I believe almost every Diablo fan knows that in the latest Season 6 and DLC update, in addition to a series of game-changing gameplay changes, the most important change is the change in the character level cap.
In Diablo 4 Season 6 and Vessel of Hatred, the level cap has been reduced from the previous level 100 to the current level 60. Reaching level 60 does not mean the end of the game, but represents a new beginning, and players will start to explore the new Torment world. Here, threats and challenges are everywhere, but players also have more opportunities to earn Diablo 4 Gold and rare loot. Therefore, reaching the level cap of 60 as soon as possible has become the first goal of many players entering Season 6.
If you're still feeling anxious because you've been stuck at the same level for so long and can't move forward, then it's time to put this guide to work. Let’s talk about methods and tips to reach the highest level in the shortest time to help you prepare for the challenges ahead.
Difficulty Levels Selection
First, when you create your character, it is recommended to start with Hard Mode to get a 75% XP and gold boost. If you are a skilled Diablo 4 player who has obtained multiple Legendary items and completed Tempering, you can also choose Expert and Penitent difficulties, which will allow you to get 125% and 175% Diablo 4 gold and XP respectively for killing monsters. However, we must emphasize that unless you have a super strong build or good equipment, killing monsters at these difficulty levels will take too long and the gains are not worth it.
Levels 1-15
As for where to level up, you can try different leveling methods for different level intervals. During 1-15, you can first unlock Legendary Aspects in your Codex of Power. This, together with Legion Events, should allow you to reach level 15 quickly.
It’s best to unlock Legendary Aspects first because then you can imprint them on your gear when you need them. If you don’t have any Aspects unlocked for your build, then you can just go straight into Helltides.
When you reach level 15, you can run your class-specific quests. If you happen to be a Necromancer, then your class-specific quests open up at level 25. But you should do this anyway to get to power peak as soon as possible.
Levels 15-52
During 15-52, you need to run Helltides. Note that make sure to run Whispers you can run, as well as Hellspires and Soulspires, as these will give you a lot of XP and loot. Also, remember to use your Aberrant Cinders to open Tortured Gifts of Mysteries so you can get extra XP from them as well.
Levels 52-59
At 52-59, you can run Strongholds. I will warn you though that the developers have drastically reduced XP you get from Strongholds after PTR. As you run through them, you’ll notice that starting at level 52 you’ll probably get half as much XP from Strongholds per level as before.
If you own Vessel of Hatred DLC, you can start running Strongholds at level 51 or even 50. There are 3 per region, so there are 15 Strongholds in total. But if you count Nahantu from the expansion, there are 18. This can give you extra opportunities to increase your XP.
Levels 59-60
By the time you’re in the 59-60 period, you’ll turn in your Renown rewards. Realistically the first and second Renown rewards are next to nothing, but after you’ve finished Strongholds, you should be able to turn in the third Renown reward per region, which will give you about 20% of XP bar per region at level 59. This should get you to level 60 quickly.
Additionally, we strongly recommend that you continue to participate in Legion Events for XP, loot, Murmuring Obols, and Favor, but you should probably skip Realmwalker Events and World Bosses. While farming Seething Opal dropped by Realmwalkers is a substantial reward, it takes too long to do it compared to other methods. World Bosses are also a general problem. They can provide some solid loot, but they won’t give very good XP. And you won’t always have a group that can kill it within the time limit, especially early in the season.
Leveling Tips
Beyond that, here are a few more tips that you should pay attention to. I’ll start by saying that the fastest way to level up is probably to farm Blood Maiden in turns, especially if you have a large group doing it together. But if you’re leveling alone without materials, then follow the leveling methods above.
Also, remember that the fastest way to level up is not necessarily the best way to level up. You may be able to level up from level 1 to 60 faster by grinding Helltides over and over, but you may struggle more when you reach Torment Difficulty.
Last but not least, if you own Vessel of Hatred expansion, it’s recommended that you prioritize completing the expansion’s activities to unlock Mercenaries, Renown rewards, and other goodies that come with DLC.
In conclusion, we can’t stress enough that you should always upgrade your Diablo 4 gear as much as possible, especially since you can now use Natural Finesse immediately after character creation to deal more damage. Unlock the various Legendary Aspects early if you can. Don’t forget to turn in your Smoldering Ashes for additional rewards, and claim Seasonal Journey Cache when they become available. With a little luck, you might be able to get some key items that speed up your leveling. Have a great Season!
