Soaring to New Heights: A Snarky Look at The Avowed Reputation Rewards in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Well hello there, my fellow Azerothian adventurers! It’s your friendly neighborhood cynic here to give you the lowdown on grinding out reputation in the wondrous land of death that is Shadowlands. Now I know what you’re thinking – “Oh goody, another World of Warcraft expansion with a smorgasbord of factions to suck up to for marginal rewards! Where do I sign up?” Always happy to rain on a parade, I am.
But I’ll try to contain my grumbling for now, because the developers at Blizzard have made some changes to the reputation system that aren’t completely terrible. For one thing, there’s no more grinding mobs endlessly to get reputation – it’s all done through quests and endgame activities now. Small miracles, am I right?
So in the interest of actually being helpful for once, let’s take a look at these new Shadowlands factions and what you can get for becoming their bestest buddy in the afterlife.
The Avowed – For the Goth Kids Who Never Grew Up
Let’s start with the vampiric Emo squad wannabes known as The Avowed, based out of Revendreth. Now I know you just can’t wait to join up with this delightful faction of undead edge lords, because who hasn’t dreamt of becoming besties with haughty aristocratic vampires?
As you complete quests around Revendreth and eventually become The Avowed Exalted, you’ll gain access to plenty of macabre-themed rewards including:
- The Sinvyr mount – a weird bat-wyvern thing, because you just gotta ride a creepy mutated beast as you brood in the darkness
- Avowed Armor Transmog sets – for that full vampire lord cosplay your RP character always wanted
- Spectral Construct pet – a ghostly gargoyle to follow you around while saying “nevermore”
- Shackled Ur’zul minion – a mini- winged demon that will constantly whisper madness into your mind. Super cute!
- Teleporter signet ring – because walking is too mainstream when you can turn into a puff of smoke instead
Truly, the Avowed understand that ephemeral suffering is the essence of beauty, and have put together a moody rewards collection that will make any tortured soul feel right at home.
The Undying Army – When You Need More Undead in Your Undead Afterlife
But maybe even the Avowed are too cheerful and vibrant for your tastes. In that case, you’ll definitely want to enlist with The Undying Army over in Maldraxxus. Constant warfare and necromantic horror are always in fashion for this faction.
As you complete tasks across the zone and become Undying Army Exalted, you’ll be able to sport your allegiance to ceaseless undead battle with:
- Armored Bonewarper mount – nothing says badass like riding a massive skeletal dog into battle
- Undying Armor Transmog sets – show off your elite soldier status in Maldraxxus with full plague doctor couture
- Coagulated Animatter pet – it’s a jar of sentient goo from the Fleshworks! Adorable?
- Protoflesh minion – a tiny abomination just for you, stitches and all
- Undying Army signet ring – more teleportation, but this time with a sickly green effect. Much edgier.
The Undying Army understands that true loyalty must be forged through endless war in the name of meaningless conquest. Collect these battle-worn rewards and spread the glory of unending strife!
The Archivists’ Codex – Bookworms of the Afterlife Unite!
But maybe constant war and suffering isn’t your thing. Perhaps you’re more of a knowledge seeker looking to unearth long-lost secrets. If so, you’ll want to start digging through the archives with The Archivists’ Codex in Bastion.
As you work your way up to Archivist’s Codex Exalted, you’ll be able to acquire some scholarly swag including:
- Endmire Flyer mount – this mystical glowworm will get you around in style as you ponder the eternal mysteries
- Codex Equipment transmog sets – show off your bookish proficiencies in these parchment and quill-themed outfits
- Juvenile Cloudfeather pet – because every academic needs a fluffy owl companion on their shoulder
- Trapped Stonefiend minion – a mini earth elemental to lend some brawn to your research efforts
- Archivist’s Codex signet ring – teleport with the flair of disappearing ink. All the rage with the eternal bookworm crowd.
The Archivists understand that true wisdom lies in ceaseless contemplation of the cosmic unknown. Arm yourself with pen and parchment and unravel all of reality’s secrets!
The Ascended – Floating Above It All with the Enlightened Kyrians
But maybe even hoarding arcane knowledge seems hollow to you. Perhaps you seek a path of ritual and spiritual devotion on your road to transcendence. The angelic beings of The Ascended in Bastion will take you under their wing.
As you progress on your journey to Ascended Exalted, you’ll be able to get your halos polished and wings preened with:
- Eternal Warpriest Charger mount – ride forth on a celestial armored steed like it’s Crusade o’clock
- Ascended Equipment transmog sets – dazzling white and gold vestments to really embrace that holy warrior lifestyle
- Aurelid pet – your very own baby Kyrian to teach the virtues of duty and sacrifice
- Trapped Steward minion – a tiny floating Kyrian face to mute your emotions and cleanse your soul
- Ascended signet ring – teleport in a flash of blessed light. Essential for making that heavenly entrance.
Seek virtue and remove your earthly burdens through ritual, and the path of the Ascended will raise you to lofty heights.
The Wild Hunt – Get in Touch with Your Primal Side
Of course, too much spiritual devotion starts to chafe after a while. Sometimes you just want to go into a mindless frenzy and destroy anything in your path. For those days, you’ll want to join The Wild Hunt in Ardenweald.
As you act out bloodthirsty fey rituals to become Wild Hunt Exalted, you can adorn yourself in trophies from fallen prey like:
- Vicious Warstag mount – trample your foes atop this muscled fury of the forest
- Wild Hunt Equipment transmog sets – accentuate your feral nature in these woodland-inspired sets
- Fawn of the Wilds pet – aww, it’s Bambi! So cute before you crush its windpipe!
- Trapped Aethon minion – like a tiny Ysera for your psychopathic murder fantasies
- Wild Hunt signet ring – teleport amidst the shrieks and howls of the Wild Hunt. Just joyous.
Sometimes you just need to get in touch with your inner beast. The Wild Hunt knows that the surest path to harmony is bathing in the blood of innocents beneath a full moon. Happy hunting!
The Court of Harvesters – For When You Need a Little More Nightmare in Your Nightmare Realm
But the bloody chaos of the Wild Hunt not weird and unsettling enough for you? Then allow me to direct you into the spindly limbs of The Court of Harvesters in Revendreth.
As you complete increasingly creepy tasks to become Court of Harvesters Exalted, you’ll be rewarded with some oddly disturbing treats such as:
- Darkwarren Crawler mount – just try not to think about where this mutated rabbit-thing came from as you ride it
- Court Armor transmog sets – luxurious finery stitched together from the damned souls of the unworthy. Fetching!
- Fetid Spirit pet – it’s a floating disembodied eyeball dripping ichor! So cute you won’t be able to sleep!
- Imprisoned Harvester minion – your very own torture artist to shriek secrets of the infinite dark. Happy nightmares!
- Harvester’s Signet ring – teleport in an eruption of soul-rending screams from the damned. Music to any Harvester’s ears!
The Court of Harvesters knows that darkness lurks in the heart of all things. Wield the power of nightmare made manifest and usher in an age of beautiful terror!
Kyrian Covenant
Now if sauntering around the realms of death doling out judgment and ferrying souls isn’t your thing, you can always say to hell with it and join up with the living in the Kyrian Covenant.
As you progress on their path and become Exalted with the Kyrian Covenant, you’ll gain access to some rewards that are merely symbolic of the eternal struggle rather than composed of actual nightmares, including:
- Kindlehoof Mount – ride this divine owlbeast as you debate philosophy and shine your armor
- Kyrian Covenant transmog sets – radiant blue and silver vestments to match the gleam of your pristine Kyrian weapons
- Phalynx pet – it’s a cat made of floating rocks! Adorable and disturbing!
- Bottled Dirgebat minion – a tiny screeching bat in a bottle that you can unleash on our foes. Or just keep safely contained. Please.
- Signet of the Ascended – teleport on beams of pure anima, just like a true Kyrian!
Join the Kyrian and unite with the path of order and justice. Together we can begin to heal the simmering wounds left by the eternal conflict… ah who am I kidding, I’m going back to the vampires.
The Path to Revered Glory is Paved with Mindless Grinds
So there you have it – the glittering fruits of reputation grinds with Shadowlands’ various factions. Is it worth the time and sanity to suck up to all these groups just for mounts, pets, transmogs and teleport rings? Probably not, but we’re all so desperate for validation that we’ll do it anyway.
At least the developers tried to make the reputation system less tedious this time around. There are no more repeatable mob kills to grind out reputation. It’s all done through one-time quests and endgame activities. A step in the right direction for sure.
But there will always be room for capped daily quests, time-gated progression and meaningless factionratity in an MMO like World of Warcraft. Gotta keep us logging in somehow. That magical feeling of finally being “Exalted” is just enough of a dopamine hit to keep the hamster wheel spinning.
So break out your most edgelord transmog, summon your eldritch companion pets, and take to the skies on wings of sin. The path to rewards is long, but your senseless devotion will be handsomely rewarded with marginal upgrades.
Onward to mindless reputation grinds and forever war! For the glory of whoever we’re sucking up to now!
This has been a snarky look at reputation rewards in Shadowlands. Now back to the grinding with you! There are tabards to earn!
Ascending the Pecking Order of the Afterlife
And there you have it – a guide to all the wondrous and definitely not absurd rewards you can earn by grinding out reputation across the realms of the Shadowlands. We’ve covered all the main factions like the edgy Avowed, the warmongering Undying Army, the bookish Archivists’ Codex, the devout Ascended, the bloodthirsty Wild Hunt, and the utterly nightmare Court of Harvesters.
Whether you want to brood in the darkness, shovel corpses into a necromantic meat grinder, ponder the secrets of creation, seek spiritual enlightenment, indulge feral bloodlust, or just revel in cultivated horror, there’s a home for you in the Shadowlands. Now get out there and start making friends in death!
Frequently Asked Questions on Reputation and Rewards in Shadowlands
Q: Do I need to grind reputation to unlock flying in Shadowlands?
A: Yes, you need to reach Exalted with all four covenant factions in order to earn flying in Shadowlands through the Pathfinder achievement system. So you better get friendly with those Kyrians, Night Fae, Venthyr, and Necrolords unless you want to keep hoofing it everywhere.
Q: What’s the deal with the Avowed signet rings and teleportation?
A: At Exalted with each Shadowlands faction, you unlock a unique signet ring that allows you to teleport to a set location a couple times a day. It’s handy for getting around faster. The teleport visuals and sounds match the theme of each faction too.
Q: Do reputation rewards like mounts and transmog sets require reaching Exalted?
A: Most rewards are locked behind hitting Exalted with the associated faction, yes. But some gear and other goodies unlock at lower reputation levels, so check each vendor as you progress.
Q: What’s the fastest way to farm reputation in Shadowlands?
A: Completing the main story questline and then running dungeons are typically the fastest ways to earn reputation. Daily and weekly quests will also provide steady gains over time. Using reputation buffs can speed things up too.
Q: Can I farm reputation by killing mobs anymore?
A: No, mob grinding was removed in Shadowlands. Reputation can only be gained from completing quests, callings, dungeons, world bosses, etc now. So no more mindlessly murdering creatures for reputation.
And that covers the basics on earning reputation rewards during your journey through the lands of death. Now get out there and make some highly questionable friends! The sweet taste of arbitrary Exalted status awaits.
