So, you’ve finally hit the endgame grind in Aeternum and someone mentioned the Ordeal of the Nine Gates. If you’re like most players, your first reaction was probably, "Wait, is that a dungeon or a quest?" It’s a bit of both, honestly, but mostly it's a test of patience.
The ordeal of the nine gates new world isn't just a fancy name for a mob farm. It is a critical milestone located in the scorched, unforgiving lands of Brimstone Sands. If you want to fully power up your character or understand why the Corrupted are so obsessed with Egyptian-themed ruins, this is where you spend your Saturday afternoon.
Let's be real: New World has a habit of making things sound more epic than they are, but the mechanics here can actually trip you up if you’re just mindlessly clicking.
What the Ordeal of the Nine Gates New World Actually Is
Basically, this is a soul-trial. You’ll find it within the Ennead questline. Think of it as a gauntlet. You aren't just walking through a door; you are fighting through layers of ancient security systems designed by people who clearly didn't want visitors.
It’s located in the Great Wall of Neb-Hut. You’ll know you’re in the right place because everything is golden, dusty, and trying to kill you. The "Nine Gates" refers to a series of glyph-based challenges and combat encounters that stand between you and the higher-tier rewards of the Brimstone Sands expansion.
Most people mess this up by going in solo when they aren't geared for it. Don't do that. While the game technically lets you try, the scaling on the Corrupted waves can get spicy fast.
Why Everyone Struggles With the Glyphs
The biggest hurdle in the ordeal of the nine gates new world isn't the giant sword-wielding statues. It’s the symbols.
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New World introduced the Glyph system with Brimstone Sands, and this trial is the final exam. You need specific Glyphs—like the Glyph of Offering or the Glyph of Food—to even interact with some of the chests and gates. If you haven't been exploring the minor ruins across the desert to collect these permanent unlocks, you’re going to hit a literal wall.
The Combat Rhythm
The waves aren't infinite, but they feel like it. You've got to manage your stamina. If you’re a light armor DPS player, one mistimed dodge during the gate sequences means you’re eating a face-full of Corrupted magic.
Here is how the flow usually goes:
- You trigger a gate.
- The sand starts swirling.
- A mix of melee grunts and those annoying ranged casters spawn.
- You realize you forgot to slot Ancient Ward potions.
- You die. Or, you play smart.
Honesly, the key is crowd control. If you have a Great Axe user with Gravity Well or a Void Gauntlet player to root enemies, the "Ordeal" becomes a lot less of an ordeal.
The Rewards: Is It Worth the Hassle?
Why bother? Gear score.
The ordeal of the nine gates new world is tied to the progression that eventually leads you into the Ennead Expedition. This isn't just flavor text. Completing this trial is often the gatekeeper for players trying to reach that 600+ Expertise mark efficiently.
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You’re looking for the high-end chest drops. The Elite Chests at the end of these gate sequences have a decent drop rate for Legendaries and, more importantly, the materials needed for crafting the Matrix items that are so popular in the current meta.
A Few Tips from Someone Who's Failed It
I've watched groups wipe on the fifth gate more times than I can count. Usually, it's because someone pulled an extra mob from the hallway. In the ordeal of the nine gates new world, positioning is everything.
- Bring a Blunderbuss or Bow: Even if you’re a melee main, having a way to pull those perched snipers down is a lifesaver.
- Check your Glyphs before you start: There is nothing more embarrassing than reaching the end and realizing you can't open the big chest because you skipped a minor side quest three days ago.
- Corruption Tinctures: Use them. Seriously. The damage over time in these ruins adds up faster than you’d think.
The game doesn't explicitly tell you that the difficulty spikes at gate seven. It’s a bit of a "gotcha" moment. The density of Elite mobs doubles. If your healer isn't awake, it's game over.
Navigating the Great Wall
The layout is vertical. You’ll be doing a lot of climbing and jumping. If you have a poor sense of direction, follow the blue glowing lights. The developers actually did a decent job of breadcrumbing the path, but in the heat of a fight, it’s easy to get turned around and fall off a ledge.
Falling doesn't always kill you, but it resets your progress on the current gate wave. That is arguably worse than dying.
Common Misconceptions
People think you need a full 5-man premade with "BiS" (Best in Slot) gear. You don't. A competent duo can clear most of this if they are careful. The "Nine Gates" sounds intimidating, but it’s more about mechanics and monster priority than raw numbers.
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Kill the casters first. Always. The melee mobs are just meat shields.
Actionable Steps for Your Run
To make sure your next attempt at the ordeal of the nine gates new world is actually successful, follow this checklist.
First, head to the outpost of New Corsica and make sure your inventory is clear of junk; you’re going to pick up a lot of heavy Tier V raw materials. Second, verify you have the Glyph of the Sun and Glyph of the Moon unlocked in your journal. These are the most common blockers for the interactive elements of the trial.
Third, slot Rubies or Amethysts into your armor. The elemental damage from the Corrupted priests in the later gates is mostly Fire and Void. Reducing that damage by even 10% can be the difference between a successful clear and a walk of shame from the nearest shrine. Finally, once you finish the ninth gate, don't just teleport out. There is a hidden side passage near the exit that leads to an extra Orichalcum vein and a supply stockpile that most players completely miss.
If you’re pushing for the Ennead quest completion, make sure you talk to the NPC immediately outside the ruin entrance to turn in the "Ordeal" stage before moving toward the pyramid. If you skip the dialogue, the quest might not update, forcing you to run the gauntlet all over again. Stick to the high ground, keep your wards up, and you’ll get through it.