Diablo 4 Season 15 Leveling Guide: Fast Level 1–70

Your step-by-step route with War Plans, Helltides and the Undercity, including Rebirth and progression to Torment 12.

Want to reach Level 70 quickly in Diablo 4 Season 15 and move straight into endgame progression? The key is a clear sequence: start your War Plans, unlock a strong experience bonus and minimize downtime between runs.

This guide covers a leveling strategy for all classes. It assumes a seasonal start with Lord of Hatred, an available campaign skip and access to the expansion content mentioned below. If you need to finish the campaign first, join this route once the required systems become available. For your class's skill choices, see our separate Season 15 leveling builds.

Quick Reference: Your Route from Level 1 to Endgame

Keep this map open while playing: Current Helltide and maggot spawn locations on Helltides.com

Recommended for your first run: Start with Helltide War Plans. At Level 25, decide whether to switch to the Undercity or continue an already productive Hellwyrm farm. Once a route works, stick with it. Throughout the route, complete quick Whispers and turn in at 10 Grim Favors.

Capstone Dungeon level ranges are recommendations, not entry requirements. If a dungeon is still too difficult, keep leveling and return later. Your unlocked War Plan bonuses and actual combat strength matter most when deciding when to move on.

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Whispers of the Dead: Quick XP While Leveling and in Endgame

Once Whispers of the Dead are unlocked, regularly pick up quick objectives. Prioritize Whispers along your farming route and short boss detours. At 10 Grim Favors, turn them in and claim your reward before collecting more.

• Check the Whisper marker and its remaining time before teleporting.
• Kill the boss if it is available and you can defeat it quickly.
• If it is missing or the fight takes too long, resume your main farm.
• Turn in at the Tree of Whispers or another available turn-in location when the bar is full.
• Return to the Undercity, Helltide or your War Plan afterward.

This is not an endlessly repeatable farm: Killing the same boss again does not automatically award another five Grim Favors. Its Whisper must be active again. Other players can attack you in PvP zones; for Hardcore, we recommend safer Whispers outside these areas.

Good times to check: Town visits, breaks between War Plans and Helltide downtime. Avoid repeatedly interrupting a productive maggot farm for long detours.

Step 1: Create a Seasonal Character or Choose Rebirth

You can create a new seasonal character or use Rebirth on an existing Eternal Realm character. Both start the season at Level 1. Rebirth preserves your class, name and appearance, among other details. Move all equipped items and inventory contents into your Eternal Stash first. They do not carry over into the season.

• Choose the class you want to play this season.
• Decide between a new character and Rebirth.
• Check campaign skip and confirm the Seasonal Realm.
• Start on Normal.
• Keep your chosen leveling build available as a second reference.

Our Rebirth guide explains the requirements in detail.

Step 2: Levels 1–14 — Set Up Your War Plans

Goal: Start improving the activities you will use to level as early as possible.

• Travel to Temis and start your first War Plan.
• Favor a plan with several Helltide activities. Use the available reroll option if it gives you a better plan.
• Select your Mercenary in Temis and check the Horadric Cube.
• Activate your Pet to collect gold and materials.
• Follow the seasonal introductory quest once available until the relevant seasonal systems are unlocked.
• Begin the Helltide objectives in your active plan.

The exact starting location of the Season 15 quest is not confirmed for this PTR version. Follow the seasonal quest marker in-game at launch.

How to Complete Your First Helltide Objective

• Open the map and travel to the active Helltide.
• Kill dense groups of enemies and collect Aberrant Cinders.
• Fully complete the displayed War Plan objective. Opening any random chest is not necessarily enough.
• Pick up nearby Whispers along the same route.
• Continue to the next step of your plan and claim completed plan rewards.

Your first runs build up your War Plan bonuses. The specialized farming method is not fully ready until those bonuses are unlocked. At your next town stop, also check your Whisper bar and both PvP boss objectives.

Move on when: Your War Plan is running, your Mercenary is active and you have reached Level 15.

Step 3: Levels 15–24 — Activate Your Class Mechanic and Maintain Your Pace

• At Level 15, check your class mechanic and activate the appropriate options. If a class quest is still required, complete it now. Do not assume it will automatically complete: this depends on your class and existing account unlocks.
• Spend new skill points regularly according to your build planner.
• Continue completing Helltide objectives and suitable activities in your War Plans.
• Try Hard if normal enemy packs die quickly and you survive comfortably.
• Stay on Normal if fights take noticeably longer on Hard.

Practical rule: A higher difficulty is worthwhile when you can earn its extra rewards without frequent deaths, lengthy fights or repeated trips back to the action.

Move on when: You reach Level 25. Now choose your main farming route.

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Step 4: Level 25 Onward — Choose Your Fast Leveling Route

The Undercity and Helltides are the two main XP routes in this PTR version. Which gets you to Level 70 faster depends primarily on your unlocked War Plan bonuses and actual clear speed.

Our provisional recommendation: If your main goal is Level 70, the Undercity is a good default once it becomes available in War Plans at Level 25. If you have already developed your Helltide bonuses and reliably get maggots and experience orbs, stay there. Building up the other route from scratch also costs time.

Route A: Undercity — Experience Through Attunement Ranks

Target node: Jade Epiphany in the Kurast Undercity War Plan tree. Look for the effect that generates experience orbs as you gain Attunement ranks.

Unlock it first:

• From Level 25, choose War Plans with Undercity activities.
• Complete the required Undercity steps as directly as possible.
• During this setup phase, focus on finishing the activity. Kill enemies as needed for time, survival and access to the boss.
• Invest your first suitable point in Jade Epiphany.

Provisional benchmark: Four Undercity activity completions for the first required point. Check your actual progress in the tree: these are individual activity steps, not four full War Plans.

Then repeat this loop:

• Enter the Undercity and move quickly through the dungeon.
• Activate Beacons and defeat enemies to gain Attunement.
• Collect the experience orbs yourself each time you gain an Attunement rank.
• Reach Attunement Rank 4.
• Head straight to the boss, defeat it, collect your reward and start another run.

Key point: Once the node is unlocked, Rank 4 is part of your XP route. Simply rushing the boss misses the main experience bonus. Before unlocking the node, the priority is fast activity completions.

Route B: Helltide — Farm Hellwyrms and Maggots

Target nodes: Hellmouth, followed by Writhe and Rot in the Helltide tree.

The early node gives you a chance to spawn maggots. The later upgrade makes them reliable. Provisional benchmark: Four Helltide activity steps initially, then ten more for the next key upgrade. Check the actual point requirements and effects in-game.

• Prioritize Helltide steps in your War Plans.
• Invest your points in the two nodes listed above.
• Build your Threat meter by fighting. Look for Hellwyrm spawns at higher Threat.
• Move through the zone to additional spawn locations.
• Kill the maggots that appear and collect their experience orbs.
• Open useful chests for gear and materials before unused Cinders expire.
• Complete convenient Whispers and active War Plan steps along the way.

When Should You Switch Routes?

• Undercity runs are fast: Stay there until 70. Unlocking a node in another activity is not a reason to abandon a productive run of clears.
• You fail the Undercity timer or boss: Check your difficulty and weapon. Fill gear gaps through Helltides, vendors or plan rewards.
• Your Helltide produces very few maggots: Check your nodes, Threat and spawn route first.
• Your Helltide is working well: Keep using it instead of building up the Undercity purely for its theoretical potential.

Step 5: Around Levels 30–40 — Complete Your First Capstone Dungeon

Suggested timing: First Capstone Dungeon at around Levels 30–40, often near Level 35.

Open Season Rank, select your current rank's Capstone Dungeon objective and show it on the map. Check the required difficulty and any remaining prerequisites. Completing it advances your Season Rank progress and opens up further rewards.

Fit it into a natural break, such as between Helltides or during your next gear stop. For skill and Paragon points, check both dungeon rewards and rank rewards, and claim anything you have unlocked.

• Check that the required objective or dungeon access is available.
• Replace outdated weapons and address obvious defensive gaps beforehand.
• Complete the dungeon when your character can clear it quickly.
• Spend the skill points you earn immediately.
• Return to your XP route afterward.

If you get stuck: End the attempt, gain more levels or an important upgrade, then return. A long struggle for a few extra points can slow down your entire run.

Step 6: Levels 50–70 — Prepare Pit Access and Finish Leveling

Suggested timing: Second Capstone Dungeon at around Levels 50–60, or later if your gear is weaker.

Select the second Capstone Dungeon through Season Rank and track its objective on the map. Specifically check the Pit unlock in Season Rank, the required difficulty and any missing rank objectives. Complete the listed prerequisites and claim available rank rewards. Then confirm that Pit access is unlocked.

• Complete the second Capstone Dungeon once it is comfortably manageable.
• If your XP farm is particularly productive, you can postpone this detour until Level 70.
• Keep repeating your Undercity or Helltide loop until Level 70.
• Avoid lengthy detours for minor item upgrades at this stage.

Character leveling continues past Level 60. The transition to Paragon begins at Level 70.

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Quick Checklist for Every Town Stop

• Whispers: Full bar? Turn in. Check quick, active PvP boss objectives.
• War Plan: Completion reward available? Claim it and start your next plan.
• Season Rank: Check pending unlocks, Capstone Dungeons and rank rewards.
• Character: Spend new skill or Paragon points.
• Gear: Equip clear upgrades and empty your inventory.
• Bonuses: Check your Elixir, Mercenary and unlocked seasonal rewards.

Useful Upgrades During Your Farm

• Damage drops noticeably: Check your equipped weapon and your leveling build's essential Aspects first.
• You die frequently: Add Life, Armor, appropriate Resistances and reliable defensive effects.
• Travel takes too long: Use available Movement Speed and mobility skills.
• Inventory full: Handle items together at a vendor or Blacksmith instead of comparing every drop individually.
• An important Aspect is missing: A short, targeted detour can be worthwhile if it immediately improves your build.
• Materials are limited: Temper useful pieces selectively. Avoid expensive perfection on gear you will replace within minutes.

Experience: Use Available Bonuses Without Interrupting Your Route

Use an available Elixir with an experience bonus if you meet its level requirement. Check during town stops that the buff is still active. A small bonus is not worth a long material hunt.

Splinter of Lies can increase your bonus experience but keeps you permanently Weakened and Vulnerable. Check the current item tooltip for its exact experience bonus; this PTR route does not assume a fixed percentage. Consider it once you actually own it and can equip it. This route does not depend on a guaranteed early source. Do not assume it boosts every quest or experience-orb reward, or that identical Splinters stack. Soul Splinters and PTR tooltip notes

Recommendation: Use the Splinter only if the extra danger does not reduce your pace. A safe route takes priority, especially in Hardcore.

Seasonal Content: Plan Around Confirmed Benefits

The PTR Challenge Dungeons test a system whose encounters are expected to change for the season launch. For that reason, this route does not make every portal visit or a specific seasonal reward mandatory.

Complete short seasonal objectives when they unlock a required feature or fit naturally into your route. Do not interrupt a fast XP farm for every unfamiliar event.

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Step 7: Level 70 — Prepare Your Character for Torment 1

Your goal now changes: Earn Paragon and build the strength needed to farm higher Torment difficulties efficiently.

• Open Season Rank, check your first two Capstone Dungeons and complete any missing rank objectives and dungeon clears. Confirm that Pit access is unlocked before planning your first run.
• Start on a difficulty you can handle safely, ideally Penitent.
• Replace outdated gear with Level 70 drops, vendor purchases, Obol purchases or suitable Blacksmith recipes.
• Temper useful pieces and fit in your build's essential Aspects.
• Use suitable Runewords if you have the required Runes.
• Keep farming experience and spend Paragon toward a strong Legendary node whose effect your build can use.

Benchmark: Around Paragon 25–40 to prepare your first major power increase. This is not a mandatory number. The actual path and benefit depend on your Paragon board.

Pit access and Torment unlocks are separate steps: Once you have Pit access, successfully complete Pit Tier 10 to unlock Torment 1. If the run is too difficult, return to your XP farm and improve the specific weakness holding you back.

Step 8: Torment 1–3 — Get Your Endgame Build Working

Goal: First establish the requirements that make your endgame build reliable.

• Earn more Paragon points through your successful farming route.
• Keep completing quick Whispers, check active PvP boss objectives and turn in at 10 Grim Favors.
• Work toward the next strong nodes in your starter Paragon setup.
• Obtain the core Aspects your endgame setup needs.
• Use saved keys for Lair Boss rewards whose loot tables contain your required Uniques.
• Check available Cube recipes as another way to obtain a crucial item.
• Attempt the next Torment unlock after a meaningful power increase.

Switch to your endgame build once you have its required items and resource sustain. An incomplete endgame setup can be slower than your working leveling build.

On Torment 1, check the next Capstone Dungeon in Season Rank. Track its objective on the map and complete it when access and combat strength allow. Claim the rank rewards you unlock afterward.

Move on when: Your core mechanic and resource sustain work reliably, and the next unlocked Torment tier does not slow your farm down.

Step 9: Torment 4–5 — Develop Glyphs, Runes and Capstone Progress

• Run the Pit for Torment unlocks and Glyph progression.
• Focus your first Glyph upgrades on the strongest Glyphs you actually use.
• Use Undercity runs and suitable rewards when you need Runes.
• Add any missing offensive and defensive Aspects.
• Check your next useful Legendary Paragon node.
• Complete remaining Capstone Dungeons once their objectives and requirements are met.

Work through the remaining Capstone Dungeon and Season Rank objectives in the order shown. Their actual requirements determine when you can proceed. If you can safely complete a stage earlier, you do not need to wait until Torment 4 or 5.

Move on when: Your build works as a whole, important Glyphs are active and you can handle the next farming difficulty without constantly stopping to survive.

Step 10: Torment 6–7 — Address Specific Weaknesses

These Torment ranges are guideposts, not fixed entry gates. Make these upgrades earlier whenever they are available and useful.

Check how your systems work together:

• Do your useful items have appropriate Tempers?
• Are your planned Runewords functioning?
• Have you equipped the essential Uniques and Aspects?
• Do you meet the conditions of your Legendary Paragon nodes?
• Is your Talisman equipped with suitable options?
• Are you missing Mercenary skills or rewards you can already claim?

Choose your next activity based on your biggest current limitation. More Paragon cannot replace a missing mandatory Aspect. Another boss run does little if the upgrade you really need is a stronger Glyph.

Step 11: Torment 8–9 — Complete Your Endgame Paragon and Defenses

• Switch to the appropriate endgame Paragon setup once you have enough points.
• After changing your boards, check every equipped Glyph and whether its conditions are met.
• Complete the Talisman bonuses intended for your build.
• Masterwork good items you expect to keep for a while.
• Strengthen your defensive Aspects and protective effects.
• Attempt higher Pit tiers after making these upgrades.

Do not rely on a single Toughness number. Resistance gaps, protection without temporary buffs and how you handle boss mechanics also matter. One universal Toughness target is not reliable for every class. Our defenses and Toughness guide (currently in German) provides further help.

Step 12: Torment 10–12 — Make Higher Difficulty Worthwhile

Check the difficulty selection screen for the Pit requirement of your next Torment tier, then select the appropriate run at the Artificer's Obelisk. The full mapping for Torment 2–12 still needs verification against the live season.

Repeat this loop for every further step up: Identify your limiting factor, run the appropriate activity, equip the upgrade, attempt the next unlock and then choose your best farming difficulty.

Torment 12 is a long-term progression goal. It is not a requirement for worthwhile endgame play. Completing normal farming runs on Torment 12 also does not automatically mean you can quickly defeat the toughest boss on that difficulty.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Season 15 Leveling

What Is the Best Leveling Strategy Right Now?

For this PTR plan, we recommend starting with Helltide War Plans and choosing a focused XP route at Level 25: Undercity with Jade Epiphany or Helltide with the maggot nodes. Which is faster overall depends on setup time, movement, gear and the final patch. No universal winner has been confirmed for the live season.

Are the PvP Zone Bosses Worth Doing While Leveling?

Yes, if their Whispers are active and you can defeat them quickly. Each of the two zone bosses then awards five Grim Favors. Together they provide enough for one turn-in. Check the map first and do not wait around for missing spawns.

Do I Need to Change Activities Every Level?

No. Once your experience bonus is unlocked, you can repeat your chosen route until Level 70. Interruptions are mainly worthwhile for important unlocks or upgrades that solve a noticeable weakness.

Does Rebirth Give Me a Faster Start?

It lets you reuse your existing character. No additional XP or gear advantage has been announced. The same leveling route applies to both ways of starting the season.

Must I Complete Capstone Dungeons at the Listed Levels?

No. The numbers are suggested timings. Complete the dungeons when you have access and enough combat strength. Plan to finish the first two before starting your Torment progression.

How Long Does Level 1–70 Take?

There is no reliable comparison here covering every class under equivalent Season 15 launch conditions. Individual record times are not a universal benchmark. Follow the milestones and avoid unnecessary downtime.

Does This Route Work Solo?

Yes. It is written for a self-sufficient seasonal start. An organized group may use a different approach. This guide requires neither a carry nor items prepared by a second seasonal character.

What If the XP Nodes Change Before Launch?

Check the current tooltips first. If one of the bonuses described here no longer works, do not blindly follow its specialized farm. Use quick War Plans, Helltides and convenient Whispers until the updated route has been verified.