Unveiling the Void: World of Warcraft’s Patch 11.2 Introduces Two New Renown Factions

World of Warcraft’s highly anticipated Patch 11.2, “Ghosts of K’aresh,” is set to plunge players into the shattered homeworld of the Ethereals and Brokers, promising a climactic confrontation with the Shadowguard and the terrifying Void Lord, Dimensius, the All-Devouring. Beyond the epic narrative and new raid, Blizzard has unveiled a key progression system for the patch: not one, but two new Renown factions, each offering unique rewards and a distinct path to power and cosmetic glory.

These new factions, the K’aresh Trust and the Manaforge Vandals, expand on the Renown system seen in previous The War Within patches, providing players with ample opportunities for progression and customization as they delve into the Void-ravaged landscape.

The K’aresh Trust: Stewards of a Shattered World

The first major Renown faction introduced in Patch 11.2 is the K’aresh Trust. This coalition of Ethereals and Brokers has banded together with a desperate hope: to salvage and preserve what little remains of their world, ravaged by the Void. While not explicitly detailed in Blizzard’s initial reveal blog, the K’aresh Trust has gone live on the Patch 11.2 Public Test Realm (PTR), giving players a comprehensive look at its 20-tier reward track.

Who are the K’aresh Trust?

The K’aresh Trust represents the diligent and often desperate efforts of the native K’areshi (Ethereals) and the opportunistic yet pragmatic Brokers to rebuild and protect their shattered reality. They operate out of Tazavesh, the Veiled Market, which serves as a central hub in the new zone of K’aresh. Their mission is intrinsically tied to resisting the encroaching influence of the Void and its servants.

Earning Renown with the K’aresh Trust:

While the exact mechanisms for gaining reputation are subject to change on the PTR, players can expect to earn Renown with the K’aresh Trust through a variety of open-world activities in K’aresh, akin to previous major Renown factions:

• Defeating Rare Elites: Engaging and conquering powerful rare spawns throughout the zone.
• Completing World Quests: Participating in daily and weekly objectives across K’aresh.
• Finishing Campaign Chapters: Progressing through the main storyline of “Ghosts of K’aresh.”
• Weekly Quests: Tackling larger, time-gated objectives that offer significant Renown.
• K’aresh-Specific Activities: This will likely include new mechanics like “Phase Diving” (using the new Reshii Wraps artifact cloak to interact with the world in Ethereal form) and “Warrants” (hunting down notorious creatures for the Constable of Tazavesh).

Noteworthy Rewards from the K’aresh Trust Renown Track (20 Tiers):

The K’aresh Trust offers a robust array of rewards, catering to various player preferences:

• Cosmetics: Expect a diverse collection of transmogrification options including unique cloaks, shoulder pieces, and weapons, allowing players to visually embody the aesthetic of the Ethereals.
• Gear Upgrades: Various tiers will provide Weathered Ethereal Crests and Carved Ethereal Crests, essential currencies for upgrading gear in the new season.
• Profession Resources: Unlock valuable profession recipes and knowledge books, crucial for crafters.
• Utility & Convenience: Early tiers will likely unlock faction vendors, special treasures, and possibly even the new Untethered Coin vendor.
• Mounts & Titles: The pinnacle rewards include a ground mount (Ruby Void Creeper) at Renown 15 and a majestic flying mount (Terror of the Wastes) at Renown 19, culminating in the prestigious title “of the Twilight Star” at max Renown (Tier 20).
• Currencies: Players will also acquire Resonance Crystals and Valorstones, further enhancing their progression.

The K’aresh Trust track is designed for long-term engagement across the entire open world of Patch 11.2, rewarding consistent play and exploration.

The Manaforge Vandals: Saboteurs of the Void

In stark contrast to the K’aresh Trust, the second Renown faction, the Manaforge Vandals, is directly tied to the new Manaforge Omega raid. This group of K’areshi operates with a more ruthless philosophy, seeking to defeat Nexus-King Salhadaar and his Shadowguard through any means necessary, including sabotage and underhanded tactics.

Who are the Manaforge Vandals?

These Ethereals and their allies prioritize the immediate dismantling of the Shadowguard’s operations within the Manaforge Omega, a facility central to the Void Lord Dimensius’s impending revival. Their methods are pragmatic and focused purely on disrupting the enemy from within.

Earning Renown with the Manaforge Vandals:

Unlike the K’aresh Trust, Renown with the Manaforge Vandals is primarily earned through activities within the Manaforge Omega raid:

• Defeating Raid Bosses: Progressing through and conquering the various encounters within the 8-boss raid.
• Defeating Non-Boss Enemies: Clearing trash mobs within the raid instances will also contribute to reputation gains.

While the exact metrics for reputation gain are not yet clear, it’s expected to be time-gated on a weekly basis, similar to previous raid Renown tracks like the Galagio Loyalty Rewards Club. However, with 15 tiers (5 fewer than a typical major Renown track), players might be able to cap this faction faster.

Noteworthy Rewards from the Manaforge Vandals Renown Track (15 Tiers):

The Manaforge Vandals track offers a unique blend of in-raid buffs, quality-of-life improvements, and exclusive cosmetics:

• Raid Convenience: Early tiers unlock crucial features like auctioneers and vendors directly inside the raid instance, and an in-raid Hearthstone, drastically reducing travel time and improving player convenience during raid nights.
• Raid Skips & Weakening: At specific tiers, players can unlock raid skips after defeating Nexus-King Salhadaar once, allowing for faster progression on subsequent runs. Certain tiers also weaken non-boss enemies in specific raid wings, streamlining trash clear.
• Combat Buffs: Progressing through the track grants significant damage/healing boosts (up to +15% at max Renown) and movement speed buffs (up to +45% after defeating non-boss enemies) while inside the Manaforge Omega.
• Cosmetics: Exclusive mounts (Vandal’s Gearglider, The Bone Freezer), pets (Zo’ya, Looker Gaz’kreth Jr.), and a unique title “Star Savior” are available as cosmetic rewards.
• Resource & Crafting Benefits: Improved enchantments and mana oils, secondary stat boosts from Reshii Wraps, Soulforged Augment Runes, and various profession recipes (Enchanting, Engineering, Inscription) will enhance raid performance and crafting.

This raid-focused Renown track provides tangible benefits that directly impact raid progression and efficiency, making it highly valuable for players dedicated to conquering Manaforge Omega.

The Renown Evolution: A Look Ahead

The introduction of two distinct Renown factions in Patch 11.2 demonstrates Blizzard’s continued commitment to refining this progression system. By offering one track for broad open-world engagement and another for dedicated raid progression, they cater to diverse playstyles within the game. This approach ensures that all types of players feel rewarded for their time invested in the “Ghosts of K’aresh” update.

As The War Within saga moves towards its conclusion with Patch 11.2 being the final major content update before Midnight, these Renown factions serve as crucial conduits for player progression, lore delivery, and the acquisition of powerful new gear and highly sought-after cosmetics. Players should prepare to dive deep into the mysteries of K’aresh, forge alliances, and earn their place among its new inhabitants, whether as trusted stewards or daring vandals.