To unlock Eternal mode in Fellowship, you now need an average item level of 240, according to the 0.5.0.0 patch notes that Chief Rebel posted on October 21, 2026. You no longer have to clear a Paragon capstone, because Adventure Mode replaced the old league ladder in that update and wiped progress. The developers recommend an item level of 270 or higher before you attempt Eternal, which now has 32 fixed difficulty levels. Cithrel’s Fall was the Contender capstone in the old league system, not a Paragon dungeon.
Summary: Fellowship Eternal Unlock
- Unlock rule: an average item level of 240 gives access to Eternal.
- Recommendation: the developers suggest 270 or higher for a successful run.
- Old method: clearing the Paragon capstone no longer unlocks Eternal.
- Leagues: Contender, Adept, Champion and Paragon were replaced by Easy, Medium and Hard Adventure Mode.
- Structure: 32 fixed Eternal difficulty levels, with capstones split 4-4-2.
- Queues: multi-hero queueing now works in Adventure and Eternal.
- Caution: many guides online still describe the pre-reset rules.
What Changed in Fellowship Update 0.5.0.0?
Update 0.5.0.0, titled Welcome to the Post-Season, is the biggest change in the game since launch. Chief Rebel wiped player progress so everyone starts fresh, and the studio frames the reset as closer to a live public test than a normal season, as it works toward the 1.0 release.
Five changes matter most:
- Adventure Mode replaces the old league system with a less structured path. The studio says opting into harder challenge should speed up gear progression but should never be mandatory.
- Eternal access now depends on item level, not a league graduation.
- Eternal has 32 fixed difficulty levels.
- Multi-hero queueing lets you pick which heroes and difficulty levels to queue for.
- Dungeon pool shrank to 8 active Adventures and 2 active Capstones, and the update added a new dungeon called Crown of the Wild.
You can read the studio’s wording in the official Fellowship patch notes on Steam. Because the notes were edited after posting, check the live page if a number looks different.
How to Unlock Eternal Mode Now
The path is shorter than it used to be. The patch notes say that instead of graduating from Paragon league, you need an average item level of 240 to unlock access.
- Start in Adventure Mode. Easy, Medium and Hard are the new difficulty steps.
- Unlock each step. A third-party guide reading the developer’s menu says completing one Easy dungeon unlocks Medium, and completing one Medium dungeon unlocks Hard, for all heroes. Treat that as unconfirmed.
- Gear up. Your average item level comes from the gear you have equipped.
- Reach 240. That unlocks access to Eternal.
- Aim for 270 or higher before you push. The developers say 240 is enough to enter but not enough to succeed.
Here is how the old and new rules compare.
| Topic | Before update 0.5.0.0 | Now |
|---|---|---|
| How you unlock Eternal | Clear the Paragon capstone | Reach an average item level of 240 |
| Progression path | Contender, Adept, Champion, Paragon leagues | Easy, Medium and Hard Adventure Mode |
| Difficulty levels | Infinite scaling | 32 fixed levels |
| Capstone structure | Previous seasons used 3+1 | 4-4-2 split |
| Your progress | Kept | Wiped in the reset |
Item Level 240 vs the 270 Recommendation
The gap between 240 and 270 is the most useful detail in the notes. The studio admits that the difficulty is much higher than a 240 item level can handle. It still set the entry at 240 on purpose.
The reasoning is stated plainly: power players and alts that are being boosted should be able to save time, while the recommendation protects “learner drivers” from straying onto the highway. In other words, 240 is the door, and 270 is the safety line.
In practice, that means you should:
- Treat 240 as permission to queue, not as readiness.
- Aim for 270 or higher before you attempt a serious Eternal run.
- Start at an early Eternal difficulty your group can finish reliably.
Because your average item level comes from all equipped gear, raising your weakest slots is the fastest way to move the number.
Adventure Mode: Easy, Medium and Hard
Adventure Mode is the new core of the early and middle game. Chief Rebel designed it for new players, returning players, anyone leveling alts and players who do not want to push difficulty constantly.
Key points from the notes:
- Dungeon pool: all 8 active Adventures play in Adventure mode.
- Capstones: they are playable only in Eternal.
- Loot: Adventure Mode draws from every dungeon in rotation for its drop table.
- Queueing: by default you search for your current hero, but you can save a custom list of heroes and difficulty levels.
The studio says that harder challenges should yield greater or faster gear progression. Therefore, moving up a tier pays better, but you can stay on Easy if you prefer.
Eternal Structure: 32 Levels and the 4-4-2 Capstone Split
Eternal used to scale without end. Now it has 32 fixed difficulty levels. Chief Rebel says the fixed list sets clear completion goals and stops the player base from spreading too far apart over time.
| Feature | Detail from the notes |
|---|---|
| Difficulty levels | 32 fixed levels |
| Capstone split | 4-4-2, replacing the 3+1 layout of earlier seasons |
| Active capstones | 2 in the current pool |
| Loot | Eternal only drops loot for the dungeon you completed |
| Level 30 and up | Eternal Souldust, Eternal Godstones and Eternal Aether have a much higher drop chance at +30 |
The studio calls the 4-4-2 layout a trial for now and says it plans to rearrange content at each difficulty later. Therefore, treat the current split as temporary.
Eternal Matchmaking Queues and Party Rules
The notes confirm multi-hero queueing in both Adventure and Eternal. You choose which heroes and difficulty levels to queue for, and the first available match gets priority. Adventure and Eternal keep separate saved settings.
Here is what we cannot confirm. Older guides say Eternal had no matchmaking, and that you needed a premade party of four to enter. One wiki from before the reset says exactly that. The 0.5.0.0 notes we could read do not repeat or cancel that rule. Because the queueing change suggests players can search for Eternal matches, but the notes do not say whether the four-player premade rule still applies, check the in-game queue screen.
For another game that relies on four-player teams, see our Helldivers 2 Update 7.2 guide.
Old League Progression: Contender, Adept, Champion and Paragon
Until update 0.5.0.0, Challenger mode ran on four leagues: Contender, Adept, Champion and Paragon. Each league had adventures that scaled from +1 to +6, then a longer +7 capstone dungeon. Clearing the Paragon capstone unlocked Eternal.
The old capstone item level gates were:
| League | Capstone item level (old rule) |
|---|---|
| Contender | 60 |
| Adept | 120 |
| Paragon | 240 |
Those figures come from a wiki that predates the reset, and they no longer describe how you progress. Adventure Mode replaced the league ladder, and the notes say capstones are now played in Eternal. Many boosting sites and older guides still list the league chain, so ignore any page that tells you to graduate from Paragon.
Cithrel’s Fall and the Capstone Dungeons Today
The keyword “Paragon capstone Cithrel’s Fall” mixes two things. Older guides name Cithrel’s Fall as the Contender capstone, The Heart of Tuzari as the Adept capstone, Wraithtide Vault as the Champion capstone and Ransack of Drakheim as the Paragon capstone. One older gearing guide lists Cithrel’s Fall under the Contender stage.
So Cithrel’s Fall is not the Paragon capstone. After the reset, the pool contains only 2 active capstones, and the text we could read does not name which two are active. Therefore, check your Eternal dungeon list in game to see the current pair. The update also adds Crown of the Wild, a new dungeon.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Following old league guides. The Paragon capstone no longer unlocks Eternal.
- Treating 240 as readiness. The studio recommends 270 or higher.
- Assuming the old 3+1 capstone layout. It is now 4-4-2.
- Expecting infinite scaling. Eternal now has 32 fixed levels.
- Assuming a four-player premade is still required. The notes do not say either way.
- Forgetting the reset. Your earlier progress was wiped.
Conclusion
Fellowship’s Eternal mode now unlocks at an average item level of 240, with Adventure Mode replacing the old leagues and a 32-level Eternal ladder. Gear up to 270 or higher before you push, and ignore guides that still say to clear the Paragon capstone. Check the in-game queue screen for party rules, and the patch notes for any further edits.
FAQs
How do I unlock Eternal mode in Fellowship?
Reach an average item level of 240, according to the 0.5.0.0 patch notes.
Do I still need to clear the Paragon capstone?
No. Chief Rebel replaced the league graduation with the item level requirement.
What item level should I have for Eternal?
The developers recommend 270 or higher, even though 240 unlocks access.
How many Eternal difficulty levels are there?
There are 32 fixed levels, split across capstones in a 4-4-2 structure.
Is Cithrel’s Fall the Paragon capstone?
No. Older guides list it as the Contender capstone from the previous league system.
Can I queue as a solo player for Eternal?
The notes confirm multi-hero queueing, but they do not state the party rules, so check the in-game queue.
For more updates visit: GAME SPEC
