New World: Aeternum is Amazon Games' action-combat MMO set on the supernatural island of Aeternum, recently rebranded and relaunched with major improvements. The game features real-time combat with no tab-targeting, territory wars where player companies fight for control of settlements, and a deep crafting system where player-made gear rivals endgame drops. With the Aeternum relaunch adding a new solo-friendly storyline and console release, the game has found its footing after a rocky launch.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. Follow this path to avoid common traps that stall most players.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Everfall | territory wars basics | Healer | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Windsward | crafting progression mastery | Healer | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Cutlass Keys | expedition dungeons + gear | Tank or Healer | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Brightwood | Build optimization | Tank | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Shattered Mountain | Min-max | Tank or PvP Bruiser | Ongoing |
Phase 1: Getting Started — Everfall
The central settlement and main trading hub. Contains the most active Trading Post on most servers. Centrally located, making it ideal for a home base. Frequently contested in territory wars due to high tax revenue.
Level/Difficulty: Level 1-25 Key Rewards: Central hub, trading post, starter quests
What to Do in Everfall
- Learn territory wars. Companies (guilds) declare war on settlements and fight 50v50 battles for control. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Healer as your starting build. It's the most forgiving option.
- Focus on one weapon mastery at a time — weapon skills level through combat usage and splitting between too many weapons slows progression.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade — War Hammer or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand territory wars fundamentals
- Healer selected and functional
- Everfall main content cleared
- Ready for Windsward
Phase 2: Early Game — Windsward
A popular starting zone south of Everfall with lush farmland and good beginner quests. Contains Amrine Excavation (first expedition). Often the second territory claimed by companies due to proximity to starting beaches.
Level/Difficulty: Level 1-25 Key Rewards: Amrine Expedition access, farming resources, starter gear
What to Do in Windsward
- Work on crafting progression. Crafting skills (Weaponsmithing, Armoring, Engineering, etc. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for War Hammer if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Town board quests give the most XP for leveling. Accept all town board quests, complete them while doing other content, and turn in batches.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Cutlass Keys.
- Consider whether Tank might suit your playstyle better than Healer.
Phase 2 Checklist
- crafting progression integrated into gameplay
- War Hammer acquired
- Windsward fully cleared
- Ready for Cutlass Keys
Phase 3: Mid Game — Cutlass Keys
A coastal pirate-themed zone with undead enemies and ocean content. Mid-level zone with good Orichalcum nodes for endgame crafting. The pirate aesthetic and beach setting make it visually distinct.
Level/Difficulty: Level 25-35 Key Rewards: Orichalcum nodes, mid-level gear, pirate aesthetic
What to Do in Cutlass Keys
- Master expedition dungeons. PvE dungeons for 5-player groups with boss mechanics, loot drops, and mutated variants at endgame. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Great Axe. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Corruption portals are great group content with guaranteed rewards. Join corruption trains (groups clearing portals in sequence) for fast Azoth and XP.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in attribute system for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- expedition dungeons mastered
- Great Axe acquired or in progress
- Cutlass Keys fully cleared
- Ready for Brightwood
Phase 4: Late Game — Brightwood
A forested zone with corrupted enemies and the Starstone Barrows expedition. Mid-level content with a mix of corrupted and angry earth enemies. Important for main story progression.
Level/Difficulty: Level 30-40 Key Rewards: Starstone Barrows Expedition, corrupted content, story progression
What to Do in Brightwood
- Finalize your build. You should be running Tank or Healer with optimized gear.
- Great Axe should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Craft at settlements with crafting bonuses — each settlement's crafting stations have levels that affect what you can craft. Check before investing materials.
- housing optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Shattered Mountain.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Great Axe upgraded to max
- Brightwood fully cleared
- Ready for Shattered Mountain
Phase 5: Endgame — Shattered Mountain
The endgame PvE zone with level 60+ content, corrupted breaches, and endgame expeditions. Contains the Genesis and Lazarus expeditions. Elite enemies drop endgame gear. The toughest open-world content.
Level/Difficulty: Level 60+ Key Rewards: Endgame expeditions, elite enemy loot, endgame crafting materials
What to Do in Shattered Mountain
- Shattered Mountain tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- PvP flagging gives 10% bonus XP and luck. Flag for PvP while doing PvE content in low-traffic areas for bonus rewards with minimal risk.
- The endgame loop: run Shattered Mountain, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with PvP Bruiser for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where housing mastery separates good players from great ones.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Shattered Mountain fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Spreading attribute points across all 5 stats — focus on your primary weapon's scaling attribute to 300, then Constitution to 50-100. Split builds deal noticeably less damage.
- Ignoring crafting progression — player-crafted gear with the right perks is often best-in-slot. Level at least one crafting skill alongside combat.
- Solo-queuing for Expeditions without proper build — Expeditions require a tank, healer, and 3 DPS. Running 5 DPS causes wipes on mechanics-heavy bosses.
- Not using the Trading Post — the player economy provides the cheapest gear upgrades during leveling. Buy gear every 10 levels from the Trading Post instead of crafting everything.
- Neglecting to repair gear — gear loses durability and eventually breaks. Repair regularly at any settlement's repair station using parts from salvaging.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Focus on one weapon mastery at a time — weapon skills level through combat usage and splitting between too many weapons slows progression.
- Town board quests give the most XP for leveling. Accept all town board quests, complete them while doing other content, and turn in batches.
- Corruption portals are great group content with guaranteed rewards. Join corruption trains (groups clearing portals in sequence) for fast Azoth and XP.
- Craft at settlements with crafting bonuses — each settlement's crafting stations have levels that affect what you can craft. Check before investing materials.
- PvP flagging gives 10% bonus XP and luck. Flag for PvP while doing PvE content in low-traffic areas for bonus rewards with minimal risk.
For detailed build optimization, see New World: Aeternum builds. For quick wins, check tips & tricks.
