The War Within Season 1 Schedule and Raid Timetable
A full breakdown of The War Within Season 1 calendar: pre-patch, Early Access, the August 26 launch, and the staggered Nerub-ar Palace raid opening.
By:
John Langan
Key Takeaways
- The War Within entered Early Access on August 22, 2024 for Epic Edition owners and reached its global release on August 26, 2024.
- Season 1 began on September 10, 2024 with Nerub-ar Palace on Normal and Heroic, while Mythic+ and Mythic difficulty stayed locked until September 17.
- The Patch 11.0 pre-patch went live on July 23, 2024, with the Radiant Echoes event following on July 30.
- Dragonflight Season 4 closed on July 22, 2024, ending the Draconic Gladiator and Draconic Legend title races.
- Eight dungeons shipped with the expansion: four were playable while leveling from 70 to 80, and four opened at level 80.
- Raid Finder rolled out across three wings on September 10, 17, and 24, 2024.
Here is how the launch window and the Season 1 calendar actually played out for The War Within.
The War Within Launch and Season 1 Timeline
The War Within followed a staged rollout that started with the pre-expansion patch and built toward the Season 1 raid opening. Players who pre-purchased the Epic Edition stepped in three days early, and the competitive season landed two weeks after the global launch. These were the dates that shaped the opening weeks:
- July 22: End of the Dragonflight Season 4 PvP ladder and the Mythic+ seasonal rating
- July 23: Pre-expansion content update (Patch 11.0) release
- July 30: Radiant Echoes pre-expansion event
- August 20: Start of the PvP pre-season
- August 22: Early Access release; Normal dungeons opened
- August 26: Global launch at 3:00 pm PDT; Heroic dungeons opened
- September 10: Season 1 kickoff with Heroic raiding
- September 17: Mythic raiding and Mythic+ dungeons opened
- September 24: Third Raid Finder wing opened
Because the season started a full two weeks after launch, the opening days were a leveling and gearing race rather than a raid push.
End of Dragonflight Season 4
Before the new season took over, Dragonflight Season 4 wrapped up and closed out its competitive ladders. The last titles available from that season were tied to the top of the arena and Solo Shuffle rankings:
| Title | Achievement Requirement | Closure Date |
|---|---|---|
| Draconic Gladiator | Top 0.1% of the 3v3 arena ladder; 150 games won | July 22, 10:00 pm PDT |
| Draconic Legend | Top 0.1% of the Solo Shuffle ladder; 50 games won | July 22, 10:00 pm PDT |
That cutoff was the final chance to lock in those Dragonflight rewards before the rating reset for the new expansion.
The War Within Launch Dungeons
The expansion shipped with eight dungeons. Four were reachable during the leveling climb from 70 to 80, and four were level-80 dungeons that rounded out the Season 1 Mythic+ pool:
- Ara-Kara, City of Echoes (Levels 70-80)
- Priory of the Sacred Flame (Levels 70-80)
- The Rookery (Levels 70-80)
- The Stonevault (Levels 70-80)
- Cinderbrew Meadery (Level 80)
- City of Threads (Level 80)
- Darkflame Cleft (Level 80)
- The Dawnbreaker (Level 80)
Once the global launch arrived on August 26, every one of these also became available in Heroic difficulty, which set up the Mythic and Mythic+ rotation two weeks later.
Nerub-ar Palace and the Raid Schedule
The Season 1 raid, Nerub-ar Palace, held eight bosses and opened in stages. Normal and Heroic difficulty unlocked on September 10 alongside the first Raid Finder wing, but Mythic difficulty and Mythic+ dungeons did not arrive until September 17. That gap is why the first raid week ran with no Mythic+ at all: guilds cleared Heroic for gear while the keystone system stayed offline for another week. Raid Finder then filled out across three wings on September 10, 17, and 24, letting more casual groups work through the bosses as each wing opened. Players who want to revisit that tier today can book a Nerub-ar Palace clear with our team.
FAQ
When did The War Within launch?
The War Within opened in Early Access on August 22, 2024 for players who bought the Epic Edition, and it reached its global release on August 26, 2024 at 3:00 pm PDT. The Patch 11.0 pre-patch had already gone live on July 23, 2024.
When did The War Within Season 1 begin?
Season 1 started on September 10, 2024. That date brought Nerub-ar Palace on Normal and Heroic, the first Raid Finder wing, Mythic 0 dungeons, and the season's world bosses.
Why was Mythic+ unavailable during the first raid week?
Blizzard staggered the opening so that Mythic+ and Mythic Nerub-ar Palace both unlocked on September 17, a week after Heroic raiding began. The first week of Season 1 therefore had Heroic raiding but no Mythic+ keystones.
What dungeons launched with The War Within?
Eight dungeons shipped: Ara-Kara, City of Echoes, Priory of the Sacred Flame, The Rookery, and The Stonevault were available while leveling, and Cinderbrew Meadery, City of Threads, Darkflame Cleft, and The Dawnbreaker were the level-80 dungeons.
What happened to the Dragonflight Season 4 titles?
Dragonflight Season 4 ended on July 22, 2024. The Draconic Gladiator title required a top 0.1% finish in 3v3 with 150 wins, and Draconic Legend required a top 0.1% Solo Shuffle finish with 50 wins. Both closed at 10:00 pm PDT that night.
When did Mythic Nerub-ar Palace open?
Mythic Nerub-ar Palace opened on September 17, 2024, the same day Mythic+ dungeons and the raid's Story Mode became available. The third Raid Finder wing followed on September 24.
Last reviewed 2026-06-22 against Patch 11.0.2 The War Within — Maintained by WowCarry's WoW team.