D2R Leveling Guide: The Best Strategies To Reach Level 99

By Jesus Marquez | Created: April 12, 2024 | Last update: December 26, 2024 | Read Time: 8 minutes

A classic game more robust than ever, Diablo 2 Resurrected is a timeless experience that numerous players are still excited to play through and enjoy for years to come. This game is one of the masterpieces Blizzard created, and conquering all the secrets, classes, and items inside takes time, but it will be worth every second. With our leveling guide for D2R , you can enjoy the game while still building to their ideal level. 

D2R Leveling Guide First Steps

The General D2 leveling guide is based on the original game, so the farming process and zones are likely the same as the game launched 20 years ago. This is a complete guide, adjusted for the times; in doing so, veteran players can apply their existing knowledge. Though do consider as a new player, you may face some challenges. 

So, the first step you must take is to choose your class. You can pick among seven options: 

  • Barbarian 
  • Assassin
  • Druid 
  • Amazon 
  • Necromancer 
  • Sorceress 
  • Paladín 

Make sure to make your choice cautiously, as each class is unique, carrying different builds, abilities, and much more. Some are better than others, but you can still level up without a problem with our general Diablo 2 leveling guide, so let’s jump into business. 

D2R Leveling Guide

D2R Leveling Guide

After making your most important choice in-game, you will need to begin your leveling journey. Strategies will vary depending on whether you want to level your character solo or using multiplayer. We recommend focusing on multiplayer for leveling up faster since it is the most efficient way to do it, so your road to level 99 can be more pleasant. Still, there is a long way to go, so let’s embark on our journey to hit that magical number.

D2R Multiplayer Leveling

Multiplayer is the best option if you want to progress in Diablo 2 leveling because it offers a wide range of possibilities and increases efficiency in different areas. You can use the ‘/players’ command to increase your XP gain. In an overall experience, Multiplayer has more to offer for players who want to level up. Here’s how you can do it: 

Level 1 to 5

You will use Dean of Evil, which is part of Act 1, Quest 1. Practically, this is the first thing you will do after choosing and creating your character. As the first objective, this must be done in a full party or with a group of 8 teammates. With this quest, you can easily reach level 3-5. Once you complete this quest, you will have two options for your next spot to continue in this Diablo 2 Resurrected leveling guide. 

Level 5 to 13-15 

You will have two options here, let’s break them down: 

  • Option 1 Tristram-Runs: This is a common public game, and you will need Deckard Cain to be eligible for the person who creates the games. You must enter Stony Fields Waypoint and look for the red portal that will lead you directly to Tristram. You can find the Cairn Stones close to the road in the area. You must kill Rakanishu at the entrance and enter the portal. Once inside, you must kill the two elite mobs, create a new game, and repeat the process until you reach level 13 or more. Beware who is responsible for creating the game because you will need to head to the Dark Woods first and get the Scroll of Inifuss to participate. 
  • Option 2: Countess-Runs: This is a private game you can combine with Tristram-Runs. To play, open the game, enter Black Marsh Waypoint, and search for the Forgotten Tower. At least one Elite Group will spawn on each floor of the tower, so you must eliminate them. Some floors will generate in a certain way to spawn two Elite Groups. On floor 5, you can find an extra Elite Group in the middle of the room or any of the side rooms. You must defeat all the Elite Group, including The Countess. 

D2R Leveling Guide for 13 to 20 

If you are wondering in D2R where to level, Tombs Runs will be your main leveling spot for a while. You will require Canyon of the Magi Waypoint and Quest 5 Act completed. You must clear all Tal Rasha’s Tombs during the whole party. There are seven tombs distributed to create a triangle that goes from west to north to east of where the Canyon of the Magi Waypoint is. Usually, you will start on the far right or left Tomb with an O or an O) symbol. The main point is to clear monsters in each tomb and proceed to the next one. The most efficient way to do so is to head directly to the Chest room as quickly as possible with your team because you will find one of the 1-3 Elite Groups in the Tomb. For this method, you must go to the left-most direction and find the Chest Room easily. 

Level 20 to 24/25 

You can still use Tomb-Runs, but it’s not the most efficient way to reach level 25. So you can change your north and use Travincal-Runs. For this one, you should open games and enter Travincal using the Waypoint, head to the temple, and kill the High Council; repeat until you reach level 25. Another way is Cow-Runs; this is the best method, but you will need a good party composition. You can enter using one of your team members with a higher-level character, who will clear out The Secret Cow Level or if your group can do so.

Level 25 to 40 

For a considerable portion of the DR2 Leveling Guide, you will gain XP using Baal-Runs from the Waves in the Throne of Destruction. In this particular method, one in your party should be a Sorceress to help teleport to the Throne Of Destruction. Once you and your party are there, you must clean the room in front of Baal and kill the Waves before jumping into a new game. You can expect some XP after killing Baal, but the more important part is the drops. You can expect a clear-out around 7 to 8 minutes with a full party. 

Level 41 to 60 

This time, we will stay in the Baal-Runs, but this time, you must go with Nightmare difficulty. It’s the same process, but you will encounter fewer leveling spots compared to Normal. You will start to slow down around level 58, but this will be the best option to prepare for Hell difficulty.

diablo 2 resurrected leveling guide

Hell & Chaos Sanctuary: Level 60 to 99

On your next step in this D2R leveling guide you will go through hell, literally. For leveling, you must use Hell difficulty and play through it. If you are in Act 4 or 5, you will be ready to use the following areas for leveling: 

  • Chaos Sanctuary: This is the maximum-level area, but before entering, you should consider going with a team that will help you defeat each seal and kill each boss to collect all the XP. If you are new to this, we recommend you use the Leeching method. The only thing you should do is have someone carry you and stay alive for the XP. Still, you can participate and train until you are level 75 or more. 
  • Baal-Runs: Still a great option that can lead you to level 97-98 without a problem, mostly if you use Hell difficulty. You can get decent XP from the Waves in the Throne of Destruction. You can expect only three bosses to remain a decent XP, but it is still a great option. 
  • C-Baal-Runs: This is a combination of Chaos Sanctuary and regular Baal-Run. One player in your party should teleport to the Throne of Destruction, and the remaining players have to clear out the 3 Seal-Bosses in Chaos Sanctuary. This will create a downtime in the bridge to use teleporting again. 
  • Boss-Kills (Level 97 to 99): Once you are at the end of this D2R leveling guide, you will notice how the game will only give a significant XP amount by defeating three bosses: Diablo, Nihlathak, and Baal. 

D2 Leveling: Experience

Diablo 2 Resurrected has some differences from other RPGs and their XP gain. Where typically, XP is simply awarded for the completion of a task, in this case, these factors below may alter your gains: 

  • The difficulty you are playing. More challenging modes will give you more XP, but you will get penalized when you die. 
  • Character Level will influence the XP gains percentages 
  • Area Level will also make a difference in your XP gains and the level difference between your character and the monsters. 
  • If you are playing solo or multiplayer modes, since the XP distribution. 

During your journey with our D2R leveling guide, you can expect some downgrade regarding XP, even following every time you level up, since the rates go down depending on whether your level and the monster’s level are within five levels of difference. If you are above or below these, you will expect to obtain the maximum experience possible, but the rates decrease dramatically with every extra level outside. All of this is to prevent the low-level players from gaining tons of XP by partying with high-level players or players to level up on weaker monsters. 

On the other hand, if you play on Nightmare or Hell difficulty, you will notice that your character loses experience every time you die. The regulation will vary depending on the XP required to reach the next level, so it will be reduced by 5% in Nightmare and 10% in Hell.

leveling guide d2r

D2R Leveling Guide FAQ

Our journey through hell is just beginning, but if you want to smother the flames of your doubts, we've fortunately brought together the most frequently asked questions regarding this subject. Take a look: 

Is Diablo 2 Leveling Solo A Viable Option? 

You will have access to the same zones but with limitations on methods like C-Baal-Runs. You can still level up using the D2R leveling guide, but you will take more time to level if you do by using multiplayer. 

How Does XP Work In Diablo 2 Resurrected Multiplayer?

In this mode, you can expect to gain more XP since every time a teammate kills a monster in the same named area, you will increase by 35%. Furthermore, monsters will have more XP and hit points when you go after them with a group in the same game.

Where Are The D2R Level 85 Zones For Leveling?

For leveling, the best options on level 85 are Chaos Sanctuary and Baal-Runs, using Hell difficulty to gain the maximum XP possible. You can use a combination of both since they are the best zones for level 85. 

D2R Leveling Guide Summary

The path of leveling in D2R is full of monsters and bosses, but it is worth every second since you will build your character as you wish in less time. You can see that completing this guide will take time, so don’t forget to come back and see if there are more tips, tricks, and articles in our blog section. Moreover, if you want to buy D2R items, you can check our page to see what fits your character best. That’s all for now. See you soon in our next blog!