There was a time when theMMORPGwas a niche market for hardcore gamers. Today, it really is a wholeNew World, and Amazon’s foray into massively multiplayer gaming is getting a lot of attention. The game is different from others in a lot of interesting ways that immerse players and keep them engaged. The conventional leveling system makes progression easy to follow, and the game features plenty of exciting survivalist action.
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Most MMOs have opposing or warring factions, and players have to choose one side or the other as part of the character creation process or after advancing a few levels in the game. InNew World,there are three factions vying for control ofAeterneum. Gamers can choose betweenthe zealous Covenant, the ambitious Mauraders, or the mysterious Syndicate. It helps to have aNew World Faction guidewhen choosing a side. Be advised that every server has a different dynamic when it comes to which factions control what regions, and this has some influence on the one that players will choose.
Updated on June 24, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose:New World has gone through a lot of changes since it was first released, including several fixes, patches, and a whole new expansion, the Brimstone Sands. Aeternum is still the home of three competing Factions, and each has its own benefits and advantages, with some new additions for their most trusted members. This guide includes all the information new and returning players need regarding joining a faction, the perks they can enjoy, and the activities they can experience by joining one of Aeternum’s three warring groups.
Joining A Faction
There are plenty of reasons to join a faction, and it’s essential to experience the full in-game content available. By the time the player has fought their way from the shipwreck on the beach to the nearest hamlet any of the territories intended for newbies between levels 1 to 25, they will have reached or will be very close to reaching level 10.
There are four starting areas in each of these zones, and each has its own main city. The player’s starting area is chosen at random when a character is created, depending on the composition of players on each server. New characters always start on a beach only a short trip away from a settlement, andthe journey serves as a tutorial for new players.
Once the player hits level 10, they’ll get a quest from an NPC in the center of town called “Commitment to the Cause,” which requires the player to do the pertinent research and align with aNew Worldfaction. This person isn’t a faction representative themselves, but has the title of Magistrate and is considered to be one of the settlement’s leaders. This NPC also provides several starting quests related to simple tasks, like binding at an inn, so the player already knows this quest-giver by the time they hit level 10.
Before choosing, keep in mind all of the following points that can affect how powerful, influential, or useful each alliance would be for an individual character. Each hamlet in every region, regardless of who controls it, has Faction representation and they are happy to hand every character all of the pertinent literature.
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Changing Factions
Joining a faction isn’t a permanent decision that can’t be reversed, so if a player feels they’ve made a mistake, they have the option of joining another faction.To start the process, open the Character screen using the “K” key and open the “Bio” tab. This screen lists the character’s basic information, including their Company if they belong to one, any titles they’ve earned, and their faction.
Underneath theNew Worldfactionname and banner is a button that says “Change Faction.” Click this to make a popup screen appear with all three factions listed. Before joining another faction, the player has to complete a different set of initiation quests in a certain location, which is noted in the “Select Faction” screen. This isn’t used to change the character’s faction but gives them the information they need to start the process.
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Control Points
Every Territory has a fort, which is the faction’s control point for the region. The map shows who controls which forts, and which ones are contested.The more players from one faction are present in the fort, the faster that faction takes over the fortand eventually the region if they succeed. to enter a fort, a player must be flagged for PvP, which can be easily turned on and off using the “u” key.
The exact Territories eachNew Worldfaction controls are always in flux, and the player’s membership in a factiondetermines their ability to fish, farm, or huntin these areas as well. That means thatAetereumlooks different on every server in New World, so the player’s choice of faction depends heavily on the server of choice.
Members of the dominating faction get a5% bonus to their XP gain while leveling and a 20% to their Influence gain within that territory. This is similar to “grinding reputation,” a common experience in other MMOs like World of Warcraft. InNew World, players can also access special items, rewards, and other quests by making friends in high places.
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Declaring War
Declaring War inNew Worldis a fairly complex process. It starts with a Company, theNew Worldversion of a guild, declaring war on a Territory. There are a total of 12 territories that make up the vast island of Aetereum, andWar can only be declared on a Territory that’s currently in Conflict. How that happens involves Faction Influence, theNew Worldversion of a reputation grind, and the opposing factions.
There are two different kinds of Faction quests inNew World:PvE and PvP. The PvE quests reward money, reputation points, and Faction tokens, but they don’t generate influence for the player’s faction within that zone. That’s where the PvP quests come in. These are often done in groups and they fall under five categories.
A state of Conflict occurs when an opposing Faction has gained 100% Influence in the territory, usually through competing in enough relevant PvP missions. A War consists of taking over the enemy Fort in the opposing Territory, an operation that includes siege engines and cannons for the event.
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Special Gear
Being part of one of theNew WorldFactionsisn’t all about doing chores and getting beat up in a PvP event. Players can enjoy unique perks depending on the side they choose to take, includingcurrency for new gear and accessories.As a player advances in rank with their Faction, they can purchase better gear at the Faction’s Shop.
Different factions offer a variety of armor sets that players can buy with the currency earned from doing theFaction quests inNew World. Most of these are PvP-oriented, but players can also collect resources and explore unknown areas as part of earning their money. The higher rank a player has with their Faction, the better quality gear they can acquire.
The Factions
The Covenant
This faction rose from the wreckage on that muddy beach determined to do some good. The Covenant is the factionfor players who aspire to rise as passionate warriors to fight back and battle corruption.
Those who usually playLawful Good characters in RPGswould gravitate toward their mission. The role of the Covenant is not only to purge the land of the mysterious power seeping from it but also to cleanse it of vice or immoral behavior. The avarice of the Marauders must be kept in check. And what dangerous secrets are the Syndicate hiding?
The Syndicate
Knowledge is more than power. It’s money, prestige, and social standing. The Syndicate is focused on Intelligence and Focus, two of the ability scores that govern the use of magical items. Thus,this faction attractsmagic users, but it can extend to other character builds as well. Any players interested inespionage, for example, would feel at home in the Syndicate.
AllNew WorldFactions require their members to complete quests and rank up in level, but this is slightly more involved with the Syndicate, which gives players aspecific set of quests to follow as part of the Initiation process.Every Tier advancement also consists of a Trial at level 20 or higher. Keep a watchful eye on the other factions while leveling and training to discover their secrets and subvert their plans.
The Marauders
The Marauders have a refreshingly simple philosophy.Aetereum is for commercial and personal gain, and this faction is here to exploit it.That could mean natural resources, magical knowledge, real estate, or whatever the land offers.
This Faction is fairly strict when it comes to advancement,requiring that players reach the reputation cap before they can undertake their initial trials and gain their first rank. There’s no set of morals to follow, no divine mission — just good old-fashioned shoot, burn, and build as much as possible. Grab some gear and get busy out there, and don’t even worry about what the otherNew Worldfactions are doing.
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