The Catalyst system in The War Within allows players to transform gear into tier set pieces. This system is important because tier sets often provide class-specific bonuses that can greatly improve performance in both PvE and PvP. In addition to power upgrades, Catalyst also plays a major role in collecting appearances for transmog. For many players, it is the most reliable way to complete their tier sets without needing perfect luck from raid drops.
4.9What is Catalyst in The War Within?
The Catalyst is a console located in Dornogal that lets you take certain types of gear and convert them into tier set pieces. For example, if you have a pair of non-set shoulders from a dungeon or PvP vendor, you can bring them to the Catalyst and transform them into the shoulder piece of your class set. The new piece will keep the same item level and upgrade track but gain the tier appearance and, if applicable, contribute to your class’s set bonus.
This is basically a form of protection against bad luck. Not everyone has the time or ability to raid every week, and even those who do might go many weeks without receiving the piece they need. With the Catalyst, you can steadily work toward completing your set bonus regardless of how your raid drops go. It is also valuable for players who focus on Mythic+, PvP, or outdoor content since it gives them access to the same set bonuses that raiders enjoy. That said, if you do want to receive raid-tier gear and achievements, our fast Manaforge Omega service can help you with that as well.
Where to Find Catalyst in The War Within
In The War Within, the Catalyst is found in Dornogal, the central city of the expansion. If you look at your map, the console is positioned near the middle of the city, around coordinates 50, 54. The console is easy to spot once you know the location, and it is always active once the season begins.
Unlike some past expansions where the Catalyst was introduced later, in The War Within it is available from the start of Season 3. This ensures that players have access to the system as they begin working through the new raid, Mythic+ dungeons, and PvP season. Once you unlock the ability to use it, you can return to Dornogal at any time to convert eligible gear as long as you have charges available.
How to Get Catalyst in The War Within
If you want to convert a piece of gear into tier, you spend one charge of the Catalyst. At the start of Season 3, every character begins with one charge automatically. After that, a new charge is added every two weeks.
📌 There is no way to speed up this process other than one seasonal bonus charge.
Charges are capped at eight, meaning if you do not use them, they will accumulate only up to that point. For players managing multiple characters, it is worth logging into each alt periodically to ensure they are collecting charges even if you are not actively gearing them yet.
Bonus Catalyst in The War Within
There is one way to gain an extra charge outside the normal schedule. This comes from the Voidborne Victor achievement. Completing any one of its requirements will reward you with a Crystallized Ethereal Voidsplinter, which functions as an additional Catalyst charge. The requirements are tied to endgame goals. In order to get the bonus charge you need to do one of the following things:
- Reach 1,600 rating in rated PvP;
- Reach 2,000 Mythic+ rating;
- Defeat Dimensius the All-Devouring on Heroic or Mythic difficulty.
These are not small tasks, but they give you an incentive to push into harder content if you want to maximize your access to Catalyst.
This bonus does not repeat weekly, as it is a once-per-season gain. For most players, it will serve as a way to finish off a set sooner. It can also help close the gap if you are behind in raid drops and want to complete your four-piece bonus more quickly! If you are behind on gear, you can farm it in a raid, e.g., Manaforge Omega. You can also ask our team for Heroic Battle Pass, which will make the process much easier.
Catalyst Gear Slots in The War Within
The Catalyst system is built around tier sets, and only certain gear slots directly contribute to set bonuses. In The War Within, the five traditional tier slots are the only ones that matter for your 2-piece and 4-piece set effects. These slots are:
- Legs.
- Hands.
- Helm.
- Shoulders.
- Chest.
📌 If you convert gear in any of these slots using the Catalyst, it will count toward your class tier set bonus. The item tooltip will also show your current set progress, making it easy to track how close you are to unlocking the 2-piece and 4-piece bonuses.
Other armor slots can also be catalyzed, but they do not provide any power gain. Instead, these conversions are purely cosmetic. Bracers, belts, boots, and cloaks can be transformed into pieces that match your class tier appearance, giving you more options for completing a full transmog look.
These items will not count toward your set bonus, so they are best used when you already have your tier bonuses secured and want to focus on appearance. For transmog collectors, this is one of the easiest ways to finish a full class set without relying entirely on raid drops.
The War Within Season 3 Catalyst Cloaks
It is worth noting that cloaks are treated differently in Season 3 of The War Within. The only cloak players can obtain this season is the Reshii Wraps, an artifact cloak that cannot be catalyzed.
To collect the actual tier set cloak appearances, you will need to participate in the Manaforge Omega raid and progress through the Manaforge Vandals renown track. This separation means that while the Catalyst is an important tool for both gearing and appearances, cloaks remain tied to raid progression for players seeking a complete visual set.
If you want to learn more about gearing in Season 3 of TWW, check out our dedicated Tier Set Guide.
4.9The Catalyst in The War Within is basically your safety net for tier gear. Instead of waiting week after week for the right raid drop, you can just turn the gear you already have into set pieces and finish your bonuses on your own schedule. On top of that, it’s a solid way to collect transmog and round out your class set without stressing over luck. If you keep up with your charges and plan out which slots you need most, the Catalyst makes gearing a lot smoother this season!
