Advanced 1: Leveling
In this tutorial you will:
- Learn to power level your character
- Learn to level up skill trees
- Learn to level up skill trees
Step 1
Step 1: Sources of XP
You have been playing the Elder Scrolls Online for a while now and want to know how to power level your character(s). There are multiple sources of Experience (XP):
- Main story
- Guild quests
- Side quests
- Cadwell's Almanac
- Main story
- Guild quests
- Side quests
- Cadwell's Almanac
Step 2
Step 2: Powerleveling
Powerleveling is the act of increasing one's character level in extremely high speed in the least amount of time possible.
In Elder Scrolls Online, powerleveling also is possible. In this step you will learn how to.
In Elder Scrolls Online, powerleveling also is possible. In this step you will learn how to.
The Daggerfall Covenant
As a member of the Daggerfall Covenant, the first step you take is completing the starter zone: Stros M'kai. After completing this zone, you will be about level 6-8 and ready for the first zone of your alliance: Glenumbra. Take any quest you can find and complete them. This counts for all the other zones in your alliance area. |
The Aldmeri Dominion
As a member of the Aldmeri Dominion, the first step you take is completing the starter zone: Khenarthi's Roost. After completing this zone, you will be about level 6-8 and ready for the first zone of your alliance: Auridion. Take any quest you can find and complete them. This counts for all the other zones in your alliance area. |
The Ebonheart Pact
As a member of the Ebonheart Pact, the first step you take is completing the starter zone: Bleakrock Isles. After completing this zone, you will be about level 6-8 and ready for the first zone of your alliance: Stonefalls. Take any quest you can find and complete them. This counts for all the other zones in your alliance area. |
For all alliances makes sure to pick up the main story quests also. The Prophet will appear to you in the starting city of your alliance and will tell you to meet him at the Harborage. This series of quests will grant you skillpoints, gold, experience and sometimes loot. But most importantly it will level up the Soul skill tree.
Next to the main story quest there are three guild quests: the fighters guild, mages guild and the undaunted. You will find these guilds in the major cities of each zone, all having their own location. The fighters guild and mages guild have their own guildhalls, and the undaunted are often found in local pubs/taverns. These are important to pick up because you want to unlock their unique skill trees and start leveling them as soon as possible.
After completing the main story, Cadwell will start the Cadwell's Almanac: Cadwell's Silver and Cadwell's Gold. To level up quickly do not do all the quests in your rivals alliance zones. Rather use your journal to find out what you need to do to complete Cadwell's Almanac. If you have never played in the other zones before, you may want to do all quests for the sake of experiencing the story.
Next to the main story quest there are three guild quests: the fighters guild, mages guild and the undaunted. You will find these guilds in the major cities of each zone, all having their own location. The fighters guild and mages guild have their own guildhalls, and the undaunted are often found in local pubs/taverns. These are important to pick up because you want to unlock their unique skill trees and start leveling them as soon as possible.
After completing the main story, Cadwell will start the Cadwell's Almanac: Cadwell's Silver and Cadwell's Gold. To level up quickly do not do all the quests in your rivals alliance zones. Rather use your journal to find out what you need to do to complete Cadwell's Almanac. If you have never played in the other zones before, you may want to do all quests for the sake of experiencing the story.
NOTE:
- If you are new to the game, also consider playing the tutorial.
- Level even faster by crafting equipment with the "Training" trait.
- Unlock "Persuasive will" and "Intimidating Presence" from the Mages guild and Fighters guild skill trees to save footwork
- This tutorial does not include grinding as a method for powerleveling, simply to encourage you to experience the game to it's fullness and make you familiar with all the game mechanics.
- If you are new to the game, also consider playing the tutorial.
- Level even faster by crafting equipment with the "Training" trait.
- Unlock "Persuasive will" and "Intimidating Presence" from the Mages guild and Fighters guild skill trees to save footwork
- This tutorial does not include grinding as a method for powerleveling, simply to encourage you to experience the game to it's fullness and make you familiar with all the game mechanics.
Step 3
Step 3: LEveling skill trees
While you level up, you earn an attribute point and a skill point. Spending all those points into one specific skill tree sounds like a good plan, but quite the opposite it true. You will find yourself wasting experience on a level 50 skill tree and not get the full benefit from questing and leveling. So how to tackle this issue?
The mechanics and optimalisation
To tackle this issue and level your skill trees with full potential, you have to understand how these skill trees level up.
Skill trees level up because of two reasons:
1. Usage whilst killing enemies
2. Handing in quests
Each time you hand in a quest or kill an enemy the skill trees, of which you have an ability slotted on your ability bar, gain experience.
Therefore you want to slot as many abilities of as many different skill trees on your ability bar. Once a skill tree reaches level 50, you can slot an ability of another skill tree into your ability bar.
For example as a Dragon Knight with Destruction staff, you want to slot:
1. Fiery Grip (Ardent Flame)
2. Spiked Armor (Draconic Power)
3. Stonefist (Earthen Heart)
4. Destructive Touch (Destruction Staff)
5. Annulment (Light Armor)
Ult. Dragon Standard (Ardent Flame) or Dragon Leap (Draconic Power)
In the example above you will be leveling up to five different skill trees at once! This can be achieved with all characters of all classes with all types of weapons.
Once you reach level 15 you get access to the second ability bar. You can slot up to 10 different skill tree abilities and two ultimates. However the only skill trees that will level while handing in quests or killing an enemy will be the one you have active at that very moment. So if the example ability bar was set to your secondairy bar and you hand in a quest or kill an enemy whilst having the primary bar active, only the skill trees on your primary ability bar will be leveled.
To tackle this issue and level your skill trees with full potential, you have to understand how these skill trees level up.
Skill trees level up because of two reasons:
1. Usage whilst killing enemies
2. Handing in quests
Each time you hand in a quest or kill an enemy the skill trees, of which you have an ability slotted on your ability bar, gain experience.
Therefore you want to slot as many abilities of as many different skill trees on your ability bar. Once a skill tree reaches level 50, you can slot an ability of another skill tree into your ability bar.
For example as a Dragon Knight with Destruction staff, you want to slot:
1. Fiery Grip (Ardent Flame)
2. Spiked Armor (Draconic Power)
3. Stonefist (Earthen Heart)
4. Destructive Touch (Destruction Staff)
5. Annulment (Light Armor)
Ult. Dragon Standard (Ardent Flame) or Dragon Leap (Draconic Power)
In the example above you will be leveling up to five different skill trees at once! This can be achieved with all characters of all classes with all types of weapons.
Once you reach level 15 you get access to the second ability bar. You can slot up to 10 different skill tree abilities and two ultimates. However the only skill trees that will level while handing in quests or killing an enemy will be the one you have active at that very moment. So if the example ability bar was set to your secondairy bar and you hand in a quest or kill an enemy whilst having the primary bar active, only the skill trees on your primary ability bar will be leveled.
NOTE:
- In the example: Not all abilities will be available to you from the start.
- In the example: Not all abilities will be available to you from the start.