XP to 100 (Ultimate)

Ultimate to 94

Prerequisite: Ultimate unlocked (the Loghorrean kill or a Merit). Progression itself is the XP backbone.

• ▸Clear Ultimate's main and side quests as you go. v1.2.0.0 eased levels 1-50 for Merit users, but the -50% primary resistance penalty applies throughout - keep resistances in mind.
• ▸Skill/attribute point quests cleared on Ultimate also grant the skipped lower-difficulty copies.
• ▸Ultimate's shrines count too - a chance to close the gap to the devotion point cap (see Devotion Basics).
• ▸Level 94 is the central requirement level of the top Mythical band (with exceptions such as 84) - reaching it massively widens your gear options.
• ▸The XP from 94 to 100 accumulates naturally while farming gear; 100 itself needs no rushing.

SR: Gear and XP Together

• ▸SR pays shard-clear rewards (gear, materials) and en-route kill XP simultaneously, making it the main arena from 94 on.
• ▸Pick a farming depth you clear reliably within the timer. For the reward mechanics (2+ shards multiplying chests; rewards only on claim-and-exit), see Endgame Money.
• ▸Your first run starts from the first shard. Progressing to the designated shard and claiming rewards earns the Waystone blueprint; afterward, a crafted Waystone lets you start directly at an unlocked depth (progress is recorded per character and difficulty).
• ▸XP-per-hour varies with build, depth, and pilot - no figures are guaranteed.

The Crucible (Separate DLC) Alternative

• ▸The Crucible is a separately sold wave-arena DLC: 150 waves, extended to 170 with AoM installed.
• ▸Three tiers - Aspirant (Normal-grade), Challenger (Elite-grade), Gladiator (Ultimate-grade) - with breaks every 10 waves.
• ▸Challenger and above are not available from the start: reaching wave 100 on the preceding tier unlocks the next one. On a seasoned account you can instead buy unlock tokens (Challenger's/Gladiator's Merit) from the vendor and pass them to alts via the shared stash.
• ▸Rewards: XP per wave, Tributes (the arena currency, capped at 150), and gear drops from enemies.
• ▸Characters are shared with the campaign but progression is independent - even freshly created characters can enter.
• ▸Unlike campaign progression it advances no point quests or shrines, so treat it as the 'just XP and gear' option.

The Fast Lane for Alts

• ▸The standard: a Savior's Merit straight to Ultimate, then quests plus SR. Merit use also grants the lower difficulties' points, riftgates, and bags (see Difficulties and Merits).
• ▸Even with v1.2.0.0's eased Ultimate levels 1-50 for Merit users, the -50% primary resistance penalty applies from the start - prep resist components and augments before jumping.
• ▸Wear Lokarr's Spoils (the XP set) from level 1 if you own it (acquisition details in Mid XP).
• ▸A first character simply follows this article's path: Ultimate progression, 94, then SR.

1. Grim Dawn Japanese Wiki: Legendary Weapons — Confirms Mythicals as upgraded legendaries available with the expansions, with requirement levels of both 84 and 94 - the top band centering on 94.
2. Grim Dawn Japanese Wiki: Shattered Realm — Confirms SR's structure, reward mechanics, and Waystone skipping (the same source backing the money-endgame article).
3. Grim Dawn Japanese Wiki: Crucible Mode — Confirms the Crucible as a separate DLC, 150 waves (170 with AoM), the three tiers, 10-wave breaks, rewards (XP, Tributes capped at 150, gear), and that fresh characters can enter with progression independent of the campaign.
4. Official Crate Forum: Grim Dawn v1.2.0.0/1/2/3 Hotfixes — Confirms the higher-difficulty point-quest catch-up and the eased Elite/Ultimate levels 1-50 for Merit users.
5. Grim Dawn Japanese Wiki: GameMode, Difficulty — Confirms Ultimate's resistance penalties (-50% primary / -25% secondary).
6. Official Crate Forum: Grim Dawn v1.2.1.6 + Hotfix — Official patch notes for the verified version.