Keystone Boost: Mythic+ Carry in The War Within Season 2, Patch 11.0

The War Within Season 2 (Patch 11.0) introduces significant changes to Mythic+ dungeons. From new ways to acquire more powerful gear to the updated Crest System for upgrades, there are plenty of exciting updates to keep dungeon runners on their toes. Let’s take a brief look at the changes in this patch:

• Gear Item Level Rewards – New item level thresholds for both end-of-dungeon rewards and the Great Vault, including revamped “Champion,” “Hero,” and “Myth” upgrade tiers.
• Mythic+ Rating – The official in-game scoring system continues to evolve; Season 2 includes new rating thresholds and potential achievements to match the season’s higher item levels.
• Mythic+ Achievements & Teleports – Keystone Hero is now earned at +10, awarding dungeon teleports. Additional achievements come with special mounts, titles, or other perks.
• New Seasonal Affixes – Xal’atath’s Bargain and Xal’atath’s Guile introduce unique mechanics reminiscent of previous expansions’ seasonal twists, but with a fresh cosmic horror theme.
• Crest System – Replaces or expands upon traditional Valor, offering new ways to upgrade gear from Mythic+ content.

Below, we delve into each of these changes in more detail.

Gear Item Level Rewards from Mythic+ in Patch 11.0

Item levels for both end-of-dungeon chests and Great Vault rewards have been increased for The War Within Season 2. Below is a table noting item level drops at various key levels, their corresponding upgrade tiers, and how many Crests you will earn.

Mythic+ Season 2 Item Level Loot Table

Below is a table noting item level and crest reward drops based on the Keystone Level completed.

Overall, running higher-level keys will yield better item levels and more valuable Crests for gear upgrades. Meanwhile, the Great Vault remains your best bet for top-tier gear each week—so be sure to tackle as many high keys as you can to maximize your reward options.

Mythic+ Season 2 Dungeon Pool and Timers

Below is a table detailing the dungeon timers for The War Within Season 2 Mythic+ and the time requirements for completing the dungeons at +2 and +3 levels.

Completing dungeons within the required times will ensure you meet the standards for +2 and +3 Mythic+ levels. Be sure to monitor the timers closely and aim for faster completions to maximize your rewards and progression in The War Within: Season Two.

Mythic+ Rating – Official Mythic+ Scoring System by Blizzard

Blizzard’s in-game Mythic+ Rating system returns in The War Within Season 2, with adjustments to align with the new item level caps. As before, your rating will increase the more dungeons you complete on higher keystones, and timing your runs will grant you extra points.

Some highlights for the new season:

• Adjusted Score Thresholds: Expect new breakpoints for achievements or feats of strength, reflecting the higher item levels now available.
• Competition and Leaderboards: Top players are still recognized on the official Blizzard leaderboards. Keep an eye out for new achievements, titles, or even cosmetic rewards tied to your rating.
• Quality of Life: The in-game rating system remains fully integrated—no more needing to rely solely on third-party tools to gauge performance or compare progress.

Mythic+ Achievements & Teleports in Season 2

New Seasonal Mythic+ Achievements: Keystone Legend and Resilient Keystone

• Keystone Legend (3000 Rating):
  The War Within Keystone Legend: Season Two requires players to reach a Mythic+ Rating of at least 3000 during The War Within Season Two.
  Reward: Enterprising Shreddertank mount (a chrome-polished variant similar to the Crimson Shreddertank).

• Resilient Keystone (All Dungeons at Certain Levels):
  The War Within Season 2: Resilient Keystone 12 (and each subsequent level) requires completing all Mythic+ dungeons at that keystone level (or higher) within the time limit.
  Reward: Keystones no longer deplete below the respective Keystone Level for the rest of the season. For example, if you earn Resilient Keystone 12, your Keystone will never drop below level 12.

Returning Seasonal Mythic+ Achievements

• The War Within Keystone Explorer: Season Two – Complete a Mythic+ dungeon within the time limit during The War Within Season Two.
• The War Within Keystone Conqueror: Season Two – Attain a Mythic+ Rating of at least 1500 during The War Within Season Two.
  Title Reward: “%s the Enterprising”
• The War Within Keystone Master: Season Two – Attain a Mythic+ Rating of at least 2000 during The War Within Season Two.
  Mount Reward: Crimson Shreddertank

• The War Within Keystone Hero: Season Two – Attain a Mythic+ Rating of at least 2500 during The War Within Season Two.
  Reward: Gallagio's Highroller Bombstone
• Enterprising Hero: The War Within Season Two – End The War Within Season 2 with a Mythic+ Rating in the top 0.1% of all players in your region.
  Title Reward: “the Enterprising Hero”

Keystone Hero for Each Dungeon (Now Earned at +10)

In addition, there are separate achievements for completing a Mythic Keystone of level 10 or higher within the time limit for each dungeon in The War Within Season 2, awarding portals to those dungeons. Thanks to Warbands, once unlocked on one character, these portals will be accessible by all characters on a player’s account.

• Keystone Hero: Darkflame Cleft – Complete Darkflame Cleft at Mythic Level 10 or higher, within the time limit.
  Reward: Teleport to Darkflame Cleft.
• Keystone Hero: Cinderbrew Meadery – Complete Cinderbrew Meadery at Mythic Level 10 or higher, within the time limit.
  Reward: Teleport to Cinderbrew Meadery.
• Keystone Hero: Priory of the Sacred Flame – Complete Priory of the Sacred Flame at Mythic Level 10 or higher, within the time limit.
  Reward: Teleport to Priory of the Sacred Flame.
• Keystone Hero: The Rookery – Complete The Rookery at Mythic Level 10 or higher, within the time limit.
  Reward: Teleport to The Rookery.
• Keystone Hero: Operation: Floodgate – Complete Operation: Floodgate at Mythic Level 10 or higher, within the time limit.
  Reward: Teleport to Operation: Floodgate.
• Keystone Hero: Operation: Mechagon - Workshop – Complete Operation: Mechagon - Workshop at Mythic Level 10 or higher, within the time limit.
  Reward: Teleport to Operation: Mechagon - Workshop.
• Keystone Hero: Mists of Tirna Scithe – Complete The MOTHERLODE!! at Mythic Level 10 or higher, within the time limit.
  Reward: Teleport to The MOTHERLODE!!.
• Keystone Hero: Theater of Pain – Complete Theater of Pain at Mythic Level 10 or higher, within the time limit.
  Reward: Teleport to Theater of Pain.

New Seasonal Mythic+ Affixes in Season 2 – Xal’atath’s Bargain

In Patch 11.0, the new “Xal’atath’s Bargain” mechanics replace previous seasonal affixes. This cosmic-horror-themed affix introduces additional challenges—and potential buffs—throughout the dungeon, depending on the week. Below is an overview of the four possible Bargains you might encounter starting at Keystone Level 4:

• Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant
  Periodically, Xal’atath summons a total of 10 Orbs of Ascendance that cast Cosmic Ascension. If these orbs finish casting, enemy mobs gain 20% Haste and movement speed per successful cast. Stopping the orbs (through interrupts, CC, or displacement) grants players a stacking +2% movement speed and Haste (up to 20%) for 30 seconds.
• Xal’atath’s Bargain: Voidbound
  In combat, a Void Emissary periodically appears, placing Dark Prayer on nearby enemies. Every 3 seconds, affected mobs’ damage taken is reduced by 10%. The effect stacks. Upon defeating the Void Emissary, players gain a 30% faster ability cooldown rate and +20% Versatility for 30 seconds.
• Xal’atath’s Bargain: Pulsar
  While in combat, pulsars orbit around players for 15 seconds. Players must absorb these Void Pulsars before they expire. Unclaimed Pulsars empower enemy mobs with +10% damage and +20% damage reduction per Pulsar. Successfully absorbing them grants players bonus Mastery and Leech for 30 seconds.
• Xal’atath’s Bargain: Devour
  A Devouring Rift places a shield-like debuff on all five players. This shield is not a traditional absorb but must be removed via healing or a dispel. Failure to remove the debuff in time will heal nearby mobs for 10% of their maximum health. Removing it grants a stack of Rift Essence, boosting the player’s max health by 2% and Critical Strike by 4% for 30 seconds.

These Bargains are active starting at Keystone Level 4 until Keystone Level 11. Beginning at higher levels, they will be replaced or stacked with additional affixes, as explained below.

Keystones NPC - Lindormi, located in Dornogal

Lindormi is your new go-to NPC for all things Mythic+. You can find her in Dornogal, where she provides several quality-of-life improvements:

• Free Keystone: If you currently have no Keystone on your character but have completed at least one Mythic+ dungeon this season, Lindormi will give you one.
• Keystone Level Down: Speak to Lindormi to manually lower your Keystone’s level without the need to start and reset dungeons repeatedly.
• Keystone Exchange: After completing a dungeon on time, Lindormi appears at the end to offer a one-time exchange of your current Keystone for another random dungeon key of the same level.

These additions make it easier than ever to manage your key levels and choose dungeons that best suit your gear or loot goals.

Crest System for Upgrading Mythic+ Gear in Patch 11.0

In The War Within Season 2, the Crest System has evolved from the previous Valor-based upgrade path. You’ll earn Crests by completing Mythic+ runs at certain levels (see the table in the “Gear Item Level Rewards” section). These Crests come in different tiers—like Runed Undermine and Gilded Undermine—which correspond to higher item level breakpoints.

Here’s a short breakdown:

• Champion and Hero Ranks: Use Runed Undermine Crests to upgrade gear from item levels in the 630–650 range.
• Hero (higher tiers) and Myth Ranks: Progressing beyond item level 655 may require Gilded Undermine Crests to continue upgrades.
• Cost per Upgrade: While exact costs vary by slot (weapons, armor, accessories), you will generally spend more Crests to upgrade higher-level gear, much like Valor costs in previous seasons.

Whenever a new season launches, any remaining Crests from the prior season may be converted to gold or otherwise depreciated. Spend your Crests efficiently before the season’s end!

Mythic+ Affixes in The War Within Patch 11.0 (Full Overview)

Here is how affixes scale through the keystone levels during Season 2:

• Keystone Level 4 – Xal’atath’s Bargain
  You’ll encounter one of the four Bargains described above (Ascendant, Voidbound, Pulsar, or Devour) each week. Utilize the buff potential to your advantage, or risk empowering the mobs if you fail the mechanic!
• Keystone Level 7 – Fortified or Tyrannical
  Fortified (Non-boss enemies have 20% more health and deal up to 20% increased damage) or Tyrannical (Boss enemies have 30% more health and deal 15% increased damage) will be active, rotating weekly.
• Keystone Level 10 – Both Fortified and Tyrannical
  At this level, whichever affix you didn’t see at level 7 joins the party. If Fortified was active at 7, Tyrannical becomes active at 10, and vice versa.
• Keystone Level 12 – Xal’atath’s Guile Replaces Bargain
  Beyond level 12, Xal’atath’s Bargain is removed and replaced by Xal’atath’s Guile. This new twist modifies the dungeon further. Any deaths in the party will subtract 15 seconds from the remaining timer, adding higher stakes to your run and rewarding clean play.

Between the powerful boons of the Bargains, the punishing shift to Guile, and the ever-present Fortified/Tyrannical combo, Mythic+ in The War Within Season 2 provides a fresh challenge for both veterans and newcomers. Good luck and have fun pushing those keys!