The single most important new activity added with Shadowlands, there’s just no avoiding Torghast if you want to really engage with the expansion as a whole. The upside is it’s one of the best pieces of new content Blizzard has released in years. The downside is there is a lot to get the hang of, with Torghast a few steps removed from being a game all its own.
Making the most out of your time in Torghast will earn you both the soul ash you need to craft legendaries and other notable rewards, particularly those that help in the Maw. There are also several story quests that involve access to Torghast, though these tend to be more scripted than proper runs. All told, it’s a fleshed-out roguelike experience that rewards experience with other titles in the genre as much as WoW itself.
Unlocking Torghast
While it is pretty hard to miss once you’ve hit 60, if you’re wondering where in the world Torghast is while you’re leveling, don’t worry. Outside of a quick scripted trip to free Prince Renathal during the Revendreth campaign Torghast is an entirely max-level activity. If you haven’t yet 60, you’re not missing anything yet. Once you have, just follow your covenant campaign, quests from Ve’nari and Bolvar will get you to the tower. Once you’ve walked in, you’re free to do as you want, though you should do the scripted run to free Baine sooner rather than later, as it is required to unlock the Runecarver and Legendary Crafting
Torghast Runs, Anima Powers, and you.
The actual mechanics of the tower are complex. Your gear level and other outside power will follow you in, but anima powers can make or break you. As stated earlier, Torghast is patterned after roguelike games. Items you get in the tower exist only during the current run and they are often hugely powerful. For instance, a common power available to monks increases the damage of a core ability by 50% for each copy. Knowing what to take isn’t always simple, since some powers are strong on their own and others are reliant on synergy. Some powers are better earlier like Warlock’s stacking buff for keeping their pet alive. Anima Powers are the most important thing inside a run and good powers can make up for weak gear.
During runs, you’ll be looking out for them as much as you can. You’ll earn an anima power from rare enemies, your floor miniboss and various random encounters available throughout each floor. A wing of Torghast has 48 floors, which you tackle in 6-floor layers. A layer composes its own run and most things earned within it are lost when you exit. Make sure to keep your eyes out for chests, and covenant members. Finding covenant encounters for your own covenant tends to award adventure companions. So make sure to complete those as an even greater priority.
As far as actual combat, when pushing higher layers without strong gear, you’ll need you use your classes’ utility abilities to manage things. Many layers feature floors teeming with enemies, or tight spaces filled with traps that make hectic combat tough to swallow. Use your crowd control options, sneak past things if you have to, and make use of the items available to you. Many can be acquired on floor 3 of each layer. This floor serves as a break with no enemies, but can still contain traps. While there, you’ll have access to a Broker NPC who can sell you both Anima Powers and utility items. The latter can be huge for classes who lack their own ways to manage dangerous packs. While inside the Broker’s bubble you’re safe from the floor so you can use it for a break in general.
On floor 6, you’ll get another Broker, but this is just before the boss. Spend the Phantasma you’ve built up here or you’ll lose it. Bosses tend to be more susceptible than you’d expect to various effects. They generally lack the immunities to specific abilities that most powerful enemies have this means you can stun them, freeze them, use touch of death, all sorts of things. Use this to your advantage, and manage the boss as best you can. In groups, this can lead to bosses being fairly easy with burst cooldowns and stuns. Solo runs tend to find them more meaningful challenges, so be prepared if you’re by yourself.
Why run Torghast?
Torghast’s primary pull is in Legendary crafting. Outside of a tiny trickle from the mission table, the only place to get Soul Ash is Torghast, and completing high layer runs can get you a huge chunk. Once layer 8 is available, if you can complete both 8s each week, you’re looking at more than 1000 soul ash. Compared to extremely difficult and infrequent mission table adventures giving you 100, this is going to be your primary source.
In addition, many legendary memories are available for completing a wing at layer three or higher. Some of these can be extremely good so make sure to look into the memories on offer and collect any that are strong for your spec before the wings rotate. Other than all of this, you also have access to the aforementioned adventure companions and, in twisting corridors, cosmetics for bragging rights. There’s tons you need and a few things you probably want.