How to Bypass the Covenant Campaign in World of Warcraft: A Veteran’s Guide
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So, you’re looking to cut corners and bypass the Covenant campaign in World of Warcraft? Let’s be honest, leveling alts or switching covenants can feel like a monumental task when you’ve already done the story once (or thrice!). Here’s the straight dope: You generally can’t completely skip the initial Covenant campaign on your first character. It’s a gatekeeper for unlocking various features and activities within the Shadowlands expansion. However, subsequent characters have options to accelerate the process or, in some cases, largely bypass the campaign.
Essentially, the method for skipping or accelerating the Covenant campaign depends on what you are trying to achieve: are you leveling an alt, are you changing covenants on an existing character, or are you just trying to unlock features like Soulbinds and Conduits quickly? Let’s dig deeper.
Understanding the Covenant Campaign Requirements
Before we dive into the “how-to,” let’s understand what makes the Covenant campaign so crucial. It’s the backbone of your character’s progression within the Shadowlands. Completing the campaign chapters unlocks:
- Soulbinds: These are your talent trees in the Shadowlands, offering significant character power and customization.
- Conduits: These items enhance your Soulbind abilities and can dramatically alter your gameplay.
- Covenant-specific abilities: Each covenant grants unique class abilities and signature abilities.
- Renown levels: Renown is the currency of your covenant, used to unlock cosmetic rewards, upgrades, and campaign chapters.
- Access to Covenant-specific activities: This includes activities like the Anima Conductor, Command Table Missions, and the Travel Network.
These rewards are critical for character progression and power.
Leveling Alts: The Threads of Fate Alternative
For alt characters, you have the option of using Threads of Fate to skip the main Shadowlands campaign (not necessarily the Covenant campaign right away). This option becomes available after completing the Shadowlands campaign on at least one character.
Here’s how it works:
- Upon reaching Oribos for the first time on your alt, speak to Fatescribe Roh-Tahl.
- Choose the “I have heard tales of the Shadowlands” option, which activates Threads of Fate.
- Threads of Fate allows you to choose a zone and begin leveling through world quests, side quests, and bonus objectives. You also automatically unlock all four Covenant zones and can begin earning Renown with each Covenant.
While Threads of Fate doesn’t outright skip the Covenant campaign, it significantly alters the experience. You can choose your Covenant immediately and begin earning Renown, unlocking Soulbinds and Conduits at a faster pace. The difference here is that you level by doing world quests, dungeon runs, and side quests instead of the main Shadowlands campaign.
Changing Covenants: Catch-Up Mechanics and Swift Progression
Switching Covenants after completing the Covenant campaign on your initial Covenant is much easier. Here’s the typical process:
- Speak to the representative of the Covenant you want to join in Oribos.
- Complete two introductory quests to prove your worthiness.
- Once you’re in the new Covenant, you’ll receive a quest to catch up on Renown levels.
Blizzard introduced several catch-up mechanics for Renown. These include:
- World Quests: Increased chance to grant Renown.
- Dungeon End Bosses: Chance to grant Renown.
- Callings: Reward a significant amount of Renown.
- Torghast Runs: End-of-run rewards often grant Renown.
These catch-up mechanics make it significantly faster to level Renown with a new Covenant, effectively skipping the need to grind through the entire campaign again. The primary goal is to get you to the Renown level where you can access the current content.
Prioritizing Key Campaign Chapters
Even if you can’t entirely skip the Covenant campaign, prioritize the chapters that unlock critical features. Focus on unlocking:
- Your first Soulbind: This should be your immediate goal.
- Conduit slots: These are essential for character power.
- Renown levels that unlock important features: Check online guides to identify key Renown milestones.
By prioritizing these chapters, you can minimize the time spent on less critical content and maximize your character’s power.
Using Boosts and Leveling Services
While not a “skip” in the truest sense, using in-game boosts or leveling services can dramatically accelerate the process. A level boost will instantly bring your character to a higher level, allowing you to jump directly into end-game content. While it doesn’t bypass the campaign entirely, it significantly reduces the time spent leveling and progressing through the earlier stages.
Frequent Questions Answered (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding skipping or accelerating the Covenant campaign in World of Warcraft:
1. Can I skip the Shadowlands intro quests on alts?
Yes! After completing the intro quests (“A Maw Introduction”) once on your account, your alts can speak to Chromie in Orgrimmar or Stormwind to level through a different expansion using Chromie Time. Or go straight to Shadowlands at level 48 and choose Threads of Fate at Oribos with Fatescribe Roh-Tahl.
2. What are the benefits of choosing Threads of Fate?
Threads of Fate allows you to level through world quests, dungeons, and bonus objectives, earning Renown with your chosen Covenant from level 50 onward. This provides more leveling freedom than the linear campaign.
3. How do I unlock Soulbinds quickly?
Focus on completing the initial Covenant campaign chapters. These chapters reward the unlocking of your first soulbind. You will unlock the rest as you progress in Renown level.
4. Are there any “Renown catch-up” items I can buy?
No, you can’t buy Renown catch-up items from vendors, but as mentioned earlier, numerous in-game activities reward Renown, accelerating your progress considerably. You will gain catchup renown until you are at the current cap of Renown.
5. Can I change Covenants multiple times?
Yes, you can switch Covenants, but there’s a “grace period” after leaving a Covenant. After joining a new covenant, you will also need to complete a few introductory quests. There is no limit to how many times you change covenants
6. What happens to my Covenant Sanctum upgrades when I switch Covenants?
Your Covenant Sanctum upgrades are tied to your account, not your character. This means that your Sanctum upgrades will remain for any of your characters.
7. Do I lose my Renown when I switch Covenants?
Yes, Renown is Covenant-specific. When you switch Covenants, you start with Renown level 1, or what you obtained during the initial play through.
8. How do I unlock flying in the Shadowlands?
Flying in Shadowlands is unlocked account-wide once you’ve reached Renown level 44 with any Covenant on any character.
9. What is the best way to earn Renown quickly?
Prioritize Callings, as they offer significant Renown. Also, run dungeons and complete world quests in Covenant zones.
10. Does gear from my previous Covenant transfer to the new Covenant?
No, gear acquired from your previous Covenant is Covenant-specific. You’ll need to earn new gear in your new Covenant.
11. Can I skip the Maw introduction on alts?
Yes, you can skip the initial Maw introduction questline by speaking to Chromie and choosing a timeline to level in. However, you must complete “A Maw Introduction” once on one character to have this available.
12. What level do I need to be to start the Covenant campaign?
You can start the Covenant campaign as soon as you reach level 60 and choose a Covenant. Although you can do Threads of Fate at level 50.
13. Are there any addons that help with Covenant campaign progress?
While no addon skips the campaign for you, some addons can track your progress, highlight important quests, and provide tips for efficient leveling. Search for addons focused on Shadowlands questing and tracking.
14. How does the Covenant campaign interact with the Zereth Mortis campaign?
The Zereth Mortis campaign is separate from the Covenant campaigns, but completing the initial Zereth Mortis quests requires you to have completed a certain point in your Covenant campaign.
15. Is there a way to “test drive” a Covenant before committing?
Unfortunately, there’s no official “test drive” feature. However, you can create trial characters of different classes and experience the Covenant abilities in a limited capacity. Alternatively, you can watch videos and read guides to learn about the Covenant abilities and playstyles.
Final Thoughts
While a complete skip of the Covenant campaign isn’t always possible, especially on your first character, Blizzard has implemented numerous systems to accelerate progress and allow you to focus on the content that interests you most. By understanding the requirements, utilizing catch-up mechanics, and prioritizing key chapters, you can streamline your experience and enjoy the Shadowlands on your terms.
And remember, the world of games extends far beyond just playing. It’s about learning, collaborating, and exploring new ideas. Be sure to check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to discover how games are transforming education and research.