[0.4] How To: Campaign EXP

If you're looking to learn about EXP throughout the campaign, you're in the right place.

This guide will explain everything I use to get EXP as quickly as I can, throughout each part of the campaign.

How EXP Penalty Works

TL;DR: Don't be more than 1 level below the EXP penalty threshold, which is 3 + 1 per 16 levels of character level.

EXP Penalty Threshold

Your EXP is reduced when fighting monsters far from your level.

Threshold = 3 + 1 per 16 player levels

• Example: Level 24 -> Threshold = 4 levels (full EXP from monsters level 24-28)

EXP Reduction Outside Threshold

When a monster is outside your EXP penalty threshold, it gives less EXP.

• The farther a monster is outside your threshold, the less EXP it gives.
• At low levels, small level differences can reduce EXP sharply.
• At high levels, the same difference has a smaller impact.
• Very Roughly:
• • 1 level: 5-10% penalty
  • 2-3 levels: 20-50% penalty
  • 4+ levels: 60+% penalty

Up to level 65, the following multiplier determines the percentage of a monster’s base EXP that you receive:

Where effectiveDifference is the # of levels you are outside the threshold.

This is a slightly modified version of the PoE 1 penalty formula. Click here to see the data that I used to derive this formula.

Act 1

Great EXP Zones

• The Red Vale
• Cemetery of the Eternals
• Tomb of the Consort
• Hunting Grounds
• The Manor Ramparts

Recommended Level

I recommend being close to the following levels when entering these areas:

• The Grelwood - Level 2
• The Red Vale - Level 2
• The Grim Tangle - Level 4
• Cemetery of the Eternals - Level 5
• Tomb of the Consort - Level 6
• Mausoleum of the Preator - Level 7
• Hunting Grounds - Level 7
• Freythorn - Level 8
• Ogham Farmlands - Level 9
• Ogham Village - Level 10
• The Manor Ramparts - Level 11
• Ogham Manor - Level 12
• End of Act 1 - Level 13 (or 14 for level 5 skill gems)

Zone Order

When you get to the hunting grounds, you have a couple of options. Generally, I recommend the following:

1. Hunting Grounds
2. Ogham Farmlands *
3. (Enter Ogham Village and then) Checkpoint to Hunting grounds and enter Freythorn
4. Go back to Ogham Village

Other Tips

• The monsters in The Riverbank, Clearfell, and The Grelwood give LOW exp. Skip all the monsters and go straight to The Red Vale.
• There is a guaranteed magic pack in The Manor Ramparts next to the guaranteed support gem.
• * If you're not level 9 at Ogham Farmlands, do Freythorn first. Freythorn is a level 11 zone, so you only need to be level 8. Once you complete Freythorn, proceed as normal.

Act 2

Great EXP Zones

• Buried Shrines (guaranteed magic packs on the bridges)
• Deshar
• Spires of Deshar
• Dreadnought / Dreadnought Vanguard

Recommended Level

• Vastiri Outskirts - Level 13
• Mawdun Quarry - Level 14
• Mawdun Mine - Level 15.5
• Traitor's Passage - Level 16.5
• The Halani Gates - Level 17.5
• Keth - Level 18.5
• The Lost City - Level 19
• Buried Shrines - Level 20
• Mastodon Badlands - Level 21
• The Bone Pits - Level 21.5
• Valley of the Titans - Level 22.5
• Titan Grotto - Level 23.5
• Deshar - Level 24
• Path of Mourning - Level 25
• Spires of Deshar - Level 25
• Dreadnought - Level 26
• Dreadnought Vanguard - Level 27
• End of Act 2 - Level 28.5

Zone Order

1. Keth / The Lost City / Buried Shrines
2. Mastodon Badlands / The Bone Pits
3. Valley of the Titans / The Titan Grotto

Other Tips

• It's very difficult to have problems with EXP in the first half of Act 2, but very easy to struggle in the second half. For that reason, pay extra attention to your level from when you enter Buried Shrines and onwards.
• To reach level 26 in Spires of Deshar and avoid getting an EXP penalty, you'll need to be around level 25 entering Deshar. This is very difficult (in fact, you're probably killing TOO many monsters if you are 25 entering deshar). So don't worry too much if you're only level 25 entering Spires of Deshar.

Act 3

I'm not as knowledgeable about EXP in act 3, as most of my experience is in races where we usually stop taking EXP early act 3. So read the rest of this guide with caution.

Great EXP Zones

• The Azak Bog

In The Azak Bog, there is a big open area where you can get a fire resistance and rarity buff. You can clear the monsters in that area, reset at checkpoint, and then farm the monsters again. This is one of the fastest ways to level throughout the entire campaign. It's highly recommended you farm this until at least 31.5, maybe even 32 or higher.

Avoiding EXP Penalty

Right off the bat in Act 3, it's very possible you're going to be on the edge of having an EXP penalty. Here's what I recommend:

• Enter Act 3 at level 28.5 or higher
• Reach level 29 in Sandswept Marsh
• Try to reach at least level 30 by the time you finish both Jungle Ruins and The Venom Crypts
• You should be able to hit level 32 by completing Infested Barrens and farming Azak Bog
• If you did the above, you shouldn't need to worry about EXP for the rest of the act
• End of Act 3 - Level 41

Zone Order

1. Jungle Ruins
2. Venom Crypts
3. Infested Barrens (pick up Chimeral Wetlands waypoint / checkpoint)
4. Azak Bog
5. Chimeral Wetlands

And then when you get to The Drowned City:

1. The Drowned City
2. The Molten Vault
3. Apex of Filth

Other Tips

• Once you reach level 32, the EXP penalty threshold increases by another 1 level. This means you can be 5 levels below zone level, which makes things a lot easier in the second half of Act 3.

Act 4

Great EXP Zones

• Isle of Kin
• The Excavation

Recommended Level

• Passive Points Island (Kedge Bay in 0.4) - Level 41 (First Island)
• Whakapanu Island / Singing Caverns - Level 42 (Second Island)
• Abandoned Prison / Solitary Confinement - Level 42 (Third Island)
• Shrike Island - Level 43 (Fourth Island)
• Eye of Hinekora / Halls of the Dead - Level 44 (Fifth Island)
• Arastas / The Excavation - Level 46
• Ngakanu / Heart of the Tribe - Level 47
• End of Act 4 - Level 48

Zone Order

1. Kedge Bay (Passive Points)
2. Whakapanu / Singing Caverns
3. Abandoned Prison / Solitary Confinement
4. Shrike Island (get matiki)
5. Volcanic Warrens
6. Eye of Hinekora / Halls of the Dead
7. Arastas / The Excavation
8. Ngakanu / Heart of the Tribe