In New World: Aeternum, factions are an essential part of the gameplay, adding an element of competition, strategy, and personal identity to your adventure. Whether you’re a fresh-faced recruit or a seasoned veteran, choosing a faction can greatly influence your experience on the island of Aeternum. With each faction offering distinct playstyles, benefits, and rewards, aligning yourself with one of them is crucial for both PvP and PvE content.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore what factions are, the three factions available in New World, their histories, philosophies, and how they shape the game. Whether you’re trying to choose a faction for your first character or want to learn more about how faction mechanics work, this article has you covered.
What Are Factions in New World?
Factions in New World are groups of players that join together for mutual benefit. Each faction has a distinct ideology, and by joining one, you gain access to faction-specific quests, rewards, and the ability to participate in territory wars. Factions are also involved in the game’s broader PvP mechanics, as they compete to control settlements and zones across Aeternum.
At its core, the faction system adds an additional layer of competition and cooperation in the game. As part of a faction, you’ll engage in PvP activities, take on faction-specific missions, and ultimately fight for control over regions of Aeternum. Your chosen faction will also determine which PvP activities you participate in, as well as the equipment, crafting bonuses, and New World Gold you gain access to.
There are three factions in total, each offering unique advantages and a specific moral compass. While each faction has its strengths, weaknesses, and playstyles, the faction you choose will significantly influence your gameplay experience and your interactions with other players.
The Three Factions of New World
1. The Marauders: Freedom Through Strength
Philosophy: The Marauders are a faction centered around the concept of strength, freedom, and conquest. They believe that the world of Aeternum should be ruled by those who are strongest, with their guiding principle being that strength determines who should hold power. The Marauders seek to expand their influence across the island and claim new territories through military might and willpower.
Core Values:
Strength and Power: The Marauders believe that strength is the most important virtue. Through their power and combat prowess, they aim to conquer Aeternum.
Freedom and Independence: They advocate for personal freedom and the idea that each individual should have the liberty to carve out their own destiny.
Resilience: Life in Aeternum is brutal, and the Marauders thrive on their ability to endure and overcome any challenge.
Gameplay Style: Marauders are ideal for players who enjoy direct combat and military-oriented playstyles. Their strength and focus on fighting make them formidable in PvP, and they often dominate in open-world combat and territory wars. Players who choose the Marauders can expect to focus on offense, taking and holding territory through sheer force.
Faction Rewards: As a member of the Marauders, you’ll receive faction missions that focus on combat and conquest. Completing these missions rewards you with faction points, which can be used to purchase powerful weapons, armor, and gear. You’ll also receive crafting materials and recipes designed to enhance your combat abilities, including perks for boosting damage and defense.
Notable Marauder Leadership: The Marauder faction is led by a group of battle-hardened leaders who emphasize military strategy and self-reliance. The faction’s members are driven by a thirst for freedom and control.
2. The Syndicate: Knowledge and Deception
Philosophy: The Syndicate believes in the power of knowledge, manipulation, and secrecy. Their members are driven by an insatiable desire for power through intellect and hidden influence. They are not interested in brute force but rather in gaining control through cunning, subversion, and strategic alliances. The Syndicate sees Aeternum as a place filled with ancient secrets, and they believe that these secrets will provide the power they need to dominate the island.
Core Values:
Knowledge and Intelligence: The Syndicate values wisdom above all else. They seek to uncover the ancient mysteries of Aeternum and use this knowledge to control others.
Subterfuge and Manipulation: Rather than relying on force, the Syndicate uses political maneuvering and secretive tactics to achieve their goals.
Control and Influence: Through their cunning and intelligence, the Syndicate aims to control the flow of power in Aeternum from the shadows.
Gameplay Style: Syndicate members tend to favor stealth, deception, and long-term planning. They excel in gathering information, manipulating situations, and crafting strategies that give them the upper hand. Players who align with the Syndicate will find themselves engaged in more cerebral PvP activities, where cunning and strategic thinking take precedence over raw power.
Faction Rewards: As a Syndicate member, you’ll receive faction missions that focus on gaining influence, intelligence gathering, and disrupting your enemies. The Syndicate provides a unique set of gear and crafting materials that enhance stealth and critical hits. Syndicate members also receive crafting bonuses that can increase the effectiveness of certain skills, such as Engineering and Arcana.
Notable Syndicate Leadership: The Syndicate is governed by a council of enigmatic scholars and tacticians who operate in the shadows. The faction’s leadership is dedicated to the acquisition of forbidden knowledge, using it to manipulate events on the island to their advantage.
3. The Covenant: Righteous Defenders of Aeternum
Philosophy: The Covenant is a faction built on the idea of purity, justice, and moral righteousness. Members of the Covenant believe that Aeternum is a sacred land that must be protected from corruption and the forces of evil. They view their role as divine protectors, defending the island from those who would see it destroyed or tainted by darkness. To the Covenant, there is no room for moral ambiguity—only a righteous cause.
Core Values:
Purity and Justice: The Covenant seeks to rid Aeternum of corruption and evil, restoring the island to its rightful, unspoiled state.
Faith and Devotion: The members of the Covenant are deeply devoted to their cause and believe that they are chosen to carry out a divine mission.
Protection and Defense: Rather than seeking conquest or manipulation, the Covenant is focused on defending the island and its people from external threats.
Gameplay Style: Covenant players are focused on defense, support, and healing. Their playstyle revolves around team-oriented strategies, providing aid and protection to allies while eliminating threats. Players who enjoy playing in a supportive role will find that the Covenant’s emphasis on healing, protection, and defense suits their preferred style of play.
Faction Rewards: Covenant members receive faction rewards centered around healing, protection, and support. Their faction-specific crafting bonuses are geared toward defensive gear, armor, and healing tools. You can also unlock powerful healing-based perks that allow you to aid your team in PvP and PvE content.
Notable Covenant Leadership: The Covenant’s leadership is formed by a group of devout spiritual leaders who guide their followers with a vision of purity, justice, and salvation. Their mission is to protect the land and its inhabitants from any forces that threaten the natural order.
How to Join a Faction
Joining a faction in New World is easy, but it is an important decision that will shape your gameplay. Players can join a faction once they reach level 10 by visiting the faction headquarters located in any major settlement, such as Windsward, Everfall, or Brightwood. You will be presented with the opportunity to choose one of the three factions, each with its own representative NPC.
Once you join a faction, you’ll gain access to faction missions, PvP activities, and the opportunity to participate in Territory Wars. You will also gain faction points for completing missions and battles, which can be spent on faction-specific gear, crafting materials, and more. Faction points also help you rise in rank within your faction, unlocking cheap New World Coins and bonuses.
It’s important to note that you can only join one faction at a time, and switching factions is restricted to every 120 days, so choose wisely. Also, once you join a faction, you will be aligned against the other factions, meaning that PvP is a constant feature of your gameplay, especially in contested zones and Territory Wars.
Faction Wars and Territory Control
One of the most exciting aspects of factional warfare in New World is the ability to participate in Faction Wars. These large-scale battles take place between opposing factions and are fought for control over key settlements and territories across Aeternum. Territory control has significant benefits, including access to valuable resources, crafting stations, and tax advantages.
Faction Wars are 50v50 PvP battles that take place between factions for control of a settlement. The outcome of these wars has lasting effects on the economic and strategic landscape of the world, as the faction that controls a territory has the power to dictate its governance and tax rates.
In addition to large-scale wars, factions are constantly vying for control of different regions in the game. This competition encourages players to engage in both PvE and PvP content, constantly influencing the balance of power on Aeternum.
Conclusion
Factions are a cornerstone of New World’s gameplay, providing players with meaningful choices that affect their playstyle, goals, and interactions with other players. Each faction has its own unique philosophy, objectives, and rewards, allowing you to pick the one that best suits your approach to the game.
Whether you choose the aggressive, freedom-loving Marauders, the strategic and knowledge-seeking Syndicate, or the righteous and protective Covenant, your faction will shape your journey through Aeternum. So, choose wisely, and dive into the world of faction warfare, territory control, and thrilling PvP action in New World.
