New World 2025: How to Plan the Perfect Upgrade Route

As New World progresses towards 2025, the game's upgrade system has undergone a huge overhaul. Whether you're returning after a break, joining the game after it's relaunched, or just looking to optimize your path to the top, planning your upgrade path is now more strategic and impactful than ever before. This guide covers the complete 2025 upgrade path planning, so read on!

1. Understanding the Upgrade Pillars in 2025

Before you plan, understand the core upgrade pillars that form the foundation of progression in New World 2025:

Gear Score Progression: Gear Score now scales more fluidly with content tiers. Rarer, crafted, or named items still dominate, but dungeon loot has improved.

Trade Skill Mastery: Many combat-enhancing upgrades (infused potions, powerful coatings, weapon oils) are now locked behind higher trade skill tiers.

Artifact & Named Gear System: 2025 introduces more powerful named items and Artifacts with upgrade paths using glyphs and tokens.

Gem & Perk Loadouts: Optimizing perks and gems remains critical, especially with PvP scaling changes.

Faction/Influence Systems: Territory upgrades and PvP bonuses contribute significantly to your character's performance.

2. Step-by-Step Upgrade Route Overview

Here's how to strategically plan your upgrade route from level 1 or returning gear score ~600:

Step 1: Early Game (1–60 or Returning Fresh)

Focus: Leveling, gathering materials, establishing tools and bags.

Goal: Reach level 60 while building trade skill foundations.

Key Actions:

Complete main story quests until you unlock expeditions and weapon mastery trees.

Use the new Seasonal Journey to earn free gear and upgrade tokens early.

Prioritize the following trade skills:

Mining and Logging (50–100) for rawhide, orichalcum, and crafting components.

Armoring and Weaponsmithing (up to 100) if you want to craft early self-gear.

Farm Corrupted Portals, Elite Zones, and Factions Missions for gear drops.

Smart Tip:

Craft and use Tier 3 tools ASAP — the time you save in gathering outweighs any cost.

Step 2: Mid Game (GS 500–590)

Focus: Dungeon farming, named item collection, prepping for gear score jump.

Goal: Assemble pre-BiS (best-in-slot) items and artifacts.

Key Actions:

Run expeditions like Starstone, Dynasty Shipyard, and Depths for consistent loot.

Target named weapons and armor from open-world elites (e.g., Scorpius, Malevolence).

Start collecting gypsum orbs and gypsum casts to upgrade gear via the Expertise System.

Use the faction shop to buy powerful gear with guaranteed perks.

Crafting Path:

Raise Arcana for Tier IV potions.

Level Armoring and Engineering to 150+ for gear prep and ammo crafting.

PvP Bonus:

If you PvP, enable PvP flagging while questing to stack XP and Azoth Salt rewards.

Use Salt to upgrade PvP track, which now grants named gear and glyphs.

Step 3: Gear Score Optimization (GS 590–625)

Focus: Gypsum, crafting, and Artifact target-farming.

Goal: Reach 625 GS and unlock Artifact upgrade paths.

Key Actions:

Daily craft Gypsum casts for weapon, armor, and jewelry slots.

Farm Elite Zones like Imperator's Reach or Elysian Wilds to boost Expertise.

Craft your first set of 625 gear using Runestone, Infused Leather, and Asmodeum.

Gather Artifact fragments, which are needed to awaken and upgrade unique named items.

Smart Crafting:

Level Weaponsmithing and Armoring to 200 to unlock crafting mods and control over perk rolls.

Use Timeless Shards to guarantee attributes on crafted items.

Step 4: Artifact and BiS Build Crafting

Focus: Min-maxing endgame gear.

Goal: Full 625 loadout with BiS perks and gems.

Target Gear:

Artifacts like The Butcher, Tempest Fury, or Featherweight offer powerful, unique perks.

PvP Armor Sets like Duelist, Heavy Assault, or Hunter's Guise are optimized for combat styles.

How to Upgrade Artifacts:

Farm glyphs from PvP, PvE, and influence missions.

Use Crafting Modifiers + Artifacts in crafting to unlock the upgrade path.

Apply upgrade tokens via Gypsum or PvP tracks.

Gems & Perks:

Install cut pristine gems based on weapon combo:

Opal for burst.

Malachite or Onyx for PvP.

Topaz for mana builds.

Step 5: PvP, Raid & Seasonal Optimization

Focus: Content-specific loadouts and consumables.

Goal: Be raid- and War-ready with full flexibility.

For PvE/Raids:

Join Raid Finder and tackle bosses for high-end loot.

Prioritize Elemental Resistance and Corruption Perks.

For PvP:

Use cleansing elixirs, infused coatings, and honor tokens from PvP track.

Build mobility-focused gear with dodge or fortify perks.

Unlock PvP Artifact bonuses like PvP Crit Damage +10% or Reduced DoT Duration.

Seasonal Gear Considerations:

Each season introduces new Seasonal Artifact Tracks — prioritize them early for exclusive gear and appearance unlocks.

Check the Season Pass vendor for upgrade materials and unique cosmetics.

3. Long-Term Investment Upgrades

Once you're well-geared, reinvest into systems that continue boosting your efficiency:

Territory Control & Upgrades

Support your company in controlling territories. Owning a town offers:

Crafting bonuses (e.g., higher-tier refining).

Reduced taxes.

Faction influence and more resources.

Invest in Town Upgrades like Smelters, Kilns, and Trophy Slots.

Trophies & Housing

Set up T3 or T4 homes in key zones like Everfall, Windsward, and Brightwood.

Craft and slot:

Combat Trophies (Increased PvE/PvP damage).

Gathering Trophies (More rare mats).

Loot Luck Trophies (Named/Artifact drop rate increase).

4. Tips for Efficient Upgrade Route Planning

Play Around Weekly Rotations: Prioritize mutated expeditions when they rotate into bonus mode.

Group Content is King: Dungeons and elite runs are the fastest way to gain gear and Expertise.

Join a Company: Many upgrades (like territory perks and tax savings) are easier with a group.

Track Your Gear Score Gains: Don't waste Gypsum on slots already at max score.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading your character is no longer an endless grind - it requires savvy planning, carefully chosen grind modes, and synergy systems. Whether you want to dominate in PvP, dominate in a group, or master crafting, this upgrade path plan will help you achieve your goals efficiently and make the most of your time in Aeternum.

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MMOexp New World Team