Curse of Ula’Tek Patch Overview
The release of Midnight Season 2: Curse of Ula’Tek is just around the corner, bringing a new raid, updated Mythic+ dungeons, Delve improvements, and a fresh PvP season. To help you prepare for the upcoming content, we’ve gathered everything currently known about the new season in one place.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- An overview of the new raid and its rewards;
- Details about the new raid-like activity;
- The latest information about the Mythic+ dungeon pool and seasonal rewards;
- An overview of Delve updates and new features;
- A breakdown of the PvP season, including new rewards and progression.
All information in this guide is based on official Blizzard announcements, Wowhead research, and our own analysis and predictions drawn from previous World of Warcraft seasons.
New Raid: Venomous Abyss
Venomous Abyss is the new eight-boss raid introduced in Midnight Season 2. Set deep beneath the surface, this raid features a variety of encounters, each with its own mechanics, positioning requirements, and coordination challenges. Whether you’re aiming for Normal, Heroic, or Mythic difficulty, every boss will put your group’s teamwork and execution to the test.
The raid includes the following encounters:
- Nek’zali the Soulcoiler
- Entombed Sentinels
- Vashnik the Malignant
- The Lost Explorers
- Sszorak
- The Twin Fangs
- The Bargained Crown
- Ula’Tek
Every encounter introduces unique mechanics that require careful strategy and coordination. Bringing a well-prepared and experienced group is the key to defeating the raid and claiming its valuable rewards.
Loot system in the Venomous Abyss raid
Patch 12.1 introduces major changes to raid loot, making high-end gear more rewarding than ever. Items obtained from the Great Vault can now drop at higher upgrade tiers, allowing you to reach a much higher item level without progressing to a more difficult raid mode.
Mythic difficulty has also received a significant overhaul. All rare-quality raid items, as well as loot from the final two bosses, now drop at Myth 9/6 upgrade level. These pieces cannot be upgraded to the same level through the standard item upgrade system, making them some of the most valuable rewards available in the season.
We’ve summarized the complete raid loot information in the table below.
| Difficulty | Raid Run | The Great Vault |
| Normal | 285-295 Champion 1/6 – Champion 4/6 | 298 Hero 1/6 |
| Heroic | 298-308 Hero 1/6 – Hero 4/6 | 311 Myth 1/6 |
| Mythic (1-6 bosses) | 311-318 Myth 1/6 – Myth 3/6 | 328 Myth 6/6 |
| Mythic (7-8 bosses, Very Rare Items) | 337 Myth 9/6 | 337 Myth 9/6 |
You can also collect your class Tier Set in Venomous Abyss by defeating the following bosses:
- Head — The Twin Fangs
- Shoulders — The Lost Explorers
- Chest — Vashnik the Malignant
- Hands — Entombed Sentinels
- Legs — Sszorak
Equipping multiple Tier Set pieces unlocks powerful class bonuses that significantly improve your performance in raids, Mythic+, and other endgame content.
Venomous Abyss Achievements and Mounts
Venomous Abyss features a wide range of achievements tied to defeating bosses on different raid difficulties. In addition to the standard Normal, Heroic, and Mythic kill achievements, every encounter includes a unique challenge required for the traditional Glory meta-achievement. You can find the complete list of raid achievements below.
- Normal:
- Heroic:
- Mythic:
- Glory of the Venomous Abyss Raider
Completing every special encounter objective awards the prestigious Glory of the Venomous Abyss Raider achievement, along with the exclusive Crimson Venomfang flying mount.
One of the players who defeats Ula’Tek on Mythic difficulty also has a guaranteed chance to obtain the Primeval Skyfriend flying mount, making it one of the most desirable rewards of Midnight Season 2.
Since many of these rewards require excellent coordination and flawless execution, assembling a skilled raid group is essential. With an experienced team, you’ll be able to complete every objective and secure all of the exclusive rewards the raid has to offer.
Lairs – New Raid-like Activity
Lairs are a new type of endgame activity introduced in Midnight Season 2, combining elements of a single-boss raid and a World Boss encounter. The first Lair, Tidebound Grotto, features Nymrissa Wavecaller as its only boss and follows a format similar to Sporefall from the previous season.
Tidebound Grotto is available in Normal, Heroic, and Mythic difficulties, supports Flexible Raid group sizes, and rewards gear comparable to that of the current raid. This gives players another valuable source of endgame loot each week.
The Lair also offers three boss kill achievements, one for each difficulty:
Like Sporefall, Tidebound Grotto does not reward Ahead of the Curve or Cutting Edge achievements.
In practice, the Lair acts as an additional raid encounter for the season, giving players access to a ninth boss and another opportunity to earn powerful gear and exclusive rewards each weekly reset.
Midnight Mythic Plus Season 2
Midnight Season 2 introduces a brand-new Mythic+ dungeon pool, combining new dungeons from the expansion with several returning favorites. During the season, you can complete the following dungeons in Mythic Keystone mode:
- Altar of Fangs
- Murder Row
- Den of Nalorakk
- The Blinding Vale
- Voidscar Arena
- King’s Rest
- Ruby Life Pools
- Temple of Sethraliss
Below, you’ll find detailed information about the rewards available from Mythic Keystone dungeons in Patch 12.1.
Mythic Keystone Gear
As in previous seasons, Mythic+ remains one of the primary sources of endgame PvE equipment and an essential way to prepare your character for raiding. Higher Keystone levels reward increasingly powerful gear, while your Great Vault provides additional high-level rewards based on your weekly dungeon completions.
The table below contains the complete item-level breakdown for every Keystone difficulty.
| Keystone Level | End of Dungeon | Great Vault |
| 2 | 296 Champion 2/6 | 305 Hero 1/6 |
| 3 | 296 Champion 2/6 | 305 Hero 1/6 |
| 4 | 299 Champion 3/6 | 309 Hero 2/6 |
| 5 | 299 Champion 3/6 | 309 Hero 2/6 |
| 6 | 305 Hero 1/6 | 312 Hero 3/6 |
| 7 | 305 Hero 1/6 | 315 Hero 4/6 |
| 8 | 309 Hero 2/6 | 315 Hero 4/6 |
| 9 | 309 Hero 2/6 | 315 Hero 4/6 |
| 10+ | 312 Hero 3/6 | 318 Myth 1/6 |
Regularly completing Mythic+ dungeons is one of the fastest ways to improve your character and prepare for every other form of endgame content.
Mythic+ Seasonal Rewards
Pushing your Mythic+ Rating also unlocks a variety of exclusive seasonal rewards. These include achievements, titles, cosmetics, and other limited-time collectibles that are only available during Midnight Season 2.
You can find the complete list of Mythic+ seasonal rewards in the table below.
| The Required Rating | Achievement | Additional Reward |
| 1500 | Midnight Keystone Conqueror: Season 2 | The Venomous title |
| 2000 | Midnight Keystone Master: Season 2 | Breath of Blight mount |
| 2500 | Midnight Keystone Hero: Season 2 | Insidious Venomstone |
| 3000 | Midnight Keystone Legend: Season 2 | Breath of Ruin mount |
| Top 0.1% | Venomous Hero: Midnight Season 2 | The Venomous Hero title |
The higher the required rating, the greater the challenge. Reaching the highest reward thresholds requires excellent coordination, optimized routes, and consistent dungeon execution, making a skilled, experienced team invaluable for players who want to earn every available reward.
Delves in the 12.1 Patch
Patch 12.1 expands the Delves system with two brand-new adventures: The Ring of Glory and Gnarldor Isle. Like previous Delves, they provide an excellent way to obtain starter PvE gear and prepare your character for Mythic+ dungeons, raids, and other endgame activities.
You can find the complete item-level rewards for each Delve tier in the table below.
| Delve Tier | Bountiful Delve Rewards | Delver’s Bounty Rewards | Great Vault |
| 1 | 266 Adventurer 1/6 | – | 279 Veteran 1/6 |
| 2 | 270 Adventurer 2/6 | – | 283 Veteran 2/6 |
| 3 | 273 Adventurer 3/6 | – | 286 Veteran 3/6 |
| 4 | 276 Adventurer 4/6 | 283 Veteran 2/6 | 289 Veteran 4/6 |
| 5 | 279 Veteran 1/6 | 289 Veteran 4/6 | 292 Champion 1/6 |
| 6 | 283 Veteran 2/6 | 292 Champion 1/6 | 299 Champion 3/6 |
| 7 | 292 Champion 1/6 | 296 Champion 2/6 | 302 Champion 4/6 |
| 8+ | 296 Champion 2/6 | 305 Hero 1/6 | 305 Hero 1/6 |
And of course, a new Delve Nemesis will appear with prestigious rewards.
Meet the new Delve Nemesis – Azta’rec
Season 2 also introduces a new Delve Nemesis, Azta’rec, who can be found in Venomfall Deeps. As with previous Nemesis encounters, the greatest challenge is defeating this boss solo in a Challenge Tier Delve.
Players who overcome this encounter without any other party members will earn the prestigious Let Me Solo Him: Azta’rec achievement, along with the exclusive Apophic Soul Crusher mount.
Because this is one of the toughest solo challenges in the season, it’s highly recommended to first obtain powerful gear from Mythic+ dungeons, Venomous Abyss, and other endgame activities before attempting the fight.
Midnight Season 2 PvP
Midnight Season 2 brings a new set of prestigious PvP rewards for players who climb the rated ladder. As in previous seasons, the highest-performing competitors can earn exclusive titles, mounts, and other limited-time cosmetics that will no longer be obtainable once the season ends.
The top seasonal rewards include:
- Top 0.1% in 3v3 Arena — Venomous Gladiator: Midnight Season 2 achievement and Venomous Gladiator title
- Top 0.1% in Solo Shuffle — Venomous Legend: Midnight Season 2 achievement and Venomous Legend title
- Top 0.1% in Rated Battleground Blitz — Venomous Marshal: Midnight Season 2 achievement and Venomous Marshal title (Alliance) / Venomous Warlord: Midnight Season 2 achievement and Venomous Warlord title (Horde)
The new Gladiator mount is the Venomous Gladiator’s Goredrake. To obtain it, you must reach the Elite rating bracket and win 50 matches in 3v3 Arena while maintaining the required rating.
The seasonal Vicious mount is the Vicious Lightbloom Boar. You can earn it by reaching 1,000 rating in any rated Arena bracket and filling your Vicious Saddle progress bar through additional victories above that rating.
Earning these rewards requires exceptional PvP skills, strong coordination, and consistent performance throughout the season. Since only a small percentage of players achieve the highest ranks, having experienced teammates can make the journey significantly easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Patch 12.1 expected to be released?
Midnight Season 2 is expected to launch in August 2026. Blizzard has not yet announced an official release date, but more information is expected closer to launch.
Where does the content of WoW Midnight Season 2 take place?
Most of the new Season 2 content is set on The Coiled Isle. This new zone includes the main campaign, new raids, dungeons, Delves, world activities, and seasonal progression systems.
What new instances are coming in Patch 12.1?
Season 2 introduces several new PvE activities, including the Venomous Abyss raid, the Tidebound Grotto Lair, the Altar of Fangs dungeon, and the new Delves: The Ring of Glory, Gnarldor Isle, and Venomfall Deeps.
What item levels are available in Midnight Season 2?
In Patch 12.1, gear ranges from item level 266 (Adventurer 1/6) up to item level 344 (Myth 9/6), giving players a clear progression path from entry-level equipment to the highest-tier endgame gear.
How difficult is it to earn all the seasonal rewards in Patch 12.1?
Collecting every seasonal reward is an ambitious goal. It requires success in high-end PvE content such as Mythic raids and high Mythic+ Keystones, as well as strong performance in rated PvP. Reaching these milestones usually demands an experienced raid team, skilled Arena partners, and a significant time investment.
