With the release of the new expansion, players will experience the new reputation system, which is called Renown. The Renown sticks to a selected Covenant and will become available at level 60 as well as the Covenant itself. The closest comparison is the Mists of Pandaria’s Tillers Friends reputations or Fisherfriends in Legion. But unlike the previous expansions, this time the new system plays a larger role in the game context.
Note that everything below said is a subject of discussion yet and may change on the release.
What is Renown?
Renown is a new Covenant progression system that will become available once you have selected a Covenant. This is specific esteem that grows in compliance with gained Renown levels. The higher is your Renown level is, the more Covenant features become available to you. They may be new Soulbinds and their traits, new Campaign quests, Sanctum upgrades, increased ilvl for World Quest rewards, Covenant themed cosmetic rewards (transmogrification sets, pets, mounts, titles, achievements, etc).
Unlike Artifact Power from Legion and Azerite Power from BfA, Renown is not an endless grind that made the community spend literary days in front of their screens just to become a little bit stronger. This time it is a finite progression system of only forty levels. What’s more, there is a weekly cap on how much Renown you can earn.
Renown is represented by a currency of the same name – Renown. There are four additional Covenant specific currencies, which are Renown-Kyrian, Renown-Venthyr, Renown-Necrolord, and Renown-NightFae. All of them count only towards their specific Covenant.
There are two ways to earn Renown. Each time you complete another Chapter of your Covenant Campaign, you gain a level of Renown. There will be eight chapters within each Covenant Campaign, meaning you will have eight Renown levels.
You will be able to complete two weekly quests, each of which will reward you with one Renown. One is called Replenish the Reservoir, and another Return Lost Souls. On the whole, it will take you not less than 14 weeks to reach the maximum Renown level.
A very good catching-up mechanism has been created for those players who remained behind, have switched Covenants, or decided to play alts. All these characters will have an opportunity to collect more Renown by participating in different in-game activities, such as Dungeons, Raids, PvP combats, and Callings (a new title for Emissary Quests).
Soulbinds Talents
Each Covenant has three Soulbinds to introduce to you. Each of the Soulbinds has a unique talent tree of eight rows. Each row has up to three different talents, including conduits, to choose from. To get access to each row of talents players should reach a certain Renown level. For example, getting 4 Renown level gives you access to the third row of talents for the first (#1) Soulbind available. Upon reaching 21 Renown level you will be able to begin the final chapter of the Covenant’s campaign. After completing the campaign you will be able to select the third Soulbind. Below you may see a small table that shows all the details.
| Renown level requirement | Soulbind | Row number |
| 2 | #1 | 2 |
| 4 | #1 | 3 |
| 5 | #2 | 3 |
| 7 | #1 | 4 |
| 10 | #2 | 4 |
| 13 | #2 | 5 |
| 16 | #1 | 5 |
| 24 | #1 | 6 |
| 27 | #3 | 6 |
| 28 | #2 | 6 |
| 31 | #1 | 7 |
| 32 | #2 | 7 |
| 35 | #3 | 7 |
| 39 | ALL | 8 |
Renown Rewards
The reward system is created so that players could get at least minor rewards at every level they earn. But there are also some major rewards and such levels are called Milestones. Getting the next Milestone may reward you with the following:
- Open talent rows for Soulbinds;
- Recruit Adventurers for your scouting map;
- Earn legendary recipes for the runecrafter in Torghast;
- Increase reward item levels for World Quests;
- Improve/repair Sanctum areas;
- Earn perks (mounts, pets, t-mog sets, etc.);
- Complete the final chapter of your Covenant Campaign.
Note that even though the Renown rewards are different, all of them follow the same pattern no matter which Covenant you are affiliated with.
Kyrian Renown Rewards
You may claim all the item rewards from the Kyrian Covenant Quartermaster, Adjutant Galos.
Remember that you get a reward EVERY Renown level you reach. Below are the most interesting and signing rewards.
- Renown level 9 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Wrist, Hands, Waist;
- Renown level 14 – A Legendary Recipe: Runecarver Memory;
- Renown level 17 – Phalynx of Purity Mount;
- Renown level 20 – Illusion: Transcendent Soul; unannounced Pet, and an Unknown Hearthstone;
- Renown level 21 – Access to the final chapter of the Kyrian Campaign and Forgelite Prime Mikanikos correspondingly;
- Renown level 22 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Back, Legs, and Feet;
- Renown level 30 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Head, Shoulders, and Chest;
- Renown level 37 – New Weapon appearances;
- Renown level 39 – Talent row 8 for all Soulbinds;
- Renown level 40 – Eternal Phalynx of Purity Mount.
Venthyr Renown Rewards
You may claim all the item rewards from the Venthyr Covenant Quartermaster, Chachi the Artiste.
Remember that you get a reward EVERY Renown level you reach. Below are the most interesting and signing rewards.
- Renown level 2 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Back, Legs, and Feet;
- Renown level 3 – Covenant Transmogrification Appearance: Ebony Crypt Keeper’s Mantle;
- Renown level 9 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Wrist, Hands, Waist;
- Renown level 17 – Sinfall Gargon Mount;
- Renown level 20 – Illusion: Sinwrath, Sinheart pet, Venthyr Sinstone toy;
- Renown level 21 – Access to the final chapter of the Venthyr Campaign and General Draven correspondingly;
- Renown level 22 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Back, Legs, Feet;
- Renown level 30 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Head, Shoulders, Chest;
- Renown level 34 – Covenant Transmogrification Appearance Mantle of the Forgemaster’s Dark Blades;
- Renown level 37 – New Weapon appearances;
- Renown level 39 – Talent row 8 for all Soulbinds;
- Renown level 40 – Gravestone Battle Armor Mount.
Necrolords Renown Rewards
You may claim all the item rewards from the Necrolords Covenant Quartermaster, Su Zettai.
Remember that you get a reward EVERY Renown level you reach. Below are the most interesting and signing rewards.
- Renown Level 3 – New Appearance Available;
- Renown Level 9 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Wrist, Hands, and Feet;
- Renown Level 14 – A Legendary Recipe: Runecarver Memory;
- Renown Level 17 – Plaguerot Tauralus Mount;
- Renown Level 20 – Jiggles Pet; Illusion: Unbreakable Resolve; Necrolord Hearthstone;
- Renown Level 21 – Access to the final chapter of the Necrolord Campaign and Bonesmith Heirmir correspondingly;
- Renown Level 22 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Back, Lets, and Feet;
- Renown Level 30 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Head, Shoulders, Chest;
- Renown Level 37 – New weapon appearances;
- Renown Level 39 – Talent row 8 for all Soulbinds;
- Renown Level 40 – Armored Plaguerot Tauralus Mount.
Night Fae Renown Rewards
You may claim all the item rewards from the Night Fae Covenant Quartermaster, Elwyn.
Remember that you get a reward EVERY Renown level you reach. Below are the most interesting and signing rewards.
- Renown Level 3 – Covenant Transmogrification Appearance Night Courtier’s Bulb;
- Renown Level 4 – Covenant Transmogrification Appearance Night Courtier’s Pack;
- Renown Level 9 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Wrist, Hands, Waist;
- Renown Level 14 – A Legendary Recipe: Runecarver Memory;
- Renown Level 17 – Shadeleaf Runestag Mount;
- Renown Level 20 – Trootie Pet; Illusion: Wild Soul; Night Fae Hearthstone;
- Renown Level 22 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Back, Legs, Feet;
- Renown Level 30 – Covenant Armor Transmogrification Set: Chest, Shoulders, Head;
- Renown Level 37 – New Weapon appearances;
- Renown Level 39 – Talent row 8 for all Soulbinds;
- Renown Level 40 – Enchanted Shadeleaf Runestag Mount.
Shadowlands Pathfinder
There is not much information about flying in Shadowlands, and the requirements for Pathfinder Achievement are also unknown. What we do know is that flying in Shadowlands will not be available from the beginning as usual and that Covenant Renown, not faction reputation, will play a key role in unlocking flying in the new expansion. This is a very good idea because there will be no necessity to grind reputation with several different factions long after you have finished all the storylines.
Other great news about flying changes is that you no longer need to earn the achievements Draenor Pathfinder or Broken Isles Pathfinder, Part One/ Broken Isles Pathfinder, Part Two to fly in Warlords of Draenor or Legion zones. The flying ability will be automatically available to every character that learned Expert Riding. However, you will still need to earn Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder, Part One, and Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder, Part Two, to fly in Battle for Azeroth zones.
