GD has much content already and lvl 100 can be reached by multiple ways. So, what difficulties you prefer to skip (if any)? At what level you usually switch to the next difficulty? Do you finish all quests before switching?
I like main campain, so I usually start on Normal and switch to the Ultimate at level ~60. It’s enough to equip low level legendaries and we can start using good faction gear at level 65. I’m not switching until I’ll finish all DLC and all quests. Sadly Ultimate to challeging to start from low level character, esp if it’s a melee build.
Normal (I start on Elite)
Elite (I switch from Normal to Ultimate)
Normal + Elite (I start on Ultimate)
I play all 3 difficulties
Elite + Ultimate (Normal is difficult enough to me)
Ultimate (I’m not interested in end game content or Ultimate is too difficult to me)
End game only player (I make new chars from GDStash or use another template method)
I play Normal with exp potion and Lokarrs set. I do all dlc/quests/one shot chests and shrines except for those in rogue like dungeons. That brings me up to around level 80, skip Elite and go into Ultimate.
I’ve been starting directly in ultimate since the option has been made available, leveling with Lokarr set and xp potions.
I wish there was more devotion shrines in ultimate acts I & II as well as more source of pierce res in low and mid level gear, but it’s still very doable (no melee leveling thought, always using ranged skills and / or weapons and respec later if needed).
I level characters through all difficulties. I level until 65 on normal, rush through elite doing quests/main path kills only and then do Ultimate. I don’t use merits, although I may try starting on Ultimate as a challenge.
But what I like is relaxed leveling and not chasing speed records or even to be 100% effective. Hate dying though, even if build is soft core.
Still most of my time I play end game builds and usually tweak them with GD Stash.
For me, this varies.
Some times I get a character to around 25-30 and jump to ultimate. other times I play through to normal to unlock elite, then play most of elite before moving to ultimate. A few times I will jump to elite right away, and after this poll, I think I will do that more often for future characters.
I find I spend more time leveling characters and trying different build possibilities, than I do playing end game.
Get the 15 or so lore notes in normal, use them with exp potion + Lokarr’s set on, go to crucible for 5 devotion points, then back to normal for 20 or so devotions, then start on elite.
Nowadays, I use merit on all new characters, but still play the main campaign on all difficulties till I acquire 2 reset potions. On ultimate I do expansions and explore every nook and cranny. Usually I end up Normal at lvl 50 and eltie at 75.
P.S. I start with Crucible, then get lvl 28-30 on Ultimate before starting Normal.
