How to get Ethereal Crests in The War Within
If you’re wondering how to get Ethereal Crests in The War Within, you’ve come to the right place. Here is our WoW crest guide for patch 11.2!
Table of Contents
- What are Ethereal Crests
- Where to spend Ethereal Crests
- The War Within patch 11.2 Ethereal Crest farm
- Top contributors to this guide on WowVendor
- FAQ
Key takeaways:
- Essential for fear upgrades: Ethereal Crests are crucial for upgrading gear to higher item levels, especially for endgame content like Mythic+ and raids.
- Four Crest types: Weathered, Carved, Runed, and Gilded Ethereal Crests correspond to different gear progression tiers.
- Weekly cap: Players can earn up to 90 Gilded Ethereal Crests per week, with a cumulative cap allowing for catch-up in later weeks.
- New source: Horrific Visions now drop Ethereal Crests, offering an additional way to farm upgrade materials alongside Mythic+ and raid content.
In this guide, we’ve gathered the best ways to farm Ethereal Crests in The War Within Season 3. 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.
Related posts:
This article has been updated to include information on Ethereal Crests obtained through Horrific Visions.
What are Ethereal Crests
Ethereal Crests are newly implemented crests specifically for Season 3 of TWW; they are the key currency used to upgrade your gear alongside Valorstones in The War Within, much like the Undermine Crests in Season 2 of The War Within. They come in two main types, each with its value and earned through different means:
- Gear upgrade Ethereal Crests: Weathered, Carved, Runed, and Gilded
- Crafting Ethereal Crests: Nascent and Enchanted
Here is the full upgrade table:
| Gear Item level | Upgrade crests | Upgrade track |
|---|---|---|
| 642 | No crests required, only Valorstones | Explorer 1 |
| 645 | No crests required, only Valorstones | Explorer 2 |
| 649 | No crests required, only Valorstones | Explorer 3 |
| 652 | No crests required, only Valorstones | Explorer 4 |
| 655 | No crests required, only Valorstones | Explorer 5, Adventurer 1 |
| 658 | No crests required, only Valorstones | Explorer 6, Adventurer 2 |
| 662 | No crests required, only Valorstones | Explorer 7, Adventurer 3 |
| 665 | No crests required, only Valorstones | Explorer 8, Adventurer 4 |
| 668 | Weathered Ethereal Crest | Adventurer 5, Veteran 1 |
| 671 | Weathered Ethereal Crest | Adventurer 6, Veteran 2 |
| 675 | Weathered Ethereal Crest | Adventurer 7, Veteran 3 |
| 678 | Weathered Ethereal Crest | Adventurer 8, Veteran 4 |
| 681 | Carved Ethereal Crest | Veteran 5, Champion 1 |
| 684 | Carved Ethereal Crest | Veteran 6, Champion 2 |
| 688 | Carved Ethereal Crest | Veteran 7, Champion 3 |
| 691 | Carved Ethereal Crest | Veteran 8, Champion 4 |
| 694 | Runed Ethereal Crest | Champion 5, Hero 1 |
| 697 | Runed Ethereal Crest | Champion 6, Hero 2 |
| 701 | Runed Ethereal Crest | Champion 7, Hero 3 |
| 704 | Runed Ethereal Crest | Champion 8, Hero 4 |
| 707 | Gilded Ethereal Crest | Hero 5, Myth 1 |
| 710 | Gilded Ethereal Crest | Hero 6, Myth 2 |
| 714 | Gilded Ethereal Crest | Myth 3 |
| 717 | Gilded Ethereal Crest | Myth 4 |
| 720 | Gilded Ethereal Crest | Myth 5 |
| 723 | Gilded Ethereal Crest | Myth 6 |
What is the weekly limit on Ethereal Crests
Each week in The War Within Season 3, you’re allowed to earn up to 90 Runed and 90 Gilded Ethereal Crests. However, Weathered and Carved Crests can go past the cap with some manipulations, meaning you can farm as many of them as you’d like without restriction.
There’s a catch-up system in place: if you’ve missed previous weeks of Season 3 content, your weekly cap increases accordingly. For example, by Week 4, the cumulative cap for Runed and Gilded Crests would be 360 each, allowing you to earn extra to make up for lost time.
To check your current crest progress, you can look in your currency tab (Shift + B → Currency). If you’re close to the cap and need more upgrades, consider trading lower-tier crests up through the Crest Exchange in Dornogal.
Where to spend Ethereal Crests
You can spend Ethereal Crests at the gear upgrade vendors, Cuzolth and Vaskarn. Cuzolth upgrades your item levels, while Vaskarn lets you trade Crests. You can find them in Dornogal at the Mythic Aspirations shop at [51.8, 42.1].
You can also trade lower-tier Crests for higher-tier ones, but this system is tied to your gear progression, specifically to certain achievements, such as Carved of the Undermine that was tied to Season 2.
The exact item levels for these gear upgrades and the official names of the related achievements are not yet confirmed. We’ll update the article with accurate information as soon as Patch 11.2 goes live.
The War Within patch 11.2 Ethereal Crest farm
There are several ways to farm Crests in The War Within Patch 11.2. Below is a quick overview of all available sources.
| Ethereal Crest | Activities |
|---|---|
| Weathered Ethereal Crest | Repeatable Outdoor Events; Outdoor Treasures; Delves Tiers 1–5; Heroic Difficulty Dungeons; LFR Difficulty Raid Bosses |
| Carved Ethereal Crest | Weekly Outdoor Events; World Bosses; Delves Tiers 6–7; Delver’s Bounty Tiers 4 and 5; Mythic Difficulty Dungeons; Normal Difficulty Raid Bosses |
| Runed Ethereal Crest | Mythic+ Dungeons from +2 to +6 Keystone Levels; Heroic Difficulty Raid Bosses; Delves Tiers 8–11 – Delver’s Bounty Maps Tiers 6 and 7 |
| Gilded Ethereal Crest | Delver’s Bounty Maps Tiers 8 and up; Mythic+ Dungeons from +7 and up Keystone Levels; Mythic Difficulty Raid Bosses; Weekly Delver’s Gilded Stash (Tier 11) |
There are a few important exceptions and nuances to keep in mind when using the crest activity table. For instance, the last two bosses of the Manaforge Omega raid always drop higher-tier Crests than the rest—such as Gilded Crests on Heroic difficulty, instead of the usual Runed Crests.
Additionally, the amount of Crests rewarded can vary depending on the activity’s difficulty level or how well it’s completed (e.g., beating a Mythic+ timer vs. failing it). Always check the specifics of each source to understand the exact Crest yield.
How to farm Weathered Crests in The War Within
Weathered Ethereal Crests drop from almost everything: world quests, outdoor treasures, lower-tier Delves (1-5), Heroic dungeons, and LFR 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. Remember, that you can earn up to 90 Carved Crests in a week (but some methods can bypass weekly cap).
World activities and trading
- Shipping and Handling Jobs
- Offered by Nanny Tallulah, using the G-99 Breakneck mount.
- Earn 1 Crest per job.
- Bonus: For every 9 jobs, receive an additional 2 Crests.
- Estimated: ~11 Crests per 9 jobs.
- SCRAP Jobs in Ethereal
- Interact with active scrap piles in the Ethereal zone.
- Each pile grants 5 Weathered Crests.
- Piles are temporary (last 2 minutes), so move quickly.
- Estimated: ~5 Crests per pile.
- Skyriding Races
- Complete races around Khaz Algar to earn a Sky Racer’s Purse.
- Each purse may contain up to 2 Weathered Crests.
- Dozens of races available across four zones.
- Estimated: 2 Crests per completed race.
- Trading Down Carved Crests
- Speak to Vaskarn at Mythic Aspirations, Dornogal [51.8, 42.1].
- Exchange 15 Carved Crests for 15 Weathered Crests.
- Estimated: 1:1 trade ratio, up to 90 Weathered Crests weekly if using the full cap.
One-time Renown rewards
You can earn Weathered Ethereal Crests from all five The War Within factions, each giving it at different Renown levels. We recommend you help them all to make the best of the farming process:
| Faction | NPC | Location | Renown rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallowfall Arathi | Auralia Steelstrike | Hallowfall | Level 6 – 15x Crests; Level 9 – 15x Crests; |
| The Assembly of the Deeps | Waxmonger Squick | Gundargaz | Level 6 – 15x Crests; Level 9 – 15x Crests; |
| The Council of Dornogal | Auditor Balwurz | Dornogal | Level 6 – 15x Crests; Level 9 – 15x Crests; |
| The Severed Threads | Lady Vinazian | Azh-Kahet | Level 7 – 15x Crests; Level 9 – 15x Crests; |
| The Cartels of Undermine | Smaks Topskimmer | Undermine | Level 6 – 15x Crests; Level 9 – 15x Crests; |
| The K’aresh Trust | Om’sirik | K’aresh | Level 5 – 15x Crests; Level 8 – 15x Crests; |
Delves
Completing Tier 1–5 Delves rewards Weathered Ethereal Crests, with higher tiers granting more Crests per run. However, it’s not recommended to use Restored Coffer Keys on these lower-tier Delves, as the keys are better spent on higher tiers that yield more valuable Crests.
Defeating Manaforge bosses
Weathered Ethereal Crests drop from bosses in the Manaforge Omega raid on LFR difficulty. However, Nexus-King Salhadaar and Dimensius both drop Carved Ethereal Crests, making it easier to upgrade mid-tier gear. Each of these bosses drops 15 crests.
How to farm Carved Ethereal Crests in The War Within
Carved Ethereal 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. You can earn up to 90 Carved Crests in a week (various methods like exchanging Crests can bypass the cap of 90 per week). Below, you’ll find the best way to farm this kind of Crests.
World event
- Spreading the Light (Weekly Event)
- Complete the weekly quest by lighting 4 Lesser Keyflames.
- Reward: Radiant Cache – contains up to 5 Carved Crests and other loot.
- Each Lesser/Major Keyflame also unlocks a quest or bonus objective.
- Reward: Lamplighter Supply Satchel – may include 5 Carved Crests.
- Theater Troupe (Weekly Event)
- Two phases:
- Preparation (6 min) – tasks like cleaning or sparring
- Show Phase (4 min) – act in a short performance
- Rewards based on Audience Approval:
- 2000 points: Amateur Actor’s Chest – 5x Carved, 2x Weathered Crests
- 4000 points: Novice Actor’s Chest – 5x Carved, 2x Weathered Crests
- 6000 points: Expert Actor’s Chest – 5x Carved, 2x Weathered Crests
- Weekly Quest: Complete 50 Audience Approval points and the event.
- Reward: Theater Troupe’s Trove – 5x Carved, 2x Weathered Crests
- Two phases:
- Awakening the Machine (Weekly Event)
- Complete the weekly quest Gearing Up for Trouble by surviving all 20 waves (progress carries across sessions).
- Reward: Awakened Mechanical Cache – contains 5 Carved Crests and additional rewards.
- Worldsoul Quest (Weekly)
- Available from Faerin Lothar in Dornogal [46.0, 49.6].
- Only one character per account can complete this weekly.
- Reward: Pinnacle Cache – contains 15 Carved Crests and other items.
- Special Assignments (Weekly Outdoor Content)
- Often tied to Restored Coffer Keys, but still grants rewards even if key is already earned.
- Reward: Seasoned Adventurer’s Cache – 5 Carved Crests
Delves
By completing a Tier 6-7 Delves, you can get Carved Ethereal Crests, with higher tiers granting more Crests per run. However, it’s not recommended to use Restored Coffer Keys on these lower-tier Delves, as the keys are better spent on higher tiers that yield more valuable Crests.
Mythic + runs
Great way to farm Carved Ethereal Crests is by completing successful Mythic+ runs. The higher difficulty, the more crests you earn. Here’s a breakdown of the rewards:
| Mythic+ Level | Carved Ethereal Crests earned (Timer beaten) | Carved Ethereal Crests earned (Timer expired) |
|---|---|---|
| Mythic | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | 12 | 8 |
| 4 | 14 | 10 |
Defeating Manaforge Omega bosses
All bosses in the Manaforge Omega raid on Normal difficulty drop 15 Carved Ethereal Crests. However, Nexus-King Salhadaar and Dimensius, drop Runed Ethereal Crests instead, providing additional opportunities to upgrade endgame gear.
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 Ethereal Crests. One token gets you 15x Carved Ethereal Crests.
How to farm Runed Ethereal Crests in The War Within
Runed Ethereal Crests come mainly from Delves beyond 8 tier, Mythic+ dungeons, and Heroic raid bosses. You can earn up to 90 Runed Crests per week. You can bypass the limit by trading Gilded Ethereal Crests, however it is generally not worthy to trade off these Crests. Let’s get to the sources!
Delves
By completing a Tier 8-11 Delves, you can get Runed Ethereal Crests, with higher tiers granting more Crests per run. You can use Restored Coffer Keys on Delves, as then you will be guaranteed to get even more rewards with Delver’s Journey progress and even Gilded Ethereal Crests.
Mythic + runs
Great way to farm Carved Ethereal Crests is by completing successful Mythic+ runs. The higher difficulty, the more crests you earn. Here’s a breakdown of the rewards:
| Mythic+ Level | Runed Ethereal Crests earned (Timer beaten) | Runed Ethereal Crests earned (Timer expired) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8 | 6 |
| 4 | 10 | 6 |
| 5 | 12 | 8 |
| 6 | 14 | 10 |
Defeating Manaforge Omega bosses
All bosses in the Manaforge Omega raid on Heroic difficulty drop 15 Runed Ethereal Crests. However, Nexus-King Salhadaar and Dimensius drop Gilded Ethereal Crests.
How to farm Gilded Ethereal Crests in The War Within
Gilded Ethereal Crests come from Delves, high M+ keys, and Mythic raids. These are highest tier of Crests and are hardest to get. You cannot bypass weekly limit with these Crests.
Delves
By completing a Tier 11 Bountiful Delves, you can get Gilded Ethereal Crests, with higher tiers granting more Crests per Delver’s Journey. Always use Restored Coffer Keys on these Delves to fill up Delver’s Map.
Mythic + runs
Great way (and probably the most efficient way) to farm Gilded Ethereal Crests is by completing successful Mythic+ runs. The higher difficulty, the more crests you earn. Here’s a breakdown of the rewards:
| Mythic+ Level | Gilded Ethereal Crests earned (Timer beaten) | Gilded Ethereal Crests earned (Timer expired) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 8 | 6 |
| 8 | 10 | 6 |
| 9 | 12 | 8 |
| 10 | 14 | 10 |
Defeating Manaforge Omega bosses
All bosses in the Manaforge Omega raid on Mythic difficulty drop 15 Gilded Ethereal Crests.
Top contributors to this guide on WowVendor
| Contributor | Section |
|---|---|
| Kentrickz | Exchanging Carved Crests |
As you can see, the final two tiers of Ethereal Crests are difficult to obtain, especially for non-hardcore players. If you’re looking for an easier way to farm Gilded and Runed Crests, consider checking WoW boost to see if it’s the right option for you.
Here, we wrap up our “How to get Ethereal 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!
FAQ
How to get Crests in WoW?
Crests in World of Warcraft are earned by completing Mythic+ dungeons, raids, and PvP activities, with the tier of Crest depending on the difficulty.
How do Crests work in WoW?
Crests in World of Warcraft are a currency used to upgrade gear. Earned from activities like Mythic+ dungeons, raids, and PvP, they come in four tiers, each tied to progressively harder content. Players can spend them at gear upgrade vendors to enhance their items, with a weekly cap limiting how many can be obtained. This system streamlines gear progression, ensuring upgrades align with the difficulty of the content completed.
How much Ethereal Crests I can get?
Players can obtain up to 90 Gilded Ethereal Crests per week from various activities. If you’ve skipped one week dont’ worry as this cap is cumulative. So if you’ve skipped one week, you can earn next week 180/270 etc. crests. There is no total cap of Ethereal Crests that you can carry.
Are Ethereal Crests crucial for high-end content?
Yes, Ethereal Crests are essential for upgrading gear in World of Warcraft’s high-end content introduced in Patch 11.2. Without them, tackling higher end content can become problematic, if not outright impossible.
How to trade Crests in WoW?
Trading up Crests in WoW is a straightforward process that allows you to convert lower-tier crests into higher-tier ones, making gear upgrades more accessible. Simply visit Vaskarn in Dornogal, where you can exchange 90 lower-tier crests for 15 crests of the next tier. This system is especially useful if you’ve accumulated a surplus of lower-tier crests and want to speed up your endgame progression without relying solely on high-end content.
Are Crests account-transferable?
As of the latest updates, Ethereal Crests are not account-transferable. This means each character must earn and use their own crests for gear upgrades.
Comments
last thing this post helped me realize I do not need any gilded crest or enchanted crest for I will not be getting any myth gear. champion and some hero drops are good enough for the time I spend.
Thank you that was the best breakdown for crest,from any source. I am a solo player,that does Bountiful Delves tier 8 + with vault drops. I do not craft and want nothing to do with it.
Hey, glad you found this guide helpful! If you’re running Delves and relying on vault drops, you might find our guides on the best curios for Delves and the Delves tier list pretty useful. Happy grinding!
Hello. Since Patch 11.0.7 the number of Crests needed for exchanging to higher ones changed from 90 down to 45 Crests.
So please update your article to “If you own a surplus of 45x Carved Harbinger Crests, you can purchase a Celebratory Pack of Runed Harbinger Crests.” for example. All Crest cost have been reduced. Otherwise its a full comprehensive guide and i thank you for the effort!
Greetings, Kentrickz! Thanks for your useful insight. We added you to our contributors list.