Leveling in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt has changed dramatically. With the introduction of patch 0.2.0, the core systems that shape your journey from character creation to Act 3 completion have been redefined. New mechanics, a revamped support gem system, and the emergence of powerful Asarian Wisps all create a dynamic and strategic environment for leveling. This guide is designed to help you navigate the new systems, providing an optimized route and methodology to reach level 100 efficiently in the league setting.

1. Choosing Your Start: League Options

Before diving into the action, you must decide between two foundational options:

Standard League:

• Leverage your stash, gear, and Path Of Exile 2 Currency.

• Useful for testing builds and speeding through familiar content.

New League (Dawn of the Hunt):

• A fresh start with no access to previous characters or wealth.

• Ideal for a complete learning experience and immersion in the new systems.

While both paths are viable, starting fresh in the new league is highly recommended for understanding how patch 0.2.0 changes the leveling meta from the ground up.

2. The New Foundation: 100 Support Gems

Patch 0.2.0 introduced 100 new support gems, massively overhauling skill interactions and build customization. These gems are the centerpiece of fast and efficient leveling.

Key Support Gem Categories:

• Area of Effect (AoE) / Projectile Multipliers: Boosting clear speed and mob density efficiency.

• Flat Elemental Damage (Fire, Cold, Lightning): Enabling early game burst power.

• Utility Enhancers: Improved mobility, survivability, or casting speed.

Strategy:

• Experiment early to find what works best for your chosen skill.

• Don’t be afraid to link multiple supports even with limited sockets; some combinations are incredibly powerful early on.

• Consider swapping supports based on enemy types or zones.

Building around support gems early not only improves power output but also ensures smooth transitions into higher-level content.

3. Early Efficiency: Fast Start in Act 1

Act 1 sets the tone for the entire campaign. Starting strong can shave hours off your total leveling time.

Core Tips:

• Use Consistent Starters: Skills like Cascade, Lightning Rod, or Volcanic Orb offer strong early performance.

• Farm Early Zones: Spend a few extra minutes gathering scrolls, currency, and starter gear.

• Hit Level 5 Quickly: Before progressing beyond the third main zone.

Gear Priorities:

• Armor with Life & Resistances: Even one or two good early pieces can prevent deaths.

• Vendor Gear: Regularly check for flasks, rings with resists, and movement speed boots.

Zone Strategy:

• Focus on blue and rare packs for bonus XP and drops.

• Memorize the locations of quest objectives to avoid backtracking.

The goal is to hit levels 12-14 by the end of Act 1 for a smooth transition into Act 2.

4. Asarian Wisps: Added Challenge and Reward

Introduced in Grillwood, Asarian Wisps are dynamic, wraith-like spirits that roam the map.

Wisp Mechanics:

• Empower Monsters: Granting additional affixes and damage.

• Possess Rare/Unique Enemies: Turning them into miniboss-level threats.

• Drop Rune-Based Rewards: Boosts to damage, defense, or movement.

Risk vs. Reward:

• Slows leveling slightly due to increased fight difficulty.

• But adds significant XP density and unique early modifiers.

• Smart use of rune bonuses can give you power spikes that make the next zones trivial.

If your build can handle them without frequent deaths, it’s worth incorporating Wisps into your leveling route.

5. Act 2: First Ascendancy and Power Scaling

This is the act where your character begins to take form, and your build identity starts solidifying.

Leveling Goals:

• Reach Level 20-22 before tackling your first Ascendancy Trial.

• Start scaling your main damage types.

• Prioritize Lightning and Fire resistances as monster output ramps up.

Side Area Utilization:

• Currency Farms: Explore dungeons and caves rich in loot.

• Passive Point Quests: Always complete these for long-term power.

• Skill Gem Vendors: New offerings become available; check after leveling.

Efficient XP Zones:

• Dense monster layouts like The Forgotten Channel or The Infested Grove.

• Use movement skills and AoE supports to speed clear.

• Identify only the highest tier loot to save time.

A smooth Act 2 ends around level 30, allowing for an easy transition into Act 3 and stronger gear scaling.

6. Act 3: Defense and Consolidation

In Act 3, the enemy scaling starts to catch up, and survivability becomes more important than raw damage.

Defensive Preparation:

• Reach at least 75% elemental resistance.

• Upgrade to Tier 2+ flasks, especially for life and mana.

• Use vendor recipe flasks for instant healing setups.

Farming for Strength:

• Farm early Act 3 zones (e.g., Dustbark Trail, Twilight Steps) to reach level 32+.

• Focus on smooth XP gain rather than chasing loot.

• Upgrade gear only when needed to survive or sustain speed-clearing.

Bossing Tips:

• Study Patterns: Learn enemy windups, phases, and projectile spreads.

• Bring Instant Flasks: For burst survivability.

• Don’t Rush: A single boss death can cost you the time gained by skipping a farming loop.

The end of Act 3 usually sees your character at level 35-40, prepared for mapping and future ascendancies.

7. Beyond the Campaign: Leveling from 40 to 100

Once the campaign is completed, the real grind begins. From level 40 to 100, efficiency comes from knowledge of loot rotations, map density, and the best content for XP per hour.

Core XP Strategies:

• Focus on Dense Mapping: Use zones with high pack sizes.

• Rerun Favorable Wisps Areas: Even post-campaign, these offer XP and unique rune drops.

• Upgrade Weapons Every 10-15 Levels: Falling behind on damage will drastically slow progress.

Efficient Endgame Leveling Options:

• Echoes of the Ancients (League Mechanic): High XP/hour potential when done in batches.

• Map Rotations: Run maps with modifiers that favor your build (avoid heavy DoT if low on chaos res).

• Group Farming: Coordinate with others for party play if you're on softcore. Group scaling means more XP and loot per clear.

A realistic XP gain strategy will get you from level 40 to 70 in 8-12 hours of solid play, with 70 to 90 taking around 20 more hours. The final push from 90 to 100 is the real grind, often requiring optimized rotations, high damage efficiency, and minimal deaths.

Final Tips and Optimization

• Vendor Recipes Matter: Always use known recipes for resistance rings, weapon upgrades, and flasks.

• Socket Awareness: Four-link gear with the right color combo can outperform high-level rares.

• Log Progress: Know which zones give what XP/hour at your level.

• Avoid Burnout: Take breaks, switch zones, and don't chase 100 in a single sitting.

Conclusion

Leveling in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt under patch 0.2.0 is a far more nuanced experience than in previous versions. The new support gem system alone changes how players approach early damage and survivability. Combine that with the introduction of Asarian Wisps, new side content, and altered mob scaling, and you have an experience that rewards knowledge, planning, and flexibility.

By following this guide, you can navigate from level 1 to 100 in the most time-efficient manner possible, whether you're chasing leaderboard placement or simply trying to power up a new league-start character.

Good luck in Wraeclast—and may your orbs drop often.