Xal'atath's Bargain: Pulsar is a new Mythic+ affix added in Season 2 of World of Warcraft: The War Within. Pulsar is replacing Oblivion, the affix where players had to act like Pac-Man and collect orbs that spawned in the least convenient places.
Below is a concise guide explaining the new Pulsar affix and other changes to Mythic+ in Season 2:
The original affix, Oblivion, required players to collect a dozen orbs that often got stuck in walls or would pass under the players through the ground, causing havoc in keys. The new affix, Xal'atath's Bargain: Pulsar, assigns each player 1 orbs. Players act as a team and soak each other's orbs, buffing the entire party with Leech and Mastery.
Xal'atath's Bargain: Pulsar Guide
While in combat, Xal'atath summons Void Pulsars
Each party member will have 1 Void Pulsar tethered to them
Players cannot soak their own Pulsar
Walk into another player's Void Pulsar to soak it
The party will receive +4% Mastery and +2% Leech per orb for 30 seconds
If the Void Pulsars aren't soaked within 15 seconds, enemies will receive +10% damage and +20% damage reduction per orb
Instead of having to run around and collect orbs, players can simply move towards another player's Void Pulsar and soak it.
Other Mythic+ Affixes in The War Within
Season 2 also pushes the first affix from starting at keystone level 2 to keystone level 4. Players won't see any of the Xal'atath's Bargain affixes until level 4 keys.
On Level 4 mythic keystones, players see the first affix - one of Xal'atath's Bargains, which changes every week. For Xal'atath's Bargain: Ascendant, once a minute 10 orbs of ascendance will spawn that cast Cosmic Ascension. If these casts go off, the orbs will buff enemy mobs with 20% movement speed and haste per orb. If all the players interrupt, crowd control, or purge every orb, players will receive a 20% haste buff themselves.
For Xal'atath's Bargain: Voidbound, Xal'atath will summon a Void Emissary while players are in combat that tries to cast Dark Prayer to empower enemy mobs. If the cast goes off, enemy mobs will take reduced damage. If players successfully defeat the Void Emissary, players will get a 30% ability cooldown buff and 20% Versatility buff for 30 seconds!
The final variation of Xal'atath's Bargain is Xal'atath's Bargain: Devour. Players will receive a Void Rift shield that either needs to be healed or dispelled, similar to the Afflicted affix in Dragonflight. This week will require a group composition with multiple dispels. If the shields aren't removed, enemy mobs will be healed for 10%. Players that successfully have the absorb shield removed will get 2% health and a 4% critical strike buff.
On top of these new seasonal affixes, mythic keystones also have additional challenges on higher levels:
On keystone level 7, either Tyrannical or Fortified will become active, alternating every week. On Tyrannical weeks, dungeon bosses will have 30% more health and deal 15% more damage. On Fortified weeks, all non-boss enemies will have 20% more health and 20% more damage.
On keystone level 10, Tyrannical and Fortified will both be active for the entire key.
On keystone level 12, Xal'atath's Bargains will no longer be active. A lot of players mistakenly think that 12's are easy because you don't have to deal with an affix, but don't underestimate how helpful the buffs from completing Xal'atath's bargains are!
The Season 1 Affix Challenger's Peril has been renamed Xal'atath's Guile. Every death in a keys +12 and above will deduct 15 seconds from the time remaining.
Season 2 Mythic+ Rewards in World of Warcraft: The War Within
In Season 2 of The War Within, a new achievement and mount reward has been added to the game! Players that attain a Mythic+ rating of 3000 will be rewarded with The War Within Keystone Legend achievement and the Enterprising Shreddertank mount.
The War Within Keystone Explorer - Complete a Mythic keystone dungeon within the time limit
The War Within Keystone Conqueror - Attain a Mythic+ rating of at least 1500 (rewarded with "the Enterprising" title.
The War Within Keystone Master - Attain a Mythic+ rating of at least 2000 (rewarded with the Crimson Shreddertank mount and a Feat of Strength catalyst charge)
The War Within Keystone Hero - Attain a Mythic+ rating of at least 2500
The War Within Keystone Legend - Attain a Mythic+ rating of at least 3000 (rewarded with the Enterprising Shreddertank and No Deplete keys)
Enterprising Hero - End Season 1 of Mythic+ in the top 0.1% in your region (rewarded with the Enterprising Hero title)
Players also receive a permanent dungeon teleport for any dungeons timed on a Level 10 Mythic keystone.
You may also be interested in these other World of Warcraft articles:
World of Warcraft: How to Unlock a Player Apartment in Undermine
The Fastest Way to Get Keystone Master in WoW: The War Within
How to Reach Keystone Legend in World of Warcraft: The War Within
Liberation of Undermine Raid Guide for World of Warcraft: The War Within
How to Complete the Hallowfall Fishing Derby in World of Warcraft: The War Within