How to start Story Mode raids in WoW The War Within

A new way to experience raids.

Alleria Winderunner, Xal'atath, and Queen Ansurek standing next to each other in WoW The War Within.
Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Story Mode raids are a new way for all players to complete raids in WoW The War Within, and they get to do it all on their own. 

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Story Mode raids are not the same as Normal, Heroic, and Mythic raids, and instead offer a new, casual way for players to complete the Nerub-ar Palace Raid and unlock that cinematic with Queen Ansurek. So, here’s our full guide to starting Story Mode raids in The War Within.

How to unlock the Story Mode raids in WoW The War Within

Xalatath, a woman with purple hair and headband starring at sky.
A little preparation is needed. Screenshot by Dot Esports

Before you jump into the Nerub-ar Palace Raid and experience it on your own, you must fulfill a couple of prerequisites. To unlock the Story Mode raids in The War Within, you must reach the maximum level first and complete the entire story campaign of Khaz Algar

The Khaz Algar campaign is a level-up campaign consisting of the four zones of Khaz Algar. Each zone has three chapters of quests to complete, giving you plenty of experience to reach level 80.

Brann Bronzebeard holding a pickaxe and a torch in WoW The War Within.
Level up and explore. Image via Blizzard Entertainment

Once you finish the Khaz Algar campaign, you can start The War Within Campaign, which has five chapters. Luckily, all you need to do is complete the first chapter, Against the Current, which has the following quests in order:

  • The Fleet Arrives 
  • Embassies and Envoys
  • There’s Always Another Secret
  • What’s Hidden Beneath Dornogal
  • Preparing for the Unknown
  • Urban Odyssey

You can complete the entire chapter rather quickly since it mostly requires you to talk to NPCs in Dornogal and interact with items. After you finish the first chapter, you get a part of The War Within achievement Against the Current and unlock the Story Mode Raid.

How to start Story Mode raids in WoW The War Within

A short man with a long beard and a glowing blue bird mount in wow the war within
Get ready to take on the Queen herself. Screenshot by Dot Esports via Blizzard Entertainment

When you unlock the Story Mode Raid, you need to do some extra quests before you enter the Nerub-ar Palace. Talk to the little spider NPC Webster in Dornogal, at coordinates 31.56, 62.88 and he gives you the first quest called Our Chance to Strike.

Take the portal in Dornogal at coordinates 63.62, 52.03, and go to the Azj-Kahet zone. Use your mount and fly to the City of Threads where hand in the quest to the NPC Executor Nizrek at the Royal Apothecary. Then you need to do the following quests in order:

  • Beginning of the End
  • A Spy Like Us
  • Defense of the People
  • Make Them Prey
  • A Shot At The Top
Faerin Lothar using her powers in WoW The War Within.
Some nice rewards are waiting for you at the end. Screenshot by Dot Esports

All quests are straightforward to complete since they require you to go around the City of Threads, slay Nerubian guards and Abductors, and rescue a couple of Burrows Residents. Once you turn in A Shot At The Top quest, the NPC Executor Nizrek gives you the To Kill A Queen quest which sends you to the Nerub-ar Palace to fight and defeat Queen Ansurek. 

Speak with the NPC Kriz the “Loyal” in the City of Threads, at coordinates 31.59, 63.84 and he’ll teleport you to the Nerub-ar Palace where you fight the last boss Queen Ansurek in story mode with nine NPCs. Upon completing the Story Mode Raid you can obtain the following rewards:

  • 1404 Gold
  • Enchanted Runes Harbinger Crest
  • Void-Touched Valorstones (Contains 250 Valorstones)
  • 15 Valorstones
  • The Vizier’s Commendation (2500 Reputation with The Vizier)
Author
Image of Lazar Pavlovic
Lazar Pavlovic
Freelance News and SEO Writer for Dot Esports, covering games like Genshin Impact, VALORANT, World of Warcraft and League of Legends to new releases. When he's not writing, you can find him grinding dungeons and raids in World of Warcraft.