Blizzard is making big changes to the Mythic+ system as participation declines sharply. From class balance tuning to new dungeon mechanics, the development team is working to address player frustrations and improve the overall experience in The War Within Season 2.
Participation Decline: What Went Wrong?
According to Raider.IO, a leading source for WoW dungeon statistics, Mythic+ participation has plummeted during The War Within Season 1. Compared to the Dragonflight expansion, the number of players engaging in Mythic+ has dropped by 75% between Week 1 and Week 14. This stark contrast with earlier expansions, like Battle for Azeroth, highlights major issues in the system.
Major pain points include:
- Keystone Depletion – Losing progress when failing to meet the timer.
- Narrow Meta Compositions – A small set of optimal classes and specs dominating groups.
- Difficulty Spikes – Higher keys feel too punishing, especially for non-meta specializations.
- Unrewarding Progression – Players feel rewards do not match the effort required.
Blizzard’s Response and Upcoming Changes
In an interview with PC Gamer, Senior Game Director Ion Hazzikostas shared his thoughts on the Mythic+ system:
- In Season 2, keystones will no longer deplete once players achieve a certain rating. This adjustment is aimed at reducing frustration and encouraging higher participation.
- A key focus will be on balancing underrepresented classes and specs, creating more viable options for competitive play.
- Blizzard is actively reworking dungeons for Season 2, aiming to smooth out difficulty spikes and create a more consistent experience across the pool.
- Through surveys and PTRs, Blizzard is incorporating community feedback into their changes.
Looking Ahead to Season 2
Season 2 testing is already underway, with new mechanics and dungeon pool set to debut. While the first build has introduced big changes, Blizzard emphasizes that ongoing pain points will be promptly addressed.
The dev team is optimistic about increased participation as these changes roll out. With improvements to class balance and more manageable progression paths, players may find renewed motivation to push higher keys in Mythic+.
