Summary
The War Withinis thetenth expansion inWorld of Warcraft. Each expansion has a wealth of new content that builds on prior additions and features. These additions may be wholly new systems, such as the recent Warbands or Hero Talents, or further iterations of previous systems. One of the biggest content additions to each expansion is the dungeons.
Dungeons inWorld of Warcraftare five-player, PvE instances that see players adventure through a location and kill enemies and bosses to obtain loot, be it gear, transmog, pets,or mounts. These dungeons come in a series of increasing difficulties, each offering better rewards than the last.The War Withinadded eight dungeons, all of which are solid additions to the extensive roster of dungeons in the game. Despite all of them being polished and well-made, others fall short when compared to their counterparts, and some stand out as impressive and compelling designs, be they aesthetically or mechanically.
A Little Uninspired
Loot Breakdown:
The Stonevault is a dungeonin the Ringing Deepsthat houses four bosses. These are E.D.N.A., Skarmorak, The Master Machinists, and Void Speaker Eirich. The dungeon is set in a large mechanized underground facility, not unlike that of the Titan Facilities. Players are ultimately tasked with defeating Void Speaker Eirich, who aims to further increase the power of his newfound void infusion that has driven him to the brink of insanity.
The Stonevault is a solid dungeon, although one that is potentially too safe and plain when compared to the other dungeons in the expansion. None of the boss encounters are massively memorable and the setting, while interesting, provides a rather standard aesthetic to the dungeon that many players find lacking. When compared to otherWar Withindungeons, the Stonevault simply lacks a lot of the artistic flair that others have in spades.
Interesting Setting, Annoying Start
The City of Threads is a four-boss dungeon located in Azj-Kahet. The bosses found within are Orator Krix’vizk, The Fangs of the Queen, The Coaglamation, and Izo, the Grand Splicer. The dungeon is set deep within the City of Threads within a Nerubian facility that is being used to forcefully evolve Nerubians into the peak of their power, wherein “worthy” Nerubians shall “ascend.” Players are tasked by the Weaver and the Vizier to put a stop to this.
The setting of City of Threads is incredible and immersive. The City of Threads itself looks incredible and has an inspired, unique design that continues the oft-praised design ofAzj-Kahet as a whole. The main thing that turns away many players from City of Threads is the first boss, which requires players to find multiple smaller bosses while avoiding getting caught, lest they be teleported back to the start. This, while a thematically coherent mechanic, given the stealthy qualities of the Weaver and the players' antics in Azj-Kahet, slows down the pace of the dungeon massively. This is especially prevalent when compared to a lot of the other dungeons inThe War Withinthat allow players to move through them at a relatively quick pace.
A Solid Entry
The Rookery is a three-boss dungeon locatedon the Isle of Dornwithin the capital city and hub city of the expansion, Dornogal. The Rookery, as the name suggests, is the home of the Stormrooks and their riders, the Stormriders. The Rookery and its inhabitants have been overrun and corrupted by void magic, so players must enter and defeat the bosses within to cleanse the Rookery of the void. The bosses found inside are Kryos, Stormguard Gorren, and The Voidstone Monstrosity.
The Rookery is a solid entry to the dungeon pool, with a unique level of verticality as the dungeon technically takes place at five different levels of elevation. The placement of the first boss is odd, sitting rather randomly out in the open, but subsequent bosses are good, and the dungeon is well laid out and has a good setting. Its position in the rankings merely reflects the quality of otherWar Withindungeons and their theming and design, which allow them to take a position above The Rookery.
A Unique Experience
Darkflame Cleft is a four-boss dungeon located in the Ringing Deeps. Once an active mine, inhabited by the earthen machine speakers, Darkflame Cleft has since fallen into disrepair under the occupation of the tyrannical kobold Candle King and his men. Players must liberate the oppressed workers and kobolds under the influence of the Candle King, ultimately defeating their greatest fear, an entity known as The Darkness. The four bosses found within Darkflame Cleft are Ol’Waxbeard, Blazikon, The Candle King, and The Darkness.
Darkflame Cleft is a unique adventure through an abandoned mine, providing an unsettling but very kobold-heavy experience that fleshes out the kobolds found within the area. The most unique element comes in the fight with The Darkness, in which players must first navigate the dark via candlelight, ensuring they aren’t consumed by the shadows. At the end of that segment, players can damage The Darkness boss in a literal on-rails minecart chase that sees players hurling dynamite at the boss. Finally, players fight and defeat The Darkness in a normal boss encounter. These unique mechanics and interesting framing of the final boss encounter ensure players have a memorable dungeon experience. Some players have criticized the nature of the shadows section, bringing the position of Darkflame Cleft into contention with regard to the rankings.
A Great Atmosphere
Ara-Kara, City of Echoes is a three-boss dungeon located in Azj-Kahet. The three bosses found inside are Avanoxx, Anub’zekt, and Ki’katal The Harvester. The dungeon is another with Nerubian theming and setting, lying beneath the City of Threads. Players must venture within Ara-Kara to stop a plot in which Ansurek would forcefully “ascend” all Nerubians.
Ara-Kara, City of Echoes is an incredibly well-designed dungeon. It merges an almost old god aesthetic (given its position as an old god dig site) with that of the spider-like Nerubians found within Azj-Kahet and the City of Threads. This aesthetic matches the surrounding zone perfectly and arguably handles the Nerubian designs better than City of Threads does, not to mention it being a more straightforward but inspired dungeon structure.
Fun And Unique
The Dawnbreaker is a three-boss dungeon located in the Hallowfall zone. The three bosses players will encounter are Speaker Shadowcrown, Anub’ikkaj, and Rasha’nan. The dungeon is centered around the defense of the new Arathi warship, the Dawnbreaker. Under the pretense of witnessing the maiden voyage of the Dawnbreaker, players are welcomed aboard, only to end up having to defend the ship from encroachers.
The Dawnbreaker is the only dungeon in War Within that utilizes skyriding mechanics. While divisive, as when utilized inDragonflight, many players find the use of the skyriding mechanics logical and engaging. Players find themselves taking flight to avoid attacks and bouncing ship-to-ship atop the skyriding mount of their choice. The airship setting evokes memories of Icecrown Citadel and this setting, coupled with the flow of the dungeon and skyriding features, allows for a unique and compelling dungeon experience.
A Brilliant Setting
Cinderbrew Meadery is a four-boss dungeon located on the Isle of Dorn. The bosses players will encounter are Brew Master Aldyr, Benk Buzzbee, I’pa, and Goldie Baronbottom. The meadery is where earthen mead is produced, although it has since undergone a hostile takeover at the hands of the goblin entrepreneur, Goldie Baronbottom. Players must return the meadery to the hands of the earthen.
Cinderbrew Meadery is an incredible setting, immersing players in a more lighthearted setting while contributing to slice-of-life development opportunities for theearthens, the newest allied race. The bee theme, alongside the well-designed interior, gives a warm and cozy feel to the setting. The dungeon design is solid and the bosses are engaging and fun.
Great Setting and Atmosphere
Priory of the Sacred Flame is a three-boss dungeon located in Hallowfall, specifically at a high point in the city of Mereldar. The priory is home to rather frenetic religious zealots, looking down on the people of Mereldar for their perceived lack of faith. This has driven the inhabitants of the priory to isolate themselves with their sense of superiority. The three bosses players will encounter within the Priory of the Sacred Flame are Sergeant Shaynemail, Taenear Duelmal, and Elaena Emberlanz.
The priory itself is grand in scale, and a true gorgeous sight to behold, with bright holy lights and tall ceilings creating a true sense of superiority. The interior is adorned with gold and red, perfectly adhering to the grandiose iconography of theArathi in Hallowfall, also seen within the plate set that can be obtained from the zone. The dungeon also has a unique final encounter, as players ascend stairs and are ambushed by waves of zealots as they fight the final boss, further adding to the feel of how dedicated those within the priory are, throwing themselves into battle. Overall, Priory Of The Sacred Flame is a well-made dungeon, which is a good length, has solid boss encounters, and is incredibly visually appealing.
