Leveling Guide: 1–30 in Under 12 Hours

Before You Start

This guide assumes you’re starting a fresh character. If you’re on an alt, some steps can be skipped. The target is level 30 in under 12 hours of gameplay.

Key principles:

• Never grind side missions until you’re gated
• Always pick up loot — sell greens, equip blues
• Match your gear to your damage type (Firepower for DPS leveling)

Phase 1: Tutorial & Brooklyn (Level 1–3)

The tutorial is unskippable. Complete it as fast as possible:

1. Follow the on-screen prompts through the opening sequence
2. Complete the first safehouse setup
3. Pick up your first weapon — prioritize assault rifles for leveling speed
4. Clear the Brooklyn hospital encounter
5. Transfer to Manhattan

Time target: 30 minutes

Phase 2: Manhattan Setup (Level 3–8)

Upon arriving in Manhattan:

1. Unlock the Base of Operations immediately
2. Activate all three wings (Medical, Tech, Security) — even partial unlocks give passive bonuses
3. Complete the first three main missions in order:
   • Madison Field Hospital
   • Lincoln Tunnel Checkpoint
   • Subway Morgue

Gear Tips for Early Game

• Equip any blue or purple item that increases Firepower
• Don’t worry about set bonuses yet — raw stats matter more
• Sell everything you’re not wearing at safehouses

Time target: 2.5 hours total

Phase 3: Mid-Game Push (Level 8–18)

This is where your build starts to matter. Focus on:

1. Main missions only — skip all side content unless you need XP to unlock the next mission
2. Matchmake for missions if you’re struggling — grouped play gives bonus XP
3. Keep your specialization skills upgraded at the BoO

Priority Missions (Level 8–18)

Time target: 6 hours total

Phase 4: Final Push (Level 18–30)

The home stretch. At this point:

1. You should have at least one purple weapon with a decent talent
2. Run every main mission as it unlocks
3. At level 20, start paying attention to gear set pieces
4. At level 25, start saving materials for endgame crafting
5. At level 28, complete your specialization unlock mission

Level 28–30 Speedrun

The last two levels can be slow if you’re not careful:

• Run the highest-level main mission available on Hard
• Group up — 4-player scaling gives more XP per enemy
• Pop any XP boost consumables you’ve been hoarding

Time target: 11–12 hours total

What to Do at Level 30

Congratulations, Agent. Now the real game begins:

1. Complete your specialization unlock
2. Run your first stronghold
3. Check out our Vanguard Frontline Tank build for a solid starting endgame setup
4. Visit the Gear Sets database to plan your first set

FAQ

Q: What’s the best specialization for leveling? A: Vanguard or Demolitionist. Vanguard for survivability, Demolitionist for AoE clear speed.

Q: Should I do side missions? A: Only if you’re under-leveled for the next main mission. Side missions give decent XP but slow down the optimal path.

Q: Can I skip the story? A: Cutscenes are skippable, but story missions are required for progression. You can’t skip them entirely.