Dungeon Testing Schedule for The War Within Season 2

The dungeon testing for The War Within Season 2 is set to commence on the PTR realms this week. The testing phase will kick off on Tuesday, January 7th, at 10:00 PDT (13:00 EDT, 20:00 CEST) and will conclude on Tuesday, January 14th, at 10:00 PDT (13:00 EDT, 20:00 CEST). It is important to note that the testing schedule may be modified in response to any technical challenges that arise.

Testing Format Enhancements

For Season 2, the testing format has been refined to enhance feedback collection and support larger content and balance updates between each PTR cycle. The testing will include a daily rotation of affixes for key levels ranging from +2 to +12, with a specific focus on subsets of dungeons each week.Testing Schedule:

  • Week 1: Operation: Floodgate

  • Week 2: The War Within Dungeons (including Cinderbrew Meadery, Darkflame Cleft, Priory of the Sacred Flame, Rookery)

  • Week 3: Legacy Dungeons (Operation Mechagon: Workshop, THE MOTHERLODE!!!, Theater of Pain)

  • Week 4: The War Within Dungeons + Operation: Floodgate

  • Week 5: Legacy Dungeons + Operation: Floodgate

  • Week 6+: All Season 2 Dungeons

Affix Updates

Several adjustments to affixes and related systems will be available for testing. The affixes will rotate daily on the PTR realms to facilitate thorough examination.

  • Unified Creature Buffs: All Xal’atath’s Bargain affixes will now include Xal’atath’s Gift, enhancing damage dealt by up to 50% and reducing damage taken by up to 100% for 20 seconds for all nearby creatures in combat.

  • New Affix: Xal’atath’s Bargain: Pulsar: In combat, Xal’atath will summon pulsars that orbit players, which must be intercepted within a specified time limit. This affix replaces the previous Xal’atath’s Bargain: Oblivion.

  • Xal’atath’s Guile: This affix has been redesigned to increase the health and damage of enemies by 12% per level for keystones above level 12, as opposed to the previous 10% increase.

  • Xal’atath’s Bargain: Voidbound: Dark Prayer is no longer a channeling spell, and the Void Emissary will not provide damage reduction to creatures while active. Dark Prayer now has a 15-second cast time and grants Xal’atath’s Gift to all nearby creatures upon completion. The potency of Xal’atath’s Gift is based on the remaining shield percentage of the Void Emissary.

New Achievements and Rewards

A new achievement,Keystone Legend, has been introduced. Players achieving a rating of 2850 with Lindormi will receive a quest that prevents keystones of level 12 and above from being reduced below level 12 for the remainder of the season. Players can still consult Lindormi to lower their keystone level, and this feature includes the decay of keystone levels from the Great Vault.

During the testing period, players will have the opportunity to acquire and customize Mythic Keystones by interacting with the Keystone Vendor located in Stormwind or Orgrimmar. The nearby Dungeon Teleports NPC will assist with transportation.

7 Jan 2025