The War Within Launch Features and Release Schedule

Key Takeaways

• The War Within launched on August 26, 2024, with three days of early access from August 22 for Epic Edition buyers, on launch patch 11.0.2.
• The expansion added the Earthen allied race, unlocked by completing the max-level campaign rather than picked at character creation.
• Delves arrived as solo-friendly mini-dungeons run with the companion Brann Bronzebeard.
• Hero Talents unlocked from level 71 and finished filling out by level 80.
• Players explored four Khaz Algar zones, Isle of Dorn, The Ringing Deeps, Hallowfall, and Azj-Kahet, from the capital of Dornogal.
• The Epic Edition bundled the Squally pet, the Sandbox Storm Gryphon toy, and early access; the Heroic Edition added the Algarian Stormrider mount and a level 70 boost.

Here is how the launch broke down, feature by feature.

What The War Within Added at Launch

The War Within opened the Worldsoul Saga and took players beneath the surface of Azeroth into the underground kingdoms of Khaz Algar. The launch shipped a stack of new systems alongside the usual zones, dungeons, and a raid, and several of them, especially Delves and Hero Talents, became permanent fixtures that carried into later content. This is a look back at what arrived when the expansion went live in August 2024.

The Earthen Allied Race

The Earthen are a titan-forged race carved from living stone, and both the Alliance and the Horde could recruit them. Unlocking them did not happen at character creation, though. Players first had to earn the Allied Races: Earthen achievement by completing the max-level War Within campaign, along with the optional story chapters on the Isle of Dorn and in The Ringing Deeps. Notably, the Earthen were the first allied race that did not require a separate recruitment scenario; finishing the expansion's own story was the unlock.

Delves and Brann Bronzebeard

Delves were the headline new feature, a set of instanced mini-dungeons built for one to five players and tuned to run in roughly ten to fifteen minutes. Every Delve came with Brann Bronzebeard as an AI companion. At launch you could set Brann to play as a damage dealer or a healer, and his tank role and the curio loadout system came later in Patch 11.1 rather than on day one. For groups that would rather skip straight to the rewards, WowCarry can handle a full Delve clear on your behalf.

Hero Talents

Hero Talents added a second layer of class customization on top of the existing trees. Each specialization chose between two themed Hero Talent trees, and points started flowing in at level 71, with the tree fully filled out by the time a character reached level 80. The system gave every spec a fresh set of choices to make while leveling through Khaz Algar.

The Zones of Khaz Algar

The expansion's leveling path ran through four connected zones. The journey began on the Isle of Dorn, home to the capital city of Dornogal, then descended into The Ringing Deeps, climbed into the sunless cavern of Hallowfall, and finally reached the nerubian heart of Azj-Kahet. Each zone carried its own dungeons and its own slice of the story.

Release Schedule and Early Access

The War Within went live simultaneously across the Americas, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, and Australia and New Zealand. Epic Edition buyers got in three days early. The local times worked out as follows:

With the timings settled, the only real decision left for most players was which edition to buy.

Collector's Editions

The expansion sold in three tiers. The Base Edition was the game itself. The Heroic Edition added the Algarian Stormrider mount with its dynamic-flight customization, the Stormrider's Attire transmog set, an enhanced level 70 character boost, and 1,000 Trader's Tender. The Epic Edition included everything in Heroic plus three days of early access, beta access, 30 days of game time, the Squally storm hatchling pet, the Sandbox Storm Gryphon toy, and the Deepdweller's Earthen Hearthstone effect.

Epic owners could also run the quest Gryphons of a Feather to track down Squally's three siblings, Flash, Gale, and Thundo, as extra battle pets. If you want a head start on the climb to level 80, WowCarry can power-level a War Within character for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did The War Within launch?

The War Within launched globally on August 26, 2024, on patch 11.0.2. Epic Edition buyers received three days of early access starting August 22, 2024.

How do you unlock the Earthen allied race?

The Earthen were unlocked by earning the Allied Races: Earthen achievement, which required completing the max-level War Within campaign plus the optional story chapters on the Isle of Dorn and in The Ringing Deeps. They were the first allied race with no separate recruitment quest.

What are Delves in The War Within?

Delves are instanced mini-dungeons for one to five players, designed to run in about ten to fifteen minutes. They are completed with the AI companion Brann Bronzebeard, who could be set as a damage dealer or healer at launch.

What is the capital city of The War Within?

Dornogal is the capital city of The War Within, located on the Isle of Dorn. It serves as the main hub for the earthen dwarves of Khaz Algar and as the player home base for the expansion.

When do Hero Talents unlock?

Hero Talents begin unlocking at level 71 and are fully filled out by level 80. Each specialization picks between two themed Hero Talent trees that layer on top of the standard talent trees.

What came in the Epic Edition of The War Within?

The Epic Edition included everything in the Heroic Edition plus early access, beta access, 30 days of game time, the Squally pet, the Sandbox Storm Gryphon toy, and the Deepdweller's Earthen Hearthstone effect.

Last reviewed 2026-06-22 against Patch 11.0.2 The War Within. Maintained by WowCarry's WoW team.