This Week in WoW - TWW Beta, Cata Classic Raids, and Summer Activities
WoW recap for early June 2024: The War Within Beta launched June 5, Cataclysm Classic raids went live, and PvP Season 9 began.
By:
John Langan
Key Takeaways
- The War Within Beta launched June 5, 2024, granting access first to Epic Edition purchasers followed by community invitations distributed via Battle.net.
- Beta content included the Earthen as a new playable allied race, new dungeons, delves, and the Warbands system, though raid testing was not yet open at launch.
- Three Cataclysm Classic raid dungeons opened the same week: The Bastion of Twilight, Blackwing Descent, and Throne of the Four Winds, each available on Normal and Heroic difficulty.
- The June 2024 Trading Post launched the X-treme Water Blaster Display as its featured cosmetic, available through the monthly currency system.
- PvP Season 9 began during this period, giving competitive players a fresh ladder and new rewards to pursue.
- The War Within later launched in August 2024 and has since been succeeded by the Midnight expansion, which is the current live expansion as of 2026.
The week of June 5, 2024 stacked a major beta launch, three returning classic raids, and a PvP season reset into a single window, making it one of the busiest release weeks of that year.
The War Within Beta Launch
Beta Access and Invitations
The War Within Beta opened on June 5, 2024. Players who purchased the Epic Edition of the expansion received immediate beta access as part of the bundle, which also guaranteed a minimum of three days early access to the full expansion at release. Additional invitations went to community members, content creators, and players selected through the opt-in system on Battle.net.
To confirm an invitation, players logged into their Battle.net account to verify the beta license appeared under their account. The standard setup steps were:
- Update graphics drivers to the latest available version.
- Open the Battle.net desktop app and check for pending updates.
- Select World of Warcraft from the game list, choose The War Within from the "In Development" section, and install the beta client.
- Create a new character, or use the character copy feature to transfer a Dragonflight character into the beta environment.
What the Beta Included
The War Within Beta shipped with a full leveling experience, access to new zones, and the Earthen as a playable allied race — a stone dwarf variant tied to the expansion's underground setting. Players could run new dungeons, try the Delves solo content system, and test the Warbands feature, which linked multiple characters on a single account under a shared progression layer. Raid testing was not yet open at the June 5 launch; that phase opened in the weeks following.
Cataclysm Classic Raids Open
The same week, Cataclysm Classic unlocked three tier-11 raid dungeons that originally shipped with Cataclysm in 2010. Each offered Normal and Heroic difficulty. Players running dungeons today can explore Mythic+ dungeon carry options for the current Midnight M+ pool.
| Raid Dungeon | Location | Main Bosses | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bastion of Twilight | Twilight Highlands | Cho'gall, Sinestra (Heroic only) | Centered on the Twilight's Hammer cult and its apocalyptic rituals. |
| Blackwing Descent | Burning Steppes | Nefarian, Maloriak | Set inside Nefarian's laboratory fortress above Blackrock Mountain. |
| Throne of the Four Winds | Uldum | Al'Akir | A sky-platform encounter in the elemental plane of air. |
Sinestra in Heroic Bastion of Twilight served as a secret boss, accessible only after meeting specific kill conditions on other bosses in the same lockout. She was the hardest encounter in the tier-11 pool at launch.
June Trading Post and PvP Season 9
June Trading Post
The June 2024 Trading Post featured the X-treme Water Blaster Display as its headline cosmetic, fitting the summer seasonal theme. Players earned Trader's Tender by completing the monthly activity log and spent it on the cosmetic items available that month. The Trading Post had been running since February 2023 as a way for players to earn exclusive cosmetics through in-game activity rather than direct purchase.
PvP Season 9
PvP Season 9 launched during the same window, resetting the Arena and Rated Battleground ladders and introducing new seasonal rewards. Competitive players chasing Gladiator or Legend titles had a fresh start, with gear rewards scaled to the current patch's item level ceiling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was The War Within Beta open to everyone?
No. Beta access in June 2024 was limited to Epic Edition purchasers and players who received invitations through the opt-in program on Battle.net. Purchasing the Epic Edition guaranteed entry, while general opt-in participants were selected in waves. The full expansion launched publicly in August 2024 without access restrictions.
Was raid content available at War Within Beta launch?
No. Raid testing was not part of the June 5 beta launch. The initial phase covered leveling zones, dungeons, delves, and the Warbands feature. Raid testing opened separately in later beta weeks after the core systems were more fully tuned.
What is the Earthen race from The War Within?
The Earthen were a stone dwarf allied race introduced in The War Within, connected to the Titan-forged history of Azeroth. They lived in Khaz Algar, the underground setting of the expansion. The Earthen became fully playable when the expansion launched publicly in August 2024 and remain available to unlock in the current game.
What raid difficulty did the Cataclysm Classic raids release with?
All three tier-11 raids launched with Normal and Heroic modes. Raid Finder (LFR) did not exist in Cataclysm Classic at the time. Heroic mode carried higher item-level loot and added Sinestra as a secret boss in Bastion of Twilight, reachable only after specific kill conditions in the same lockout.
Is The War Within still the current WoW expansion?
No. The War Within launched in August 2024 and was active through early 2026. It has since been succeeded by Midnight, which launched March 2, 2026 and is the current expansion. The War Within raids, achievements, and story content remain accessible for players who want to experience them.
How does the Trading Post work?
The Trading Post is a monthly cosmetic reward system introduced in February 2023. Each month, a rotating selection of mounts, pets, transmogs, and toys appears, purchasable with Trader's Tender. Players earn Tender by completing the monthly activity log through tasks like winning a battleground or completing dungeons. Items may rotate back in future months if not purchased.
What happened to WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria?
WoW Remix: Mists of Pandaria was a limited-time event that ran from May through August 2024, overlapping with The War Within Beta period. It allowed players to relive Pandaria content with an accelerated bronze-thread progression system. The event ended in August 2024 and is no longer active. Cosmetics and mounts earned during Remix transferred to players' main accounts and remain in collections.
Last reviewed 2026-06-20 against Patch 12.0.5 Lingering Shadows — Maintained by WowCarry's WoW team.