Which Camp to Join? Old vs New vs Swamp
There's no objective best camp and no clear winner — each has its own pros and cons. The Old Camp is the most common designated route. Pick for fit: Old = deepest armor + pure melee or fire magic, New = flexible build with water magic on the side, Swamp = psionic magic, cheap alchemy and the most dialogue content.
| Old Camp | New Camp | Swamp Camp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controls / believes | The ore trade, answers to the Ore Barons | Free miners + Water Mages who want the Barrier down | The Sect that prays to the Sleeper |
| Paths to join | Guard (melee) or Magician of Fire | Mercenary (combat) or Water Mage | Templar (Brotherhood) |
| Magic school | Fire magic | Water magic | Psionic / Fire (capped) |
| Magic ceiling | 6th Circle | 6th Circle (Water) | Capped at 4th Circle |
| Armor | Deepest progression, heavy ore | Mercenary armor / Water Mage robes | Templar robes / guard |
| Standout draw | Most common route, pure melee or fire | Flexible build, wants the dome torn down | Cheap alchemy + most dialogue content |
Committing to the Old Camp forfeits the other camps' admission quests — you can't shop all three at once, so decide before you start the join chain.
Old Camp — fighters, fire magic and the ore monopoly
Old Camp
Ore BaronsBorn when convict Gomez led a revolt; his men became the Ore Barons who now run the ore trade. Roughly 200 bags of magic ore ship out every month.
📜 The most common designated route — the path the game nudges most players toward.
✅ Pros
- Deepest armor progression in the game
- Strong pure-melee or fire-magic builds
- The most common, well-supported route
- Backed by the faction that controls all ore
❌ Cons
- Joining forfeits the New and Swamp admission quests
- Guard admission is a long, multi-gate trust chain
- Tied to the Ore Barons' politics
How to join as a Guard
- Complete Diego's trust chain to vouch for you
- Win the approval of multiple Shadows
- Pass the test-of-faith ritual
New Camp — mercenaries, Water Mages and tearing down the Barrier
New Camp
Free MinersFree miners allied with the Water Mages, whose whole goal is bringing the Barrier down. Lee — an ex-Myrtanan general — leads the mercenaries; Saturas and the Water Mages study and aim to destroy the dome; Lares organizes the Rogues.
📜 Admission runs through Mordrag: he escorts you, then you present his ring — after which Lares may demand 400 ore nuggets.
✅ Pros
- Flexible build with water magic on the side
- Two distinct paths: mercenary combat or Water Mage
- Aligned with the goal of destroying the Barrier
- Led by a former Myrtanan general
❌ Cons
- Lares may demand 400 ore nuggets to finalize entry
- Entry gated behind Mordrag's escort and ring
- Joining forfeits the Old and Swamp admission quests
How to join the New Camp
- Let Mordrag escort you to the camp
- Present Mordrag's ring as proof of safe passage
- Pay Lares up to 400 ore nuggets if demanded
Swamp Camp — psionic magic, faith and the most dialogue
Swamp Camp / Brotherhood
The SectThe Templar path. Founded by Old Camp digger Berion (who became Y'Berion), the Sect prays to the Sleeper — in truth an arch-demon summoned centuries earlier by Orcs. It offers psionic magic, cheap alchemy and the most dialogue content of the three.
📜 Caveat: the Swamp Camp caps you at 4th Circle Magic, locking the 6th Circle later.
✅ Pros
- Psionic magic and cheap alchemy
- The most dialogue content of any camp
- Deep, faith-driven roleplay around the Sleeper
❌ Cons
- Caps you at 4th Circle Magic — 6th Circle is locked
- Built around worship of what is actually an arch-demon
- Joining forfeits the Old and New admission quests
How to join the Brotherhood
- Win the approval of at least 4 of the 5 Gurus, each via a different task
- Earn advocacy from Lester
- Deliver a dreamcall, recruit members, help the harvest, and demonstrate magical aptitude
Standalone takeaway: there's no wrong choice for the story, only a wrong choice for your build. Chase armor and pure combat in the Old Camp, flexibility and water magic in the New Camp, or alchemy, psionics and roleplay in the Swamp Camp.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a best camp in Gothic 1 Remake?
No. There's no objective best camp and no clear winner — each has its own pros and cons. The Old Camp is the most common designated route, but the right pick depends on your build.
Which camp is best for a mage?
It depends on the school. The Old Camp offers fire magic (Magician of Fire under Corristo), the New Camp offers water magic (Water Mage under Saturas), and the Swamp Camp offers psionic magic but caps you at 4th Circle.
Can I join more than one camp?
No. Commitment is exclusive — joining the Old Camp forfeits the other camps' admission quests.
Why avoid the Swamp Camp if I want to be a strong mage?
The Swamp Camp caps you at 4th Circle Magic, which locks the 6th Circle later. If you want top-tier spellcasting, the Old or New Camp keep that ceiling open.
What does joining the New Camp cost?
After Mordrag escorts you and you present his ring, Lares may demand 400 ore nuggets to finalize your entry.