In New World, Amazon Games' open-world MMORPG set in the supernatural island of Aeternum, the Covenant's Initiation: Crone's Rest quest serves as a pivotal early-game challenge for players who align with the Covenant faction. This quest, set in the haunting region of Monarch's Bluffs, introduces players to the game's combat, exploration, and looting mechanics while rewarding them with valuable items and New World Gold coins, the primary currency used for trading, crafting, and progression. This detailed guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough of the Covenant's Initiation: Crone's Rest quest, including objectives, strategies, rewards, and tips for success, ensuring players can navigate this initiation with confidence and efficiency.

Quest Overview

The Covenant's Initiation: Crone's Rest is the first faction-specific quest for players who choose the Covenant faction during the Contact the Factions quest, typically undertaken around level 17 after reaching Monarch's Bluffs. The quest is given by Mora Owgan, the Covenant's Adjudicator in the Monarch's Bluffs settlement, and serves as an initiation to prove a player's worth to the faction. The objectives are threefold: kill 15 Withered enemies, search 8 Withered corpses for a Weathered Charm, and search 8 chests for Azoth-Tinted Crystals in the Crone's Rest area. Completing these tasks rewards players with Burnished Lilac Dye, 390 XP, 47.50 New World Gold coins, and 175 Territory Standing, advancing their reputation with the Covenant.

The quest is designed to familiarize players with the Covenant's lore-a fervent group dedicated to cleansing Aeternum of heretics and defilers-while testing their combat and exploration skills. Crone's Rest, a desolate area west of Monarch's Bluffs, is populated by Withered enemies, undead-like creatures corrupted by Aeternum's dark forces, making it a dangerous yet rewarding location for early-game adventurers.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Step 1: Accepting the Quest

To begin, players must speak to Mora Owgan, located in the Monarch's Bluffs settlement. If you've chosen the Covenant faction during the Contact the Factions quest, Mora will offer the Covenant's Initiation: Crone's Rest quest upon reaching 300 Covenant reputation, which can be earned by completing earlier faction missions or side quests. Accept the quest to receive the objectives: defeat 15 Withered, search 8 Withered for a Weathered Charm, and search 8 chests for Azoth-Tinted Crystals. Open your map to locate Crone's Rest, a marked area west of the settlement, and prepare for combat by equipping a weapon suited for melee or ranged engagements, such as a sword, hatchet, or musket.

Step 2: Traveling to Crone's Rest

Crone's Rest is situated west of the Monarch's Bluffs settlement, accessible by following the main road out of town and heading toward the marked quest area. To save time, ensure you're moving on roads or paths, which grant a 15% movement speed bonus, especially if you've unlocked a mount through the My Kingdom for a Horse quest at level 20. If you're below level 20, walking is still efficient, but be cautious of enemies along the way. Crone's Rest is a low-level area (recommended for levels 15-20), but the Withered can overwhelm unprepared players, so ensure your gear is repaired and you have health potions or food for healing.

Step 3: Defeating 15 Withered

The first objective is to kill 15 Withered enemies, which are scattered throughout Crone's Rest. These undead creatures, resembling zombies, include types like Withered Grunts and Withered Brutes, with levels ranging from 15 to 18. They are aggressive and often attack in groups, so approach with caution. Use crowd-control skills, such as a War Hammer's Shockwave or a Fire Staff's Pillar of Fire, to manage multiple enemies at once. If you're flagged for PvP (optional for a 10% XP boost), be wary of other players in the area, as Crone's Rest can be a hotspot for early-game PvP encounters.

Focus on isolated Withered to avoid being overwhelmed, and use terrain like rocks or ruins to kite enemies if needed. Each Withered has a moderate health pool, so weapons with high damage per second, like the Hatchet or Great Axe, are effective. Keep an eye on your stamina for dodging and blocking, as Withered attacks can stagger you. Completing this objective naturally progresses the next task, as defeated Withered can be searched for the Weathered Charm.

Step 4: Searching 8 Withered for a Weathered Charm

After defeating a Withered, interact with its corpse to search for a Weathered Charm. Not every Withered guarantees a drop, so you'll likely need to kill more than 8 to complete this objective. 

drop rate is random, but estimated to be around 20-30% based on player reports, so searching 20-30 Withered corpses may be necessary. To optimize this, focus on weaker Withered Grunts, as they are easier to defeat than Brutes. Corpses remain searchable for a short time after death, so prioritize searching immediately after each kill. If you're struggling to find enough Withered, explore deeper into Crone's Rest, as enemies respawn over time.

Step 5: Searching 8 Chests for Azoth-Tinted Crystals

The final objective requires searching 8 chests in Crone's Rest for Azoth-Tinted Crystals. These chests are scattered across the area, often found inside ruined buildings, near structures, or tucked away in corners. Look for wooden crates or ornate chests, and check inside houses and upstairs areas, as some chests are hidden on upper floors. Be cautious while opening chests, as nearby Withered may aggro if you're not stealthed or haven't cleared the area. Using a skill like the Rogue's Cloak of Shadows can help you avoid combat while searching. Chests respawn slowly, so you may need to move between different parts of Crone's Rest to find enough. If you're having trouble, consider grouping with other players, as chests can be looted by multiple players simultaneously.

Step 6: Returning to Mora Owgan

Once all objectives are complete-15 Withered killed, 8 Weathered Charms collected, and 8 Azoth-Tinted Crystals obtained-return to Mora Owgan in the Monarch's Bluffs settlement. Fast-travel to the settlement's inn if you've linked it for free teleportation (available every 15 minutes after linking your house and inn at level 15). Speak to Mora to complete the quest and claim your rewards: Burnished Lilac Dye, 390 XP, 47.50 New World Gold coins, and 175 Territory Standing. These rewards boost your character's progression, provide currency for trading or crafting, and increase your standing in Monarch's Bluffs, unlocking perks like reduced crafting taxes or increased refining yield.

Tips for Success

Gear Preparation: Equip gear with at least 150-200 Gear Score to handle Withered efficiently. Weapons with Dexterity or Strength scaling, like the Rapier or War Hammer, are ideal for Rogues or Warriors. Check the Trading Post for affordable upgrades if needed.

Settlement Buffs: Before heading out, check if Monarch's Bluffs has active buffs, such as increased loot luck or gathering speed, which can improve your charm drop rate or resource collection.

Group Play: If Crone's Rest feels overwhelming, join a company or group with other Covenant players. Group looting allows everyone to progress their chest objective, and coordinated attacks make Withered easier to handle.

Inventory Management: Ensure you have enough inventory space for charms and crystals, as they stack separately. Salvage unneeded gear at the settlement to free up space.

PvP Consideration: Flagging for PvP grants a 10% XP boost but risks encounters with enemy players. If you're on a high-population server, consider staying unflagged unless you're prepared for combat.

Role in Progression and Economy

The Covenant's Initiation: Crone's Rest is a critical step in early-game progression, advancing players toward higher Covenant ranks like Templar or Excubitor, which unlock better faction gear and missions. The 47.50 New World Gold coins reward is modest but valuable for early purchases, such as tools or crafting materials at the Trading Post. The Burnished Lilac Dye is a cosmetic item that can be sold for additional gold, while the 175 Territory Standing enhances your influence in Monarch's Bluffs, reducing taxes and improving crafting efficiency. For players focused on the economy, completing this quest quickly unlocks access to more lucrative faction missions, which offer higher gold and token rewards.

Challenges and Considerations

Crone's Rest can be challenging for undergeared players, as Withered often attack in groups, and chests can be hard to find without thorough exploration. The random drop rate for Weathered Charms means you may need to defeat more than 15 Withered, extending the quest's duration. On high-population servers, competition for chests can slow progress, so consider playing during off-peak hours or on a less crowded server.

Conclusion

The Covenant's Initiation: Crone's Rest quest is a defining moment for Covenant players in New World, blending combat, exploration, and looting to test your skills in Aeternum's unforgiving landscape. By defeating Withered, collecting charms, and securing Azoth-Tinted Crystals, you'll prove your dedication to the Covenant while earning valuable rewards to fuel your progression. Efficiently navigating Crone's Rest requires preparation, strategic combat, and thorough exploration, but the payoff-XP, gold, and standing-sets the stage for greater adventures. For players looking to bolster their resources for crafting or trading, options to buy New World Coins from trusted platforms like MMOEXP can provide a quick boost, ensuring you're ready to conquer Aeternum's challenges with ease.