How to get Harbinger Crests in The War Within
If you’re confused and wondering where and how to get Harbinger Crests in The War Within, you’ve come to the right place.
Table of Contents
- What are Harbinger Crests used for?
- Where to spend Harbinger Crests
- The War Within Harbinger Crest farm
- Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve gathered the best ways to farm Harbinger Crests in The War Within Season 1. Some methods may seem tough, as higher tiers are aimed at players who enjoy challenges like Mythic-difficulty raids and Mythic+ dungeons at higher Keystone levels. Still, we hope this guide helps you find the easiest way to earn this valuable currency, and since we’ll keep it updated with new methods as they become available, be sure to bookmark the article to stay tuned.
What are Harbinger Crests used for?
Harbinger Crests are not just any currency; they are the key to upgrading your gear alongside Valorstones in The War Within, much like the Awakened Crests in Dragonflight. They come in two main types, each with its value and earned through different means:
- Gear upgrade Harbinger Crests: Weathered, Carved, Runed, and Gilded
- Crafting Harbinger Crests: Nascent and Enchanted
Since Harbinger Crests are hard to get, and it’s not always obvious where you can start farming them, especially higher-level ones. While lower-tier Crests like Weathered and Carved are more common and easier to earn, higher-tier ones like Runed and Gilded are limited and require more effort. Here’s the gear upgrade track, showing you how many Crests you need to spend for each gear type:
| Upgrade track | Activites | Item level | Crests required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer | Delve Tiers 1-2 Normal dungeons, Outdoor activities | 558-580 | N/A |
| Adventurer | World quests, Delve Tiers 3-4, Heroic-difficulty dungeons | 571-593 | Weathered Harbinger Crest |
| Veteran | Delve Tiers 5-6, Delve Tiers 1-3 Great Vault, Heroic-difficulty dungeons Great Vault, Mythic-difficulty dungeons, LFR-difficulty raid bosses | 584-610 | Weathered Harbinger Crest and Carved Harbinger Crest |
| Champion | World bosses, Delve Tiers 7-11, Delve Tiers 4-6 Great Vault, Mythic-difficulty dungeons Great Vault, Mythic+ Keystone 2-6 dungeons, Normal-difficulty raid bosses | 597-619 | Carved Harbinger Crest and Runed Harbinger Crest |
| Hero | Tier 8 Delver’s Bounty maps, Delves Tiers 7-11 Great Vault, Mythic+ Keystone 7-10 dungeons, Mythic+ Keystone 3-9 dungeons Great Vault, Heroic-difficulty raid bosses | 610-626 | Runed Harbinger Crest and Gilded Harbinger Crest |
| Myth | Mythic Keystone 10 dungeons Great Vault, Mythic-difficulty raid bosses | 623-639 | Gilded Harbinger Crest |
Is there any Harbinger Crest upgrade discount?
Yes. Once you reach a certain item level for any gear slot, future upgrades for that slot will be discounted up to that level. However, the Harbinger Crest discount won’t apply to your entire Warband until you unlock specific achievements.
To get the Warband Crest discount, you need to complete the following achievements with a character in your Warband:
- Harbinger of the Weathered: Reach item level 593 in all armor slots.
- Harbinger of the Carved: Reach item level 606 in all armor slots.
- Harbinger of the Runed: Reach item level 619 in all armor slots.
- Harbinger of the Gilded: Reach item level 639 in all armor slots.
The Warband Crest discount reduces Crest costs by one-third. For example, if an upgrade typically costs 15x Crests, it will only cost 10x Crests with the discount.
What is the weekly limit on Harbinger Crests?
Each week, you can collect up to 90 of each type of Harbinger Crests: Weathered, Carved, Runed, and Gilded. Of course, as The War Within Season 1 continues, this limit is expected to increase.
Where to spend Harbinger Crests
You can spend Harbinger Crests at the gear upgrade vendors, Cuzolth and Vaskarn. Cuzolth upgrades your item levels, while Vaskarn lets you exchange Crests. You can find them in Dornogal at the Mythic Aspirations shop at [51.8, 42.1].
The War Within Harbinger Crest farm
Below, you’ll find all the known ways to farm Harbinger Crests in the new expansion.
How to farm Weathered Crests in The War Within
Weathered Harbinger Crests drop from almost everything — world quests, outdoor treasures, lower-tier Delves (1-5), Heroic dungeons, and Normal raids. They are pretty common, so actively farming for them is not necessary. However, we have assembled the most effective farming methods for this currency.
Flying through blue orbs
One of the best methods to collect Weathered Harbinger Crests is flying through blue orbs, similar to the green ones from the Dreamsurge event in Dragonflight. These blue orbs appear in one zone at a time, and each day, they reset and move to a different zone.
Flying through one orb rewards you with 1-2x Weathered Harbinger Crests and a Resonance Crystal into the bargain. While it may seem small, you can collect them quickly, earning you 40x to 90x Crests in just a few minutes.
To cap out on Weathered Harbinger Crests fast, fly around the zone and pass through the orbs. They often spawn under bridges, on top of buildings, or anywhere above ground. Occasionally, you’ll find one at ground level. Keep an eye out and fly efficiently by spotting your next orb as you pass through one.
If you’re unsure which zone the orbs are in, fly around until you see them — they’re hard to miss. If you don’t feel like flying around, you can AFK in certain spots where blue orbs spawn. In these spots, your character will automatically collect Crests without much effort, typically around 20x Weathered Harbinger Crests per hour as long as you stay logged in.
Skyriding Races
One of the ways to farm Weathered Harbinger Crests is by participating in Skyriding Races scattered all over Khaz Algar. Completing one Race rewards you with a Sky Racer’s Purse, which may contain 2x Weathered Harbinger Crests. That being said, the following Races will earn you this currency:
One of the ways to farm Weathered Harbinger Crests is by participating in Skyriding Races scattered all over Khaz Algar. Completing one Race rewards you with a Sky Racer’s Purse, which may contain 2x Weathered Harbinger Crests. That being said, the following Races will earn you this currency:
1. Isle of Dorn Races:
- Dornogal Drift at [43.4, 11.8]
- Basin Bypass at [53.4, 64.2]
- Orecreg’s Doglegs at [32.9, 74.8]
- Storm Watch’s Survey at [38.5, 43.4]
- The Wold Ways at [62.1, 45.9]
- Thunderhead Trail at [58.3, 24.8]
2. The Ringing Deeps Races:
- Cataract River Cruise at [52.4, 46.8]
- Chittering Concourse at [67.9, 34.8]
- Earthenworks Weave at [40.8, 11.3]
- Opportunity Point Amble at [63.5, 75.1]
- Ringing Deeps Ramble at [42.2, 27.4]
- Taelloch Twist at [66.6, 68.6]
3. Hallowfall Races:
- Dunelle’s Detour at [72.7, 38.4]
- Light’s Redoubt Descent at [41.4, 67.2]
- Mereldar Meander at [38.9, 61.3]
- Stillstone Slalom at [60.4, 26.0]
- Tenir’s Traversal at [59.1, 68.9]
- Velhan’s Venture at [54.1, 17.4]
4. Azj-Kahet Races:
- City of Threads Twist at [40.7, 68.5]
- Maddening Deep Dip at [77.9, 79.6]
- Pit Plunge at [23.8, 48.3]
- Rak-Ahat Rush at [71.3, 36.3]
- Siegehold Scuttle at [40.2, 32.2]
- The Weaver’s Wing at [52.9, 36.2]
Exchanging Carved Crests
Another method to farm Weathered Harbinger Crests is through exchanging Carved Harbinger Crests. Although this might seem counterintuitive, the exchange process bypasses the usual weekly cap, allowing you to collect Weathered Harbinger Crests without waiting for the weekly reset.
To make the exchange, head to the Mythic Aspirations shop at [51.8, 42.1] in Dornogal. Once there, without worrying about the seasonal limit, speak to Vaskarn about trading 15x Carved Harbinger Crests for 15x Weathered Harbinger Crests.
One-time Renown rewards
You can earn Weathered Harbinger Crests from all four factions, each giving it at different Renown levels. We recommend you help them all to make the best of the farming process:
1) Hallowfall Arathi. Find Auralia Steelstrike in Hallowfall to acquire the rewards:
- Level 6: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- Level 9: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
2) The Assembly of the Deeps. Speak with Waxmonger Squick in Gundargaz to reclaim the rewards:
- Level 6: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- Level 9: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
3) The Council of Dornogal. Interact with Auditor Balwurz to obtain these rewards:
- Level 6: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- Level 9: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
4) The Severed Threads. Speak with Lady Vinazian for the rewards:
- Level 7: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- Level 9: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
Defeating Nerub’ar Palace bosses
Weathered Harbinger Crests drop upon defeating all bosses in the Nerub’ar Palace raid on LFR difficulty. However, when it comes to Queen Ansurek and the Silken Court, they drop Weathered and Carved Harbinger Crests on LFR difficulty, allowing you to upgrade endgame gear much more quickly. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Rasha’nan: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- Sikran: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- The Bloodbound Horror: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- Nexus-Princess Ky’veza: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- Broodtwister Ovi’nax: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- Ulgrax: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest
- The Silken Court: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest and 15x Carved Harbinger Crest
- Queen Ansurek: 15x Weathered Harbinger Crest and 15x Carved Harbinger Crest
How to farm Carved Harbinger Crests in The War Within
Carved Harbinger Crests come from weekly outdoor events, world bosses, mid-tier Delves (6-7), Mythic and Mythic+ dungeons up to +3 Keystone level, and Normal raid bosses. Below, you’ll find the best way to farm this kind of Crests.
Spreading the Light event
Participating in the Spreading the Light event is a good idea to earn more Carved Harbinger Crests. The main reward from this event comes from a weekly Spreading the Light quest, where your task is to light four Lesser Keyflames. You’ll receive a Radiant Cache, which may contain 5x Carved Harbinger Crests and other rewards upon completion.
Unlocking each Lesser or Major Keyflame will also unlock a weekly quest or bonus objective in that area. Completing these rewards you with a Lamplighter Supply Satchel, which may also contain 5x Carved Harbinger Crests.
Theater Troupe event
The Theater Troupe weekly event is a great way to collect Carved Harbinger Crests alongside Weathered Harbinger ones. It’s divided into two stages:
- Preparation Phase (6 minutes): Complete tasks like cleaning, sparring with actors, or managing disruptive audience members to get the stage ready.
- Show Phase (4 minutes): Take part in a short play by completing tasks during the performance.
During both Phases, a progress bar at the top of the screen tracks Audience Approval based on everyone’s participation:
- 2000 Audience Approval: Earn an Amateur Actor’s Chest (5x Carved Harbinger Crests, 2x Weathered Harbinger Crests)
- 4000 Audience Approval: Receive a Novice Actor’s Chest (5x Carved Harbinger Crests, 2x Weathered Harbinger Crests)
- 6000 Audience Approval: Max out the bar and get an Expert Actor’s Chest (5x Carved Harbinger Crests, 2x Weathered Harbinger Crests)
Completing the weekly quest “The Theater Troupe” (which requires 50x Audience Approval points and finishing the event itself) rewards you with a Theater Troupe’s Trove. This Trove contains 5x Carved Harbinger Crests, 2x Weathered Harbinger Crests, and other rewards.
Awakening the Machine event
The Awakening the Machine event is great for earning Carved Harbinger Crests in The War Within Season 1. If you’re curious about the event itself, check out our guide.
However, our primary focus is the Gearing Up for Trouble weekly quest, which requires you to survive all 20 waves. You can complete this quest over multiple sessions, and once finished, you’ll receive an Awakened Mechanical Cache, which may contain 5x Carved Harbinger Crests and other rewards.
Worldsoul quests
Once a week, only one of your characters on your account can pick up a Worldsoul quest from Faerin Lothar in Dornogal at [46.0, 49.6], the completion of which will reward you with a Pinnacle Cache, containing 15x Carved Harbinger Crests alongside other rewards.
Special Assignments
Another outdoor activity that currently drops Carved Harbinger Crests is weekly Special Assignments, which is also the main way to earn Restored Coffer Keys. Even if you’re no longer eligible for the weekly Restored Coffer Key, you’ll still receive 5x Carved Harbinger Crests from the Seasoned Adventurer’s Cache upon completion of one of such Assignments.
Defeating Nerub’ar Palace bosses
Carved Harbinger Crests drop upon defeating all bosses in the Nerub’ar Palace raid on Normal difficulty. However, when it comes to Queen Ansurek and the Silken Court, they drop Carved and Runed Harbinger Crests on Normal difficulty, allowing you to upgrade endgame gear much more quickly. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Rasha’nan: 15x Carved Harbinger Crest
- Sikran: 15x Carved Harbinger Crest
- The Bloodbound Horror: 15x Carved Harbinger Crest
- Nexus-Princess Ky’veza: 15x Carved Harbinger Crest
- Broodtwister Ovi’nax: 15x Carved Harbinger Crest
- Ulgrax: 15x Carved Harbinger Crest
- The Silken Court: 15x Carved Harbinger Crest and 15x Runed Harbinger Crest
- Queen Ansurek: 15x Carved Harbinger Crest and 15x Runed Harbinger Crest
One-time quest rewards
When it comes to quests, you can earn Carved Harbinger Crests by completing the following important ones:
- Transmutation Station: You must collect 15x Carved Harbinger Crests and bring them to Vaskarn in Dornogal to exchange for a Pouch of Weathered Harbinger Crests. You’ll receive a Satchel of Carved Harbinger Crests containing 15x Carved Harbinger ones as a reward.
- The Harbinger of Crests: Collect 15x Weathered Harbinger Crests by defeating unique enemies, completing raids, participating in world events, or finding them in caches. Once you have them, return to Vaskarn in Dornogal. This time, you’ll also receive a Satchel of Carved Harbinger Crests containing 15x Carved Harbinger ones.
The Great Vault
If you don’t select any loot from the Great Vault, you’ll receive Algari Tokens of Merit based on how many slots you’ve unlocked for the week:
- 2x Algari Tokens of Merit for 1x Great Vault slot.
- 4x Algari Tokens of Merit for 2x Great Vault slots.
- 6x Algari Tokens of Merit for 3x or more Great Vault slots.
You can exchange these tokens with Ardgaz near the Great Vault for a Triumphant Satchel of Carved Harbinger Crests. One token gets you 15x Carved Harbinger Crests.
How to farm Runed Harbinger Crests in The War Within
Runed Harbinger Crests can be found in Mythic+ dungeons, Heroic raid bosses, and higher-tier Delves (8-11). Below, you’ll find the best way to farm this kind of Crests.
Buying from a vendor
Yes, Runed Harbinger Crests can be bought from a vendor named Vaskarn. If you own a surplus of 90x Carved Harbinger Crests, you can purchase a Celebratory Pack of Runed Harbinger Crests. Also, by investing 15x Gilded Harbinger Crests, you receive a Pack of Runed Harbinger Crests.
The Great Vault
If you don’t choose any loot from the Great Vault, you’ll receive Algari Tokens of Merit instead, based on how many slots you’ve unlocked for the week:
- 2x Algari Tokens of Merit for 1x Great Vault slot.
- 4x Algari Tokens of Merit for 2x Great Vault slots.
- 6x Algari Tokens of Merit for 3x or more Great Vault slots.
You can trade 2x Algari Tokens of Merit with Ardgaz near the Great Vault for a Celebratory Pack of Runed Harbinger Crests containing 15x Runed Harbinger Crests.
Defeating Nerub’ar Palace bosses
Runed Harbinger Crests drop upon defeating all bosses in the Nerub’ar Palace raid on Heroic difficulty. However, when it comes to Queen Ansurek and the Silken Court, they drop Runed and Gilded Harbinger Crests on Heroic difficulty, allowing you to upgrade endgame gear much easier. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Rasha’nan: 15x Runed Harbinger Crest
- Sikran: 15x Runed Harbinger Crest
- The Bloodbound Horror: 15x Runed Harbinger Crest
- Nexus-Princess Ky’veza: 15x Runed Harbinger Crest
- Broodtwister Ovi’nax: 15x Runed Harbinger Crest
- Ulgrax: 15x Runed Harbinger Crest
- The Silken Court: 15x Runed Harbinger Crest and 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
- Queen Ansurek: 15x Runed Harbinger Crest and 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
How to farm Gilded Harbinger Crests in The War Within
Gilded Harbinger Crests only drop from Mythic +9 and above dungeons, Mythic raid bosses, and Tier 8-11 Delver’s Bounty maps, with no other sources available.
Defeating Nerub’ar Palace bosses
Gilded Harbinger Crests drop upon defeating all bosses in the Nerub’ar Palace raid on Mythic difficulty. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Rasha’nan: 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
- Sikran: 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
- The Bloodbound Horror: 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
- Nexus-Princess Ky’veza: 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
- Broodtwister Ovi’nax: 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
- Ulgrax: 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
- The Silken Court: 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
- Queen Ansurek: 15x Gilded Harbinger Crest
Delver’s Bounty maps
Delver’s Bounty is a treasure map that you can find at the end of Delves. It drops randomly with about a 4% chance from side chests in Bountiful Delves (not the locked chest). It usually doesn’t appear in non-bountiful Delves, except during the Zekvir event. If you survive Zekvir’s attack when he joins your Delve, he might also drop a map!
The Delver’s Bounty will always match the tier of the Delve where you found it. For instance, if you get it in a Tier 9 Delve, it will be a Tier 9 map, and your next completed Delve at that level or higher will give you loot of that level. For example, a Tier 8-11 Delver’s Bounty rewards 3x Gilded Harbinger Crests.
Conclusion
As you can see, the final two tiers of Harbinger Crests are challenging to obtain, especially if you’re not a hardcore player. But don’t sweat! Our skilled and friendly boosters at WowVendor are always ready to help, so feel free to reach out.
Here, we wrap up our “How to get Harbinger Crests in The War Within” article. If you’ve found this article informative and beneficial in your Khaz Algar adventures, let us know in the comments below. Either way, happy farming!
Comments