In WoW: The War Within, one of the most important goals for every player is to increase their item level (ilvl), which directly impacts their ability to survive and thrive in higher-level content. This World of Warcraft guide written together with professional PvE boosters will help you find the best ways to gear up efficiently, focusing on fast and effective methods for main characters and alts.

Whether you’re aiming to conquer the latest raid or advance in WoW Mythic Plus runs, achieving the right ilvl is crucial. We’ll dive into everything you need to know about gearing up, from entry-level activities to advanced endgame methods.

Understanding TWW Gear and ilvl Ranges

To start, here’s a breakdown of the various gear categories and their respective ilvl ranges:

• Explorer (558–580 ilvl): Gained through World Quests, Tiers 1–2 of Bountiful Delves, and Normal dungeons. Some Explorer gear can also be purchased through the Auction House.
• Adventurer (571–593 ilvl): Available from World Quests, weekly events, Tiers 3–4 of Bountiful Delves, and Heroic dungeons.
• Veteran (584–610 ilvl): Earned from Renown rewards, weekly events, Tiers 5–6 of Delves, Mythic dungeons, and Great Vault rewards.
• Champion (597–619 ilvl): Dropped by World Bosses, high-level Delves, Mythic+2-6 dungeons, and Great Vault rewards.
• Hero (610–626 ilvl): Available from Heroic Raids and Mythic+7-10 dungeons.
• Myth (623–639 ilvl): Exclusive to Mythic Raid bosses and Great Vault rewards from high-tier Mythic+ runs.

Gearing Up: Entry-Level Activities

For those just reaching level 80, it’s best to begin with content that offers reliable gear upgrades. Here’s how to get started on your ilvl journey:

1. World Events and Bountiful Delves

• Weekly Events: World events provide steady rewards, including Adventurer-level gear, which is great for players just starting their gearing process. Weekly events can be completed by reaching the appropriate Renown levels and meeting specific objectives. In return, you’ll earn keys to unlock high-tier Delves, boosting your chances at better gear.
• Bountiful Delves: These special Delves scale from Tier 1 up to Tier 11, with low tiers offering Explorer-level gear and higher ones dropping Veteran and Champion gear. Farming Tier 1–3 Delves initially will get you well above the 570 ilvl mark quickly.

2. Renown Rewards

• Earning Renown with certain factions unlocks specific armor pieces, providing a significant boost to your character’s item level. Vendors offer items like headgear, chest armor, and shoulder slots at different Renown thresholds: 
  • Council of Dornogal – Rewards shoulder pieces at Renown 7.
  • Hallowfall Arathi – Rewards chest pieces at Renown 7.
  • Assembly of the Deep – Rewards head pieces at Renown 8.
• These items are valuable as they come from the Veteran gear track, making Renown a great starting point for any new character.

3. The 20th Anniversary Event

• For those wanting a quick boost, the 20th Anniversary event is a goldmine. With Timewalking dungeons and Blackrock Depths raids, you can obtain gear from ilvl 584–619.
• Completing event objectives, like taking down Anniversary World Bosses, can reward items around 590 ilvl. Anniversary quests also offer caches that may contain ilvl 597 gear pieces.

Upgrading Your Gear

Gear upgrades are essential in The War Within and are done with specific resources: Harbinger Crests and Valorstones. Here’s a quick guide to using these resources:

1. Weathered Crests: Used for Adventurer and Veteran gear, they are earned through World Quests, Heroic dungeons, and Delves.
2. Carved Crests: Used for Veteran and Champion gear and obtained from Mythic dungeons, World Bosses, and Normal raids.
3. Runed Crests: Applied to Champion and Hero gear, they drop from high-tier Mythic+ and Heroic raids.
4. Gilded Crests: Reserved for top-tier Hero and Myth gear, earned through high-level Mythic+ runs and Mythic raids.

Where to Upgrade: In Dornogal, Cuzloth upgrades your gear, and Vaskarn exchanges Crests for other useful items. To make the most of your resources, remember that higher-tier Crests are always more valuable for upgrading gear you intend to keep long-term.

Upgrade Discount System

In this expansion, Blizzard introduced an upgrade discount system to reduce costs for repeat upgrades. For example, once you’ve reached a specific item level in each slot, future upgrades for that slot will be discounted. This discount can help you save significant resources when gearing alts or filling out specific item slots. There are specific achievements that unlock discounts for each Crest type:

• Harbinger of the Weathered: Unlocks a discount once you reach ilvl 593.
• Harbinger of the Carved: Achieved at ilvl 606.
• Harbinger of the Runed: Unlocks at ilvl 619.
• Harbinger of the Gilded: Unlocks at ilvl 639.

Mid-Tier Gearing: Heroic Dungeons, Weekly Events, and Delves

For players who’ve moved past entry-level content, here are some great methods to boost your ilvl further:

1. Heroic Dungeons: Heroic dungeons offer ilvl 580 gear, providing reliable upgrades for those aiming to reach the 590+ range. Heroic dungeons also benefit from shorter wait times and fast group matchmaking if you’re already in a guild or community.
2. Low-to-Mid Tier Bountiful Delves: Running Tier 4-6 Delves grants Veteran and Champion gear, providing an ilvl boost up to 603.
3. Weekly World Events: Completing these events gives you keys for Delves, Crests, and even Veteran-level gear. Weekly events allow you to consistently improve your gear and unlock further rewards, especially if you focus on events offering rare rewards like unique trinkets.

Advanced Gearing Activities: Raids, High-Tier Delves, and Mythic+

For players looking to take on endgame challenges, these activities are essential:

1. Nerub’ar Palace Raid

• Raiding offers some of the best gear in The War Within, with gear rewards reaching up to ilvl 639. Here’s the ilvl breakdown for each raid difficulty: 
  • LFR (584–600 ilvl)
  • Normal (597–613 ilvl)
  • Heroic (610–626 ilvl)
  • Mythic (623–639 ilvl)
• If you’re gearing up alone, LFR is a great option, requiring only 567 ilvl to enter. But for those with an organized group, higher difficulties will offer the best rewards.

2. Mythic+ Dungeons

• Mythic+ dungeons scale in difficulty, and they offer powerful gear that increases with the Key level. They’re ideal for those seeking reliable gear from ilvl 593 at M0 up to ilvl 623 at M+10.
• If you’re new to Mythic+, consider starting at M0 and progressing to higher Keys as your gear improves. Teamwork is essential, so coordinating with guild members or using Looking for Group (LFG) tools can ensure success.

3. The Great Vault

• The Great Vault offers extra gear options each week, based on your raid, dungeon, and world event participation. You can unlock up to three rewards each week, with gear potentially reaching Hero and Myth ilvl levels.
• Vault rewards can include tier-set pieces, making this a valuable gearing method for those pushing endgame progression.

Alternative Gearing Options

In addition to these main methods, there are alternative secondary ways to gain ilvl boosts:

Crafted Gear and Sparks of Omens

• Crafted gear, upgraded with Sparks of Omens, is a reliable option for endgame. Epic crafted gear can reach 606 ilvl, and items crafted with Sparks of Omens can go even higher.
• Sparks are earned weekly and can be combined to upgrade crafted items, making them a great option for players looking for high-quality, customizable gear.

Catalyst

• The Catalyst lets you convert PvE or PvP gear of Veteran rank or higher into tier-set pieces, adding powerful bonuses for your character. Catalyst charges regenerate every two weeks, so be sure to use them strategically for the best results.

Final TWW Gearing Recommendations

To optimize your gearing strategy in The War Within, follow these tips:

1. Participate in Weekly World Events for steady rewards, currency, and access to keys for high-tier Delves.
2. Prioritize Great Vault objectives to earn high-ilvl rewards each week.
3. Use upgrade discounts whenever possible to save valuable resources.
4. Convert gear into Tier Set pieces through the Catalyst to benefit from set bonuses, boosting your performance across the board.
5. Invest in crafted gear if you can afford it, using Sparks of Omens to push crafted gear into competitive ilvl ranges.

As you progress, your goal should be reaching Champion or Hero gear as quickly as possible, with a focus on gearing up for endgame activities like high-level Mythic+ dungeons and raids.

Conclusion

Gearing in The War Within is a multi-step process, requiring a mix of world events, dungeons, and upgrades. By following the steps above, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle endgame content with the best gear possible. From Renown rewards to advanced gearing in Mythic+ and raids, these methods will help you quickly build up ilvl and reach your goals.

Which gearing methods have worked best for you? Let us know in the comments, and may your drops be plentiful! Happy hunting in Azeroth!