Mythic+ Timer Guide
The timer is the foundation upon which the entire Mythic+ system is built, setting it apart from other in-game modes. While in raids you're limited solely by the weekly reset and can wipe on bosses as many times as you want within that time frame, in each Mythic+ dungeon run you generally have no more than 30 minutes — every second counts. In our Mythic+ Timer overview, we'll break down how it works, which actions can cut into your dungeon completion time, and how to plan your next M+ run.
The Mythic+ Timer Overview
The Mythic+ timer is the primary constraint that forces players to approach group composition thoughtfully for each specific dungeon and directly impacts the rewards at the end of the run. Completing a dungeon outside the timer still awards two items, but the second one drops at a lower item level, and you won't be able to upgrade your Keystone and will be forced to run a dungeon of the same level next time — that is, if you're using your own key. Short on time for keys? An M+ carry runs them with you.
Additionally, completing a dungeon within the timer increases the amount of Mythic+ score your character earns, which affects your progress toward the mode's seasonal rewards.
When Does the M+ Timer Start in the Dungeon?
As soon as you enter a dungeon on Mythic difficulty, you'll see a Font of Power right near the entrance. Interacting with this object gives you access to a special interface, which, together with your Keystone, allows you to start the dungeon run and the Mythic+ Timer. Once you do this, a 10-second countdown will begin, after which the Timer starts ticking.
Until that moment, you can stay in the dungeon as long as you like. Eat your food, check your gear, discuss tactics — the Timer only starts once you interact with the interface.
Mythic+ Timers List
Each dungeon has its own unique layout, number of bosses, and amount of trash, all of which affect the Timer. Modern dungeons were, for the most part, designed with this in mind, while older ones were retrofitted after the fact. With that said, let's take a look at the Timer list for the second season of Midnight:
| Dungeon | Timer |
|---|---|
| Altar of Fangs | 30:00 |
| Den of Nalorakk | 32:00 |
| Murder Row | 34:00 |
| The Blinding Vale | 31:00 |
| Voidscar Arena | 30:00 |
| Ruby Life Pools | 28:00 |
| Temple of Sethraliss | 33:00 |
| Kings' Rest | 33:00 |
That being said, keep in mind that a shorter or longer timer doesn't affect the dungeon's difficulty. However, if saving time on your weekly runs is your top priority, you can use this list to pick the least time-consuming ones.
Mythic+ Death Penalty Explained
It might seem like the players' task in Mythic+ is simple: the timer is right in front of you, you just need to beat it. However, the system is a bit more nuanced. Keys from +2 to +5 carry Lindormi's Guidance, so deaths cost no time there, but starting from keystone level +6, each player death deducts 5 seconds from the timer. So you can't afford to be careless about losses in your group if you're counting every second, which might end up making all the difference.
From +12, things get even trickier: the seasonal affix Xal'atath's Guile raises the penalty to 15 seconds per death. You can learn more about this and other details of the system in our separate, in-depth Mythic+ Death Penalty guide.
+1, +2, and +3 Keystone Upgrades
As we've already mentioned, successfully completing a dungeon within the timer allows you to receive a higher-level Keystone. And it's not necessarily just a step of 1 level. All players have access to the following options:
- Completing with 0–20% of time remaining: +1 to Keystone level.
- Completing with 20–39% of time remaining: +2 to Keystone level.
- Completing with 40% or more of time remaining: +3 to Keystone level.
As for downgrading, the penalty never exceeds one level.
Keystone Level Jumps and Loot
Starting from keystone level +2 up to +10, the end-of-dungeon gear and Great Vault rewards gradually improve. The tier of Mistcrests changes too: Hero Mistcrests start at +4 and Myth Mistcrests at +9. Check the table below for more details.
| Keystone | End-of-Dungeon | Great Vault | Mistcrest Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| M+2 | 295 | 305 | Champion Mistcrest |
| M+3 | 295 | 305 | Champion Mistcrest |
| M+4 | 298 | 308 | Hero Mistcrest |
| M+5 | 302 | 308 | Hero Mistcrest |
| M+6 | 305 | 311 | Hero Mistcrest |
| M+7 | 305 | 315 | Hero Mistcrest |
| M+8 | 308 | 315 | Hero Mistcrest |
| M+9 | 308 | 315 | Myth Mistcrest |
| M+10 | 311 | 318 | Myth Mistcrest |
| M+11 | 311 | 318 | Myth Mistcrest |
| M+12 | 311 | 318 | Myth Mistcrest |
Based on this information, you can plan out your coming weeks. And to learn more about everything this game mode has to offer, check out our separate Mythic+ Rewards guide.
Mythic+ Out-of-Time Runs Explained
Improving the quality of rewards by meeting the Timer requirements is something worth striving for. However, you need to be prepared for the possibility that things might go wrong and your group won't manage to beat it. Let's go over in more detail what happens in those situations.
What Happens When the M+ Timer Runs Out?
When the Timer runs out, nothing drastic happens: you can still continue clearing the dungeon of mobs and bosses for as long as you like. This can even be considered a great opportunity to study tactics in more detail. Once the final boss is defeated, you'll receive the traditional reward chest — which is likely what you were after in the first place.
However, you'll earn fewer Mythic+ points than you could have. There are other consequences as well — we'll cover those in the next sections.
Finishing Out-of-Time vs. Depletion
As for the Keystone owner, they receive an additional penalty in the form of the key being depleted and its level lowered by one. However, if the Keystone isn't yours, you have nothing to worry about — for you, it's simply an out-of-time run with no other consequences.
Out-of-Time Run Loot and Great Vault Credit
In the past, when the Mythic+ mode was first added to the game, failing the Timer was a much more serious issue. Completing a run within the time limit gave the group three items for five people, while failing reduced that number to two, which led many players to leave the group as soon as they realized they wouldn't make it.
This caused a wave of outrage among players, which led to the system being reworked: now, an out-of-time run still awards two items, but the second one drops at a lower item level. The run still counts toward the dungeon row of the Great Vault at the key's level.
Depleted Mythic+ Keystone
The Keystone depletion we've already mentioned can be both good news and bad. On one hand, a level downgrade might not be part of your plans, but the very next successful dungeon completion will restore your well-earned level. On the other hand, players can sometimes be interested in lowering the level and may even do so intentionally. You can learn more about this in our separate guide dedicated to Mythic+ Keystones.
M+ Timer Strategy and Tips
These days, players have plenty of resources at their disposal to complete dungeons within the Timer without spending days or even weeks learning the current Mythic+ dungeons and the ins and outs of the meta. Everything has long been figured out and documented by other players — all that's left for you to do is make use of it.
Best M+ Timer WeakAuras and Addons
By default, the Mythic+ Timer is built into the game's interface. By interacting with it, you can comfortably adjust its position and appearance to suit your preferences. If you need even more options for completing dungeons on time, you can always check out our guide on the best Mythic+ Addons currently available.
And while the developers continue their war on addons, plenty of alternatives are sure to emerge in the future. So don't forget to revisit our guide platform down the line.
How to Plan a Dungeon Around the Timer
The best place to start is by visiting the Mythic Dungeon website or using the Mythic Dungeon Tools addon, also known as MDT. It will help you pick the optimal route for your character and spec, study the most dangerous mob packs and how to efficiently combine them, and also map out alternative paths in case something goes wrong during the run.
Also, don't forget to stock up on the necessary consumables for the run: a single missing potion can be enough to lose precious seconds and fail the timer.
The Most Common Timer-Wasting Mistakes to Avoid
Based on personal experience, nearly every fan of the Mythic+ mode can name their own tier list of mistakes. We'll cover the most common ones, those that most often lead to a failed timer:
- Leaving Packs Too Early: Sometimes tanks pull the next pack of mobs before the most dangerous enemies are dead and still capable of dealing lethal damage to the group. Make sure they're all dead.
- Staggered Releases After a Wipe: Players resurrect and run back one after another, dying in the process. The right approach is for one person to release, find a safe spot, and then use mass resurrection.
- Backtracking for Enemy Forces: It happens that after killing the last boss, the team still lacks the required percentage of enemy forces to complete the run, and the group has to go back to kill a missed pack. To avoid this, the tank should plan everything out in advance so that the last boss hits exactly 100%. That's exactly what Mythic Dungeon Tools is for.
- Waiting for Cooldowns: Waiting dozens of seconds for your major cooldowns to come back up is, in most cases, a losing strategy. Only do this when you understand that engaging without them equals certain death.
- Missing Crowd Control (Stops): Don't let mob casts go through that can kill you, stun you, or send you running in fear. Those seemingly brief seconds without DPS can end up costing you the Timer.
We won't dwell on the fact that you should eat before the run even starts — we're sure you already know that.
That's everything you need to know about the Mythic+ Timer, so good luck with your conquests! And don't forget that our platform has a huge number of useful guides waiting for you, both on Mythic+ and on other aspects of the game.
Update history 2
- Updated for Midnight Season 2: dungeon timers, death penalties and out-of-time loot.
- Release
