The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) offers an expansive world filled with rich lore, diverse zones, and exciting quests. As you venture through Tamriel, you'll encounter countless opportunities to level up your character. But for players who want to progress quickly and efficiently, power leveling is an attractive option. In this article, we'll dive into how to power level in ESO, focusing on strategies that will accelerate your progress, whether you're leveling your character, crafting, or gaining other vital skills.

What is Power Leveling?

Power leveling in ESO refers to the practice of leveling up as fast as possible, usually by optimizing certain activities, quests, and methods that give you the highest experience points (XP) per minute. While leveling can be a gradual process, power leveling allows you to bypass some of the grind, letting you reach high levels more efficiently.

Power leveling can be broken down into several categories:

Character Leveling: Advancing your main character's experience points to unlock higher skills and access more content.

Crafting and Gathering: Advancing your crafting abilities and gathering skills to enhance your character's item-making potential.

Champion Points: Accumulating Champion Points (CP) after reaching the level cap, which provide further benefits to your character.

1. Power Leveling Your Character

When it comes to character leveling, the objective is simple: gain experience quickly by using efficient methods. Here's a breakdown of how to do that:

a. Main Quest and Guild Quests

The most straightforward way to level up is by following the main storyline and guild quests. The main quest line gives a solid amount of XP, and it's a great way to unlock fast travel points and access new zones. The Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, and Undaunted quests also provide valuable experience as you level up, with the added bonus of unlocking useful abilities and perks.

b. Focus on Skyshards

Skyshards are collectible items scattered throughout the game world. For every three Skyshards you collect, you will receive one skill point. Skill points are crucial for character progression because they allow you to unlock powerful abilities. The added bonus here is that the act of exploring and collecting Skyshards will grant XP as well, speeding up your leveling process. Try to grab Skyshards while doing your quests or exploring the world.

c. Join a Guild

Joining a guild can help with power leveling in several ways. Many guilds run weekly events and provide useful bonuses like experience boosts, crafting materials, and access to special content. You can also ask for advice from more experienced players, who can guide you through efficient leveling strategies.

d. Efficient Questing

Make sure you are doing the most efficient quests possible. Focus on group quests, daily quests, and repeatable quests that give high XP rewards. Many players recommend sticking to zones within your level range to prevent wasting time on mobs and quests that are too tough or too easy. Also, group up with other players whenever possible to complete group quests faster.

e. Use Experience Boosters

There are several ways to increase the amount of XP you earn in ESO. These include:

Experience Scrolls: These can be bought from the Crown Store or obtained as drops. They give a percentage-based XP bonus for a limited time.

Experience Potions: Some potions in ESO increase XP gained from kills and quests. These potions can be crafted or bought from NPCs.

Race Bonuses: Certain races in ESO come with XP bonuses that can help you level faster. For example, the Altmer (High Elf) receives a bonus to experience gained from crafting, while the Khajiit excels in stealth and experience from sneak actions.

ESO Plus Subscription: ESO Plus members receive a 10% XP boost as part of their subscription benefits.

f. Grinding and Farming

Once you've completed the early parts of the game, you can start looking for grind spots. These are locations where mobs respawn quickly, allowing you to defeat them for XP in a continuous loop. Farming, especially at areas with high mob density, can net you tons of XP with minimal effort. Some popular spots for power-leveling include the following:

The Rift: Known for its quick respawn mobs and ease of grinding.

Daggerfall Covenant: This is another area where you can easily grind mobs to gain XP quickly.

Public Dungeons and World Bosses: Completing group content such as public dungeons and world bosses will reward you with experience, loot, and group play enjoyment.

2. Power Leveling Crafting

Crafting in ESO is a rewarding and vital part of the game, but leveling up your crafting skills can be a time-consuming process. Here are some tips for power leveling your crafting:

a. Use Crafting Writs

Crafting writs are daily tasks that give you both experience and crafting materials. Completing these writs every day can provide a steady source of experience and are highly recommended if you want to level your crafting professions quickly. The higher the level of the writ, the more experience you'll gain.

b. Craft High-Value Items

Crafting items that sell for more on the market or provide more experience can help you level your crafting skills faster. Focus on crafting items that require the highest-quality materials, as these will usually yield the best experience rewards.

c. Research Materials

While researching materials may seem tedious, it's a necessary part of leveling your crafting. When you're researching different traits of items, you're often able to unlock new recipes and materials that can give you more crafting experience. You can speed up this process by gathering high-quality materials and working on multiple items at once.

d. Maximizing Crafting XP

As with character leveling, crafting can benefit from experience boosts such as experience potions or ESO Plus membership. Be sure to use these boosts while crafting to maximize your gains.

3. Power Leveling Champion Points (CP)

Once you reach the level cap (50) in ESO, you will begin earning Champion Points (CP). These points can be used to improve your character's stats, passives, and abilities. Power leveling CP can be a bit different from leveling your character, but there are still strategies to speed it up.

a. Dungeons and Trials

Running dungeons and trials, especially those designed for higher-level players, is one of the best ways to earn Champion Points. Dungeons, especially with a group, provide a large amount of XP and Champion Points once you reach the CP 160 cap. Trials, group challenges, and certain end-game activities also grant substantial CP.

b. Undaunted Daily Quests

Undaunted dailies are repeatable quests that reward you with experience, ESO gold, and occasionally gear. The daily quests in the Undaunted faction also offer Champion Points, so make sure to do them regularly.

c. Use Experience Boosts

Don't forget to use experience scrolls or potions to increase the amount of XP you gain during activities like dungeons, world bosses, or PvP events. They can significantly speed up your Champion Point progression.

d. Group Play

Since many of the end-game activities in ESO, such as veteran dungeons and trials, require a group, participating in group play offers both a fun and rewarding experience for earning CP. The key here is to find a good group that can complete these activities efficiently.

Final Tips for Power Leveling in ESO

Plan Ahead: While power leveling can be effective, it's important to have a plan. Don't just rush through content—try to enjoy the game, as ESO offers a great experience in both solo and group play.

Avoid Over-Leveling: If you over-level content, you'll lose out on valuable experience. Stick to content that aligns with your current level to maximize efficiency.

Join an Active Guild: A guild can provide important support for both leveling and crafting. Many guilds organize group events or provide useful resources.

Keep Track of Your Goals: Whether you're leveling your character, crafting, or Champion Points, make sure you're tracking your progress and prioritizing the most rewarding activities.

Conclusion

Power leveling in ESO is all about maximizing your time and efficiency to reach higher levels faster. Whether you're focusing on your character, crafting, or Champion Points, using the right strategies, such as questing, grinding, using XP boosters, and participating in group activities, will help you level up quickly. Remember that while speed is important, taking time to enjoy ESO's expansive world and its content will only make the journey more enjoyable.

MMOexp Elder Scrolls Online Team