Summary
Delves are the newest feature inWorld of Warcraft, released as part of theWar Withinexpansion.Delves are small, scaling instancesthat can be done either solo or with up to four other players. Delves are almost like small dungeons, wherein players must progress through certain objectives as well as fight enemies and bosses to obtain loot. Delves have the unique mechanic of being able to progress through them with a companion, initially Brann Bronzebeard.
There are twelve total delves inThe War Within, each offering a unique setting for players to traverse in their pursuit of loot. There are multiple delve tiers, each rewarding better loot and gear than the previous tier. The loot players can obtain from delves is not dissimilar to loot that players could expect from dungeons or raids, such as gear, profession recipes,mounts, and pets.
12Waterworks
Frustrating To Traverse
The Waterworks is a Kobold delvelocated within the Ringing Deeps. As the name would suggest, it takes place in the Waterworks of the Ringing Deeps, now overrun by kobolds. The boss of the Delve is called Waxface, a large and fearsome kobold. This boss attacks mostly with short-range AOE attacks that cause knockback.
Many players consider The Waterworks to be the worst delve inWorld of Warcraft. This is for a multitude of reasons, the most prominent reasoning being the seemingly longer duration, and the obnoxious mob density and grouping. The most maligned element of The Waterworks is its air purifier mechanic. This requires players to repeatedly refresh and maintain their air purifier to avoid taking damage. This mechanic hinders player pathing and movement, creating a restrictive and irritating experience.
11Kriegvals Rest
Quite Uninspired
Kriegvals Rest is a Kobold delvelocated on the Isle of Dornin the Mourning Rise area. As with the other Kobold Delves, Kriegvals Rest sees players attempting to rid the area of a Kobold infestation. This time, the Kobolds are raiding and occupying an ancient Dornish tomb. The boss of the Delve is Tomb-Raider Drywhisker, a large Kobold who uses a variety of damage and has a fairly significant “Raging Tantrum” ability which buffs him and causes knockback to players.
Kriegvals Rest is a somewhat uninspiring and plain setting. While thematically interesting, the Delve does not have the most engaging design. The mechanic is another attempt at a creative management system, with players needing to ensure their candlelight doesn’t run out, lest they lose a significant portion of their vision. This mechanic is thematically significant, given the nature of Kobolds and their candles, but the execution isn’t too interesting and it becomes quite irritating.
10Mycomancer Cavern
Good Theming But Somewhat Bland
Mycomancer Cavern is a Fungarian Delve located in the Growling Hollow area ofHallowfall. The cavern is full of spore-type enemies, be they mushrooms or swamp monster-adjacent creatures. Players must aid a farmer in returning his farm animals. The boss of the Delve is called Bogpiper and is a large swamp monster that spawns spores that can cause knockback and interrupts.
Mycomancer Cavern is the slightly less irritating Fungarian Delve, slightly lacking verticality when compared to its counterpart, Fungal Folly. It has a generally simplistic design and, while thematically interesting, simply doesn’t compare to Fungal Folly, while maintaining the annoyance of its traversal mechanics in the form of mushrooms that must be used to awkwardly jump to higher platforms.
9Fungal Folly
Fun Theme, But Annoying Traversal
Fungal Folly is a Fungarian Delve located in the Boskroot Baisin area of the Isle of Dorn. It is another cave filled with fungal enemies, in which players must traverse through a series of exploding mushrooms and fungal threats. The boss of the Delve is Spinshroom, a boss which, as the name would suggest, has a spinning mechanic that requires players to stand back to not be interrupted or knocked back.
Fungal Folly, as mentioned regarding Mycomancer Cavern, has an annoying traversal mechanic. This mechanic requires players to jump onto mushrooms to reach higher platforms. This mechanic is rather clunky in its functionality. Despite this, Fungal Folly is marginally more interesting inside, with mushroom enemies that must be avoided. These enemies can also be used to damage other mobs in the area, creating a risky but rewarding loop of attempting to avoid them while having them deal damage to other enemies. The boss, Spinshroom, is also a fun one, requiring plenty of dodging and moving, which creates an engaging fight.
8The Sinkhole
A Fun Underwater Adventure Marred By Its Mechanic
The Sinkhole is a Kobyss Delve, located in the Hallowfall Hungering Pool. Players must dive into a sinkhole, and then traverse underwater to access the delve. This delve is one of two that is set entirely underwater and sees players attempting to free a large kraken from the Kobyss. The boss of the Delve is Mirror Master Murkna. This is an interesting boss, who, alongside standard damaging abilities, summons decoy enemies that take the appearance of the players as well as their Delve companion.
The Sinkhole is an interestingly themed location, immersing players in a visually appealing underwater setting. The Delve also has an engaging and well-designed boss, both mechanically and regarding visuals. Despite this, it is another Delve marred by a mechanic, this time, an oxygen meter. Players must obtain air bubbles to maintain their oxygen supply to ensure they don’t take massive ticking damage from being without oxygen. This mechanic, while thematically consistent, is one that players find detracts from the fun of the Delve.
A Simplistic Yet Atmospheric Adventure
The Dread Pit is a Nerubian Delve located in the Chittering Den, within the Ringing Deeps zone. The Dread Pit is a cavern and a series of natural walkways overlooking a large, seemingly bottomless chasm. Players must enter and tackle the Nerubian threat inside. The boss of the Delve is Under-Lord Vik’tis, a boss who uses many telegraphed avoidable abilities to challenge players on their ability to dodge attacks.
While simplistic in its format, The Dread Pit is a perfectly enjoyable experience, with the Nerubian Presence and ominous pit below serving to provide a compelling atmosphere. There are no inconvenient or bothersome mechanics, and the boss fight is engaging and fun. The simplicity of The Dread Pit only adds to its merit.
6Earthcrawl Mines
A Solid Delve Experience
Earthcrawl Mines is a Nerubian Delve located near Freywold Village on the Isle of Dorn. It is the first delve players will play as part of the campaign inThe War Within. Earthcrawl Mines, as the name would suggest, is a mine that has been overrun by Nerubians. Players must ward off the Nerubian occupiers and free any webbed miners. The boss of the Delve is Web General Ab’enar who has an ability in which he covers the floor with webs, forcing players to dodge a minecart he webs toward them.
The Delve is the perfect introductory experience and, while not too complex or in-depth, provides players with a standard interesting Delve. Players can use the Webbed Hookshot, a tool that allows them to latch onto nearby grappling points to save some of the miners and traverse uniquely. The Webbed Hookshot tool utilizes the spider-like Nerubian theme well. The boss is fun and engaging too, with a well-themed web mechanic that requires some quick dodging. While the overall design of the area leaves players with much to desire, Earthcrawl Mines remains a solid introductory Delve.
5Skittering Breach
An Immersive Setting With A Solid Final Boss
Skittering Breach is a Nerubian Delve located in the Sanguine Grasps area of Hallowfall. It takes the form of an underground Nerubian facility which players must infiltrate to deal with the ultimate threat inside. The threat located within Skittering Breach is the final boss, Nerl’athekk The Skullking, a Faceless One who uses shadow-based spells to attack the players. They also summon an assortment of mobs throughout the fight, in the form of faceless devotees.
Skittering Breach is an incredibly compelling delve regarding its design and setting. The Nerubian themed settings are some of the most beloved locales added toWar Within, garnering much praise from the player base. Skittering Breach is no different, providing an immersive adventure through one of these unsettling but intricate Nerubian facilities. The final boss is well-designed, tasking players with avoiding many abilities while they fight off the summoned faceless devotees. The boss is also particularly fitting and a potential omen of what is to come, given the fact they are a Faceless One.
4Tak-Rethan Abyss
The Superior Underwater Delve
Tak-Rethan Abyss is a Kobyss Delve located in the Salien Guttersarea of Azj-Kahet. This is the final of the two underwater Delves added inTheWar Withinand sees players once again tackle the Kobyss threat. The boss is called the Undersea Abomination and has a series of frontal and conal attacks that players must avoid.
Tak-Rethan Abyss is a far more bright and visually appealing underwater dungeon when compared to The Sinkhole. While it maintains the breathing mechanic, Tak-Rethan Abyss is far more linear and easy to navigate, meaning maintaining oxygen levels is a far more natural task than in The Sinkhole. The boss of Tak-Rethan Abyss is incredibly compelling, with players facing off against a large creature, needing to use their movement to avoid attacks in what ends up being an engaging fight. Tak-Rethan Abyss utilizes the underwater aspect far better, and players are much more immersed in the setting when not frantically managing the oxygen mechanic.
3The Underkeep
A Concise Nerubian Themed Escapade
The Underkeep is a Nerubian Delve located in the City of Threads in Azj-Kahet. It is a Nerubian lab that is conducting experiments and players must put a stop to the abominable acts taking place within. The boss of the Delve is Researcher Ven’Knex, the monster to blame for what is taking place inside. The boss fight includes multiple traps that are empowered during the encounter and must be avoided.
The Underkeep is an incredibly immersive and well-themed Delve that is concise, only being made up of a few rooms before the boss room. The boss fight is on the more difficult side when compared to other Delves, as players must avoid the streams between the traps while still doing damage, making the fight especially tough for melee. This is a much-desired challenge, however, as many players find Delves to be on the easier side. The main merit of The Underkeep comes from its concise but detailed design and, while it isn’t the best example of a Nerubian Delve, it is certainly a well-liked Delve overall.
