World of Warcraft: The War Within is shaping up to be one of the biggest expansions for the MMO in quite some time, and getting started in this hyped-up first part of the Worldsoul Saga might feel daunting for players returning to the game after some time.

There's a lot to consider when it comes to figuring out what to do first in The War Within, especially with all of the new features in the MMO, and preparations that should be made for endgame. This guide explains what you should do first in WoW TWW, giving a basic lists of things you should prioritize when getting started in Khaz Algar.

Complete The War Within Intro Quest In Silithus & Dalaran

To start The War Within and get to Khaz Algar, you must complete the initial series of quests that take place in Dalaran, currently located in the Legion expansion's Broken Isles. Upon logging into the game on a max-level character, you will automatically receive a summons from your faction's representative (either Jaina or Thrall) to come to Silithus and speak with Magni Bronzebeard, the Speaker of Azeroth.

After completing this initial step in Silithus beneath Sargeras' Sword, you will be brought to Dalaran to continue the quest steps. Here, you learn about the existence of Khaz Algar, and take part in the city being teleported to this once-lost home of the Earthen.

Immediately upon your arrival, though, things go wrong, and you will be thrust into a sudden, unexpected battle. Once you have completed this, continue to follow the main quest until you reach the main city hub of the expansion, Dornogal.

Learn New Khaz Algar Professions Before Questing

Once you make it to Dornogal, be sure to spend some time exploring the city and taking in the breathtaking design of this hub, but don't jump back into the main story too quickly. Before you venture out into the world and start to take on each of the four new The War Within zones, learn the new Khaz Algar versions of your chosen professions.

Professions in The War Within will help with progression through crafted items, help make gold with gathering materials, and unlock unique items and features (and sometimes dialogue options). It is significantly easier to passively gain materials and level up your professions while leveling up than to go back and try to farm materials and Knowledge at max level, so be sure to do this before departing Dornogal and making your way back to the main story.

Focus On The Main Storyline & Pick Up Side Content For XP

Once you've completed the intro questline, and have picked up your Khaz Algar professions, it's time to get to work on the level-up campaign in each of the four new zones. Though you should certainly pick up every Main Quest you see (highlighted with a dark yellow/orange exclamation point, rather than a golden yellow one), it's important to pick up side quests to reach max level by the end of the campaign.

You will not be able to get to Level 80 in The War Within without doing some side content – in fact, some players have found themselves in the final zone Azj-Kahet at too low a level to deal any damage to basic enemies. Pick up side quests and do Dungeons and Delves while leveling to keep up with the increasingly more difficult content as you progress through the expansion.

You'll likely find that some Side Quests (or Local Quests) are among the most engaging and often most moving stories in the whole expansion, so it's worth taking on side content for more than just supplemental XP.

Work Towards Unlocking Earthen After Beating The Campaign

After you complete the level-up campaign for The War Within, and reach max level, you will unlock a ton of new content like Heroic dungeons, World Quests, World Bosses, and more. But in addition to this, new quests in the max-level campaign will begin to open up – and these quests are required to unlock the Earthen race.

Unfortunately, much of the max-level campaign is locked until September 3, when the Earthen race will also become available to play. But that doesn't mean you can't start making progress now – complete the level-up campaign, get to max level, and start working on the three side storylines that will be required to unlock the Earthen (listed in the Allied Races: Earthen achievement). Though you won't actually be able to complete the max-level campaign until September 3, you can knock out most of the prerequisites now and create your Earthen as soon as they are made available in-game.

Start Gearing Up For Season 1 Of The War Within

Once you have completed the level-up campaign, taken on side content (including new Delves and Follower Dungeons), explored basic endgame features like World Quests, and otherwise finished most of what the launch version of The War Within has to offer, start seriously thinking about acquiring gear for the WoW endgame. At max level you can take on Heroic dungeons, which will reward decent gear for starting Mythic and Mythic Plus dungeons, as well as Raids further down the line. World Quests often reward high-level gear that's perfect for your Season 1 pre-BiS, and the addition of World Bosses before Season 1 launches will also help to supplement your gear.

Season 1 for The War Within launches on September 10, so you have a lot of time to get geared up and explore what The War Within has to offer. Spend some time looking up builds for your spec, optimizing your Talent trees, and acquiring equipment from the various endgame activities that are currently available. Though most of it will be quickly outclassed once Season 1 comes out, it's important to build this foundation now to more easily find groups and progress faster come Season 1 launch.