Can You Skip the Covenant Campaign on Alts? A Deep Dive for WoW Players
The short answer is mostly, but not entirely. In the Shadowlands expansion of World of Warcraft, while you can’t completely bypass the Covenant campaign on your alts, there are ways to significantly streamline the process and reduce the amount of repetitive content you need to play through. The key lies in understanding the limitations and the available shortcuts. Certain chapters can be skipped after being completed on a main character, and there are ways to accelerate your renown gain. Let’s break down the nuances and provide a comprehensive guide for optimizing your alt’s Covenant experience.
Covenant Campaigns and Alt Progression: Understanding the Mechanics
The Covenant system was a core feature of Shadowlands, tying players to one of four powerful factions: Kyrian, Venthyr, Necrolord, and Night Fae. Each Covenant offered a unique campaign, abilities, soulbinds, and cosmetic rewards. While engaging the first time around, repeating these campaigns on multiple characters can feel tedious.
What Can Be Skipped?
As outlined in the beginning of the document, if you have at least one character on your account that has completed chapters one and two of their relevant covenant’s questline, it is possible to skip only those two chapters on an alternative character. However, it is not possible to skip entire covenant campaigns.
Why Even Bother With the Covenant Campaign on Alts?
Even with the availability of some skips, you might ask, “Why even bother with the campaign on my alts?”. The primary reasons revolve around Renown and Soulbind unlocks. Completing the Covenant campaign is still one of the fastest ways to catch up on Renown, which directly unlocks power and customization options for your character. Moreover, while you can access Soulbinds early, campaign progression is often required to unlock their full potential. Renown to level 40 is available near the flight master in Oribos, making the campaign the fastest route to reach 80 Renown.
Campaign Rewards
Completing the Covenant Campaign unlocks cosmetic rewards. Keep in mind that these rewards will be lost if you skip the campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Covenant Campaigns and Alts
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Covenant Campaigns and Alts to provide additional valuable information:
1. Is it true I can’t skip the entire Covenant campaign?
Yes, that’s correct. There’s no outright, full-campaign skip available in Shadowlands. You’ll still need to engage with the storyline to a certain extent to fully unlock your Covenant’s features.
2. How do I skip the first two chapters of the campaign on my alt?
If you completed chapters one and two of a covenant campaign with your main, your alt can skip it when speaking to the relevant quest giver.
3. What exactly are Soulbinds, and why are they important?
Soulbinds are powerful characters within each Covenant who grant you passive and active abilities. Each Covenant has three soulbinds that you can unlock to give your character different skill sets. Completing parts of the Covenant campaign unlocks new rows of talents within these Soulbind trees, which makes campaign progression valuable for power enhancement.
4. I heard about a Renown catch-up mechanic. How does that work?
There are indeed Renown catch-up mechanics in place. After reaching level 60 and choosing a Covenant, you can earn Renown through various activities like dungeons, raids, world quests, and Torghast. These activities award bonus Renown until you reach a certain level, making the catch-up process faster. In addition, there is an item that can boost you to Renown level 40.
5. What are the best ways to earn Renown quickly on my alt?
Focus on activities that offer the highest Renown rewards per time investment. This usually includes completing the weekly quests in Oribos, clearing Mythic dungeons, and participating in Covenant Assaults in the Maw (unlocked after Chapter 2 of Chains of Domination questline, Maw Walkers).
6. Do I need to finish the Covenant campaign to unlock flying in the Shadowlands zones?
Yes, you need to complete the Shadowlands campaign to join a covenant and unlock flying, making it an indirect requirement.
7. Are Covenant mounts account-wide? Can my alts ride mounts earned on my main?
Yes! Covenant mounts are account-wide. You need to be a “member” of the Covenant to buy them but you don’t have to be a member to use them.
8. Can I switch Covenants on my alt if I don’t like the one I chose?
Yes, but switching Covenants comes with some caveats. While you can freely switch to a new Covenant, switching back to a Covenant you previously left requires completing a couple of quests.
9. Can I do all Covenant campaigns on one character?
You absolutely can! You can complete all four Covenant campaigns without swapping characters. You can only do each campaign once per toon.
10. At what level should I start the Covenant campaign?
You can officially begin the Covenant campaign after completing the initial Shadowlands storyline and reaching level 60. However, being level 60 is not enough. You must have completed the Shadowlands campaign.
11. Are Covenant abilities still relevant in Dragonflight?
No. The Covenant abilities, Soulbinds, and other Covenant-specific powers are no longer active or relevant in Dragonflight. They were specific to the Shadowlands expansion.
12. How long does it generally take to complete the Covenant campaign?
The campaign consists of 9 specific parts, and you can complete every in 30-40 minutes depending on your class and gameplay style. This can vary based on your class, gear, and familiarity with the quests.
13. What should I do if the quest to choose my Covenant (“Choosing Your Purpose”) isn’t working?
If the dialogue for the quest “Choosing your purpose” doesn’t work, this is caused by addons.
14. Are there any resources that provide optimal paths for leveling and gearing alts in Shadowlands?
Absolutely! Many online resources, including Wowhead and Icy Veins, provide detailed guides and optimal leveling paths for alts. These guides often include information on the fastest ways to earn Renown, gear up, and progress through the Covenant campaign.
15. Where can I learn more about the social and educational aspects of gaming?
The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) is a great resource for exploring the intersection of gaming and learning. It’s a wonderful community.
Conclusion: Strategizing Your Alt’s Covenant Journey
While a complete Covenant campaign skip isn’t available, you can still significantly reduce the time investment required on your alts. By focusing on Renown catch-up mechanics, understanding the Soulbind unlock requirements, and utilizing available resources, you can efficiently progress your alts and enjoy the unique features each Covenant offers. Remember to leverage the skip available to chapters one and two of the campaign if you have already completed those chapters on a main character. Happy adventuring in the Shadowlands!
World of Warcraft continues to evolve, and understanding these nuances ensures you can make the most of your playtime.