I feel that the “starting on ultimate” is more of a challenge mode rather than some more “speedy/efficient” way of leveling. By unlocking the AoM factions when you are like level 95 or so will definitely hinder you a lot if you want/need their augments and faction items.
Indeed. That reminds me of DAIL/Grimarillion Ultra dense mod, if you tried it naked level 1. The first cave under Burial Hill was like 10 minutes of intense fight!
Note: There’s a new shrine in the first area of the hidden path now. I suppose there’s a new one in each section ? I didn’t check yet.
And, I don’t know if this a consequence of the merit or not, but now every shrine is also in Ultimate/Elite. In that case, starting with Cruci for a few devo points can be skipped easily.
Edit: I found another Shrine in the east part of Blood Grove, the aetherial part. How many new ones are there ? I didn’t see any patch note on this ?
Okay, so I’ve poured through the last 3 pages of comments now, and my understanding thus far is this:
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Levelling in ultimate is inefficient, but worth experiencing for those who are in it for shits-'n-gigs.
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The fastest way to level up is actually to jump between the difficulties/crucible. i.e.
- Cruci run for ez levels + devotions
- Start ultimate to take on some of those beginning missions for ez levels/shrines
- “Return” back to normal/elite to farm both exp, and faction rep
- Doing an early SR run for that shrine is useful too.
Am I missing anything?
I think so far we found some good stuff for level 1-30
I hope i find some time this weekend to figure stuff out for
30 - 50
After 50 you can equipt legs and boost those res.
I plan on returning to ult around this point or doe the new act in elite.
In all seriousness, this guide will get too complicated if we start breaking down ideal levelling strats for each segment of the game (e.g. levels 1 - 50, levels 50 - 70, etc. etc.)
I also honestly feel that people struggle the most with getting from 70 - 94. (Or am I wrong here?)
Perhaps more of an emphasis should be paid to on this front?
It is a great guide for sure and it does give you a good “to-go” strategy.
The reason 70-94 can be tough is due to the gear mostly. It’s in between these levels people get to late elite/early ultimate, where resistances might start to become a real issue. Usually when leveling, especially as a new player, you won’t have the resources to fix these things without making sacrifices.
Maybe just make clear that you have to make decisions in the later stages of leveling that might impact the speed?
If my experience is anything to go by, it seems like it’s easy to get disheartened upon hitting that 70-94 rut.
You’re clinging on to your level 50 purples but deep down you KNOW you’ve outlevelled them.
Your resistance is absolute shit.
What you would have thought to be a leisurely stroll through the ugdenbog ends up giving you HIV, Hep C, Ebola, etc. from all the acid pools.
And you may have ignored solid green gear which could actually help tide you over this ‘no-man’s land’ because you’re so fixated on blues/purps.
I remember feeling incredibly frustrated.
My personal strategy was to go to the GD-database and look up resists/damage types of monsters in SoT, and I basically just ran that about twice a day until my first legit character hit 94.
I equipped gear which gave racial bonus damage to the undead (e.g. sanctified bone, cleric’s prefix, etc), and stacked resists aimed specifically at countering these guys.
I’m however not sure if that’s the ‘best’ way to go about it, nor am I certain it’d be fun.
I certainly hated it. I just hated the lack of progress I felt more.
Maybe if Crate made the purple colour on the legendaries fade out more and more for each level you out-level them until they turn grey? X)
Jokes aside, focusing on capping resistances is what I’ve always heard you should do. Get resistance reduction as well. One thing that might help is to pick devotions that aren’t dependant on weapon damage when leveling. That way they stay relevant longer.
Is that true? I find that devotions with %WD scale with levels, because your WD increases as you pick better weapons.
I also think you should cater your resistances to the enemy type you’re fighting most frequently. This changes as you progress from one point of the game to another.
This is where consumables come in.
It’s been awhile since I’ve levelled any legit character though, so I hesitate on giving advice on this front as it may be obsolete. Hence the need for the community to constantly vet the gibberish I’m espousing.
I challenge you on a legit leveling duel! You filthy elitist :rolleyes: <3
Sure.
calls adoomgod: ‘will trade dignity and self-respect to get power-levelled in SR.’
EDIT: P.S. What do you make of my suggestion mala? On focusing more on 70-94?
If you level full from normal to ultimate 1-100 the worst scaling is usually,when switch difficulties and when going in act 6.Level 70 can be difficult so my advise is to reach revered status with most factions before starting Ultimate.Armor resists will help you cover weak spots and chance to use 3x survivor’s ingenuity will push your oa/da,so bosses will not crit you and you can have some chance to do that.
Thanks for this thread, I have found more than a few tips to make my leveling more efficient. My thoughts are below.
For a brand-new character:
When I make a new toon and want to start off, I create a main campaign game, to get the bag of salt (amulet slot item) needed if you want to open up Lokar later in the game. You do not need to do this, but I find it easier than creating a character later just for the salt, then deleting that toon. Immediately leave the game and start up a cruci game.
At this point, if you have any XP items, put them on. Do NOT use a potion yet. Start up the game and walk into the green light and die. You will hit level 2, which allows you to choose a mastery, and the next round will go much faster than using “basic attack” for 10 waves.
Start up the cruci again, (use a potion if you want to boost more) and complete 1 round (10 waves), and collect your reward. Each round will earn you 1 devotion point (when you turn in). Rinse and Repeat doing 1 round (again, stop after 10 waves) for the devotion point 4 more times. At this point, you will have 5 devotion points earned, and if you are using Lokar +potion, you will be between level 16-18.
As far as leveling constellations, I always take Sailor’s Guide (8% movement speed) followed by Eel (6% movement speed.
For the level 70-94 range:
At this point (which is usually Elite/Ultimate), I focus on quest turn ins. I find that quest reward experience is far greater than killing mobs for experience gained at this point. In addition, I focus of “Star” quests first, and only run side quests if there have good density.
Example of side quest density: You are making your way to Homestead, you just came out of Mountain Deeps. Instead of running up to Homestead first, go blow up the obstacle keeping you out of Pine Barrens. (drop a TP here), and run down to open up the Pine Barrens rift, using it to go back to your TP. Now, run up to Homestead and open that rift, using it to take you back to Pine Barrens. Now, at Pine Barrens, pick up both quests, and run to start killing manticores. Complete those quests, and continue on, searching for the cave not marked to kill the Briarthorn elite, drop down to the other cave, kill the spider elite, run to clear Tyrants hold and kill the final boss. Then, port back to Pine barrens and you have 5 quests to turn in for 15 minutes of work. In addition, you have killed a lot of mobs to get a little bonus XP along the way.
This may be obvious to most folks but piggy backing off that Pine Barrens thing, I always pop a potion before I turn all those in. Massive exp for turning all those in at once. Then you can hop over to Homestead, turn in the Ulgrim and missing daughter guy quest and grabbing the clear insect quest and getting that cannon/supplies whatever. Go do them and then just keep going throughout the whole area all the way up to Analgamation. If you hit up the smaller side quests in the zone that’s a bonus. You can do all that easily with that exp potion still ticking so when you turn in that entire section of quest rewards it’s another massive exp boost.
edit:
My post has nothing to do with getting loot, I just wanted to piggy back off of what was posted =\
All suggestions are welcome, and appreciated. Will add these in to OP over the weekend. Thanks guys!
Could those who have leveled an oathkeeper maybe give some input on which spells seem to be strong and effective for leveling and which to avoid and how OK compares to other classes for efficient leveling?
currently leveling an oppressor and my skellies tend to get shredded in ugdenbog and i am getting tired of being squishy so i am thinking about what i should switch to for leveling: OK, melee necro or vit caster necro
Crap, forgot to edit this.
As for the OK request - I’d like to second it too. Will someone who plays legit help us out on this front? I’m looking at you Malawiglenn, you bourgoise snobbish prick. 
I have OK leveling in my Fire Paladin guide http://www.grimdawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82762
I think binding Flame Torrent to maxed Guardians + Vire’s might is a very good way of leveling.
Not bad for a salty elitist
oof that was quick, thanks for the suggestion!
avoid: Righteous fervor (low AoE) and Eye of Reckoning (Energy drainer)