Exploration System Overview
Aeternum's map is divided into regions, and each region contains multiple locations. When you visit a location for the first time, it is marked as "discovered" on your map. Discovering all locations within a region grants a region completion reward. Discovering all locations across all regions grants the 100% Map Completion Bonus, one of the rarest achievements in VvW.
Some locations are visible on the map from the start, while others are hidden and only appear after you meet specific requirements: reaching a certain level, completing a quest, defeating a boss, or simply entering the zone. Hidden locations often contain the best gathering spots, secret quest chains, and unique NPCs.
Your exploration progress is tracked in the Map panel under the "Exploration" tab. Each region shows a completion percentage based on how many locations you have discovered. The Weekly Challenge "World Explorer" (explore 10 different locations) also encourages regular exploration.
Complete Region & Location List
Below is every region in Aeternum with its constituent locations, level ranges, and notable features. Locations are listed in the recommended order of discovery (by level).
Western Aeternum (Beginner)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Forest | 1-15 | Level 1 | Starting zone; Healing Herbs, Wolf Pelts gathering. Zone boss present. |
| Wolf Den Depths | 5-18 | Level 5 | Ancient wolf pack lair beneath the Dark Forest. Wolf Pelts, Healing Herbs. |
| Shadow Vale | 20-38 | Level 20 | Sunless valley of shadow creatures. Moon Blossom (rare herb), Wolf Pelts. |
Region Reward: 2,000 gold + "Forest Walker" title + 5% gathering bonus in Western Aeternum.
Central Aeternum (Early-Mid)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graveyard Lands | 5-20 | Level 5 | Undead zone; Copper Ore, Healing Herbs. Zone boss present. |
| Ancient Catacombs | 15-28 | Level 15 | Underground tunnels beneath Graveyard. Iron Ore, Healing Herbs. |
| Dark Cathedral | 18-32 | Level 18 | Corrupted church; Iron Ore, Blood Herb (rare). Zone boss present. |
| Bone Fortress | 25-40 | Level 25 | Stronghold of bone; Iron Ore, Tough Hide. Zone boss present. |
Region Reward: 3,000 gold + "Crypt Keeper" title + 5% XP bonus in Central Aeternum.
Eastern Aeternum (Early-Mid)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood City | 8-25 | Level 8 | Gothic hub city; commerce, NPCs, Copper Ore, Tough Hide. No zone boss. |
Region Reward: 1,000 gold + "City Dweller" title. (Single-location region, easy completion.)
Northern Aeternum & Peaks (Mid)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruined Castle | 12-30 | Level 12 | Haunted fortress; Iron Ore, Tough Hide. Zone boss present. |
| Shadow Mountains | 20-45 | Level 20 | Impenetrable peaks; Silver Ore, Iron Ore, Dragon Scale (rare). Zone boss. |
| Crystal Caverns | 30-48 | Level 30 | Cursed crystal caves; Silver Ore, Gold Nugget (rare). Zone boss. |
Region Reward: 4,000 gold + "Mountain Conqueror" title + 10% mining yield bonus in Northern Peaks.
Southern Aeternum (Mid)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbidden Swamp | 15-35 | Level 15 | Poisoned bog; Healing Herbs, Wolf's Bane, Spider Silk. Zone boss. |
| Swamp Core | 28-42 | Level 28 | Heart of corruption; Swamp Lotus (rare herb), Spider Silk. Zone boss. |
Region Reward: 3,000 gold + "Swamp Survivor" title + 10% herbalism yield bonus in Southern Aeternum.
Crimson Empire (Mid-Late, Vampire-Restricted)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Lake | 22-38 | Level 22 | Blood-red lake; Blood Herb, Tough Hide. Zone boss. |
| Vampire Citadel | 25-50 | Level 25 (Vampire only) | Heart of the Crimson Empire; Blood Herb, Gold Nugget. Zone boss. |
| Blood Forest | 30-45 | Level 30 (Vampire only) | Crimson-canopied woodland; Blood Herb. Zone boss. |
Region Reward: 5,000 gold + "Blood Sovereign" title + 10% life steal bonus in Crimson Empire. (Vampire-only region.)
Pack Lands (Mid-Late, Werewolf-Restricted)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pack Forest | 22-38 | Level 22 (Werewolf only) | Ancestral hunting grounds; Wolf's Bane, Wolf Pelts. |
| Werewolf Territory | 25-50 | Level 25 (Werewolf only) | Sacred pack grounds; Wolf's Bane, Wolf Pelts. Stat bonus for werewolves. |
Region Reward: 5,000 gold + "Pack Alpha" title + 10% STR bonus in Pack Lands. (Werewolf-only region.)
The Rift (Late)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demon's Crossing | 35-60 | Level 35 | Dimensional rift; Dark Iron Ore (rare), Demon Hide (rare). Zone boss. |
Region Reward: 5,000 gold + "Rift Walker" title + 10% dark damage bonus in The Rift.
The Beyond (Endgame)
| Location | Level | Unlock | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Moon Realm | 40-100 | Level 40 (Event only) | Mystical realm under the full moon. Endgame monsters. No gathering spots. |
Region Reward: 10,000 gold + "Moon Touched" title + 5% all stats during Blood Moon events.
Vampires cannot enter Pack Lands (Pack Forest, Werewolf Territory) and werewolves cannot enter the Crimson Empire (Vampire Citadel, Blood Forest). Both races can access Crimson Lake. This means 100% map completion requires different location counts depending on your race. Each race has its own completion percentage tracked separately.
Hidden Locations: How to Find Them
Several locations are not visible on the map until you discover them. These hidden locations appear after meeting specific triggers:
- Wolf Den Depths: Enter the Dark Forest at level 5+. The entrance appears after defeating 10 wolves in the Dark Forest.
- Ancient Catacombs: Discover by completing the "Grave Robber" quest chain in the Graveyard Lands at level 15+.
- Dark Cathedral: Visible after reaching level 18 and interacting with the NPC priest in Blood City.
- Crystal Caverns: Discover by mining in the Shadow Mountains 10 times. The cave entrance appears after the 10th mining attempt.
- Swamp Core: Enter by defeating the Forbidden Swamp boss. The path opens after the boss dies.
- Blood Moon Realm: Only accessible during Blood Moon events. The portal appears in the Demon's Crossing zone during the event.
Hidden locations often have the best rare gathering resources. Crystal Caverns has Gold Nuggets, Swamp Core has Swamp Lotus, and Shadow Vale has Moon Blossom. These resources are worth significantly more on the auction house than common materials. Exploring pays for itself.
Region Completion Rewards Summary
Completing all locations within a region grants a one-time reward plus a permanent bonus that applies whenever you are in that region. The total value of all region completion rewards is approximately 38,000 gold, multiple exclusive titles, and powerful regional bonuses. For players who also gather resources, the regional yield bonuses compound into enormous long-term value.
100% Map Completion Bonus
Achieving 100% map completion (all locations discovered for your race) grants the ultimate exploration reward:
- Title: "Explorer of Aeternum" (displayed globally, extremely rare)
- Gold: 50,000 gold
- Gems: 100 gems
- Permanent Bonus: +5% XP gain from all sources, permanently
- Cosmetic: Exclusive map-themed profile badge
The permanent +5% XP bonus is especially valuable for players pursuing the Prestige system, where every percentage point of XP acceleration saves days of grinding at high levels.
Best Exploration Route
Follow this route for the most efficient path to 100% map completion, visiting locations in level order:
- Level 1-5: Dark Forest (Western Aeternum)
- Level 5: Wolf Den Depths (kill 10 wolves to reveal), Graveyard Lands (Central)
- Level 8: Blood City (Eastern)
- Level 12: Ruined Castle (Northern)
- Level 15: Forbidden Swamp (Southern), Ancient Catacombs (Central, quest chain)
- Level 18: Dark Cathedral (Central, NPC interaction)
- Level 20: Shadow Mountains (Northern), Shadow Vale (Western)
- Level 22: Crimson Lake, Pack Forest / Vampire Citadel (race-restricted)
- Level 25: Bone Fortress (Central), Werewolf Territory / Vampire Citadel (race-restricted)
- Level 28: Swamp Core (Southern, defeat swamp boss)
- Level 30: Crystal Caverns (Northern, mine 10x), Blood Forest (Crimson Empire)
- Level 35: Demon's Crossing (The Rift)
- Level 40: Blood Moon Realm (event only, wait for Blood Moon event)
Do not rush to the Blood Moon Realm. It is event-only and you must wait for a Blood Moon event to access it. Focus on completing all other regions first, then enter the Blood Moon Realm during the next event to claim your 100% completion reward. Check our Blood Moon Event Guide for the event schedule.
Exploration Tips
- Gather as you explore. Every new location has gathering spots. Even if you are just passing through, a quick gather takes seconds and the materials accumulate over time. Read our Gathering Guide for profession-specific routes.
- Check for hidden quests. Many locations have NPCs that only appear after certain conditions are met. Talk to every NPC you encounter; some trigger quest chains that reward rare items and additional lore.
- Bring your Night Raven companion. The Night Raven's +35% item find bonus applies to hidden location discovery. While not confirmed to affect exploration directly, players report finding hidden entrances faster with the Night Raven equipped.
- Use the weekly challenge. The "World Explorer" weekly challenge rewards you for visiting 10 locations. Combine exploration sessions with this challenge for bonus gold and Battle Pass XP.
- Explore with your clan. Higher-level clan members can escort you through dangerous zones, letting you discover locations above your level bracket safely. The discovery counts even if you need help surviving the zone's monsters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does exploration progress reset with Prestige?
No. Exploration progress and all discovered locations persist through Prestige. The 100% completion reward is earned once and applies permanently. You do not need to re-explore Aeternum after prestiging.
Can I discover race-locked locations on the wrong race?
No. Vampires cannot enter Pack Lands and werewolves cannot enter the Crimson Empire. Each race has a different total location count for 100% completion. You are not penalized for being unable to access the other race's zones.
What is the rarest title from exploration?
"Explorer of Aeternum" (100% map completion) is the rarest exploration title. Less than 5% of active players have achieved it, primarily because the Blood Moon Realm requires waiting for a specific event and being level 40+.
Do I need to defeat zone bosses for exploration credit?
No. Simply entering a location grants discovery credit. You do not need to defeat the zone boss, complete quests, or gather resources. However, some hidden locations (like Swamp Core) require defeating a boss to reveal the entrance.