You want
To reach the level cap without wasting hours, and to know what is coming so you can plan your build.
This page gives you
The cap and a time range, a route by level band, the order of XP sources, and a per-class list of skill unlock levels taken from the official armory.
Checked against: Global patch Oct 7, 2026 · reviewed Oct 12, 2026.
Level cap and time to reach it
- Level cap: 45 (Global Season 1). Community source Stated in a developer livestream; it matches the official armory, where the 24 top characters we sampled (3 per class) were all level 45 on Oct 12, 2026.
- Time to 45: about 10 to 15 hours on a first character if you stick to the story. Community source Pre-launch estimate; there is no official figure, and side activities add more.
- Global launch: October 5, 2026. Official source
Community source PlayNews: Season 1 level cap 45 · observed October 12, 2026
Official source Official character armory (skill unlock levels, sampled) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source MeinMMO leveling article (Sep 2, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Official source Steam store page (global release date) · observed October 12, 2026
XP sources, best first
- Main story quests. Most of your XP to 45. Do them in order.
- Side quests and sealed dungeons, only when the story asks for a higher level than you have. They also give gear and Daevanion progress.
- Strongholds and repeat dungeon runs. Fine for gear, weak for XP.
- Grinding monsters. Last resort; every guide we checked ranks it lowest.
Community source MeinMMO leveling article (Sep 2, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source KeenGamer progression guide (Oct 3, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Route by level band
O = official data (armory), C = community source. Skill counts are the same for all eight classes.
| Levels | What unlocks | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1–11 | Active skills at 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10; passives at 1, 6, 9 (O) | Story only. Put each new skill on your bar as it arrives. |
| 12–20 | Actives at 12, 14 and 16 (your last new active); passives at 11, 13, 15, 17 (O). First Daevanion board, Nezekan, about level 12; Zikel about 20 (C) | Spend Daevanion points as soon as the board opens. Start side quests when the story stalls. |
| 21–29 | Passives at 21, 23, 25 (your last new passive) (O). Stigmas at 22 after the third Ascension quest; stigma slot 2 at 27 (C) | Do the Ascension quest at 22 right away. Pick stigmas for leveling first, not endgame. |
| 30–39 | Vaizel board about 30; stigma slots 3 and 4 at 32 and 37 (C) | Upgrade your weapon, then the weakest slot. Do not push enchant levels on gear you will replace. |
| 40–45 | Triniel board about 40, Azphel about 45 (C). Five boards in total: 88, 88, 88, 116 and 152 nodes (O) | Finish the story. At 45, item level about 1,000 opens the solo Ascension Trial (C). Swap leveling gear for regional quest rewards. |
Board unlock levels come from a planner built on global data, not from an official note. Check the in-game board if a level looks wrong.
Official source Official character armory (skill unlock levels, sampled) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source GameWith Daevanion planner (global data, Oct 6, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source MetaBot stigma guide (global client 2.0.3.0, updated Oct 10, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source KeenGamer progression guide (Oct 3, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source MeinMMO launch mistakes article (Sep 7, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Skill unlock levels by class
From the official armory: every class has 12 active and 10 passive skills, plus 13 stigma skills to choose from at level 22. Tap a class to see which skill arrives at which level.
Gladiator: 22 active and passive skills, 13 stigma options
| Level | New skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Keen Strike (active), Leaping Slam (active), Rending Blow (active), Survival Stance (passive) |
| 3 | Mocking Blade (active) |
| 4 | Overhead Slam (active) |
| 5 | Sword Aura Rampage (active) |
| 6 | Protection Armor (passive) |
| 7 | Ankle Slice (active) |
| 8 | Crushing Wave (active) |
| 9 | Blood Absorption (passive) |
| 10 | Rush Strike (active) |
| 11 | Identify Weakness (passive) |
| 12 | Aerial Snare (active) |
| 13 | Attack Preparation (passive) |
| 14 | Ruinous Blow (active) |
| 15 | Impact Hit (passive) |
| 16 | Defiance (active) |
| 17 | Destructive Impulse (passive) |
| 21 | Experienced Counterstrike (passive) |
| 22 | Stigma tab: 13 stigma skills to choose from |
| 23 | Survival Willpower (passive) |
| 25 | Murderous Burst (passive) |
Next: Gladiator build.
Templar: 22 active and passive skills, 13 stigma options
| Level | New skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Poach (active), Pummel (active), Vicious Strike (active), Enhance Health (passive) |
| 3 | Shield Smite (active) |
| 4 | Judgment (active) |
| 5 | Flash Rampage (active) |
| 6 | Warding Shield (passive) |
| 7 | Debilitating Smash (active) |
| 8 | Warding Strike (active) |
| 9 | Punishing Benediction (passive) |
| 10 | Shield Rush (active) |
| 11 | Ironclad Defense (passive) |
| 12 | Annihilate (active) |
| 13 | Guarding Seal (passive) |
| 14 | Punishment (active) |
| 15 | Impact Hit (passive) |
| 16 | Defiance (active) |
| 17 | Insulting Roar (passive) |
| 21 | Fury (passive) |
| 22 | Stigma tab: 13 stigma skills to choose from |
| 23 | Survival Willpower (passive) |
| 25 | Block Pain (passive) |
Next: Templar build.
Assassin: 22 active and passive skills, 13 stigma options
| Level | New skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Quick Slice (active), Savage Roar (active), Shadowstrike (active), Heightened Sixth Sense (passive) |
| 3 | Ambush (active) |
| 4 | Heart Gore (active) |
| 5 | Storm Rampage (active) |
| 6 | Exploit Weakness (passive) |
| 7 | Whirlwind Slice (active) |
| 8 | Flash Slice (active) |
| 9 | Apply Poison (passive) |
| 10 | Infiltrate (active) |
| 11 | Rear Smite (passive) |
| 12 | Shadow Fall (active) |
| 13 | Assault Stance (passive) |
| 14 | Insignia Explosion (active) |
| 15 | Impact Hit (passive) |
| 16 | Defiance (active) |
| 17 | Ambush Stance (passive) |
| 21 | Defense Break (passive) |
| 22 | Stigma tab: 13 stigma skills to choose from |
| 23 | Revitalization Contract (passive) |
| 25 | Determination (passive) |
Next: Assassin build.
Ranger: 22 active and passive skills, 13 stigma options
| Level | New skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Snare Shot (active), Snipe (active), Tempest Shot (active), Vigilant Eye (passive) |
| 3 | Marking Shot (active) |
| 4 | Drill Dart (active) |
| 5 | Arrow Scattershot (active) |
| 6 | Concentrated Fire (passive) |
| 7 | Gale Arrow (active) |
| 8 | Explosion Trap (active) |
| 9 | Wind Vigor (passive) |
| 10 | Burst Arrow (active) |
| 11 | Focused Eye (passive) |
| 12 | Suppressing Arrow (active) |
| 13 | Hunter's Resolve (passive) |
| 14 | Deadshot (active) |
| 15 | Unyielding Resolve (passive) |
| 16 | Defiance (active) |
| 17 | Rooting Eye (passive) |
| 21 | Melee Fire (passive) |
| 22 | Stigma tab: 13 stigma skills to choose from |
| 23 | Revitalization Contract (passive) |
| 25 | Hunter's Soul (passive) |
Next: Ranger build.
Sorcerer: 22 active and passive skills, 13 stigma options
| Level | New skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Firestorm (active), Flame Arrow (active), Ice Chain (active), Fire Mark (passive) |
| 3 | Bittercold Wind (active) |
| 4 | Blaze (active) |
| 5 | Flame Scattershot (active) |
| 6 | Robe of Earth (passive) |
| 7 | Frost (active) |
| 8 | Winter's Shackles (active) |
| 9 | Cold Snap (passive) |
| 10 | Frost Burst (active) |
| 11 | Robe of Flame (passive) |
| 12 | Wish of Concentration (active) |
| 13 | Absorb Essence (passive) |
| 14 | Hellfire (active) |
| 15 | Grace of Resistance (passive) |
| 16 | Defiance (active) |
| 17 | Robe of Cold (passive) |
| 21 | Grace of Enhancement (passive) |
| 22 | Stigma tab: 13 stigma skills to choose from |
| 23 | Revitalization Contract (passive) |
| 25 | Vitality Evaporation (passive) |
Next: Sorcerer build.
Spiritmaster: 22 active and passive skills, 13 stigma options
| Level | New skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cold Shock (active), Combustion (active), Summon: Fire Spirit (active), Spirit Strike (passive) |
| 3 | Summon: Water Spirit (active) |
| 4 | Jointstrike: Curse (active) |
| 5 | Rapid Scattershot (active) |
| 6 | Spirit Protection (passive) |
| 7 | Summon: Earth Spirit (active) |
| 8 | Dimensional Control (active) |
| 9 | Spirit's Descent (passive) |
| 10 | Summon: Wind Spirit (active) |
| 11 | Corrode (passive) |
| 12 | Soul's Cry (active) |
| 13 | Spirit Revitalization (passive) |
| 14 | Elemental Fusion (active) |
| 15 | Mental Focus (passive) |
| 16 | Defiance (active) |
| 17 | Consecutive Countercurrent (passive) |
| 21 | Spirit Communion (passive) |
| 22 | Stigma tab: 13 stigma skills to choose from |
| 23 | Revitalization Contract (passive) |
| 25 | Element Unification (passive) |
Next: Spiritmaster build.
Cleric: 22 active and passive skills, 13 stigma options
| Level | New skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Debilitating Mark (active), Earth's Retribution (active), Judgment Thunder (active), Warm Benediction (passive) |
| 3 | Divine Aura (active) |
| 4 | Chain of Torment (active) |
| 5 | Lightning Strike Scattershot (active) |
| 6 | Empyrean Lords' Benediction (passive) |
| 7 | Light of Regeneration (active) |
| 8 | Condemnation (active) |
| 9 | Empyrean Lord's Grace (passive) |
| 10 | Healing Light (active) |
| 11 | Healing Enhancement (passive) |
| 12 | Radiant Recovery (active) |
| 13 | Immortal Veil (passive) |
| 14 | Bolt (active) |
| 15 | Heal Block (passive) |
| 16 | Defiance (active) |
| 17 | Prayer of Concentration (passive) |
| 21 | Earth's Grace (passive) |
| 22 | Stigma tab: 13 stigma skills to choose from |
| 23 | Survival Willpower (passive) |
| 25 | Radiant Benediction (passive) |
Next: Cleric build.
Chanter: 22 active and passive skills, 13 stigma options
| Level | New skills |
|---|---|
| 1 | Incandescent Blow (active), Onslaught (active), Rushing Smash (active), Blessing of Life (passive) |
| 3 | Impactful Crush (active) |
| 4 | Dark Crush (active) |
| 5 | Gust Rampage (active) |
| 6 | Crossguard (passive) |
| 7 | Heat Wave Blow (active) |
| 8 | Recuperation (active) |
| 9 | Protection Circle (passive) |
| 10 | Tremor Crush (active) |
| 11 | Inspiring Spell (passive) |
| 12 | Wave Blow (active) |
| 13 | Attack Preparation (passive) |
| 14 | Spinning Strike (active) |
| 15 | Impact Hit (passive) |
| 16 | Defiance (active) |
| 17 | Raging Spell (passive) |
| 21 | Earth's Promise (passive) |
| 22 | Stigma tab: 13 stigma skills to choose from |
| 23 | Survival Willpower (passive) |
| 25 | Wind's Promise (passive) |
Next: Chanter build.
Official source Official character armory (skill unlock levels, sampled) · observed October 12, 2026
Data patch marker: global-2026-10-07.
Sampled on three level-45 characters per class (NA/EU); all three had the same skill list. Cooldowns, costs and max skill levels are not in the official data, so they are not listed here.
Global vs Korea: leveling differences
- Stigma slots: global stops at 4 Community source; Korea raised its limit to 5 in March 2026 Official source. Recent Korean stigma setups assume one more slot.
- Classes: Korea has a ninth class that global does not have, so ignore its leveling routes. Official source
- Level numbers: Korea raised its cap to 50 in July 2026 Official source; global caps at 45. Korean leveling videos may use a different patch, so trust the in-game quest level over a Korean route. More: Global vs Korea.
Official source NCSoft press release, Korean update: stigma slots raised to five (Mar 25, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Official source NCSoft press release, Korean update: level cap 50, Brawler, stigma level 25 (Jul 6, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Community source AllThingsHow stigma article (updated Oct 9, 2026) · observed October 12, 2026
Official source Official character armory (skill unlock levels, sampled) · observed October 12, 2026