YAY! POWERLEVELING!
Yes! You too can go from a naked, useless, level 1 character to a naked, useless, level 70 character in just under a day! Okay, so it won't be as easy as it was before Charmer's Caldera was king, but it's still viable and better than questing. This article will catalog many of the different tricks you can use to speed you along at various gradients.
Rift Virgin? Don't do it!
If this is your first character in Rift please take the time to actually experience the content. You'll miss so many things that have been created in the past five years if you go to max level on day one. Take your time. Enjoy the content. Go through all the zones. Do all the things! Then once you finally hit 65 and have a more well rounded idea of what Rift is all about come back to this article and prepare for ludicrous speed!
Buff Stacking
There are three main things you can have or use to increase the amount of experience you gain. Much of this can be used with any form of leveling, including just experiencing the content. It will be important to stack these if you can:
Rested Experience - You gain +40% experience from killing monsters if you are rested. (You have to be Patron to get rested experience.) You only get a certain amount to accumulate while you're offline and you'll go through it fast. There are several craftable items you can use to extend this period but should really not need anything longer than 5 minutes per run if you're following the guide. Use what materials you have available:
Self Only:From Wood:From Cloth:Patron Bonus - You get +40% experience bonus for being a patron.
Experience Potions - You should get 2 Transcendent Experience potions (+160% experience for 2 hours) in your Ascended troves. One at low level and another at 60. Save them until you're higher level. You will want them for between 60-70.
2 piece set bonus - For wearing gear with the "Experience Boost" 2-piece bonus you will gain an additional 10% experience. These bonuses will be on Shoulders, Helmet and Chest. It is recommended you make a level 1 mage alt specifically for opening lockboxes (not the troves). This way you can use the set bonuses you pick up on all of your characters.
Unless I'm missing something (which is highly possible) the maximum experience gain you can gain from all kills is +250%. For most of you, 240% will be the reasonable mark to shoot for as the 2-piece set bonus isn't the easiest thing to acquire.
Rested Experience - You gain +40% experience from killing monsters if you are rested. (You have to be Patron to get rested experience.) You only get a certain amount to accumulate while you're offline and you'll go through it fast. There are several craftable items you can use to extend this period but should really not need anything longer than 5 minutes per run if you're following the guide. Use what materials you have available:
Self Only:From Wood:From Cloth:Patron Bonus - You get +40% experience bonus for being a patron.
Experience Potions - You should get 2 Transcendent Experience potions (+160% experience for 2 hours) in your Ascended troves. One at low level and another at 60. Save them until you're higher level. You will want them for between 60-70.
2 piece set bonus - For wearing gear with the "Experience Boost" 2-piece bonus you will gain an additional 10% experience. These bonuses will be on Shoulders, Helmet and Chest. It is recommended you make a level 1 mage alt specifically for opening lockboxes (not the troves). This way you can use the set bonuses you pick up on all of your characters.
Unless I'm missing something (which is highly possible) the maximum experience gain you can gain from all kills is +250%. For most of you, 240% will be the reasonable mark to shoot for as the 2-piece set bonus isn't the easiest thing to acquire.
How to get to Sesame Street
Much of the leveling involved will depend on the freebies you have available to you. There are potions you can buy, giveaways to be had, etc. Here is the "how to":
1-65 (1 minute) - Either Starfall Prophecy package comes with an instant 65 boost. It's not in store and only works on one character (NA and EU, so you technically get two). Believe me, we've already asked the devs if they can make it purchasable.
1-60 (1 minute) - Buy an instant 60 boost from the rift store or from a package. Many of the packs Rift sells will have one included. Keep an eye out for them.
1-40 (1 minute) - MMORPG was running a promotion for a free level 40 and a bunch of "stuffs". This site and a few others periodically run these events.
1-18 (5-10 minutes) - Have a friend with one of the friend summons summon you to Hailol in Dendrome and do the two Atrophinius quests, Hooray for Hailol and The Ultimate Showdown of Destiny (Easter Egg Reference). Remember to Sidekick up or you won't be able to take the summon. Don't have a friend with a summon? Have them run to a nearby rift they can summon from and run back into Hailol. These two non-combat quests will give you over 200,000XP, boosting you to around level 18 or more depending on XP buffs.
18-43 (Unknown) - Running IA's, preferably Mind of Madness, is generally the fastest way to level here. If you have no friends or don't like other people this will probably be your fastest route to 65. If you're going to just level through IA's then wait until about level 60 to drop your first Transcendent pot. You'll still probably be short, but you'll get further.
18-43 (Unknown) - Other instance powerleveling. Other instances are being looked into for maximum XP at these ranges. The closer you are to the level of an instance the more XP you generally get. An ideal path is yet to be mapped.
18-43 (Unknown) - Also being tested is mentoring up to certain levels in certain zones for maximum XP. The Dendrome bugs may be viable again.
43-48(50) (Unknown) - Have someone run you through Charmer's Caldera repeatedly. More on this in the next section.
48-60 (Unknown) - Keep running Charmer's Caldera. If you have extra pots from reputation go ahead and pop one of those here.
60-65+ (Unknown) - At level 60 you get another Transcendent potion. Move to Gyel Fortress normal. You won't be able to enter until you're 60 but the XP is better than Charmer's Caldera. If you've saved both of your transcendent potions or have extras, now is the time to use them.
1-65 (1 minute) - Either Starfall Prophecy package comes with an instant 65 boost. It's not in store and only works on one character (NA and EU, so you technically get two). Believe me, we've already asked the devs if they can make it purchasable.
1-60 (1 minute) - Buy an instant 60 boost from the rift store or from a package. Many of the packs Rift sells will have one included. Keep an eye out for them.
1-40 (1 minute) - MMORPG was running a promotion for a free level 40 and a bunch of "stuffs". This site and a few others periodically run these events.
1-18 (5-10 minutes) - Have a friend with one of the friend summons summon you to Hailol in Dendrome and do the two Atrophinius quests, Hooray for Hailol and The Ultimate Showdown of Destiny (Easter Egg Reference). Remember to Sidekick up or you won't be able to take the summon. Don't have a friend with a summon? Have them run to a nearby rift they can summon from and run back into Hailol. These two non-combat quests will give you over 200,000XP, boosting you to around level 18 or more depending on XP buffs.
18-43 (Unknown) - Running IA's, preferably Mind of Madness, is generally the fastest way to level here. If you have no friends or don't like other people this will probably be your fastest route to 65. If you're going to just level through IA's then wait until about level 60 to drop your first Transcendent pot. You'll still probably be short, but you'll get further.
18-43 (Unknown) - Other instance powerleveling. Other instances are being looked into for maximum XP at these ranges. The closer you are to the level of an instance the more XP you generally get. An ideal path is yet to be mapped.
18-43 (Unknown) - Also being tested is mentoring up to certain levels in certain zones for maximum XP. The Dendrome bugs may be viable again.
43-48(50) (Unknown) - Have someone run you through Charmer's Caldera repeatedly. More on this in the next section.
48-60 (Unknown) - Keep running Charmer's Caldera. If you have extra pots from reputation go ahead and pop one of those here.
60-65+ (Unknown) - At level 60 you get another Transcendent potion. Move to Gyel Fortress normal. You won't be able to enter until you're 60 but the XP is better than Charmer's Caldera. If you've saved both of your transcendent potions or have extras, now is the time to use them.
Charmer's Caldera WAS best Caldera (Up to 60)
After running Charmer's Caldera, Abyssal Precipice, Golem Foundary and Unhallowed Boneforge multiple times it appears that while both Golem Foundary and Unhallowed Boneforge yields higher experience per kill the sheer number of mobs in Charmer's Caldera surpasses all others in leveling speed at the present time. If you need a change in scenery, because my god, Charmer's Caldera will make your eyes bleed after a while, any of the other four are still pretty good. You'll also collect a bunch of wardrobe skins if you switch it up.
Levelee - From 43 to 49 stay at the level you are. When you turn 50 mentor down to the default 45, then continuing mentoring up one level at a time until you're level 54 (and mentored level 49). At 54 mentor down to 49 and stick to it until you're 65. 49 is the ideal mentored level for the rest of your fiery retina burning experience in Charmer's Caldera. Remember to have all your buffs ready to go, particularly the rested experience buffs. Stay near the rested experience buff so you don't lose it unless you're going to do a few wardrobe runs. You should primarily focus on staying near the fire or hut. (Note, with the changes to XP it may be better to be at 50 instead of 49. Adjust according to what gives you better XP.)
Leveler - You're going to want to use whatever spec you have that has a non-directional AoE cast. It really doesn't matter how much damage it does because at this low level you'll grab everything fast and be able to keep moving because you'll be able to hit mobs that are chasing you. You won't have to stop very often. This is your maximum speed kill move for lower mobs en masse. Each run should take you about five minutes.
More than one levelee - Yes, you will lose about 10-20% of your experience by leveling with a group of others. If you have a good leveler you'll still be able to make the times listed above. Just remember that it works faster with fewer people. It also works faster the closer everyone is to 49. There's some math involved but 49 is the sweet spot.
I have no friends and hate everybody - At about 56 you can mentor down to 50 and solo the normal version of Charmer's Caldera. Yes, this may take you longer than getting powerleveled, but clearing it once will give you an equitable amount of XP. This is much faster than spamming Intrepid IAs, but not quite as fast as being powerleveled.
Levelee - From 43 to 49 stay at the level you are. When you turn 50 mentor down to the default 45, then continuing mentoring up one level at a time until you're level 54 (and mentored level 49). At 54 mentor down to 49 and stick to it until you're 65. 49 is the ideal mentored level for the rest of your fiery retina burning experience in Charmer's Caldera. Remember to have all your buffs ready to go, particularly the rested experience buffs. Stay near the rested experience buff so you don't lose it unless you're going to do a few wardrobe runs. You should primarily focus on staying near the fire or hut. (Note, with the changes to XP it may be better to be at 50 instead of 49. Adjust according to what gives you better XP.)
Leveler - You're going to want to use whatever spec you have that has a non-directional AoE cast. It really doesn't matter how much damage it does because at this low level you'll grab everything fast and be able to keep moving because you'll be able to hit mobs that are chasing you. You won't have to stop very often. This is your maximum speed kill move for lower mobs en masse. Each run should take you about five minutes.
More than one levelee - Yes, you will lose about 10-20% of your experience by leveling with a group of others. If you have a good leveler you'll still be able to make the times listed above. Just remember that it works faster with fewer people. It also works faster the closer everyone is to 49. There's some math involved but 49 is the sweet spot.
I have no friends and hate everybody - At about 56 you can mentor down to 50 and solo the normal version of Charmer's Caldera. Yes, this may take you longer than getting powerleveled, but clearing it once will give you an equitable amount of XP. This is much faster than spamming Intrepid IAs, but not quite as fast as being powerleveled.
Gyel Fortress...what kind of a word is Gyel? (60-70)
Once you ding 60 you have two decent powerleveling options: Nightmare Coast and Gyel Fortress. After several runs of different types Gyel Fortress is definitely the better option. If you have a good powerleveler running just the first section of trash mobs repeatedly you'll be getting about 1.25 million XP per minute WITH NO PATRON OR POTS (Thanks for being my victim on this Ajamu@greybriar and Xaii@greybriar). Each run is about 3 minutes long and you never go up the ramp. Just run out once all the trash you would normally skip is dead.
NOTE: You WILL get stuck having to run a full Gyel eventually. Don't despair. This gives about 1 million XP per minute if you run it all the way. The big difference is your levelee will have to run with you and probably die a couple times.
Levelee: Mentor down to 63 or stay as close to 63 as you can get away with. This appears to be the optimal level. Stay there. If you're doing the front end thing pitch a tent or build a campfire and hang out at the entrance.
Leveler: Unlike Charmer's Caldera where you can just mow mobs down by looking at them the mobs in Gyel Fortress are a big beefier. Use your best cleave DPS spec and expect to stand still for a few seconds here and there while the mobs die. They will also eat your face, so remember to put Vampiric Essence on your weapon(s). If you're not capped on your Planar Attunement be sure you go at least halfway through your Death trees to pick it up. It's invaluable.
More than one Levelee - Yes, this is going to be the same as Charmer's Caldera. You'll lose XP but it won't be horrible. Figure about 10-20% depending on how many people you're running.
Level 60-65: Once you're 65 and mobs are just melting your face on the comet go ahead and pick up a couple more levels. DO NOT grind your way all the way through to 70 doing this. All you'll be doing is wasting time, as you'll skip the chain quests you'll have to go back and do anyway. At maximum, we would suggest getting to 67 (maybe 68) before starting content and not using pots afterwards. The four storylines should be able to get you to 70.
Maths: Figure out your math so you know how long it's going to take. Each level above 65 requires more XP from the last. Be prepared for that. Remember roughly about 1 million XP per minute as a baseline and calculate your bonuses afterwards:
65-66: 109 Million XP
66-67: 127 Million XP
67-68: 189 Million XP
68-69: 231 Million XP
69-70: 347 Million XP
NOTE: If you somehow get completely locked out of Gyel, Nightmare Coast gives about 0.8 million XP per minute, so all is not lost.
NOTE: You WILL get stuck having to run a full Gyel eventually. Don't despair. This gives about 1 million XP per minute if you run it all the way. The big difference is your levelee will have to run with you and probably die a couple times.
Levelee: Mentor down to 63 or stay as close to 63 as you can get away with. This appears to be the optimal level. Stay there. If you're doing the front end thing pitch a tent or build a campfire and hang out at the entrance.
Leveler: Unlike Charmer's Caldera where you can just mow mobs down by looking at them the mobs in Gyel Fortress are a big beefier. Use your best cleave DPS spec and expect to stand still for a few seconds here and there while the mobs die. They will also eat your face, so remember to put Vampiric Essence on your weapon(s). If you're not capped on your Planar Attunement be sure you go at least halfway through your Death trees to pick it up. It's invaluable.
More than one Levelee - Yes, this is going to be the same as Charmer's Caldera. You'll lose XP but it won't be horrible. Figure about 10-20% depending on how many people you're running.
Level 60-65: Once you're 65 and mobs are just melting your face on the comet go ahead and pick up a couple more levels. DO NOT grind your way all the way through to 70 doing this. All you'll be doing is wasting time, as you'll skip the chain quests you'll have to go back and do anyway. At maximum, we would suggest getting to 67 (maybe 68) before starting content and not using pots afterwards. The four storylines should be able to get you to 70.
Maths: Figure out your math so you know how long it's going to take. Each level above 65 requires more XP from the last. Be prepared for that. Remember roughly about 1 million XP per minute as a baseline and calculate your bonuses afterwards:
65-66: 109 Million XP
66-67: 127 Million XP
67-68: 189 Million XP
68-69: 231 Million XP
69-70: 347 Million XP
NOTE: If you somehow get completely locked out of Gyel, Nightmare Coast gives about 0.8 million XP per minute, so all is not lost.
Fall In To The Gap
So, you figured you bought into this "Buy To Play" option for Starfall Prophecy and there would be enough content for you to get from 65-70 without having to spend even more money on patron or experience potions. Well, guess what? You're wrong and you're stuck between 68 1/2 and 69. Trion didn't make enough content to get you there yet. It's unfortunate, but it's true. Now you're stuck with no content and no drive to finish it up. We understand your frustration. However, there are a few things you can do to jump the gap:
Gyel again: Yes, finish up what you're missing by running gyel. Calculate your time like above. This is probably the fastest method.
Daily quests: There are several daily quests you can do in the new content to push you closer to 70. Here's a list:
Allitu:
Daily Carnage: __ (varies daily, Elites in Tenebrean Schism) 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Allitu, Lana, Demon Hunter)
Fragging the Fragments: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Allitu, Maximus, Planar Defense Force)
Scatherran Forest:
The Tale of Mael Salach - 3042900 EXP +1217160 Patron (Feilbocan)
Pure Hearted: 1037850 EXP +415150 Patron (Feilbocan)
Rifts of Scatherran Forest: 2282400 EXP +1128960 Patron (Feilbocan)
Onslaught: Blackthorn Court: 2282400 EXP +1128960 Patron (Feilbocan)
Gedlo Badlands:
The Tale of Scarlet Night: 3042900 EXP +1217160 Patron (Saint Taranis)
Ballistic Arc: 2895900 EXP +1158360 Patron (Saint Taranis)
Rifts of Gedlo Badlands: 2895900 EXP +1158360 Patron (Saint Taranis)
Onslaught: Gedlonia: 2895900 EXP +1158360 Patron (Saint Taranis)
Xarth Mire:
A Tale of Twilight of the Tuath'de: 3042900 EXP +1217160 Patron (Camp Quagmire)
Tuatha'Don't Even Try It: 2969400 EXP +1187760 Patron (Camp Quagmire)
Rifts of Xarth Mire: 2969400 EXP +1187760 Patron (Bailghol)
Onslaught: The Marsh Gate: 2969400 EXP +1187760 Patron (Bailghol)
Ashenfall:
A Tale of The Devil Who Would Be King: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Theodor's Spear)
For What Curious Purpose: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Theodor's Spear)
Rifts of Ashenfall: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Theodor's Spear)
Onslaught: Valley of the Condemned: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Theodor's Spear)
Crafting dailies also provide some excellent XP on the same lines or greater depending on where your crafting is. You're going to be grinding out rep once you hit 70 anyway. You may as well start early.
NOTE: Expect to have enough content to finish leveling to 70 from 65 once the last of the five zones is released. Expected release date is unknown.
Gyel again: Yes, finish up what you're missing by running gyel. Calculate your time like above. This is probably the fastest method.
Daily quests: There are several daily quests you can do in the new content to push you closer to 70. Here's a list:
Allitu:
Daily Carnage: __ (varies daily, Elites in Tenebrean Schism) 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Allitu, Lana, Demon Hunter)
Fragging the Fragments: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Allitu, Maximus, Planar Defense Force)
Scatherran Forest:
The Tale of Mael Salach - 3042900 EXP +1217160 Patron (Feilbocan)
Pure Hearted: 1037850 EXP +415150 Patron (Feilbocan)
Rifts of Scatherran Forest: 2282400 EXP +1128960 Patron (Feilbocan)
Onslaught: Blackthorn Court: 2282400 EXP +1128960 Patron (Feilbocan)
Gedlo Badlands:
The Tale of Scarlet Night: 3042900 EXP +1217160 Patron (Saint Taranis)
Ballistic Arc: 2895900 EXP +1158360 Patron (Saint Taranis)
Rifts of Gedlo Badlands: 2895900 EXP +1158360 Patron (Saint Taranis)
Onslaught: Gedlonia: 2895900 EXP +1158360 Patron (Saint Taranis)
Xarth Mire:
A Tale of Twilight of the Tuath'de: 3042900 EXP +1217160 Patron (Camp Quagmire)
Tuatha'Don't Even Try It: 2969400 EXP +1187760 Patron (Camp Quagmire)
Rifts of Xarth Mire: 2969400 EXP +1187760 Patron (Bailghol)
Onslaught: The Marsh Gate: 2969400 EXP +1187760 Patron (Bailghol)
Ashenfall:
A Tale of The Devil Who Would Be King: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Theodor's Spear)
For What Curious Purpose: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Theodor's Spear)
Rifts of Ashenfall: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Theodor's Spear)
Onslaught: Valley of the Condemned: 3116400 EXP +1246560 Patron (Theodor's Spear)
Crafting dailies also provide some excellent XP on the same lines or greater depending on where your crafting is. You're going to be grinding out rep once you hit 70 anyway. You may as well start early.
NOTE: Expect to have enough content to finish leveling to 70 from 65 once the last of the five zones is released. Expected release date is unknown.
Nobody likes me and I smell funny...
"But I don't have any internet friends!"
Yeah, you probably do. You probably have other internet friends that don't think they have internet friends and have alts they'd like to get leveled up. Get yourself a battle buddy and switch off power leveling sessions. You go for an hour. They go for an hour. You'll get there.
Some guilds, in a need for fresh 65's, don't have much of a problem pushing people through content they've already been through so they can start throwing the epics nobody wants at them. You can get someone T2 ready in a rather limited time with just a bit of effort. Trion has done a fairly good job at shortening the gear gap for those looking to jump.
And if you just feel guilty about having someone power level you there are still other folks that sell these services. Raiders need lots of plat, and this is one of the ways they can make some.
Happy leveling!
Special thanks to Nephyla, Dorotea, Ajamu, Xaii, Sournis and everybody else who gave up their lowbie status and transcendent pots for the purpose of powerlevel testing.
Yeah, you probably do. You probably have other internet friends that don't think they have internet friends and have alts they'd like to get leveled up. Get yourself a battle buddy and switch off power leveling sessions. You go for an hour. They go for an hour. You'll get there.
Some guilds, in a need for fresh 65's, don't have much of a problem pushing people through content they've already been through so they can start throwing the epics nobody wants at them. You can get someone T2 ready in a rather limited time with just a bit of effort. Trion has done a fairly good job at shortening the gear gap for those looking to jump.
And if you just feel guilty about having someone power level you there are still other folks that sell these services. Raiders need lots of plat, and this is one of the ways they can make some.
Happy leveling!
Special thanks to Nephyla, Dorotea, Ajamu, Xaii, Sournis and everybody else who gave up their lowbie status and transcendent pots for the purpose of powerlevel testing.