Ashes of Creation Leveling Guide 2026

Welcome to our Ashes of Creation leveling guide, built to help you level up faster and smarter. This guide focuses on adventuring level progression—how to gain XP efficiently, upgrade your class abilities, and hit key gear milestones. It's not about artisan systems or node mechanics. Here, we’re all in on character power: grinding, gearing, and getting stronger.

We’ll cover the fastest ways to level, where to grind as a solo player, how to manage your gear upgrades, and what kind of builds give you the best edge during early content. We’ll also touch on what changes to expect in Phase 3, including the raised level cap, new archetype systems, and stability improvements.

By the end of this guide, you'll have a clear plan for getting to max level fast—whether you're going in solo, joining a group, or just farming your way through the zones. Let's get started with the best ways to earn XP.

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Read our other Ashes of Creation guides:

• Gearing Guide
• Beginner's Guide
• Best PvE Builds
• Gear Sets Guide
• Best Classes Tier List

 

 

Fastest Ways to Level Up in Ashes of Creation

Ashes of Creation is not built for speed-leveling in the modern MMO sense. Progression is intentionally slow, deliberate, and grind-heavy. In the current early access state, the effective level cap is 25, and reaching it still requires a serious time investment. Early levels move quickly, especially through quests (of which there are just a handful), but progression slows a lot once you move past the first couple of dozen hours and get to the grind.

Leveling in Ashes leans heavily toward classic MMO design. There are no instant skips, no boosts that trivialize progression, and no way to avoid the learning curve entirely. That said, players have figured out the best ways to level up. There are clear, tested methods that significantly improve XP gain when combined correctly, especially once questing stops carrying you forward on its own.

The key is understanding that no single method does all the work. Ashes of Creation best leveling methods include doing several activities at the same time, minimizing downtime, and choosing the right approach for your level, class, and server conditions.

Fastest Leveling Methods in Ashes of Creation:

• PvE Grinding
• Completing Quests
• Group Content
• XP Boosts & Passive Progress
• Commission Board Quests

Each of these methods plays a different role in progression. Some form the backbone of leveling, while others act as multipliers that speed things up when used alongside grinding. Below, we’ll break down how each method works, when it’s worth using, and how to combine them for the most efficient path to level 25.

PvE Grinding

As far as Ashes of Creation fastest ways to level up go, grinding mobs is the most consistent way to earn XP at every stage of progression. When you stop finding new quests (which happens faster than you think), the only other viable alternative is start farming mobs.

The goal isn’t fighting the hardest enemies you can find. The goal is killing mobs you can handle comfortably, over and over, without dying, without long travel, and without sitting around waiting for respawns. That’s where real progress comes from.

 

Why it works:

1. You’re killing mobs in seconds, not minutes
2. Respawn timers let you loop camps without downtime
3. Glint drops scale naturally with XP, so gear upgrades come faster
4. AoE pulls and kiting massively increase XP if your class allows it
5. Grinding stacks perfectly with XP scrolls, food buffs, and commissions

Early on, solo grinding is completely viable if you pick the right mobs. Later, especially in contested or high-value zones, grouping starts to win simply because you can pull more and die less. Faster kills always beat risky solo hero plays.

Top Mob Types for XP Farming (Levels 3–25):

These mobs show up in almost every efficient leveling path for a reason. They’re predictable, they respawn fast, and they let you stay in combat instead of running back from death screens. Frogs, spiders, and shardlings in particular are popular because you can chain pulls without pushing your luck.

Elite mobs and higher-level enemies can be worth it later, especially in groups or PvP zones, but they’re not where most players should start. If you’re dying, resetting, or fighting over spawns, you’re slowing yourself down. Consistent kills beat risky pulls every time.

Completing Quests

Questing in Ashes of Creation currently functions as the game’s tutorial. There is no separate onboarding system, so these early quests are mandatory if you want to understand how the game works and unlock key systems. By simply following the starting questline, you’ll naturally reach around level 5 or 6, unlock your first mount, and get introduced to core mechanics like vendors, crafting stations, travel, and basic progression.

These quests are not designed to carry you through the full leveling process. Once the introductory chains are done, traditional questing largely stops being a meaningful source of experience. At that point, the game expects you to transition into mob grinding, grouping, and route-based progression.

After the tutorial phase, the only questing that remains relevant is commission board quests. These are repeatable, quick, and usually overlap with areas you are already grinding. They are not meant to replace grinding, but they add extra XP and glint on top of it with very little extra effort.

Efficiency Tips for Questing:

• Follow the starting quests until level 5–6 to unlock your mount and systems
• Do not repeat long or travel-heavy quests after the tutorial phase
• Pick up commission board quests before grinding in an area
• Turn in quests while repairing, banking glint, or resetting routes

Once the early quests run out, that’s normal. You’re not missing content or playing inefficiently. From that point forward, grinding becomes the main path, and quests simply support it instead of leading it.

Group Content

Grouping up is optional, but often worth it—especially when it comes to faster mob clears or safer elite encounters. You absolutely can level up fast in Ashes when playing in a group, but there are a few things to know. XP is shared within a party, but the game applies a group multiplier (around 1.3–1.4x total) to make it worthwhile even with a split.

So, grouping in the current state of the game is about grind efficiency, contest control, and survivability in high-value zones, not structured group PvE like dungeons.

Grouping in Ashes of Creation is not required, but once you move past the opening levels, it often becomes the faster and safer option. Most optimized leveling routes use small groups to increase pull size, reduce deaths, and control contested grind spots. This is especially true in elite-heavy zones, PvP-enabled areas, and high-level mob farms.

The game applies a group XP multiplier, so while experience is split, the overall gain remains competitive as long as the group is killing faster than a solo player would. In practice, this means groups win whenever they can maintain constant pulls without downtime.

Why Grouping Can Be Efficient:

Several of the fastest routes rely on grouping by default. Church farms, bear camps, Highwayman Hills, PvP island elites, goblin zones, shardling power farms, and high-level beach mobs are all significantly faster in a group. Even when solo is technically possible, grouping usually saves time by allowing bigger pulls and fewer mistakes. Group content in Ashes leveling is not about scheduled runs or instanced encounters. It’s about using other players to turn dangerous or contested grind spots into efficient XP farms. If you have access to LFG, friends, or guildmates, grouping is often the fastest path forward.

XP Boosts & Passive Progress

You can increase the XP gain in your Ashes of Creation Phase 3 leveling, by using scrolls, processing, and crafting. They will help you reach level 25 faster.

First of all - get some adventuring XP scrolls. These are not a luxury item or an endgame bonus. They are easy to craft early through alchemy and give a flat percentage increase to all adventuring XP for several hours. If you are grinding mobs without an XP scroll active, you are leveling slower than you need to be.

XP scrolls scale extremely well with grinding, commission quests, and processing. The more you stack, the more value they provide.

Processing is another system many players underestimate. Submitting processing orders gives adventuring XP when the job completes, and this XP adds up fast over time. The key is timing. Processing works best when done before logging out or stepping away, so you return to a chunk of free experience with no active play required. Even if the processed materials are not immediately useful, they can be sold to recover most of the cost.

How to get bonus XP:

1. Keep an adventuring XP scroll active during long grind sessions
2. Submit processing orders before logging out or going AFK
3. Pick up commission board quests before farming an area
4. Sell excess processed materials to offset fees
5. Use food buffs to increase damage and reduce kill time

This kind of XP adds up, especially if you’re taking a more immersive or hybrid playstyle. It's also great for players who prefer more passive progression while exploring the world.

Supplemental XP systems round out the leveling experience and give players more ways to feel rewarded while doing things beyond combat.

Commission Board Quests

To get even more XP, use Commission board quests whenever you farm mobs or gather resources. These quests are simple, repeatable, and easy to complete solo. Most ask you to kill common mobs, gather basic resources, or visit nearby locations. Because of that, they naturally overlap with grinding routes and gathering loops instead of pulling you away from them.

Commission quests turn normal grind sessions into double-dip XP. You gain experience from the kills themselves and then a large chunk of bonus XP when you turn the quests in. The glint rewards add up quickly as well, helping fund gear upgrades and consumables.

Why commission board quests are worth using:

• They overlap with mobs you are already grinding
• They reward solid XP for minimal extra effort
• They can be completed solo without coordination
• They scale well when stacked together
• They pair perfectly with XP scrolls

The best way to use commission quests is to grab several at once before heading out to grind. Complete them passively while farming, then turn them in when you return to town to repair, bank glint, or reset your route. Completing multiple commissions together can result in a noticeable XP spike, especially in the early and mid levels.

Commission boards exist in every settlement, and checking them should be part of your routine whenever you pass through town. If a commission sends you far off your grind path, skip it. The goal is efficiency, not completion.

Ashes of Creation Max Level

The current level cap during Alpha-2 Phase 3 is level 25, giving players access to more advanced abilities and progression options than in earlier phases. This is the main progression target players are working toward right now, and it represents the point where characters unlock deeper build options and the first meaningful layer of class customization. Hitting level 25 is also a major milestone for testing progression systems, gear scaling, and combat balance.

At launch, the confirmed max level will be 50. This final cap is where full class builds come into play and the majority of high-end content becomes accessible. Level 50 characters will be eligible for sieges, large-scale PvP, advanced dungeons, and the most challenging world bosses.

Level caps also determine what gear tiers and augments players can access, and they tie directly into the pacing of the game’s narrative and node development. While other progression systems (like artisan professions or religious affiliations) have their own limits and milestones, level 50 remains the primary benchmark for overall character power.

Best Solo Leveling Spots

If you're leveling solo, choosing the right grind spots can make a massive difference in how fast you progress. Below is a curated path of efficient zones based on mob density, XP value, safety, and accessibility for all archetypes. Each area has been tested and favored by players during Alpha-2 and remains relevant for the leveling climb.

Level 1–5: Starter Zone & First Mount

Start in Lion Hold by spawning at Samia's Hope and following the opening questline. These quests act as the game’s tutorial and are mandatory if you want to understand core systems like vendors, crafting stations, travel, and basic combat flow. Simply completing the quests naturally will carry you to around level 5 or 6 without any grinding.

The most important reward here is your first mount. Unlocking it early dramatically reduces travel time and makes every leveling route afterward more efficient. There is no reason to grind mobs at this stage, as quest XP is faster and more reliable early on.

Level 5–9: Church of the Seven Stars

After finishing the starter quests, head to the Church of the Seven Stars. This is one of the most consistent early grinding spots and a common transition point after Lion Hold. The ghost mobs here are tightly packed, easy to control, and provide steady XP with minimal travel.

This safe-spot method allows you to pull:

• Start by pulling single LVL 6 ghosts until you’re comfortable with their damage and spacing
• Move deeper into the church and work your way upstairs and toward the roof

This area is popular, so expect some competition. If spawns are contested, slow your pace or briefly group up. Even solo, this spot can comfortably carry you to level 8 or 9.

Level 9–12: Bear Area Near Lion Hold

Once ghost XP starts falling off, move to the nearby bear camps. These mobs hit harder but offer better XP, and the biggest advantage here is proximity to Lion Hold. Being close to town means faster repairs, quicker glint banking, and less downtime overall.

Solo players should:

• Pull carefully and avoid fighting multiple bears at once unless your class has strong sustain.
• If the bears feel too punishing, it’s completely fine to return to the church for another level or two before committing fully.

This spot is about controlled progress rather than speed. Clean pulls and short reset loops make it efficient despite the higher risk.

Level 12–14: Highwayman Hills

Highwayman Hills is a strong mid-game grind zone that also doubles as a gear farm. Mobs here provide solid XP and start dropping upgrades that noticeably improve kill speed, which pays off later.

• Solo play is viable if you avoid rushing pulls.
• The terrain allows you to pace fights, manage cooldowns, and recover between engagements without excessive downtime.
• Staying here slightly longer than planned is often worth it if you secure a weapon upgrade.

Once your kill speed stabilizes and XP begins to slow, it’s time to move on.

Level 14–16: Oakenbane Keep

Oakenbane is a short but effective stop designed to push you through these levels quickly. The area is usually active, which makes grouping common, but solo players can still make progress with patience and smart pulls.

• You don’t need to stay here long.
• The goal is to keep momentum going, possibly snag a lucky upgrade, and prepare for higher-risk zones ahead.
• Overstaying usually leads to diminishing returns.

As soon as you hit level 16, start looking toward the next bracket.

Level 16–18: Ruins of Sholfire - PvP Island Green Ghost Elites

This is one of the first high-risk, high-reward zones you’ll encounter. Entering the PvP island automatically flags you as a combatant, meaning other players can attack you freely. The tradeoff is a reduced death penalty, which makes learning the zone more forgiving.

As a solo player:

• Focus on killing green ghost elites one at a time. There is no need for large pulls.
• Huge XP is guaranteed even with conservative pacing.
• Make sure to unlock Shorefoot as a respawn point, but never enter it while flagged, as the guards will instantly kill you.

This zone is faster in a group, but careful solo play can still carry you to level 18 if it’s not heavily contested.

Level 18–21: Goblin Camps North of Ursine Caves

Goblin areas are a major progression checkpoint because normal mobs here start dropping level 20 gear. These upgrades often last well into later content and significantly improve survivability and damage.

Solo leveling is possible, but competition is common.

• If spawns are contested, grouping may be unavoidable just to maintain kill uptime.
• Focus on standard mobs rather than bosses, as gear drops are not restricted to elites.

This is one of the best places to stabilize your character before the final stretch.

Level 21–25: Beach Between Wildport & Hecribba - High-Level Mob Zones & Event Areas

The final levels are less forgiving and more situational for solo players. One of the strongest options is the area west of Najash near the event portal and surrounding lake, where higher-level mobs give extremely high XP even when fought several levels early.

• Solo players should rely on careful kiting and single pulls.
• Mistakes here are costly, and repeated deaths will erase any XP advantage.
• If deaths start stacking, efficiency drops fast, and grouping becomes the smarter choice.

At this stage, leveling is less about speed and more about control. Staying alive and maintaining steady XP matters more than pushing risky pulls.

Best Classes for Fast Leveling in Ashes of Creation

Self-sustain, AoE potential, and mobility matter way more than raw damage or long-term group synergy. If your main goal is to reach higher levels quickly, here are some of the best classes for leveling in Ashes of Creation that stand out for solo players:

Bards are the leveling kingpin right now. They have the best sustain toolkit out of the gate, with passive healing and regen keeping them in combat while others have to sit and recover. Fighters come close, cutting down mobs fast and healing through lifesteal. Mages have high AoE damage and strong crowd control, though they shine even more in pairs. Rangers burst hard, but they struggle with recovery after fights. Clerics are solid and safe but not the fastest. Tanks are surprisingly mobile but slower when soloing.

If you're looking for the easiest ride to 25 and beyond, pick something that doesn’t need to stop every five minutes. Sustain beats burst. AoE beats single target. And Bard still beats everything else.

Ashes of Creation Leveling Tips

The early grind is long enough that even small optimizations can stack up fast. Knowing when to push, when to rest, and how to manage your gear, Glint can shave hours off your time to level 25 and beyond. So, here are a few Ashes of Creation leveling tips that will definitely come in handy:

1. Go for self-sustain – Archetypes with healing, barriers, or life leech (like Bard, Cleric, or Fighter) cut down on downtime and keep you moving.
2. Use shrines for fast resets – Instead of hiking back to town, use shrine respawns to quickly reposition across zones.
3. Stick to AoE where possible – Pulling several low-star mobs and cleaving them down beats dueling high-HP targets for XP.
4. Spend Glint early – Use it on consumables and basic gear upgrades instead of hoarding. Better stats = faster kills.
5. Clean your bags often – Overloaded inventory slows you down and cuts grinding sessions short. Drop junk, keep essentials.

Ranged classes make kiting easy in open zones, while melee shines in tighter spots with dense mob clusters. Pay attention to respawn timers and mob layouts, and take advantage of phase 3’s new augment testing to fine-tune your solo leveling strategy on the fly.

Ashes of Creation Leveling Changes in Alpha 2 Phase 3

If you want to know how to level up quickly in Ashes of Creation, you first need to understand the environment you are leveling in right now. Alpha 2 Phase 3 is no longer a testing preview or a transition period. It is the baseline experience players are actively progressing through, and the leveling systems are already functioning the way they are meant to long term.

• The current level cap is 25, and that number defines almost every leveling decision players make. Progression is tuned to slow down significantly as you approach this cap, pushing players toward efficient grinding routes, group play in high-value zones, and stacking XP systems instead of relying on quest chains. Reaching level 25 is not meant to be quick or casual. It is the main progression goal of the phase.
• Level 25 is when builds start to matter. This is the point where players unlock their secondary archetype and begin experimenting with augments and hybrid playstyles. Because of this, leveling speed has become a priority for many players who want to reach this breakpoint as early as possible and start refining their builds.
• Unlike earlier phases, progression in Phase 3 is treated as persistent. While wipes are still technically possible, players level with the expectation that their progress, gear, and upgrades will carry forward. This has shifted behavior toward long-term efficiency instead of short-term experimentation, making optimized leveling routes more valuable than ever.
• Experience gain is currently balanced around steady grinding with minimal downtime. XP scrolls, commission board quests, processing orders, and food buffs all play a meaningful role in smoothing progression and reducing wasted time. Server performance and XP pacing are stable enough that consistent routes and repeatable loops are more important than chasing one-off spikes.

In short, leveling quickly in Ashes of Creation during Alpha 2 Phase 3 is about control, uptime, and stacking systems. Players who understand how the current environment works can push levels significantly faster than those who rely on outdated quest-driven expectations.

Conclusion

Leveling in Ashes of Creation isn’t just about reaching the cap—it’s about unlocking the real depth of your character. With Phase 3 introducing the secondary archetype system at level 25, getting there quickly should be your top priority. The moment you hit 25, your build potential and class identity expand dramatically, giving you access to augments and more advanced playstyles. This guide is crafted to help you reach that milestone efficiently and with purpose.

Remember, though, character XP is just one piece of the progression puzzle. Ashes of Creation features several other systems that level up—some linear like crafting professions, and others more open-ended like node influence and social organizations. Smart players will consider these layers as part of their long-term path.

F.A.Q.