for the very first time for your profession. Almost every single item that can be crafted will reward Artisan's Acuity as a bonus reward upon a successful first-time craft. You'll know if an item is eligible for this reward when you see 'First-Time Craft' listed upon looking at its recipe in your profession journal.

Patron Crafting Orders

Eventually, you'll run out of first-time craftables to earn Artisan's Acuity from and need to harvest it using an entirely different method. When this happens, the best way to get more is to complete Patron Crafting Orders. These are special crafting orders commissioned to you by many of WoW's NPCs, including well-known favorites like Millhouse Manastorm (yes really).

To access this, head to your respective crafting profession table and click the Crafting Orders button at the bottom. From here, look at the top of the screen and select Patron. There may be a number beside the word, and this indicates the number of potential NPC Crafting Orders you currently have in waiting.

Selecting any of these NPCS orders will reveal their requirements and what you need to fulfill them. Many times, these NPCs will provide some of their own materials, making it a bit easier on you to complete it. The last important thing for you to look out for are the actual rewards, as not every Patron Crafting Order will reward Artisan's Acuity. Only some do, so be careful which ones you decide to complete.

Once you've exhausted all the Patron Crafting Orders that reward you with Artisan's Acuity, your only option is to wait for new ones to come to earn more. New orders tend to come in daily, so be sure to check back periodically. This is also why it is critical to use your Artisan's Acuity wisely, as it is time-gated. These are your primary means of earning Artisan's Acuity.

The post How to get more Artisan’s Acuity in The War Within appeared first on Destructoid.

Playing a Monk in WoW: The War Within is an interesting experience due to the changes the class received, when compared to previous expansions. Simply put: the class's stats scale much better, so if you're interested in playing a Monk, here are the best races you should choose.

Strongest Monk Race in WoW: The War Within

For each faction, there is a superior race you should consider if you're looking to maximize your Monk's potential.

Dwarf

The best Alliance race most suited for the Monk is the Dwarf for a few reasons. First, the Might of the Mountain passive allows your critical strikes to hit 2% harder, which can be a noticeable increase for your Windwalker DPS. For both Mistwaver and Brewmaster, Stoneform is one of the strongest defensive abilities in the game. It removes all negative status effects from you (a godsent in difficult encounters) while reducing the damage you take by 10% for eight seconds. You really can't go wrong with a Dwarf if you looking to excel as an Alliance Monk.

Human

Alternatively. Humans make one of the best Monks due to the racial The Human Spirit. This racial increases all secondary stats (Haste, Critical Strike, Masery, and Versatility) by an additional 2%. All Monk specs require certain secondary stats, so this is a very good racial to have as a Monk.

Orc

The best Horde race most suited for the Monk class is the Orc due to their exceptional racials. Bloodfury boosts all of your damage by a scaling amount of your Attack Power (based on level), for 15 seconds. When used with other boosting effects, such as Bloodlust, on-use Trinkets, or powerful Monk cooldowns like Earth, Storm, and Fire, these combined effects with produce a health boost to your overall DPS. Defensively, Hardiness reduces all durations of stun-based effects by 20% which is fantastic for all Monk specs, but especially so for Brewmasters.

Blood Elf

If Orcs don't fancy you, then a strong secondary option would be a Blood Elf. Blood Elfs get Arcane Torrent, which dispels all Magic-based effects in the area around them, while also restoring one Chi (the Monk's main resource) at the same time. This is a powerful, offensive active ability. Additionally, Blood Elves get a free 1% increased Critical Strike chance at all times, which is nice for DPS.

Should you play any other Monk Race?

The differences between the available races for your Monk are quite minimal. Racial abilities generally don’t provide a significant enough advantage to limit your choices to just the top two. This means you’re free to pick any race you like for your Monk without worrying about a major impact on performance.

The suggestions above are mainly for players seeking to maximize every bit of potential. However, if you prefer the aesthetics or racial traits of another race, feel free to choose that one without hesitation.

The post Best Monk Race in WoW: The War Within appeared first on Destructoid.

With Delves being introduced in WoW: The War Within as a new pillar of endgame content for solo players, leveling up Brann is important, especially if you plan to progress them. If you're unsure how to do this properly, here's all that you need to know on the matter.

How to level Brann for Delves in The War Within

Brann can only gain experience through playing Delves. There's no method currently that allows you to level Brann outside of them., but it is easy to do so if you know what you're doing.

Brann gets Experience in a couple of ways via Delves:

• Delve Completions - A large majority of the experience Brann gets will be through successful Delves. The higher the tier, the more experience he will gain, with higher tiers granting much more overall.
• Killing Enemies - Every successful kill will reward Brann with a small amount of experience. The more powerful the foe, the more experience.
• Lootables - When looting treasure in Delves, sometimes you'll find raw experience drops that, when picked up, automatically reward Brann with experience. These come in multiple rarities, with the highest (purple) rewarding him with the most XP.

As you can see, just participating in Delves content will level up Brann. However, if you're looking to speed up the leveling process, a specific Delve called Tak-Rethan Abyss (/way 58, 78) in Azj-Kahet is fast to finish. It is also fairly easy to complete solo, making it the ideal Delve for speed leveling Brann. Additionally, it is the perfect Delve for unlocking the later tiers due to how fast you can run through it. Tak-Rethan Abyss also contains plenty of lootables to grab for Brann experience.

Why is Brann not getting experience in The War Within?

As you run Delves, you may notice that your Brann stops getting experience. Once Brann reaches a certain level, he can only gain more experience by running Bountiful Delves. Since only four Bountiful Delves are active daily, this effectively means leveling Brann is timegated. However, I've found that this doesn't matter much for the current scope of Delve content, as tier eight is completable with his current power scaling.

What Curios should you use on Brann in The War Within?

There are quite a few options for Curios to use on Brann. However, there are a couple I recommend, especially if you're trying to level him up quickly.

• Streamlined Relic - This is Utility Curio that boosts your out-of-combat movement speed considerably while also boosting your Haste stat during combat. This Curio is great for speeding through Tak-Rethan Abyss (and any other Delve), as they can be rather large to walk through at normal speed.
• Idol of the Earthmother - Brann grants you a massive shield when you're injured. This one is simple but greatly boosts your survivability in high-tier Delves.
• Olden Seeker Relic - While exploring Delves, when Brann uses his Gathering Tools ability, there's a 20% chance you'll get a powerful buff. This one isn't as universally useful as those mentioned above, but the buffs you can get from this are quite strong.
• Relic of Sentience - When you pick up one of Brann's health potions, there's a chance he could throw you an additional one. This is a solid boost to your survivability, as it means more health potions for you to pick up if your Brann is set to the Healer role.

If you don't have these Curios, they can all be obtained randomly via completing Delves. Make sure you open up any treasure chests you find, as each could contain one of these Curios. Using even one of them will make your life easier, so keep an eye out for them.

What Combat Role should Brann be for Delves in The War Within?

Brann can either be a Healer or a Damage Dealer while supporting you in a Delve. While he is strong in both roles, I prefer him as a Healer as his potions heal a massive amount and he still has DPS at the same time. Even so, feel free to pick his role based on your own.

The post How to easily level Brann in The War Within Delves, and what to know appeared first on Destructoid.

With Mythic dungeons finally available for play in WoW: The War Within, you might be wondering exactly when these dungeons will be reset once you've completed them. Whether you're a new player curious about the mechanic, or an old player potentially confused thanks to Mythic history, here's all that you need to know.

What time do Mythic 0 Dungeons reset in WoW: The War Within

In the past, Mythic dungeons (now known as Mythic 0) had a weekly reset, allowing you to complete each dungeon only once per week. This made gear drops from Mythic dungeons relatively scarce, despite being among the best pre-raid gearing options available.

Fast forward to The War Within, and the rules have changed significantly. Since the introduction of Mythic+ in Battle for Azeroth, Blizzard has continually refined the system, enhancing the fun and challenge, but diminishing the relevance of Heroic and Mythic 0 dungeons. While The War Within doesn't impact Heroics much, it completely revamps Mythic 0, which now reset daily and is notably more challenging to complete. As a result, Mythic 0 dungeons now drop much better loot (still inferior to Mythic+ and Raid gear) and have a much longer lifespan in the current gearing climate.

To be more specific, Mythic 0s reset around 8:00 am PST, allowing you to jump in for another chance at higher tier loot. If you're still not sure exactly when the reset is, type /raidinfo in your in-game chat to see all your lock-out information. If you're looking to jump into the first raid of The War Within, then know that Mythic 0 dungeons are worth grinding out to get a leg up on your item level.

The post When do Mythic 0 Dungeons reset in WoW: The War Within? appeared first on Destructoid.

As you progress through the ranks of The Severed Threads storyline tied to Azj-Kahet in WoW: The War Within, you'll eventually receive the opportunity to make a pact with one of the three sub-factions that make it whole.

If you're not sure which one to join up with, here's some information to help you decide which sub-faction to make a pact with in The War Within.

Should you join the Weaver, Vizier, or General in WoW: The War Within?

To be upfront first, regardless if you decide to join the Weaver, General, or Vizier, the choice is not permanent. Based on how it is presented to you, you may be inclined to believe it is a one-time thing, but that is not the case. You need to make this choice weekly as it is the primary means of progressing the three sub-factions of The Severed Threads. Choosing to pact with one of these sub-factions means that a majority of your activities in Azj-Kahet will reward a significant amount of reputation toward it, while the other two you didn't go with, gain very little.

That said, even the first time you make this choice does matter, as each sub-faction rewards you with unique stuff tied to it, along with permanent buffs while in Azj-Kahet. Just for you, I'll give you a summary of what each sub-faction offers, and why you may want to consider making a pact with them.

Should you Pact with The Weaver?

If you're someone who loves to craft and gather materials from the world itself, then you may want to consider aligning yourself with the principles of The Weaver. Bobbin, the Eye of the Weaver (/way 56, 43) is your representative and it is he who you must speak with to understand the ways of the Weaver.

By going with the Weaver, you earn quite a few useful perks as a crafter. The most important one is called World Buff: Weaver's Tutelage, which allows you to both craft and gather 15% faster. This is extremely useful for those looking to gather materials, whether it's picking herbs or mining ore. As you progress the reputation with the Weaver, you'll get an even more powerful version of this buff called World Buff: Weaver's Prodigy, which turns that 15% into 30%.

Beyond the buff itself, you'll gain access to a special ability called Woven Cocoon, which allows you to spin a web to trap foes in front of you. You can also earn yourself the Widow's Undercrawler mount, the Silksinger title, and the ability to find Weave-Rat Caches treasures throughout Azj-Kahet.

Should you Pact with The Vizier?

If you're someone looking to earn a lot of Nerubian currency (Kej), perhaps collaborating with the Vizier is a better choice for you. Should you decide upon this path, Tulumun, Assistant to the Executor is your main representative to be mindful of. He will help you understand the value of the Vizier.

Choosing the Vizier as your Pact earns you plenty of Kej for purchasing various Nerubian goods via World Buff: Vizier's Savvy. With this buff the amount of Kej you earn for any related activity will be increased by 10%. Further progression with the Vizier will see you earn access to an even better version called World Buff: Vizier's Supremacy, which boosts Kej earnings by 20%.

Besides this, you'll gain access to a special ability called Unstable Concoction, which allows you to hurl a wide variety of experimental potions at your enemies. Additionally, you can obtain the Royal Court Undercrawler mount, the Hand of the Vizier title, and access to Kaheti Excavations.

Should you Pact with The General?

Last but not least, if you're someone looking to survive the hostile world of the Nerubian Empire a little easier, then consider joining up with the General. Following this path is Anub'okki, Disciple of Anub'azal, and should you decide to follow suit, he will be your primary representative for comprehending the methodology of the General.

By choosing to work with the General, you'll gain access to a 'Cheat Death' mechanic, allowing you to survive otherwise impossible encounters via World Buff: General's Phalanx. When this 'Cheat Death' activates, you'll become completely immune to all damage for 10 seconds. Further favor with the General earns you the right to World Buff: General's Bulwark, which does the same thing, but with a much shorter cooldown in-between activations.

Beyond this, working with the General earns you access to a special ability called Heavy Ordnance, which allows you to call in a Nerubian airstrike on unsuspecting foes. In addition, you will be able to earn the Heritage Undercrawler mount and Anub title, along with access to Forgotten Memorials.

The post Should You Pact with the Weaver, General, or Vizier in The War Within? appeared first on Destructoid.

While there's no new base playable races or classes in The War Within, there is an unlockable race you can add to your roster. Sure, the Earthen aren't new to World of Warcraft. However, this particular kind we find have been hidden away from the rest of the world for a few millennia. Now they're ready to join the ranks of both the Horde and Alliance, and this guide will show you how.

What are the requirements for unlocking The Earthen Allied Race?

The key requirement for this new group of playable characters involves a heavy investment into The War Within's story. There are four specific elements that needed to get an achievement called "Allied Races: Earthen." Once you have that achievement, the new race is yours.

These achievement elements are going to be the main story campaign, as well as specific side quests focusing on the lives of the Earthen race. These requirements are:

• The War Within's campaign: Each of the four zones have a specific set of Campaign quests to finish, and a fifth set of quests exists at max level. It's a lot of story content to go through. Fortunately, it's very easy to identify exactly what quests you need to streamline the main storyline as fast as possible.
• Mourning Rise: A side quest chain in The Isle of Dorn starts with a quest titled "Before I depart," and ends with "The Weight of Duty." It's a bummer of a storyline, but it gives a lot of emotional depth to who the Earthen truly are.
• Broken Tools: This set of quests takes place in The Ringing Deeps. You'll be working with Machinist Kittrin on the quest "Discarded and Broken." You'll be through with this once you've completed "Reforged Purpose."
• Merrix and Steelvein: This is a series of quests that starts in Dornogal with "How Scandalous." It ends in the Ringing Deeps with "Bad Business," and is a great look at the political side of Earthen culture.

What are The Earthen's abilities?

Though they look like Dwarves, these new friends are more accurately described as "Living Constructs." They're made of stone and metal, but have plenty of free thoughts and emotions. A lot of these traits are reflected in their racial abilities.

• Azerite Surge: An empowered spell attack that is more powerful the longer you hold it. "Draw upon your inner strength. RElease to invoke the power of Azerite on a cone in front of you, dealing Fire damage." Rank 1 deals Fire damage, Rank 2 Heals allies hit by the effect, and Rank 3 deals additional Fire damage to the highest health enemy hit.
• Hyper Productive: Increases Finesse by 2%. That increases your chance of gathering additional materials when gathering. This a particularly strong race if you want a character who gathers materials for your alts or selling on the auction house. They CAN drink potions and flasks for additional benefits and healing.
• Ingest Minerals: You are always considered "Well Fed," because you cannot eat. This means you are unable to use normal food, and will require Mage Food to heal outside of combat. Bandages may still work.
  This ability allows you to instead consume a cut Khaz Algaar gem and change what your Well Fed benefit grants you. Raw gems will not work.

  • Amber = Stamina
  • Emerald = Haste
  • Onyx = Mastery
  • Ruby = Critical Strike
  • Sapphire = Versatility

• Titan-Wrought Frame: Base armor from equipped items is increased by 10%. This obviously benefits Plate wearers the most. Of course, there's something to be said about being a rogue with the best armor bonus.
• Wide-Eyed Wonder: When you gain experience for exploration, gain an additional 200%. This could help with faster leveling in new zones. It seems that you can still use The Warband Guide to Everywhere All At Once toy to uncover the map, but you still get discovery exp for actively being in each location. Still, it's probably easier to keep track of where you've been without it.

As for classes, the Earthen have access to a fairly standard set at creation. You can choose from Hunter, Mage, Monk, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock, or Warrior. If you're interested in being a Hunter, you'll get a unique starting pet of a Gruffhorn.

What are the Earthen's special features?

The Earthen come with a special starting racial mount, the Slatestone Ramolith. Like all allied race mounts, it's a ground-only mount.

Earthen also have a unique Heritage armor upon reaching Level 50. Only Earthen can wear it, and there's three color tints to choose from. Note: the old restriction that prevented you earning Allied Race Heritage Armor by race/faction changing a character has been removed. If you don't want to level a new character, race changing to Earthen will get you the new heritage armor.

The post How to unlock the Earthen Allied Race in World of Warcraft appeared first on Destructoid.

Dragonflight may be over, but one of its best features - customizable mounts - remains. This time, there's just one mount to customize: the Delver's Dirigible.

What's a dirigible? I think it's just an...old-timey flying machine? I mean, it sure looks like one. Here's how to get it.

Complete Chapter 1 of the War Within Campaign

First, you'll need to complete the entire first chapter of the campaign, which takes you through each of the expansion's zones, introducing you to new allies and races along the way. This is probably a given if you're, you know, playing the expansion.

Finishing the campaign will lead you back to Dornogal, where you'll pick up chapter 2 after reaching Renown level 4 with each faction.

Begin Chapter 2, and accept the 'Bountiful Delves' quest from Brann

A few short steps into the campaign's second chapter, you'll be shown around to various stations in Dornogal that pertain to the endgame, such as item upgrade vendors and the Delver's headquarters. The quest Bountiful Delves appears as a purple exclamation mark above Brann during this step, and you'll need to accept (and complete) it for the mount.

This quest requires you to get your hands on a Restored Coffer Key and complete a Bountiful Delve on any difficulty. You actually don't need to use the key in the Delve (which is helpful if you, like me, blew all yours during early access) to complete the quest, you only have to get your hands on one.

With those steps done, return to Brann and turn in your quest to get another one, which only has one step: receive your new mount. Congratulations!

The post How to unlock the Delver’s Dirigible customizable mount in WoW: The War Within appeared first on Destructoid.

Greetings, fellow spelunkers. If you're enjoying The War Within's new Delves (well, what's currently available, anyway), then you're also probably gunning for those Restored Coffer Keys, which give extra rewards at the end of their Bountiful variations. A word of warning, though: if you want to put them to good use, keep them in your back pocket a while longer.

Bountiful Delve rewards and you

Bountiful Delves reward a guaranteed piece of gear, assuming you've got a Restored Coffer Key to unlock their exclusive chest, of course. This piece of gear's item level and upgrade track will vary depending on the level of Delve you're tackling, with a hard cap at level 8 of item level 603.

This means you'll get the absolute best possible gear from any given Bountiful Delve at level 8. The problem? Those don't unlock until September 10, so if you're blowing your keys on the current highest level 3, you're doing yourself a disservice.

If a level 8 is a bit too salty for your taste, you can get "Champion" level gear (the highest upgrade track available in Delves) from level 7 as well. It'll just be two upgrade tiers lower, at an item level of 597.

Getting Restored Coffer Keys

None of this matters if you don't have keys. I have a whole heaping guide up over here, but the long and short of it is this: You get four guaranteed keys a week from "caches," those chests you get from weekly quests like Theatre Troupe, Spreading the Light, Special Assignment World Quests, etc. Beyond that, you'll need to get fragments from lucky World Quests or Worldsoul Memory Events. I'd say you can expect to get about five keys a week on average. Happy Delving!

The post A WoW: War Within reminder to save your Coffer Keys until next week appeared first on Destructoid.