Dragonflight’s final season made sweeping changes to the way Mythic+ dungeons scale, and that system carries over to The War Within. WoW’s upcoming expansion also introduces new affixes and combines others, so your Mythic+ runs in The War Within are about to feel very different.
The War Within season one Mythic+ affixes, explained
WoW: The War Within treats Mythic+ affixes very differently. Gone are the likes of Bolstering and Sanguine—instead, there’s a new system with rotating affixes that combine or change when you get to higher Keystone levels (via Blizzard). This season’s affixes aren’t as interesting or unique as prior seasons, though. At higher levels, raw stat buffs to enemy health and damage pose the biggest challenge.
As usual, season one features eight Mythic+ dungeons—four new dungeons and four old ones. Check out our guide to season one’s Mythic+ rotation to see which ones are appearing, or all dungeons in The War Within for the full selection.
All new Mythic+ affixes in The War Within
Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant
Ascendant is one of two new Xalatath’s Bargain Mythic+ affixes that rotates on a weekly basis. It appears on level two Keystones and up. Roughly once a minute, Xal’atath summons 10 Orbs that absorb damage and buff mobs with Haste and movement speed, but you get the buff if you interrupt or crowd-control them.
Xal’atath’s Bargain: Voidbound
Voidbound is the other Xalatath’s Bargain affix that rotates in and out with Ascendant. Xal’atath summons a Void Emissary mob that buffs nearby enemies’ damage, and the buff stacks. When you kill the Emissary, you get a 20 percent crit buff for 20 seconds.
Challenger’s Peril
This affix always appears on Mythic+ Keystones at level seven and above. Every time a character dies, your group loses 15 seconds from the Keystone timer. This effect used to passively apply to every Keystone, but in The War Within, it’s been converted into the Challenger’s Peril affix on Keystones.
Xal’atath’s Guile
At Keystone level 12 and above, Xalatath’s Guile replaces Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant and Voidbound. It gives all enemies and bosses an extra 20 percent damage and health, and there are no positive effects. Xalatath’s Guile makes Keystone level 12 a big difficulty spike that will likely pose a roadblock for intermediate players.
All returning Mythic+ affixes in The War Within
Tyrannical
Tyrannical is the same as ever. Bosses have an extra 30 percent health and their minions have an extra 15 percent health. It alternates with Fortified on Keystones level four and higher.
Fortified
Fortified looks familiar, too. It gives mobs an extra 30 percent damage and 20 percent health. It alternates with Tyrannical on Keystones level four and higher.
Fortified and Tyrannical combined
At level 10 and above, Tyrannical and Fortified are both active at the same time. This combination is new in The War Within. It’s a huge raw stat increase for bosses and mobs, especially combined with Xalatath’s Guile.
TWW season one Mythic+ affixes per Keystone level
The War Within’s Mythic+ dungeons buff enemy health and damage by a set percentage based on your Keystone level. We’ve compiled all the modifiers below (via Wowhead) alongside all possible affixes that can appear at each level.
| Key level | Enemy health/damage | Affixes |
| 2 | +0% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound |
| 3 | +21% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound |
| 4 | +33% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound – Tyrannical or Fortified |
| 5 | +46% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound – Tyrannical or Fortified |
| 6 | +61% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound – Tyrannical or Fortified |
| 7 | +77% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound – Tyrannical or Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
| 8 | +95% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound – Tyrannical or Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
| 9 | +114% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound – Tyrannical or Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
| 10 | +136% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound – Tyrannical AND Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
| 11 | +159% | – Xal’atath’s Bargain: Ascendant or Voidbound – Tyrannical AND Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
| 12 | +185% | – Xal’atath’s Guile – Tyrannical AND Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
| 13 | +214% | – Xal’atath’s Guile – Tyrannical AND Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
| 14 | +245% | – Xal’atath’s Guile – Tyrannical AND Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
| 15 | +280% | – Xal’atath’s Guile – Tyrannical AND Fortified – Challenger’s Peril |
Next, check out World of Warcraft’s 2024 patch roadmap, or read our guides to Delves and Warbands if you want to get familiar with The War Within’s new systems.
