The War Within Season 3 kicks off on August 12th, 2025, but Blizzard's rolling out content across several weeks. Here's what drops when, so you can plan your grind accordingly.
When Everything Launches
Pre-Season Week (August 5th)
You get a full week to prep before the real action starts. Campaign chapters 1-3 go live, giving you the story setup you'll need for later content. Every dungeon except Tazavesh opens on Normal, Heroic, and Mythic 0 - including the brand new Eco-Dome Al'dani. This is your chance to learn the fights before keystone season begins.
Delves unlock on all tiers, though you won't get Bountiful Delves or Coffer Keys yet. The new world boss Reshanor shows up too, so that's another weekly loot chance. Most importantly, Great Vault credit starts accumulating, so anything you do this week counts toward your first vault.
Full Season Launch (August 12th)
Everything else hits at once. Campaign chapter 4 and the expansion epilogue wrap up the story. Manaforge Omega raid opens with Raid Finder Wing 1, Normal, Heroic, and Mythic difficulties all available immediately.
Mythic+ season officially starts with the new dungeon pool, including both Tazavesh wings and Hard Mode. PvP season begins with talent updates and the new Vanquisher's Wake area. Delves get their full treatment - Bountiful runs, the Nemesis boss, and new Brann progression. Your Great Vault becomes claimable too.
Raid Wings Roll Out
Manaforge Omega follows the usual staggered release:
- Week of August 19th: Raid Finder Wing 2 and Story Mode
- Week of August 26th: Final Raid Finder Wing 3
Manaforge Omega: The Big Bad Raid
What You're Walking Into
Manaforge Omega wraps up The War Within's raid story on K'aresh, the shattered ethereal homeworld. The Shadowguard has taken over this cosmic energy harvesting facility to resurrect Void Lord Dimensius - yeah, the same guy who wrecked this place back in Burning Crusade.
The raid mixes outdoor areas with indoor facility sections, so expect varied encounter spaces and different types of environmental challenges.
All Eight Bosses
The raid's split into three tiers that ramp up in difficulty:
Boss Progression
Opening Tier (Bosses 1-3):
- Plexus Sentinel
- Loom'ithar
- Soulbinder Naazindhri
Middle Tier (Bosses 4-6):
- Forgeweaver Araz
- The Soul Hunters (optional)
- Fractillus
Final Tier (Bosses 7-8):
- Nexus-King Salhadaar
- Dimensius, the All-Devouring
The Soul Hunters fight is completely optional, so you can skip it if you're short on time but still want to progress to the final bosses. Perfect for guilds that can't commit to full clear nights every week.
Getting Inside: The Reshii Wraps Requirement
You can't even zone into Manaforge Omega without the Reshii Wraps cloak. Good news is you'll get it early - just complete "The Tabiqa" quest at the end of Chapter 3 in the main storyline. This unlocks on Day 1 of the patch, so you'll have it ready for raid launch.
The cloak doesn't just get you through the door. You'll phase dive and turn into energy to travel through the facility's mana pipes, plus use cloak abilities during actual boss fights. The quest also gives you your first Fiber (lets you add a secondary stat to the cloak) and 3 Ethereal Strands for upgrades.
Since it's the only cloak available in Season 3 content, gearing decisions get pretty simple for that slot.
Manaforge Vandals Progression
Like the Gallagio Loyalty system from last season, Manaforge Omega has its own renown track called Manaforge Vandals. You'll work through 15 renown levels that give you:
- Progressive raid buffs that get stronger as you level up
- Raid skips and teleports to cut down travel time
- Exclusive recipes for Enchanting, Engineering, and Inscription
- New mounts, pets, and transmog pieces
- Power increases for your Reshii Wraps
- The Bone Freezer mount and tons of other rewards
Loot Breakdown
Item levels scale across the three boss tiers, with final bosses dropping the highest gear:
| Difficulty | Bosses 1-3 | Bosses 4-6 | Bosses 7-8 | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raid Finder | 671 ilvl | 675 ilvl | 678 ilvl | Weathered Ethereal Crest |
| Normal | 684 ilvl | 688 ilvl | 691 ilvl | Carved Ethereal Crest |
| Heroic | 697 ilvl | 701 ilvl | 704 ilvl | Runed Ethereal Crest |
| Mythic | 710 ilvl | 714 ilvl | 717 ilvl | Gilded Ethereal Crest |
Mythic+ Season 3: New Dungeons and Rewards
The Dungeon Pool
Eight dungeons make up this season's rotation. The community voted on which War Within dungeons to bring back, and here's what made the cut:
Brand New:
- Eco-Dome Al'dani
Community Favorites from War Within:
- Ara-Kara, City of Echoes
- The Dawnbreaker
- Operation: Floodgate
- Priory of the Sacred Flame
Returning from Previous Expansions:
- Halls of Atonement (Shadowlands)
- Tazavesh: Streets of Wonder
- Tazavesh: So'leah's Gambit
Tazavesh's Back (Sort Of)
The old Tazavesh mega-dungeon got split into two separate Mythic+ dungeons. Streets of Wonder and So'leah's Gambit each run their own keystones from +2 to +15 - you're not doing some weird combined version anymore.
Both wings show up in Heroic Group Finder and drop Hero track gear. Tazavesh also works as a player hub on K'aresh for launching into other Season 3 content. The Mythic 0 version runs as Hard Mode by default, so expect it to hit harder than other M0s.
Keystone Rewards and Item Levels
Here's what you'll earn at each keystone level:
Even if you're not pushing the highest keys, your Great Vault will keep giving meaningful upgrades throughout the season.
Dungeon Waystones
Season 3 introduces Dungeon Waystones to fix the annoying checkpoint system. No more releasing your spirit and spawning in some random corner of the dungeon while your group wonders where you went. These waypoints make death recovery way more predictable, though specific locations aren't detailed yet.
Eco-Dome Al'dani: The New Dungeon
What's Inside
This three-boss dungeon on K'aresh continues the story after Manaforge Omega. You'll fight through creatures called life-consuming devourers and learn about the Wastelanders - survivors trying to protect what's left of their destroyed world.
- Location: K'aresh
- Bosses: 3
- Level Requirement: 80
- Difficulties: Normal, Heroic, Mythic 0, and Mythic+
Loot and Achievements
Gear scales normally across difficulties:
- Normal: 639 ilvl (can't upgrade)
- Heroic: 665 ilvl (Adventurer 4/8)
- Mythic: 681 ilvl (Champion 1/8)
You've got the usual achievement set:
- Basic clear: Beat Soul-Scribe on any difficulty
- Heroic achievement: Beat Soul-Scribe on Heroic+
- Mythic achievement: Beat Soul-Scribe on Mythic/Mythic+
- Keystone Hero: Complete a +10 in time
The Three Bosses
- Azhiccar: First boss, likely tied to the dome's life-preservation systems.
- Taah'bat and A'wazj: Dual-boss fight that'll test your group's coordination.
- Soul-Scribe: Final boss and the toughest challenge in the dungeon.
Delves Season 3: Solo Content Gets Better
The Archival Assault
The new delve sits in the Dragon Isles' Azure Vaults, where ethereals, ethereal pirates, and brokers are ransacking the place. You'll use your Reshii Wraps to unlock special challenge gateways leading to bonus bosses or challenge rooms.
One cool feature: you can actually see your friends inside the delve, even ghostly versions where they died. Adds some social elements to what's normally solo content.
Nemesis Boss: Nexus-Princess Ky'veza
Remember Ky'veza from Nerub-ar Palace? She vanished during that raid without getting properly defeated, and she mentioned letting bounties grow before collecting them. Well, Season 3 is payback time. You'll face her one-on-one in what should be a proper conclusion to that storyline.
Mount Rewards: Delver's Mana-Skimmer
The season's main mount comes from completing the Delves Meta Quest. The Delver's Mana-Skimmer is an aircraft that supposedly helps you "delve straight into adventure, or maybe other dimensions!"
Beat Ky'veza on ?? difficulty and you'll unlock an ethereal-themed version. Push even further with the "Let Me Solo Her" achievement and you'll get the Hyperdrive schematic for the ultimate visual upgrade.
More Delve Goodies
Season 3 adds new levels and Curios for Brann, making your AI companion more useful in delve content. You'll also pick up some new toys:
- Delver's Mana-Bound Ethergate: Opens a portal back to the Explorers' League base in Dornogal.
- Etheric Brannmorpher: Summons an Ethereal Transmorpher that can change your appearance.
Tier Sets and Hero Talents: Game-Changing Combos
How It Actually Works
Season 3 completely changes how tier sets function. Instead of fixed bonuses, your tier pieces give different effects based on which Hero Talent tree you pick. Same physical gear, totally different bonuses.
Each spec has two Hero Talent options. Pick Stormbringer as a Shaman and your tier set does one thing. Switch to Totemic and those same pieces suddenly have completely different effects. You're essentially getting double the tier set variety without needing separate gear sets.
This opens up some interesting build flexibility. You could potentially run the same tier pieces but swap Hero Talents for different content types - maybe one setup for raid and another for Mythic+.
PvP Season 3: New Talents and Rewards
Combat Updates
Several PvP talents are getting reworked for Season 3, though specific changes aren't detailed yet. The goal is "fresher and newer combat," so expect meaningful mechanical shifts rather than just number tweaks.
Vanquisher's Wake: New PvP Zone
Outdoor PvP fans get a dedicated area called Vanquisher's Wake. Just turn on War Mode and head in - no quest requirements, though there's a World Quest available if you want it. This should become a popular hangout spot for testing the new talent changes.
PvP Rewards Breakdown
Season 3 follows the standard ranked progression system:
PvP Ranking System
| Rank | Rewards | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Combatant I-II | Season 3 PvP Cloak, Legs, Bracers | Basic rating achievements |
| Challenger I-II | Gloves, Boots, Chest, Belt + "Voidborne Victor" meta | Mid-tier rating milestones |
| Rival I-II | Shoulder, Helm + Weapon Illusion: Arcane | Advanced ranking achievements |
| Elite Tier | Prestigious Cloak, Tabard + "Void Wear Prohibited" meta | Top-tier performance |
Prestige Rewards
- Gladiator (50 3v3 wins at Elite): Astral Gladiator's Fel Bat mount
- Astral Gladiator (top 0.1% 3v3 with 150+ wins): "Astral Gladiator" title
Specialized PvP Achievements
Different formats get their own reward tracks:
Solo Shuffle Focus:
- Battle Mender: 50 rounds as healer at Rival I+
- Legend: 100 rounds at Elite rank (Astral Legend's Pennant toy)
- Astral Legend: Top 0.1% with 50+ wins ("Astral Legend" title)
Battleground Achievements:
- Strategist: 25 Rated BG Blitz wins at Elite
- Astral Marshal/Warlord: Top 0.1% BG Blitz with 50+ wins
- Hero of Alliance/Horde: Top 0.5% rated BG with 50+ wins
Universal PvP:
- Astral Combatant: Win rated matches at 1000+ rating (Vicious Void Creeper mount)
- Astral Weapons of Conquest: Earn 2500 Conquest (2 weapon tokens)
Armor Sets
Four armor types cover all classes:
- Astral Gladiator's Plate: Death Knight, Paladin, Warrior
- Astral Gladiator's Leather: Demon Hunter, Rogue, Druid, Monk
- Astral Gladiator's Chain: Evoker, Hunter, Shaman
- Astral Gladiator's Silk: Mage, Priest, Warlock
World Boss: Reshanor, The Untethered
The Lore Behind the Fight
Reshanor represents K'aresh's eternal punishment after Dimensius destroyed the world. The ethereals believe this void creature keeps growing infinitely over time, repeatedly devouring both the planet and its people in an endless cycle of destruction.
When and How to Fight
Reshanor becomes available during the pre-season week (August 5th), giving you an early shot at gear before raids and Mythic+ launch. Like other world bosses, you'll probably get one kill per week for loot, so consistent participation pays off throughout the season.
Getting Ready for Season 3
Pre-Season Prep (August 5th Week)
Use this week to get ahead:
- Knock out campaign chapters 1-3 for any potential unlock requirements
- Run Eco-Dome Al'dani on multiple difficulties to learn the fights
- Jump into available delve content to understand the changes
- Kill Reshanor for potential gear upgrades
- Start building Great Vault credit through any available activities
Launch Week Priorities (August 12th)
When everything goes live:
- Complete "The Tabiqa" quest if you haven't already to get your Reshii Wraps
- Get your raid group together for Manaforge Omega progression
- Form Mythic+ groups familiar with the dungeon rotation
- Test different Hero Talent setups to see how tier bonuses change
- Check out the PvP talent updates and explore Vanquisher's Wake
Long-Term Season Goals
Plan your progression across multiple content types:
Raid Milestones:
- Clear Normal mode consistently for tier tokens
- Push into Heroic for major item level jumps
- Build up Manaforge Vandals renown for raid buffs
- Master Reshii Wraps mechanics for better encounter performance
Mythic+ Targets:
- Find your consistent keystone level for Great Vault rewards
- Learn the new dungeons, especially both Tazavesh wings
- Use Dungeon Waystones effectively for faster clear times
- Build appropriate gear sets for different dungeon challenges
Other Content:
- Complete delve meta progression for the mount
- Hit your target PvP rank for cosmetics and titles
- Keep up with weekly world boss kills for extra loot
- Experiment with new talent setups enabled by tier changes
Allows travel through mana pipes and essential raid mechanics. Only cloak available in Season 3 content.
- Massive content variety across all game modes
- Flexible tier set system with Hero Talents
- Improved Mythic+ quality of life features
- Epic storyline conclusion with Dimensius
- Enhanced delve social features
- Steep learning curve for new mechanics
- High gear requirements for top content
- Complex Hero Talent optimization needed
- Time-intensive across multiple content types
- Reshii Wraps dependency for raid access
Season 3 Meta Predictions
Key Differences from Season 2
Season 3 introduces several major changes that differentiate it from previous seasons:
- Hero Talent Tier Sets: Dynamic bonuses that change based on your talent choices
- Dungeon Waystones: Better death recovery mechanics in Mythic+
- Optional Raid Boss: First skippable encounter since Ulduar
- Enhanced Delve Social Features: See friends and their deaths in solo content
- Tazavesh Hub Integration: Central location for Season 3 activities
Essential Season 3 Priorities
Season 3 packs a lot of content into a tight schedule, but the staggered release gives you time to tackle everything without feeling overwhelmed. Focus on what interests you most while keeping an eye on weekly activities that boost your overall progression.