World of Warcraft Group Travel & Dungeon Access FAQ
- Average speed
- km/h
- Result
- Finish time
- 50 min
- You entered
- Distance
- 10 km
- You entered
This article answers the most common questions about group travel and dungeon access in World of Warcraft, covering how to get to dungeons with a group, summoning mechanics, and dungeon entrance requirements. Whether you’re a new player or returning after a break, you’ll find clear answers and practical tips for both current and legacy content.
Background: How Group Travel Works in WoW
Group travel in World of Warcraft has evolved significantly over the years. In the early days, players had to physically run or fly to dungeon entrances, often across entire continents. Today, the Dungeon Finder tool (default key: I) automatically teleports your group to the dungeon when all members are ready. For legacy dungeons (from expansions before the current one), you can also queue through the Dungeon Finder, but the tool only covers dungeons within the level range you’re queuing for. For Mythic+ dungeons, you must travel to the entrance manually or use a Summoning Stone, which is placed near the dungeon entrance.
How Dungeon Access Works in the Current Expansion
In the current expansion (The War Within), dungeon access is straightforward for normal and heroic difficulties: use the Dungeon Finder to queue, and you’ll be teleported automatically. For Mythic and Mythic+ difficulties, you need to form a premade group and physically enter the dungeon. The group leader can set the difficulty by right-clicking their character portrait and selecting Dungeon Difficulty. For Mythic+, you’ll need a Keystone, which you can get from the Great Vault or from completing a Mythic dungeon. Once at the entrance, the group leader inserts the keystone into the pedestal to start the timer.
Summoning Stones and Warlock Summoning
When you need to get a group together at a dungeon entrance (for Mythic+, raiding, or legacy content), the Summoning Stone is your best friend. Here’s how it works:
- Summoning Stone: Located near every dungeon and raid entrance. When at least two players are near the stone, they can click it to summon a third player from anywhere in the world. The summoned player must accept the summon prompt.
- Warlock Ritual of Summoning: A warlock can create a summoning portal that requires two other group members to click. This works anywhere, not just at dungeon entrances, as long as the warlock is in the group.
- Meeting Stone: In older versions, the Meeting Stone was used to find groups, but now it functions as a Summoning Stone.
To use a Summoning Stone, two players must be within a short distance of it. The stone has a 2-minute cooldown after a successful summon. If a player is in combat or in a dungeon, they cannot be summoned.
How to Choose the Right Dungeon Difficulty
Dungeon difficulty levels determine the challenge and rewards. Here’s a quick guide:
- Normal: Easy, for leveling and learning. Queue via Dungeon Finder.
- Heroic: Slightly harder, better loot. Queue via Dungeon Finder once you reach max level.
- Mythic: Challenging, requires a premade group of 5 players. No queue; you must travel to the entrance. Loot is better, and you can only loot each boss once per week.
- Mythic+: Endgame challenge with escalating difficulty via Keystone levels. Timed runs, affixes, and better rewards. Requires a Keystone and a premade group.
For legacy dungeons (from past expansions), you can solo them at max level. To access them, open the Dungeon Finder and select the specific expansion and dungeon from the dropdown menus. You can also physically fly to the entrance if you want to explore.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
Players often run into a few common issues with group travel and dungeon access:
- Can’t queue for a dungeon: Make sure you meet the level and gear requirements. For max-level dungeons, your item level must be above the minimum. Check your role (tank, healer, DPS) is selected.
- Summoning Stone not working: Ensure two players are actually near the stone and not in combat. Sometimes the stone is inside a building or cave; make sure you’re close enough.
- Mythic+ keystone not activating: The group leader must insert the keystone into the pedestal at the dungeon entrance. All players must be inside the dungeon before starting the timer.
- Getting lost on the way to a dungeon: Use your map and set a waypoint. Many dungeon entrances are in caves or buildings; look for the large glowing portal or the Summoning Stone marker on your minimap.
Group Travel Options Compared
There are several ways to get your group to a dungeon, each with pros and cons:
- Dungeon Finder teleport: Fastest for Normal/Heroic. No travel needed, but only works for random or specific queued dungeons.
- Flight paths and mounts: Reliable but slow, especially for remote dungeons. Good for solo travel or when you want to gather herbs/ores along the way.
- Summoning Stone: Efficient once two players arrive. Saves time for the rest of the group, but requires at least two people to be at the entrance.
- Warlock summons: Flexible, but requires a warlock in the group and two other players to click the portal.
- Mage portals: Only to major cities, not directly to dungeons. Useful as a first step, then fly to the entrance.
Costs and Requirements
Most group travel methods are free, but there are a few costs to keep in mind:
- Flight paths: Require gold to unlock and use, though the cost is minimal at max level.
- Mounts: Some mounts require reputation or achievements, but they’re a one-time purchase.
- Dungeon Finder: Free to queue, but you must have the required item level for Heroic/Mythic.
- Mythic+ Keystone: Free to obtain, but you need to complete a Mythic dungeon to get one each week.
There are no hidden fees for using Summoning Stones or Warlock summons. The only real cost is time.
Safety and Etiquette in Group Travel
When traveling with a group, especially to high-level dungeons, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t pull mobs while traveling: If you’re on a mount and aggro a monster, it can dismount you and cause delays. Let the tank lead.
- Wait for the group: If you arrive early, don’t start the dungeon without the rest of the group. This is especially important for Mythic+ where the timer starts when the keystone is activated.
- Use the Summoning Stone efficiently: Have two players with fast loading times go to the stone first, then summon the rest. This minimizes downtime.
- Be aware of PvP zones: In War Mode, you may be attacked by enemy players while traveling. Stay alert and use stealth or group up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to a dungeon entrance if I don’t have a flying mount?
You can use ground mounts and follow the roads. Most dungeon entrances are marked on the map with a dungeon icon. You can also ask a mage for a portal to the nearest major city, then fly or ride from there. If you’re in a group, ask two players to go ahead and use the Summoning Stone to bring you directly.
Can I queue for a dungeon with friends from different realms?
Yes, as long as you’re on the same faction and in a party. The Dungeon Finder will place you in the same group. For Mythic+ and raids, you can also group cross-realm, but you may need to be on the same server for trading loot.
Why can’t I enter a Mythic dungeon even though I’m max level?
You need a group of 5 players and the dungeon difficulty set to Mythic. You also need to meet the item level requirement (usually around the dungeon’s intended gear level). Check your item level by opening your character sheet (default key: C).
How do I reset a dungeon so I can run it again?
Right-click your character portrait and select “Reset all instances.” This resets the dungeon for your group. For Mythic+, you must leave the dungeon and re-enter; the keystone will be consumed on completion or failure.
What are the current Mythic+ affixes?
Affixes change weekly. Common ones include Tyrannical (bosses have more health and deal more damage), Fortified (trash mobs are stronger), and various seasonal affixes. You can check the current affixes in the Dungeon Finder tooltip or on community websites.
Can I solo old dungeons for transmog or achievements?
Yes, at max level you can solo most legacy dungeons from previous expansions. Open the Dungeon Finder, select the expansion and dungeon, and set the difficulty to Normal or Heroic. You’ll be teleported in and can clear it alone.
Related
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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0 in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2 out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2
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