WIKI
XP comes from kills, so farm the highest stage you can clear fast and reliably — clears per hour, not stage level. Stack XP from the Bat pet and gear, keep the game minimised (not closed) with auto-open runes, and run a full three-hero party so you never stall.
How leveling works
Your heroes gain XP from killing enemies as the party auto-battles through a stage. More kills = more XP, which is why your clear speed matters more than the difficulty number on the stage. The combat runs on its own; your job is to set up the conditions that maximise how many enemies die per minute. Hit the early level breakpoints and you unlock the systems that snowball everything else — the rune tree around level 3 and the Cube at level 4.
The fastest way to gain XP
Because XP is tied to kills per hour, the best XP farm is the same as the best gold farm: the highest stage your party clears quickly without dying. A stage you delete in a few seconds out-levels a harder one you scrape through (or fail). Push up until clears slow or your team takes real damage, then drop back a notch and let it rip. The best farming stage guide covers how to find that sweet spot, and the stages & acts guide shows how difficulty scaling affects it.
XP boosters — pets, gear & party
On top of clear speed, stack every multiplier you can:
| Booster | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Pets (e.g. the Bat) | The early Bat pet grants EXP and chest bonuses that never switch off — it pays for itself across the whole run. |
| XP & drop-rate gear | EXP-boosting and drop-rate affixes compound over hours of farming. |
| A full three-hero party | More damage = faster clears = more kills. Unlock the third slot via the Rune of Command. |
| Attack-speed | Faster attacks clear packs quicker, raising kills per minute. |
Offline vs AFK leveling
This trips a lot of new players up. AFK (game open, often minimised to the taskbar) keeps fighting and killing, so you keep leveling. Offline (game fully closed) produces no kills — only the offline-reward rune's small XP and gold trickle.
Closing it stops the kills that actually level you. For real overnight leveling, leave the game running and minimised, with Far North auto-open handling chests. More on the distinction in how the game works.
Early level priorities
Levels are most valuable early because of what they unlock. A quick order of operations:
- Spend skill points every level — don't let them pile up unused.
- Level 3: the rune tree opens — start funding hero slots and automation.
- Level 4: the Cube opens — switch to Alchemy for gold, which feeds the runes that speed everything up.
- Claim the free Priest DLC so your third slot is a strong support later.
For the full early-game route, see the beginner guide.
FAQ
What's the fastest way to level up?
Farm the highest stage you clear fast and reliably (kills per hour), stack XP from pets and gear, and keep the game running with auto-open runes.
Do I level up while offline?
Barely — only the offline-reward rune's trickle. Offline produces no kills, so leave the game minimised rather than closed for real leveling.
Which pet helps leveling most?
The early Bat pet — its EXP and chest bonuses are always on and compound across your whole run. See the pets guide.
Why level fast early?
Levels unlock the rune tree (Lv3) and Cube (Lv4), which power gold and automation — the systems that snowball the rest of your progress.
XP rates and unlock levels can shift between patches; treat specifics as current-patch guidance. Unofficial fan resource, not official Nugem Studio data.