Delver´s Journey Reputation Farm NERFED in Season 3 – Analysis & Strategy
Delver’s Journey reputation farming in Season 3 (11.2) has been heavily nerfed compared to Season 2. Reputation gains are now much slower, with key rewards like Delver’s Bounty (Hero gear) locked behind a significant time investment. Efficient farming now requires careful planning, use of multiple characters, and maximizing high-tier Bountiful Delves.
In Season 3 (Patch 11.2) of The War Within, the Delver’s Journey reputation system has been significantly nerfed compared to Season 2. Reputation is now only awarded from opening Restored Coffer Key chests at the end of Bountiful Delves and from the weekly quest, with no reputation from general delve completion or Nemesis chests. This change dramatically slows progression, making it take 4–5 weeks for a regular player (using all keys on one character) to unlock Delver’s Bounty, compared to much faster progression in Season 2. Multi-character strategies can reduce this to 2–3 weeks, but casual players may take much longer.
Season 2 vs Season 3: Reputation System Comparison
| Feature / Source | Season 2 | Season 3 (11.2) |
|---|---|---|
| Delve Completion | Reputation from Bountiful Delve completion (by tier) | No reputation |
| Nemesis Chest | Reputation awarded | No reputation |
| Restored Coffer Key Chest | 250 rep (any tier) | Tier-based: 125–300 rep (see table below) |
| Weekly Quest | 1,500 rep (sometimes 3,000) | 1,500 rep |
| Delver’s Bounty Unlock | Available early (not locked behind level 2) | Requires level 2 (8,400 rep) |
| Total Rep Needed (Level 2) | 8,400 | 8,400 |
| Time to Unlock (1 char, all keys) | 1–2 weeks (with moderate play) | 4–5 weeks (with regular play) |
Season 3: Reputation per Bountiful Delve Chest
| Tier | Rep per Chest |
|---|---|
| 5 | 125 |
| 6 | 150 |
| 7 | 175 |
| 8 | 200 |
| 9 | 225 |
| 10 | 250 |
| 11 | 300 |
How Long Does It Take? (Season 3 Time-to-Completion)
First Week Unlock (Impossible for Single Character)
Rep needed after weekly quest: 6,900
Runs needed (by tier):
Tier 11: 23 runs
Tier 10: 28 runs
Tier 8: 35 runs
With only 4 keys per week per character, you’d need 6–9 characters to unlock in the first week.
Weekly Progression Scenarios
| Player Type | Characters | Keys/Week | Tier | Weekly Rep | Weeks to Complete | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very Casual | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1,675 | 6 | Sporadic weekly quest |
| Casual | 1 | 2 | 8 | 1,900 | 5 | Some delving |
| Average | 1 | 3 | 8 | 2,100 | 4 | Regular player |
| Dedicated | 1 | 4 | 10 | 2,500 | 4 | Uses all keys |
| Alt User | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3,100 | 3 | Two characters |
| Hardcore | 3 | 4 | 11 | 5,100 | 2 | Multiple chars, high tier |
Figure: Delver’s Journey Season 3 – Time-to-Completion Analysis. Top left: Runs needed for first week unlock by tier. Top right: Weeks to complete for single character by keys/tier. Bottom left: Weeks to complete for multiple characters. Bottom right: Weekly reputation by player type.
Why Is It Slower? (Impact of the Nerf)
No rep from general delve completion or Nemesis chests: Only the Restored Coffer Key chest at the end of a Bountiful Delve gives rep.
Weekly quest rep reduced: Now only 1,500 per week.
Key limitation: Only 4–5 keys per character per week, capping your progress.
Delver’s Bounty locked behind level 2: You must grind 8,400 rep before you can get Hero gear from delves.
Key Finding:
Season 3’s system is designed to slow down reputation progression and delay access to key rewards, making the grind for Delver’s Journey reputation much longer than in previous seasons.
Optimal Farming Strategies for Season 3
Prioritize High-Tier Bountiful Delves:
Use all Restored Coffer Keys on the highest tier Bountiful Delves you can reliably complete (ideally Tier 8+).
Complete the Weekly Quest Every Week:
This is your single largest source of reputation outside of delves.
Use Multiple Characters (Alts):
Each alt can do 4 Bountiful Delves per week, multiplying your total rep gain.
Group Up for Efficiency:
Delves can be completed faster in a group, especially at higher tiers.
Track Bountiful Delve Rotations:
Plan your farming around daily resets to maximize the number of Bountiful Delves completed.
Efficient Key Management:
Don’t waste keys on low-tier delves unless you can’t complete higher tiers.
The Season 3 nerf to Delver’s Journey reputation gain is substantial. Most players will need 4–5 weeks of regular play to unlock Delver’s Bounty, with only the most dedicated (or those using multiple characters) able to do it faster. Efficient farming now requires maximizing high-tier Bountiful Delves, completing the weekly quest, and leveraging alts. The grind is much longer and more restrictive than in Season 2, making reputation farming a significant time investment.
