The quick answer
A Sworn Cohort is a formal group of 3–10 players. Create the prep cohort through the Sworn menu, invite its members, then gather in a normal party at the Shrine Keeper in General’s Shrine for the oath.
On this page
A party is only one part of the setup
The ceremony checks the Sworn group as well as the players gathered together. Being the leader of a normal party does not automatically make you the leader of a prep cohort. That distinction explains the Shrine Keeper’s otherwise confusing rejection.
A guild is another separate organisation. You do not need to rename or replace a guild to create the smaller Sworn group described here.
Create the prep cohort in the menu first
- Open the main menu’s Social section and select Sworn.
- Find the initiation control and follow the prompt to create a prep or reserve cohort. On layouts using a hold action, hold the displayed button rather than tapping it.
- Invite the intended members into that prep group and confirm their membership in its list.
- Have at least three members, including the leader, ready for formation. Make a normal party containing those participating players.
Do not stop at sending invitations. Check the prep group’s roster before taking everyone to the ceremony; an unanswered invitation is not the same as membership.
Take the oath at General’s Shrine
Use the Sworn formation objective to track the Shrine Keeper at General’s Shrine in Qinghe. Gather the participating party there and have the prep-cohort leader initiate the Sworn Oath Ceremony.
Follow the confirmations and return to the Sworn screen afterward. Verify the formal cohort and member list before assuming a new group was created.
Fix the “only leader” message
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A prep cohort was actually created | A normal co-op party alone is insufficient. |
| The initiating player leads that prep cohort | Party leadership and cohort leadership are different roles. |
| At least three players are in the prep roster | Two players do not meet the formation group size. |
| The participating members are also together in a party | The roster and the gathered team must both be ready. |
These are the first checks to make before disbanding anything. Read any additional requirement shown by your current formation screen rather than repeatedly asking a different party member to click the same NPC.
Use the group’s activities and reward screen
Cohorts have their own progression through shared activities, including those surfaced in the Engagement Hub, and their own social rewards. Check the cohort’s activity list and shop requirements to choose a goal the group can complete together.
Our suggestion is one regular shared activity rather than an obligation to clear every task. A formal group is most useful when it supports the sessions the members already enjoy.