Do Covenants Matter Anymore in WoW? A Deep Dive into Dragonflight and Beyond

In short, Covenants do not matter in WoW’s current expansion, Dragonflight, outside of Shadowlands content. While they were a defining feature of the Shadowlands expansion, their impact is now largely confined to that specific content. You cannot use Covenant abilities or Soulbinds in Dragonflight zones or content. They are relics of the past, providing a nostalgic, or perhaps frustrating, echo of a system that once heavily dictated player power. The good news is that you can still get covenant transmogs in Dragonflight by reaching lvl 80 renown on each covenant you want to use stuff from.

Covenants: From Crucial Choice to Content-Specific Feature

During Shadowlands, choosing a Covenant was a major decision that impacted your character’s power, gameplay, and performance. Each Covenant (Kyrian, Necrolord, Night Fae, and Venthyr) offered unique abilities, Soulbinds, and cosmetic rewards. However, this system received mixed reviews, with many players feeling forced to choose a Covenant based on its power for their spec, rather than personal preference. Now, covenants are staying in shadowlands and will do nothing in Dragonflight.

Dragonflight has moved away from this restrictive system, opting for a more flexible talent tree approach. While some Covenant abilities have been integrated into class talent trees, like Convoke the Spirits for Druids, the Covenant system itself is no longer a central mechanic. This shift allows players more freedom to experiment with different builds without being tied to a specific Covenant.

Shadowlands in Dragonflight: A Trip Down Memory Lane

While Covenants are disabled in Dragonflight content, they still function within Shadowlands zones and dungeons. This means you can revisit Shadowlands to experience the story, collect transmogs, or simply relive the Covenant experience. Your Covenant choice will still affect your gameplay within Shadowlands, but it won’t impact your power in Dragonflight. Remember also that Shadowlands is now included as a part of the basic monthly subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Covenants in WoW

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the role of Covenants in the current state of World of Warcraft:

1. Are Covenant abilities usable in Dragonflight?

   No, Covenant abilities and Soulbinds only function within Shadowlands content. They are disabled in Dragonflight zones and activities.

2. Can I still earn Covenant rewards, like transmogs and mounts, in Dragonflight?

   Yes! You can still earn Covenant transmogs and mounts by reaching Renown level 80 with each Covenant. Transmogs, mounts and other cosmetic rewards unlocked through the Shadowlands covenants are useable in Dragonflight.

3. What happens to my Renown if I switch Covenants?

   If you switch Covenants, anything you have unlocked on the previous Covenant will not convert to the new one, including Renown, covenant abilities, appearances, soulbinds, mounts, titles, and sanctum upgrades.

4. Do I lose my Anima when I switch Covenants?

   When you swap Covenants, your current Anima does not go to the new Covenant with you. You can buy Traveler’s Anima Cache from Au’Dara in Oribos to transfer Anima.

5. Does abandoning a Covenant reset my rank?

   Yes, you will lose your rank if you abandon a Covenant. Make sure you leave through the NPC in the gargoyle tower for a clean break.

6. Can I complete all four Covenant campaigns on one character?

   Yes, you can complete all four Covenant campaigns on one character by swapping Covenants and completing their respective campaigns. Each campaign can only be done once per character.

7. Is there a fastest way to get Covenant transmogs?

   There are 4 different sources of new Covenant Transmogs:

   • Completing 9.1 Campaign and reaching Renown level 60.
   • Death’s Advance reputation and 60 renown.
   • Korthia daily quests.
   • Covenant Renown 77 level and 10000 Anima.

8. What were the four Covenants in Shadowlands?

   The four Covenants were:

   • Kyrian Covenant
   • Necrolord Covenant
   • Night Fae Covenant
   • Venthyr Covenant

9. Will Renown matter in Dragonflight?

   In Dragonflight, Renown has been changed to be similar to a reputation grind. Completing tasks grants you reputation with the Renown faction, with 1 Renown gained for every 2500 Reputation.

10. Will Covenant abilities be added to the talent trees in Dragonflight?

    Yes, some Covenant abilities have been integrated into class talent trees in Dragonflight. Convoke the Spirits in the Druid tree is one example.

11. Which Covenant was the least popular in Shadowlands?

    The least popular Spec / Covenant combination was Necrolord and Night Fae Holy Paladin.

12. Which Covenant was the most popular in Shadowlands?

    The most uniform spec was Holy Paladin where 88.9% were Kyrian and 95.1% were Kyrian or Venthyr. The second most uniform spec (over one covenant) is Resto Druid where 87.6% are Night Fae.

13. Does switching Covenants reset the campaign progress?

    Switching Covenants does not reset your campaign progress. However, you will have to start the campaign for your new Covenant.

14. Does abandoning a Covenant count as betrayal?

    Abandoning is not the same thing as betraying. You can freely abandon any covenant and then immediately rejoin without any hardship, even if the act acrues sin. Betraying involves a variety of acts such as attacking a member of the covenant.

15. What is the best covenant to join wow?

    Kyrian is the best Covenant to pick as an Arcane Mage as it is the best single-target option while also doing the best AoE damage. Additionally, it also has “funnel” DPS which the other Covenants do not provide. Funnel DPS is when you gain bonus single-target damage from additional targets.

Conclusion: Covenants in Perspective

While Covenants were a significant part of the Shadowlands experience, they are now largely relegated to that expansion’s content. Dragonflight offers a new direction with more flexible talent trees and character customization options. If you’re looking to maximize your power in Dragonflight, your Covenant choice is no longer a factor. However, revisiting Shadowlands can be a fun way to experience the Covenant system and collect cosmetic rewards. The shift away from the Covenant system in Dragonflight reflects a broader trend in game design, emphasizing player choice and flexibility. This shift raises interesting questions about how game mechanics impact player engagement and learning, topics explored by organizations like the Games Learning Society whose website can be found here: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. The GamesLearningSociety.org is dedicated to studying the intersection of games and learning, and the evolving mechanics of WoW provide a rich context for such analysis.