Delves are a new endgame activity introduced in the The War Within expansion, blending elements of adventure, challenges, and character progression. These are short instanced scenarios that can be completed solo or in a group of 2 to 5 players.
Each Delve offers a unique storyline and objectives that players must accomplish to succeed. While the maps in Delves remain static, their content updates weekly. Enemy compositions, traps, bonuses, and even the final boss can change from week to week. Notably, the boss may not always be included in the current week’s configuration, making each Delve a fresh and unpredictable experience.
Delves feature Tiers (levels of difficulty) ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 11. Higher tiers require more preparation and coordination, providing players with increasingly demanding challenges.
Delves Feature – NPC Companion
One of the standout features of Delves is the inclusion of an NPC companion who accompanies the player. This companion is not just an assistant but also a critical strategic asset that can be customized to fit the player’s needs. The companion can assume one of two roles:
- Combat — Focused on dealing damage to enemies.
- Healer — Specializes in support and healing the player
Companions can be upgraded using Curios, special items that enhance their abilities. For instance, you can increase their damage, stamina, or healing efficiency. As you progress through Delves, the companion gains experience, allowing it to level up and become more effective. This experience is shared with your Warband, benefiting all characters.
In group scenarios, the role of the companion is determined by the group leader. However, experience gained during the run is allocated individually, enabling players to develop their companions independently of group success.
Unlocking Difficulty Levels (Tiers)
Players begin their journey in Delves through an introductory quest in the main campaign. This quest takes you to the starting location, Earthcrawl Mines, on the Isle of Dorn. It serves as a tutorial, introducing players to the mechanics and unique aspects of Delves.
Initially, only three difficulty levels (Tiers 1–3) are available. To unlock higher tiers, players must meet the following requirements:
- Reach level 80.
- Complete the main campaign with their first character.
- Have an item level of at least 548 in all slots.
Once these criteria are met, the achievement
War Within Delves: Endgame
is unlocked, granting access to Tier 4. To unlock subsequent tiers, players must complete the previous tier. For example, completing Tier 4 unlocks Tier 5, and so on, up to Tier 11.
A unique feature of Delves is that completing a tier in one location unlocks that tier across all Delves, simplifying progression. Additionally, your Warband gains simultaneous access to these tiers.
Difficulty and Rewards
Rewards in Delves scale with the chosen difficulty tier. The higher the tier, the better the gear and rewards. However, tiers 4 to 8 are often not as challenging as they are time-consuming, which leads many players to use WoW Boosting services related to Delves to unlock these tiers more efficiently.
- Maximum rewards, including top-tier gear, can be earned at Tier 8.
- Tiers 9–11 do not improve the quality of rewards but offer unique achievements and challenging content for experienced players.
Below is the recommended item level for each Delve tier:
| Tier | Recommended Item Level (iLevel) |
| Tier 1 | 515+ |
| Tier 2 | 532+ |
| Tier 3 | 545+ |
| Tier 4 | 548+ |
| Tier 5 | 567+ |
| Tier 6 | 574+ |
| Tier 7 | 587+ |
| Tier 8 | 600+ |
| Tier 9 | 610+ |
| Tier 10 | 623+ |
| Tier 11 | ??? (“Unfathomable Challenge”) |
Rewards in Delves
Each Delve concludes with a treasure room, where players find Heavy Trunks—chests containing personalized loot. The reward system in Delves is designed to ensure every item is relevant to the player’s class and level. Rewards include:
- High-level gear.
- Undercoin, an in-game currency.
- Resonance Crystals for upgrades and rare item exchanges.
- Quest-related items.
- Companion upgrades.
- Cosmetic elements and other rare treasures.
Bountiful Delves
For level 80 players, Bountiful Delves become available. These special versions offer exclusive rewards:
- High-level gear.
- Rare cosmetic items.
- Additional currencies.
- Curios for upgrading companions.
The standout feature of Bountiful Delves is the Bountiful Coffers, chests that can only be opened with Restored Coffer Keys. These keys can be obtained by collecting 100 fragments or purchasing them from NPCs for in-game currency. Completing a Bountiful Delve for the first time rewards players with a unique mount, the Delver’s Dirigible, which can be customized.
Achievements and Exclusive Rewards
Completing Delves contributes to various achievements and exclusive rewards, such as:
- Delver’s Dirigible Schematic: Void — a cosmetic customization for the dirigible, earned by completing the achievement Let me solo him!.
- Zekvir’s Raptorial Spine — a cosmetic reward for completing the Nemesis achievement.
- Ivory Goliathus — a mount granted for completing the meta-achievement Glory of the Delver.
Conclusion
Delves are an exciting endgame activity offering players opportunities for character progression, challenging gameplay, and rare rewards. With its customizable NPC companions, scalable difficulty levels, and diverse rewards, every Delve run provides a fresh and engaging experience. Whether you’re venturing solo or with a group, Delves offer content that will keep players captivated for hours. Prepare for new challenges, level up your companions, and conquer the world of Delves!
