Progression Guides

Your First Character: From Launch Through Act 1

Start your first character on Normal, picking your first mastery at level 2 and the second at level 10. The mastery combination can never be changed, but skill points can be refunded - so experiment freely. Since v1.2.0.0, healing potions are baseline skills rather than items, and the spacebar Evade dash is built in. Progress by clearing main and side quests, restoring Devotion Shrines on sight, upgrading gear from drops, and vendoring the unneeded yellow-or-better leftovers for iron. The death penalty is mild, so trial and error is fine.

The Elite Transition Checklist

Elite unlocks by defeating Loghorrean, the Voice of Ch'thon (the Act 4 final boss) on Normal/Veteran - and since v1.2.0.0 Ultimate unlocks at the same time. The transition test is your primary resistances: Elite applies a -25% penalty, so fill the gap with resist components and augments before moving. After the move, sweep the point-reward quests, Elite's shrines, the fifth bag, and continued faction reputation. If you're not ready, staying on Normal keeps paying XP - there is no rush.

From Ultimate Into Endgame

Enter Ultimate only after gearing for its -50% primary / -25% secondary resistance penalties. Progress main and side quests toward level 94 (the central requirement of the top Mythical band, with exceptions like 84), then run the Shattered Realm (SR, requires FG) from 94 to farm gear and XP together on the way to 100. Monster Totems, rogue-like dungeons, and Nemesis hunting from 20,000 infamy pad the income en route. A character who jumped straight to Ultimate with a Merit merges into this same flow.