New World: Aeternum has revamped the game’s leveling experience, optimizing its progression for the new major update. And with the current patch, several changes have been made to some quests and EXP gain. While the specifics will differ, you can still expect the same type of activities when power leveling to 65. If you want to hit the current New World: Aeternum level cap, this guide will show you the best way to reach your goal. 

New World: Aeternum Leveling Overview

AGS adjusted the EXP requirement to reach level 65, which now totals 1,838,011 experience points. Fortunately, many of the game's quests were also adjusted, and you can gain as much as 1,405,220 EXP and more just by doing all the main scenario quests. While doing these MSQs, you’ll also gain additional EXP points from all the related activities, such as missions, explorations, side quests, and kill quests, which should automatically help you reach level 62.

In general, questing grants you not only the most EXP, but also plenty of other rewards. Other activities that provide EXP include obtaining collectibles, such as lore notes, gathering, and PvP. 

While it may have been the case before that you could grind specific areas and complete certain side quests to progress your level, you can now easily reach level 65 by doing the MSQ plus a few side quests. However, there are certain specific side quests or activities that are still worth doing while you level up. 

Things to Do While Leveling

Again, certain activities are worth doing as you complete MSQs and level up to 65. These side missions may reward you with essential tools or significant EXP boosts. Here are things you should do while progressing your character:

  • Grizzly Neighbors Side Story (accepted from Holt Hutchinson in Brightwood): This quest rewards you with the Bear Tooth, a skinning knife that provides excellent perks for this activity.
  • Story of the Stones Side Story (accepted from Architect Na Li in Weaver's Fen): This one gives you the Ancient Mining Pick upon completion, a good quality Mining Pickaxe until you get a higher rarity.
  • Side Quests in Brimstone: Tons of side missions in Brimstone provide additional applicable rewards aside from EXP, so they are worth doing while in the area. Examples include Honoring the 9th (drops the Blade of the 9th), The Silver Crows (drops the Silver Crows Satchel), and other tasks that drop 650 Gear Level items.
  • MSQ Expeditions: Players can skip MSQ Expeditions if they prefer running solo or can't find groups to run them with. However, we highly advise gamers to do them as much as possible, as they provide significantly more experience and rewards than regular quests.
  • Season Pass: Generally, you want to accomplish bits and pieces of the Season Pass whenever convenient. You can complete some of them as you progress through the MSQ or explore certain areas. Even if you don't buy the pass, you can still get tons of great rewards, which include New World gold and crafting materials. However, if you do purchase it, you can obtain powerful drops and artifacts like the Cowl of Power and Grace, which are all 700 Gear Level items.
  • Influence Race: This activity will be a good break from doing MSQs. Influence Races provide great weapon mastery points, which you’ll need as you level up. Taking some time off questing and participating in this activity should help you become more efficient with your chosen weapons.
  • Faction Quests: The first three you do daily provide 5x the reward you usually get. To maximize your total EXP gain per session, you should try to complete them before each reset. However, you must join a faction beforehand, so make sure to find a suitable or open guild via the representative.

Side Notes:

  • You need the Rise of the Angry Earth DLC to access the Elysian Wilds, which provide most of the EXP points needed for leveling past 60. If you don't have the DLC, you should stay and grind mobs and side quests in the Shattered Mountain and Brimstone Sands regions. They provide the highest EXP drops outside the paid DLC.

Summary Note:

  • Doing the MSQ while doing convenient side quests and activities will quickly get you to level 65.
  • Go out of your way to farm and complete side quests and activities that drop excellent and valuable rewards.