Let them help you choose a Covenant
There are four Covenants in WoW Shadowlands, and they present a choice to players. You can choose any of them and then leave mid-way for another, but you’ll have to build up your reputation levels again. You also can’t use any benefits you got from your former Covenant, though going back will make them available again. However, going back is harder because you have to regain their trust. No WoW gold is required, though you’ll have to do tasks for about a week.
At any rate, your choice of Covenant comes with two main benefits: a general ability and a class-based one. Other than that, you get Covenant-specific WoW items: WoW mounts for sale, transmogs, and pets. You can’t just buy WoW gold to get those! Each Covenant also offers Soulbinds to boost your fighting prowess. You should factor in all of these when choosing a covenant, but this article will focus on the abilities.
Kyrian: Summon Steward
Using the skill makes a steward appear. He holds a Phial of Serenity you can drink to restore 20% of your health and remove debuffs. It’s on a 1-minute cooldown separate from items and potions cooldowns. He can also repair your gear, change your talents, sell items, and allow access to the Kyrian teleportation network. That last one is only available with enough research. Those are on a once-a-day use limit.
Venthyr: Door of Shadows
It’s a 35-yard 1.5s cast teleport. What’s more, you can target your destination meaning that if there’s a path, you can get there. Some soulbinds can make casting it instant. Useful for those who lack mobility, though it has a 1-minute cooldown.
Night Fae: Soulshape
Transform into a Vulpin and blink 15 yards forward. Movement speed increases by 50% while in that form. Activate the skill again to blink forward every few seconds. The transformation lasts for 12 seconds unless in a rest area. Has a 1.5-minute cooldown. You may earn more forms for this skill by increasing renown for the Covenant or as rewards for other tasks. Available forms are (other than the default Vulpin):
- Moth
- Runestag
- Unicorn
- Teroclaw
- Crane
- Lion
- Tiger
- Hyena
- Cobra
- Dragon Turtle
- Stag
- Owlcat
- Nightsaber
- Raptor
- Bear
- Moose
- Wolf
- Feathered Drake
- Wolfhawk
- Hippogryph
- Gryphon
- Wyvern
- Toad
Necrolord: Fleshcraft
Form a shield made of flesh and bone. Normally, it can take damage up to 20% of your HP. However, you can increase that to 50% by casting the skill with a corpse nearby. Lasts for 4 seconds and has a 2-minute cooldown. It has a defensive range of 10 yards. With a pretty long channeling time and good timing, you might be able to survive some one-hit KO skills.
Conclusions
Of course, there are also class-specific Covenant abilities. However, across 12 classes and four Covenants, that’s 48 skills to go through. That’s not going to be in this article, but please do research about that as well.
While these skills can’t be tested out in serious situations yet, some of them can at least be applied in other content. The Kyrian Steward allowing access to the teleport network can be a great boon in getting around Bastion. With sufficient levels, even your friends can use it too! Plus, the cleansing aspect of the phial can be a useful tool in some situations.
The Night Fae’s Soulshape would be good for content where you have to run away or skip a section in a dungeon. The same goes for Venthyr’s Door of Shadows, both blink skills with different mechanics. Either one would be good for those lacking in mobility or those who don’t like walking everywhere.
Anyway, these skills may not look useful right now, but World of Warcraft is always adding new content. Who knows? Maybe these skills will become a necessity in the future. As for choosing a covenant now, pick the one you’ll enjoy the most.
Some players might like the transformation aspect of Soulshape. Others might prefer the blink ability of the Venthyr. A smaller group of players might enjoy having the ability to call a servant. Those who like defending and tanking for people might go for Fleshcraft. Player experience varies, and their preferences do too.
At any rate, the punishment for regretting your decision isn’t that bad (nothing warranting having to buy WoW gold). However, it’s always better to stick with one. Also, don’t keep on going back and forth. Leaving a Covenant breaks their trust, which is why you have to prove yourself if you want to go back. Going back and forth Covenants only proves that you can’t be trusted.
So choose your WoW Shadowlands Covenant wisely and enjoy World of Warcraft!
