Unlocking Soulbinds on Alts: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’ve conquered the Shadowlands on your main character, mastered your Covenant, and are ready to bring your alts into the fray? Excellent! But before you charge headfirst into Mawsworn territory, you need to understand how to unlock those powerful Soulbinds for your alternate characters.

The short answer: You can bypass most of the Covenant campaign on your alts and immediately choose a Covenant and unlock your first Soulbind upon reaching level 60 in the Shadowlands and speaking with the Oribos representatives. Once you’ve chosen a Covenant on your alt, a quest called “The Maw Walks Anew” becomes available. Upon completion of this quest, you will unlock the Soulbind system.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the specifics and address some common questions.

Understanding the Alt-Friendly Soulbind System

The system, while initially cumbersome, has received several quality-of-life improvements, making it significantly easier to gear up and empower your alts. The key is understanding how the changes impact progression. Let’s break it down.

Skipping the Covenant Campaign

Gone are the days of slugging through the entire Covenant campaign on every single character. With the changes introduced, you can essentially skip almost all of it on your alts. Upon hitting level 60 and speaking with the Covenant representatives in Oribos, you can immediately pledge yourself to a Covenant.

The Maw Walks Anew

After selecting your Covenant on your alt, you’ll be offered a crucial quest: “The Maw Walks Anew.” This relatively short quest chain unlocks access to the Maw and Korthia, and most importantly, it unlocks the Soulbind system and conduits for your chosen Covenant on your alt.

Immediate Access to Soulbinds

Once “The Maw Walks Anew” quest chain is complete, you instantly unlock your first Soulbind. This gives your alt a significant power boost right from the start, allowing them to be more effective in end-game content. You can then immediately begin working on unlocking the remaining Soulbinds within your chosen Covenant.

Gearing Up Your Alts

While Soulbinds are crucial, they’re only one piece of the puzzle. Alts can quickly catch up on gear through various methods, including:

• World Quests: Rewards in the Shadowlands world quests scale based on your character’s item level, offering a steady stream of upgrades.
• Crafting: Crafted gear can provide a solid baseline item level, especially if you have a main character who can supply the materials.
• Korthia Gear: The gear available in Korthia is a solid starting point for getting your alt geared up.
• Zereth Mortis Gear: This zone offers gear that will prepare you for the current Dragonflight content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of unlocking Soulbinds on your alts:

Q1: Do I need to complete the Shadowlands intro questline on every alt?

No, you don’t! After completing the intro questline on your main, you can choose to skip it on your alts by speaking with Chromie in Orgrimmar or Stormwind. This will allow them to level directly in the Shadowlands zones.

Q2: What level do I need to be to unlock Soulbinds on my alts?

You must be level 60 to choose a Covenant and begin the process of unlocking Soulbinds.

Q3: How long does it take to complete “The Maw Walks Anew” questline?

“The Maw Walks Anew” is a relatively short questline. Most players can complete it in under an hour.

Q4: Do I need to have completed the Covenant campaign on my main before my alts can skip it?

No. Alts are able to bypass the main storyline in the Shadowlands.

Q5: Can I change Covenants on my alt if I don’t like the Soulbinds?

Yes, you can change Covenants, but there is a waiting period associated with switching. You will need to complete two weekly quests before changing covenants. The quests, “Prove Your Worth” and “Rebuild Trust” will need to be completed twice.

Q6: Do I need to re-earn renown on my alts?

Yes, although the process has been made much easier. The Broker Mark of Distinction items, available for purchase in Oribos, instantly grant a significant amount of Renown. Higher marks will grant more Renown.

Q7: Are there any catch-up mechanics for Conduits on alts?

Yes! Conduits can be purchased in Oribos to help catch up on your Conduit levels and slots for your Soulbinds.

Q8: Are the Soulbind abilities the same for all classes within a Covenant?

No, the Soulbind abilities are Covenant-specific and tailored to each class. This means that while the general structure and unlocking system are the same, the actual abilities and passives will vary.

Q9: Where do I find the Covenant representatives in Oribos?

The Covenant representatives are located in the Enclave area of Oribos, the main hub city in the Shadowlands.

Q10: Does completing Torghast on my main help with unlocking Soulbinds on my alts?

No, Torghast progress is not account-wide when it comes to unlocking Soulbinds. However, completing Torghast can grant rewards that are useful for gearing up alts.

Q11: What happens if I abandon “The Maw Walks Anew” quest?

You can pick up “The Maw Walks Anew” from Bolvar Fordragon in Oribos if you abandon it.

Q12: Can I access Zereth Mortis content on my alt without completing the Covenant campaign?

Yes, as long as you have completed “The Maw Walks Anew” and the introductory quest for Zereth Mortis, you will be able to access the Zereth Mortis content.

Q13: Are there any resources to help me choose the best Soulbind for my alt’s class and spec?

Absolutely! Websites like Wowhead and Icy Veins offer detailed guides on the best Soulbinds, Conduits, and Legendaries for each class and specialization.

Q14: Does unlocking Soulbinds on my alts provide any account-wide benefits?

No, unlocking Soulbinds on alts is a character-specific progression. However, having multiple characters geared and ready for end-game content can benefit your account as a whole.

Q15: How does the Games Learning Society relate to this content?

While not directly related, the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org studies how games can be used for learning and development. Understanding game mechanics and progression systems like Soulbinds can be valuable for anyone interested in game design, education, or related fields. Analyzing how these systems engage players, encourage progression, and create a sense of accomplishment can provide insights into effective game-based learning strategies.

Final Thoughts

Unlocking Soulbinds on your alts is now a streamlined process, allowing you to quickly bring them up to speed and enjoy the end-game content of the Shadowlands. By understanding the simplified system and taking advantage of the available catch-up mechanics, you can efficiently empower your alternate characters and expand your gameplay options. Happy adventuring!