Delves launched with The War Within Season 1 in September 2024: short, instanced zones you clear solo or with up to four friends, scaling through difficulty Tiers, with Brann Bronzebeard fighting beside you. Season 1 capped at Tier 8 on release and added Tiers 9-11 in a later patch; Tier 8+ runs were the ones that fed the best weekly Great Vault reward.
Season 1 Delves at a glance
- Debut: The War Within, Season 1 (patch 11.0), September 2024 - the first season Delves existed at all.
- Group size: 1 to 5 players. The instance scales, so a solo clear is a real, intended way to play.
- Companion: Brann Bronzebeard. He gains levels as you run Delves and can be set to a combat role, which changes how hard higher Tiers feel.
- Tiers: Season 1 opened with Tiers 1-8. Tiers 9, 10 and 11 arrived in a mid-season patch as the hard-mode ceiling.
- Bountiful Delves: rotating Delves with an extra chest at the end, opened with a Restored Coffer Key.
- Keys: Restored Coffer Keys are assembled from Coffer Key Shards found out in the world, with a weekly limit on how many you can bank.
- Great Vault: Delve completions fill the world/Delve row. Higher Tier completions raise the item level of what that row offers you on reset day.
How do Season 2 and Season 3 Delves differ from Season 1?
The big Season 1 story was the ramp: half the Tier ladder did not exist at launch. From Season 2 onward the full Tier range was there from day one, Brann's role options widened, and the reward tracks were retuned each season so Delve gear stayed relevant against that season's dungeons and raid.
The core loop never changed - run a Delve, clear the objective, open the chest, use a key on a Bountiful one, bank Great Vault progress. What shifts season to season is item level, which Delves are in rotation, and what the seasonal journey hands out. Always check the current season's numbers rather than an old Season 1 guide; the ilvl figures go stale fast.
What Tier should I actually run?
Run the highest Tier you can finish without dying repeatedly. Tiers below 8 are for gearing up and learning the layouts; Tier 8 has historically been the line where the weekly Vault reward becomes worth planning your week around. Tier 11 is the flex ceiling - genuinely punishing solo, and mostly chased for the challenge and the seasonal achievements.
Are Delves worth it if I don't raid or push keys?
Yes - that is exactly who they were built for. Delves are the one endgame pillar with no group to assemble, no timer stress, and no application queue. A few Bountiful runs plus your Vault pick each week keeps a solo character moving forward at a pace that used to require a raid roster.
What do I do with Coffer Keys I'm not spending?
Save them for Bountiful Delves at the highest Tier you can clear - a key spent on a low Tier is a wasted key, since the chest scales with the Tier you completed. Keys carry over, so banking a few before a reset is fine.
If you would rather not grind the key shards or wall yourself against Tier 11, PewPewShop can help: Delves Boost from EUR 17, Delve Tier Unlock from EUR 12, Restored Coffer Key Currency from EUR 22, and Tier 11 Delve Clears from EUR 44 - handled by vetted human players who can also just coach you through the pull that keeps killing you. Midnight-era Delve content is covered too, including Ritual Sites Farm from EUR 27.98.