Before You Start: The Shutdown
Amazon ended content development for New World: Aeternum in October 2025, and the servers shut down for good on January 31, 2027. Anything you level or earn now only lasts until then, so pick a goal you can reach in the time left.
The Level Cap
The cap is 70. Per Icy Veins, a returning level 65 character reaches it by playing the Nighthaven main story quest.
The Fastest XP
- Main story quests. They give large XP that scales with your progress; take every side quest along the way, since many are quick and nearby.
- Flag for PvP. Icy Veins notes it adds a global luck bonus and more XP from everything. You can be attacked while flagged, but dying costs no items, so group up.
- Music buff. At Music level 25 the “All Together Now” song gives you and your group up to 15% more XP for up to 60 minutes.
- Faction missions. The first three PvP faction missions each day give 5x rewards; Icy Veins recommends Shattered Mountain for the fastest ones.
- Corruption portals. Large portals in a group pay well; small ones suit lower levels.
- Exploration and trade skills. New points of interest and gathering, crafting and cooking all add character XP on top of trade-skill XP.
Early Milestones
Your first mount, a horse, unlocks at level 20, which speeds up questing a lot. At 23, the repeatable “Bones For Barkimedes” quest outside the Amrine expedition pays 4,920 XP each time you bring back bones from five Ravagers. Town board quests still give some XP and standing, but a patch cut their XP, so treat them as filler.
What Changed in 2026
The final maintenance patches made group content easier to run with fewer players. Since June 23, 2026, Hive of Gorgons, Trial of the Devourer, Winter Rune Forge, The Hatchery and Isle of Night need only five players, and Territory XP and Umbral drop rates were tripled. In March, every transmog appearance was unlocked, soulmark drop rates went up tenfold, and region transfers opened through the store’s Character Transfer service.
Buying a Leveled Character
With the servers closing on January 31, 2027, a bought account or boost has a short life. If you are still thinking about it, read our New World buying guide and the game page first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the max level in New World: Aeternum?
Level 70, reached through the Nighthaven main story quest.
When does New World shut down?
The servers close for good on January 31, 2027. Amazon ended content development in October 2025.
What is the fastest way to level in New World?
Follow the main story with side quests, flag for PvP for the XP bonus, use the Music buff, and do your three 5x faction missions each day.
Sources
Checked October 15, 2026. Game systems change with patches, so confirm numbers in game.
