New World Aeternum Quick Start Guide 2025

1. Character Creation and Archetypes

Choose an Archetype: Select from seven archetypes (Soldier, Destroyer, Ranger, Musketeer, Occultist, Mystic, Sword Bearer). These determine starting gear and trade skill boosts, not a permanent class. Pick based on playstyle or trade skill perks (e.g., Ranger starts with Engineering at level 50 for better tools).

Flexibility: You’re not locked into weapons or roles. Experiment with weapons like Hatchet (versatile), Bow (ranged), or Great Axe (melee) by swapping gear anytime.

Tip: Focus on trade skill boosts (e.g., Mining, Logging) early if you plan to craft, as they help gather rare resources faster.

2. Leveling Up Fast (1 to 65)

Main Story Quests (MSQ): Start with “Sole Survivor” in First Light and follow orange markers. MSQs yield 2,000–5,000 XP per quest, making up 50–60% of your XP to level 65. They also reward gold, gear, and the Azoth Staff (key for endgame).

Side Quests: Grab up to 25 side quests (e.g., “A Lost Cause” in Windsward for 1,000 XP). Complete them alongside MSQs for efficiency.

Town Boards: Pick easy tasks like “Kill 10 Boars” or “Search 5 Chests” (500–1,000 XP) in settlements like Everfall. They refresh quickly, so stack them.

Exploration: Discover journals (200 XP) and uncharted spots (300–700 XP) like the “Shrine of Sisyphos” in First Light. Ebonscale Reach runs can net 5,000–10,000 XP.

Pro Tip: Use Rested XP (up to 25% bonus after logging out in a settlement) and Territory Standing XP perks to boost gains. Aim for 20–30 hours to hit level 65.

3. Fast Travel and Movement

Set Your Inn: Check into an Inn (free, 15-minute recall cooldown) in any settlement for quick returns.

Houses: Buy a house for additional fast travel (cheapest ones have a 4-hour cooldown). Reset cooldowns with Azoth.

Spirit Shrines: Activate every shrine you see for free fast travel (no Azoth cost when traveling to them).

Mounts: Unlock at level 25 via quests. Complete time trials and rallies to level Riding Skill to 250 for faster travel.

Tip: Travel on roads for a speed boost and save Azoth for crafting or resetting weapon mastery.

4. Gathering and Crafting

Early Gathering: Focus on Mining, Logging, Harvesting, and Tracking & Skinning to level 50 quickly. Gather while questing to avoid backtracking.

Mining Route: Start at Periville Shrine, move south along Everfall cliffs to Monarch’s Bluff for 12K–18K iron per hour.

Logging: Takes longer, so prioritize mature trees in later zones.

Crafting: Refine Iron Ore to Steel Ingots (200 XP) or cook Roast Venison (150 XP) for trade skill XP. Buy cheap materials with quest gold.

Economy Tip: Sell Infused Leather or Layered Leather (20–30 gold/stack) at the Trading Post for early gold. Avoid crafting high-tier items until later, as early gear comes from quest drops.

5. Combat and Weapons

Weapon Choices: Test combos like Fire Staff/Rapier (mobility), Hatchet/Sword (PvE tanking), or Great Axe/Spear (crowd control). Max weapon mastery to 20.

Attributes: Allocate points to Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Focus based on your weapons. Constitution boosts health for all builds. Respec freely early on.

Consumables: Hunt boars or turkeys for meat to craft rations (heals and buffs). Collect water from streams for 20 health/sec over 10 seconds as a cheap potion alternative.

Tip: For PvP, use potions, food buffs, and swap weapons to maximize skill usage. For PvE, try Elite Trials or Mutated Expeditions with tank/DPS builds.

6. Factions and Community

Join a Faction: At level 17, pick Covenant, Marauders, or Syndicate in Everfall. Faction choice is optional for solo players but matters for group play (same faction needed for Companies).

Faction Missions: Daily missions (first 3 give 1,500–2,000 XP) reward XP, gold, and Faction Tokens for gear.

Companies: Join a guild for tips, carries, and war invites. Territory-owning Companies reduce housing costs.

Tip: Choose a faction based on lore or friends’ choices. You can change later.

7. Gold and Economy

Quest Gold: MSQs and side quests provide 5,000–10,000 gold by level 65. Save for artifacts or mounts, not early gear.

Trading Post: Post buy orders slightly above the lowest price (e.g., +0.01 gold) to save on purchases. Sell ores or leather for steady income.

Tip: During events like Summer Medleyfaire (July 29–October 28, 2025), redeem tokens for items like Aeternum Conductors to sell for profit.

8. Avoiding Burnout

Pace Yourself: Enjoy the story and scenery. The revamped narrative (updated 2024) is immersive, and rushing to endgame risks burnout.

Mix Activities: Combine questing, gathering, and exploration. Try PvP (Outpost Rush, 3v3 Arenas) or PvE (Expeditions) for variety.

Events: Participate in seasonal events like Summer Medleyfaire for exclusive cosmetics and rewards.

9. Pro Tips

Azoth Management: Earn Azoth from quests and use it for fast travel or crafting high-tier gear (boosts gear score).

Gear Upgrades: Rely on quest drops early. Buy cheap upgrades from the Trading Post if needed, but save gold for houses or artifacts.

Hardcore Seasonal Servers: Try the June–July 2025 server for a speedrun to level 65 with unique rewards (progress doesn’t carry to main servers).

Console Tips: Set Bandwidth Mode to high for better graphics and disable Camera Shake in settings.

10. Final Thoughts

New World: Aeternum in 2025 offers a streamlined, action-packed experience with crossplay on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Focus on MSQs, gather while questing, and join a community to enhance your journey. Take your time to explore the revamped story and world—your first leveling experience is unique!

Happy adventuring, Exile!