PoE 2 Leveling Guide – How To Level Up Fast in PoE 2

Key Takeaways

How to level up fast in PoE 2:

  • Ask a higher-level friend to powerlevel you in high-tier maps
  • Complete the campaign alongside all optional quests that grant skill or ascendancy points
  • Run chayula breachstones, coward’s trial, or 5way rotations repeatedly
  • Constantly upgrade your gear with the currency you farm to be able to run maps faster
  • Have XP increase gear equipped as long as it doesn’t affect your clearing speed
  • Kill all monsters you encounter in your path without looking for stragglers

Introduction

Welcome to our PoE 2 Leveling Guide in 2024! Going through all the sections, you will learn the best ways to level up fast in Path of Exile 2, along with tips, tricks, and guides for each class to maximize efficiency & reach the highest level in the shortest time possible.

Path of Exile 2 is an open-world ARPG with slow progression, so a bunch of tips & tricks will help you level up quickly through the campaign and head into the endgame as soon as possible.

The story of Path of Exile 2 takes place in Oriath, years after the first game's events. With Kitava and the other gods defeated, humans are now fighting for power with each other. A seed of corruption has appeared once more, and it’s time to cleanse the coasts of Wraeclast of evil once again. While getting to max level, you will engage in brutal fights against other exiles, mercenaries, corrupted creatures, and many other activities.

Leveling up in PoE 2 will be a long and grindy process, but we got your back with this guide.

In the following sections, we will go over the best leveling tips, most efficient strategies, best maps, details for each class, optimized early game builds, and anything else that will enhance your leveling experience in Path of Exile 2.

What is the max level in Path of Exile 2?

The maximum level you can reach in PoE 2 is 100. The game has multiple progression systems and heavily emphasizes gear over levels, meaning that reaching character level 100 won’t be enough to complete every endgame activity. Follow our fast leveling guide to ensure you take advantage of all the details that can speed up your journey through the campaign and early maps.

How many levels are in Path of Exile 2?

In Path of Exile 2, there are two primary systems that players can level – character level and skill gem level.

  • Maximum Character Level: 100
  • Maximum Skill Gem Level: 4 / 5 / 6 / 20, depending on the skill gem type

What is the maximum character level in PoE 2?

In PoE 2, the character level cap is 100. After reaching a certain point in the campaign, players will also gain access to ascendancies by completing a side quest. This will drastically increase character power and speed up the leveling journey.

How long is the Path of Exile 2 Campaign?

The Path of Exile 2 campaign is 6 acts long. Based on playthroughs of the game we have seen, each act will take between 1 and 2 hours. By the time you finish the campaign, you can expect to be around level 70, depending on if you’ve explored any side areas, how many mobs you have killed, or if you have just rushed through zones to finish it as quickly as possible.

How long does it take to level 100 in Path of Exile 2?

We do not know how much time it takes to reach level 100 in PoE 2, but making an assumption based on the first game, it can take up to 200 hours to achieve the maximum level in this ARPG. We look forward to helping you level up quickly and offering the best advice to increase your character’s power.

Every player wants to build a powerful character and have the gear to dominate the endgame content. Our PoE 2 powerleveling guide is designed to help you make the best decisions during your leveling journey.

Leveling in Softcore PoE is less punishing than Hardcore leveling. You can revive in your hideout or the last waypoint you visited each time you die, while hardcore players have to start over on a new character each time. This can be frustrating because you lose all the progress and loot on your character.

In the next section of our fast-leveling guide for PoE 2, we will discuss the best ways to reach level 70 and, also, the quickest methods to get from 70 to 100.

How to level up 1-70 fast in Path of Exile 2?

In PoE 2, the 1-70 leveling process is relatively streamlined, with players having to complete the campaign to access the endgame. By completing all side-quests, getting all your ascendancy points, and going through the acts, you can easily reach level 70. Below, we will leave a few tips & tricks to speed up the process:

  • Try to stay around three levels below the zone level to maximize the experience gain
  • Check the vendors for better gear each time you are in town
  • Use strong skill gems that don’t require many links

How to level up 70-100 fast in Path of Exile 2?

Step 1: Put together a league starter build to have an easy time through maps
Step 2: Optimize your atlas tree to progress to T16 maps easily
Step 3: Obtain all Voidstones for your atlas
Step 4: Invest in juicing your maps to increase mob density
Step 5: Improve your build by farming currency so you can speed farm T16 maps
Step 6: Grind high-tier maps or join rotations

When it comes to leveling from 70 to 100 in Path of Exile 2, you can take multiple routes to reach your goal. Each player may have a favorite farming strategy, and many methods can help the player reach their desired level.

At this time, we don’t have any information regarding the PoE 2 endgame, but we can assume the fastest ways to level in the sequel based on the XP farming strategies available in the first game. In the following paragraphs, we will share our insights and thoughts on what may be the fastest ways to level in PoE 2.

One of the most efficient methods for leveling in Path of Exile 2 could be through 5way carries, as the mob density is large, there are a lot of rare and unique monsters, and you can mainly AFK while the carry and the aurabot clear the Legion instance.

By using this strategy, you can farm currency and pay for someone to carry you through the instance, spending around 15 to 20 hours to farm the currency, then approximately 10 to 12 more hours afking in 5way instances to reach the max level. This will be way faster than grinding yourself (it could take you up to 200 hours).

Path of Exile 2 League leveling

In this section, we will look into League Character Leveling, briefly explaining how leveling works for League Characters and its similarities with PoE 1’s leagues.

In Path of Exile 2 leagues, players will start on a fresh character, without access to any gear or resources from Standard, and have to run the campaign once again to reach the endgame. This is an excellent opportunity for a fresh start in a new economy, with everyone being at the same level.

Despite starting fresh, each league you play will feel easier and faster as you learn map layouts, better understand the gameplay, have a more comprehensive knowledge of the crafting systems, how to optimize your character’s gear through the campaign, and a general understanding of the transition from the campaign to the endgame.

League vs Standard characters in PoE 2

Here is a list of all the differences between Standard and League characters:

  • League characters can gain rewards from Kirac’s Vault Pass to speed up the endgame
  • Characters can progress through League Challenges to obtain cosmetics for free
  • The League realm benefits from additional content and events

Fastest way to farm XP in Path of Exile 2

At first glance, leveling in Path of Exile 2 looks pretty straightforward, but depending on the speed at which you complete the six acts, you may not reach level 70 in the campaign and finish closer to level 60-65. The skill gems also require a substantial amount of XP, and depending on how many times you die during maps, you may be closer to level 97 - 98 before you get all skill gems maxed out.

Fastest Solo Leveling Method

In the following list, you will find the best steps to follow for fast leveling as a solo player in PoE 2:

  • Complete the six-act campaign
  • Obtain all ascendancy skill points for your character
  • Complete Maps repeatedly until you reach T16
  • Juice maps with high mob density mechanics like Abyss or Breach
  • Clear all the mobs in your path in each map
  • Invest atlas tree points in passives that increase XP from specific league mechanics

Best activity to level in Path of Exile 2

There are many different league mechanics and map types that you can use to farm for XP. In the first game, the best league mechanics and maps to farm XP were Chayula Breachstones, maps with Abysses / Breaches, and 5-way rotations.

How to get additional XP?

If you want to gain additional XP, a standard method players use would be sacrificing a few gear slots for items that grant the “% Increased XP gained”. This will make your character weaker for each XP increase item that you use since the items are balanced mainly around this modifier.

If you have a strong enough build and you can still efficiently clear maps even with this gear, you can save up considerable amounts of time. Each percentage of increased experience gain will save you approximately 2 hours on your journey from level 1 to 100.

Path of Exile 2 Powerleveling tips & tricks

There is no magic shortcut that can help you level up fast without grinding for XP in PoE 2 if you are playing solo, but there are some tips and tricks you can use to make the leveling process more efficient and maximize the XP gains along the way.

We have designed a list of PoE 2 Tips & Tricks for fast leveling:

  • Do all side quests that grant skill gems, flasks, gear or skill points as rewards while completing the campaign. This will slow down your progress for the moment, but speed the process up in the long run
  • Kill every monster that you encounter
  • Avoid rare mobs that are very tough to kill
  • Playing in a party grants more experience. You get bonus XP for being in a group, and members can split up to complete multiple objectives at once
  • Avoid dying. You will lose time respawning at the last checkpoint, or receive an XP penalty if you die at any point after completing the campaign
  • Try to head straight to the next zone. Don’t spend time in the campaign clearing the entire map, instead focus on completing the quests and moving on to the next area
  • Keep within 3 levels of the zone level. Being within this range grants you optimal XP, without suffering any penalties or the mobs being too difficult

Path of Exile 2 Map XP farming tricks

In order to maximize XP gains, players can use a variety of tricks during mapping to speed up the process considerably. These strategies may change from league to league, but adding high mob density league mechanics is the best way to gain XP inside of maps.

In PoE 1, we have seen a variety of “metas” regarding powerleveling, with the most consistent ones being Abyss, Breach, Legion, Delirium, and Beyond. These league mechanics will most probably see a comeback in PoE 2, so they will stay as top-tier XP farm methods.

Despite this, focusing on XP alone will considerably decrease currency/hour, and even if it might not seem intuitive, farming a large amount of divine orbs to purchase breachstones for rotations or 5way carry runs is usually way more efficient than grinding XP by yourself.

What does Path of Exile 2 powerleveling mean?

PoE 2 powerleveling is the process of getting your character to the maximum level as fast as possible, by using the most efficient leveling methods & tehniques, such as choosing the right map layouts, league mechanics, slotting in XP increase gear, and taking advantage of all unique mechanics of the current league.

How to power level in Path of Exile 2?

We currently don’t have much information about the PoE 2 campaign or endgame, but we can assume the process will be very similar to the first game:

  • A high-level player turns on downscaling and invites the low-level player into their party.
  • The new character follows the carry as they clear the campaign for them.
  • The low-level player should equip XP increase gear, cap their chaos res, and have at least 3.5k life before continuing.
  • After finishing the campaign and unlocking maps, the high-level player opens a map with high-mob density, a chayula breachstone or a legion 5way, preferably with an aurabot in the party.
  • The low level player follows the carry and aurabot, with most power-leveling activities taking around 6 minutes per run.
  • You will have to run these activities repeatedly, with an expected 10 to 15 hours to level from 1 to 100.

What can you powerlevel in Path of Exile 2?

In Path of Exile 2 you can power level characters, by doing the most optimal activities for gaining experience, and you can also powerlevel skill gems. Both gain experience in the same way and at a similar pace, by defeating mobs that you encounter in different areas and maps.

Can you powerlevel friends/alts in Path of Exile 2?

Yes, you can power-level friends or alts in Path of Exile 2. It is complex and tedious to level them through the campaign since you will have to use the downscaling feature so they are not subjected to large XP penalties due to the level difference. Still, after level 70, you can bring them along in your T16 maps, helping them go from 70 to 93 in less than an hour.

How to power level in Path of Exile 2?

The best way to power level in PoE 2 is through very high mob density activities. We are unsure if these mechanics will be available in Path of Exile 2, but Delirium, Beyond & Abyss / Breach maps, Chayula Breachstones, and 5way rotations were the top contenders for gaining XP fast in PoE 1.

On what map tier should I level in Path of Exile 2?

You should aim to level in T16 maps, as they are not that tough to defeat, making sure you are efficiently gaining experience without having a too large XP penalty due to the level differences that may occur starting at lvl 93.

Does Path of Exile 2 scale with level?

No, Path of Exile 2 does not scale with your character level. Instead, mobs and bosses will be at the same level as the zone or map level you are currently in. This means that you can out-level zones or map tiers, which will lead to reduced XP gains in those areas.

Completing all quests in the campaign

Completing all main quests in the PoE 2 campaign is essential to leveling, as it guides you through the zones and acts while gaining XP at a good pace. In the first game, finishing the campaign was required in order to play the endgame, and we expect things to stay the same in Path of Exile 2, so completing the story is a must.

Joining Map Rotations

Joining map rotations like Chayula Breachstones or Coward’s Trial rotations are the cheapest and most efficient ways of gaining experience in Path of Exile. We expect the second game to have similar maps and features. By joining a rotation, each player will bring a map of that type, and the entire group will run the maps together, getting six times the XP at the cost of just one map.

Kill all monsters you encounter

Since mob kills are the only confirmed way to get XP in Path of Exile 2, killing all the mobs in your path is crucial to leveling up fast. At the same time, you should not walk around the map or area specifically looking for stragglers since it may significantly impact your XP / hour ratio.

Get your ascendancy skill points

Unlocking your ascendancy and gaining all ascendancy points drastically increases the power level of your character, essentially reducing time spent killing mobs or travelling across the map. As soon as you can obtain your ascendancy and each time an opportunity to get extra ascendancy arises, you should prioritize it over anything else.

Path of Exile 2: Solo leveling vs Group leveling

Our Path of Exile 2 Leveling guide showcases the most efficient ways to get to max lvl, so in this section we will cover the best approach when it comes to leveling in PoE 2 either solo or as a group.

The game facilitates teamwork, with multiple classes having support capabilities, but that does not mean that solo players won’t have advantages.

A great feature in Path of Exile is that higher-level players can join their friends and play with them without any restrictions, as long as the downscaling mechanic is activated. If players decide not to use the feature, the lower-level player will get an XP reduction debuff based on the level difference.

In the table below, we will compare both leveling methods and decide which one of the two is most efficient overall, and the balance between solo and group leveling in PoE 2:

Solo Leveling Group Leveling
Advantages
  • You can level at your own pace without depending on others
  • Most activities in the game can be completed as a solo player and require less planning to do so
  • You can powerlevel your character without having to wait for your friends or have them wait on you
  • You will gain an increased amount of loot during leveling
  • Collaborating with players can speed up the process of clearing maps with an optimized party
  • You can do rotations with strangers or friends in a group, reducing the cost for maps and other materials
  • During the campaign you can spread out in different zones for side objectives and exponentially speed up the leveling process
  • You gain an XP bonus for being in a party, based on the amount of players in the group
Disadvantages
  • You don’t benefit from the XP bonus granted by being in a party
  • High-tier maps may be tougher at the start of the league for solo players
  • You may have to wait on others and your progress could be slower due to downtime
  • You don’t have the freedom to do anything you would like anytime
  • Your group level may affect your progress if they are severely under-leveled compared to you

Class Power Leveling

Each class in Path of Exile has its own starting location on the passive skill tree and access to different skill gems early in the campaign, so the leveling process for each class and respective ascendancy will differ.

Best leveling class in PoE 2

The class balance in PoE 2 is outstanding, so choosing between the available classes to have the fastest leveling speed isn’t a hard choice since every class is viable. Some may be weaker during the campaign, but they get stronger as you get closer to the endgame, speeding up the sluggish last few levels, while other classes, like the Ranger, are consistent through the entire leveling process.

Ascendancy Point Unlocks

Ascendancy Points are a powerful feature that you will encounter during the campaign acts in Path of Exile and possibly even in the endgame. In this part, we will discuss the specifics of ascendancies and ascendancy points.

What are ascendancy points?

Ascendancy Points are a powerful feature in Path of Exile 2, which allows you to spec in passives from your chosen ascendancy’s skill tree. These passives usually grant powerful and build-defining effects, which drastically increase the power level of your character.

How to get ascendancy points?

In Path of Exile 1 you could get ascendancy points by completing the Labyrinth. The devs have mentioned that they will change this feature, but it has yet to be confirmed what the new ascendancy-related activity will be. We expect to have side quests similar to the ones for extra passive points in the first game revolving around ascendancies and gaining additional ascendancy points.

How many ascendancy points can you get?

We have yet to receive any information on the number of ascendancy points you can acquire in PoE 2, but by seeing the ascendancy skill trees of a few classes, we can safely assume you will have a maximum of 8, just like in PoE 1.

Ascendancies in PoE 2

Ascendancies in PoE 2 are class specializations that give your character bonuses towards a specific playstyle. These usually have unique passives that you can only encounter on these skill trees, which are extremely powerful and can have entire builds revolve around the concept. Each class will have access to three different ascendancies, each promoting a different playstyle, allowing every class to have a wide variety of builds.

What can you do at/after level 100 in PoE 2?

PoE 2 is a very complex game with many activities in the endgame, so even after reaching level 100 there are many activities you can engage with. In this section, we will briefly cover the most popular post-leveling activities.

Path of Exile 2 Uber Bosses

One of the toughest parts of the game are Uber Bosses. In Path of Exile, Ubers are very tanky variants of normal bosses that deal massive amounts of damage. Usually, players prefer over-gearing for the fights, making them reasonably trivial.

However, if you would like a challenge, you can always attempt to defeat an Uber Boss by dodging their attacks and moving in to attack during downtime for the boss.

Min-maxing your build

Another essential part of the game is min-maxing your build. In Path of Exile, players create almost perfect items that can be duplicated using a Mirror of Kalandra paired with build-defining uniques to create extremely powerful characters.

We expect the powerful item to return in the second game, so if you aim for perfect gear for your character, you can be looking at thousands of hours of grinding ahead of you since multiple Mirrors are required to achieve this.

Endgame maps

In the first game, we recently received T17 maps, which are way more rewarding than a Tier 16 map but also way harder to complete. They have unique modifiers that negatively affect the player in multiple ways, with some even deleting your character if you die inside the map.

Path of Exile 2 Leveling - Frequently Asked Questions

How do you level up in Path of Exile 2?

The main activities to level up in PoE 2 are completing the six-act campaign to access the endgame, after which you can start farming maps, which are the main content of the game.

How long is the PoE 2 Campaign?

The PoE 2 campaign is six chapters long and can take up to 10-12 hours to complete. Experienced players who know the zone layouts and how to optimize their character through the campaign can except to finish it in 4 to 6 hours in a league start scenario.

Does Path of Exile 2 difficulty scale with level?

Path of Exile 2’s difficulty does not scale with your character’s level. Mobs scale based on the area level, completely independent from the player.

On what map tiers should I level in PoE 2?

It is best to level on T16 maps, as they offer a great balance between difficulty and high-level mobs. Thus, players will suffer minimal XP penalties no matter what level they are.

How many levels are in PoE 2?

There is a total of 100 levels in Path of Exile 2.

What is the maximum character level in Path of Exile 2?

The maximum character level in PoE 2 is level 100.

What is the max Ascendancy Points you can obtain in PoE 2?

We don’t have exact information on how many Ascendancy Points players can obtain in PoE 2, but we can expect players to unlock 2 Ascendancy points for each ascendancy objective they complete, just like in PoE 1, up to 8.

How to get to max level in Path of Exile 2?

The best way to get to the maximum level in PoE 2 is by completing the campaign and farming T16 maps with high mob density mechanics as much as possible.

How long does it take to level 100 in Path of Exile 2?

We do not know for sure how long it takes to reach level 100 in PoE 2 yet, but we can make a rough guess of around 150 to 200 hours, similar to the first game.

What does Path of Exile 2 power leveling mean?

PoE 2 powerleveling is the process of reaching the maximum level as fast as possible, skipping all side quests that do not offer any power to the player, and using the best strategies to gain the most experience possible at all times.

How to power level in Path of Exile 2?

To power level in Path of Exile 2 you must farm the most efficient XP-rewarding maps and league mechanics, making the leveling process as fast as possible. You can also use the help of a friend to carry you through very juiced maps or use in-game currency to buy 5way runs from other players. Purchasing a powerleveling service that gets a professional PoE player to level up your account is also a great idea to take into consideration.

Final Thoughts

We designed our PoE 2 Leveling Guide to help you make the best decisions in the game's early stages to reach the endgame as fast as possible. Our fast leveling tips & tricks will help you progress quickly through the early levels and help you build a powerful character.

Keep an eye out on our PoE 2 leveling guide, as we constantly update it with new strategies whenever new content or mechanics are released.

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