Power Leveling is really only faster for all classes up to level 15, and then it is only faster than the solo dps grind (until level 44). However, considering it requires one player to be about level 50 or higher and is more easily performed by healers than any other class, the PL’er should simply grind dungeons with the PL’ee after reaching lvl 15 unless both are dps.
Fates are not the fastest way to level up with other players who are high level, so grinding fates is only advised when two dps are of the same (or close to the same) level.
Level 1-15
STRATEGY:
For the sake of safety, and the sake of accuracy, you should grind mobs within 5-7 levels of the PL’ee.The strategy is to have the PL’ee (the low level) use an attack to aggro mobs, while the PL’er (high level) keeps them alive and kills the mobs. This is the order of ease by PL’er class
Easiest>Hardest
WHM>SCH>AST>Ranged>BLM>SMN>DRG>NIN>MNK>DRK>WAR>PLD
I really don't recommend performing this as something other than healer but it can be done.
The main point is to keep the PL’ee from receiving or sustaining damage/aggro and killing the mobs in a timely manner.
Healers: use cleric stance and focus target is nice for safety if you lose your target
WHM(requires lvl 45): Use regen on PL’ee, keep this cycling. You dont need to unclick target.As soon as a tick of regen hits it will draw mob aggro to you. When 3-5 gather, pop holy. Keep the PL’ee in line with pacing.
SCH(requires level 46): Keep alodquium on PL’ee or cycle a macro that causes Selene/Eos to constantly use embrace on them. You dont need to unclick target. Pop Miasma 2 as you pass by the aggro’d mobs, 1 blast will kill most every mob but you can use 2 blast to ensure it/quicken the pace, however this is not indefinitely sustainable. its best to let 3-5 mobs gather up.
AST(requires lvl 52): Focus Target the PL’ee. Use Diurnal sect (easier but possible in nocturnal.) Cycle aspected benefict on the PL’ee. You DO need to unclick PL’ee and click on mobs.Use gravity to destroy mobs. wait for 3-5 mobs to gather.
Ranged: Use your basic attack to kill mobs as soon as the PL’ee attacks them. If group gathers, pop aoe. Take breaks to recover PL’ee health as appropriate.
BLM: Use scathe to kill mobs as soon as the PL’ee attacks them. If group gathers, pop aoe(with swift cast). Take breaks to recover PL’ee health as appropriate.
SMN: Use pet and Ruin 2 to kill mobs as soon as the PL’ee attacks them. If group gathers, pop pet aoe. Use physic to recover PL’ee health as appropriate.
Melee/Tank:Use your basic attack to kill mobs as soon as the PL’ee attacks them. If group gathers, pop aoe. Take breaks to recover PL’ee health as appropriate.
LOCATIONS:
Level 1-3:Central Thanalan (21,19)
Level 3-7:Central Thanalan (17,15)
Level 7-13:Central Thanalan (26,8)
Level 13-15:Western Thanalan (12,11)
Then perform dungeons as they are the quickest way to level. Remember Guildhests first time completions are for every class as well.
If both players are dps after level 15 of the PL’ee:
Keep up til 17 or so. Follow the Hunting log of the PL’ee until you come across some near level (3-7 levels higher depending on what you got/what you can handle) high density mobs while in queue for dungeon. Or Fate/Leve Grind while in queue for dungeon in these areas
Fates are not the fastest way to level up with other players who are high level, so grinding fates is only advised when two dps are of the same (or close to the same) level.
Level 1-15
STRATEGY:
For the sake of safety, and the sake of accuracy, you should grind mobs within 5-7 levels of the PL’ee.The strategy is to have the PL’ee (the low level) use an attack to aggro mobs, while the PL’er (high level) keeps them alive and kills the mobs. This is the order of ease by PL’er class
Easiest>Hardest
WHM>SCH>AST>Ranged>BLM>SMN>DRG>NIN>MNK>DRK>WAR>PLD
I really don't recommend performing this as something other than healer but it can be done.
The main point is to keep the PL’ee from receiving or sustaining damage/aggro and killing the mobs in a timely manner.
Healers: use cleric stance and focus target is nice for safety if you lose your target
WHM(requires lvl 45): Use regen on PL’ee, keep this cycling. You dont need to unclick target.As soon as a tick of regen hits it will draw mob aggro to you. When 3-5 gather, pop holy. Keep the PL’ee in line with pacing.
SCH(requires level 46): Keep alodquium on PL’ee or cycle a macro that causes Selene/Eos to constantly use embrace on them. You dont need to unclick target. Pop Miasma 2 as you pass by the aggro’d mobs, 1 blast will kill most every mob but you can use 2 blast to ensure it/quicken the pace, however this is not indefinitely sustainable. its best to let 3-5 mobs gather up.
AST(requires lvl 52): Focus Target the PL’ee. Use Diurnal sect (easier but possible in nocturnal.) Cycle aspected benefict on the PL’ee. You DO need to unclick PL’ee and click on mobs.Use gravity to destroy mobs. wait for 3-5 mobs to gather.
Ranged: Use your basic attack to kill mobs as soon as the PL’ee attacks them. If group gathers, pop aoe. Take breaks to recover PL’ee health as appropriate.
BLM: Use scathe to kill mobs as soon as the PL’ee attacks them. If group gathers, pop aoe(with swift cast). Take breaks to recover PL’ee health as appropriate.
SMN: Use pet and Ruin 2 to kill mobs as soon as the PL’ee attacks them. If group gathers, pop pet aoe. Use physic to recover PL’ee health as appropriate.
Melee/Tank:Use your basic attack to kill mobs as soon as the PL’ee attacks them. If group gathers, pop aoe. Take breaks to recover PL’ee health as appropriate.
LOCATIONS:
Level 1-3:Central Thanalan (21,19)
Level 3-7:Central Thanalan (17,15)
Level 7-13:Central Thanalan (26,8)
Level 13-15:Western Thanalan (12,11)
Then perform dungeons as they are the quickest way to level. Remember Guildhests first time completions are for every class as well.
If both players are dps after level 15 of the PL’ee:
Keep up til 17 or so. Follow the Hunting log of the PL’ee until you come across some near level (3-7 levels higher depending on what you got/what you can handle) high density mobs while in queue for dungeon. Or Fate/Leve Grind while in queue for dungeon in these areas
Level 44-51
Dzmael Darkhold
(Have not run speed comparisons with Palace of the Dead)
STRATEGY:
This requires a light (4 person) party of players currently, but not necessarily the balanced setup, however you will definitely need a healer. No one needs to be over leveled for this, so all members can be level 44. This power leveling strategy uses an abuse of mechanics. On the DD first floor there are puddles of light that offer protection against the first bosses aoe blasts. These puddles offer ridiculous damage reduction and this is the mechanic we shall abuse. The goal is to grab all the mobs on the first floor and run to the last puddle and then aoe damage them down to nothing. Then simply leave via duty finder and repeat. The experience rate is roughly 60k per 5 mins. A FULL GROUP IS NECESSARY TO AVOID PENALTY FOR DOING THIS, OTHERWISE LEAVING WILL CAUSE A 30 MIN LOCK OUT. Now onto the specifics.
Tanking easiest to hardest
DRK>WAR/PLD>SMN (TItan pet)
The difficulty with tanking this PL is not the damage mostly but maintaining aggro. Run by all mobs hit with any attack. You just need to initiate pulling the group. Keep running til you reach the last room. Grab all the groups, run in to the puddle of light and use the shelves to get all the enemies to stack up with line of sight. Then spam your aoe emnity move and span out your cooldowns to help the healer.
DRKs will find this really easy with unleash. Just keep your mp up with the mp restore combo and blood price.
WAR will have to cross class flash for this and will still find it difficult, but try your best to maintain aggro over the crowd with Overpower and Flash. Invigorate helps. as well as. a bard or nin for tp restore.
PLD flash your brains out and use mp combo to keep it up.
SMN hardest possible way to do this probably but the mobs go quicker and the smn can get levels out of this too on top of 2 other dps. This requires great control of your pet, so if you don't have the skill set or hot keys for it. dont try this. Pull out titan. Have him on Steady. This will change but for now leave him like that. Aggro all the mobs the same way and use shelves to stack the enemies. You’ll probably have to have healer stack there too. Use titan aoe to grab all the aggro. then place him on sic, he’ll do fine on his own after the intial aoe. Use sustain to help healer keep him alive but also pop aoes like you would in a dps role.
DPS easiest to hardest
Caster>Range>Melee
Everyone should read SMN Tank section if you plan on using one. Do not attack any mobs until the tank establishes emnity over the group.
Casters just do your usually aoe routines. BLM you may want to consider applying thunder II or III to mobs for thundercloud if you wanna have some fun, but with the vast amount of targets fire II/blizzard II is much quicker. SMN if you use obey, garuda’s contagion with your bane is far more damage than ifrit radiant shield on this.
Range dps Use tp song/turret and blast out your aoes, dont forget to use the free rain of death every 15 seconds. When TP song/turret has ran out your mp. you may want to consider switching to applying dots to all the targets, its much cheaper, unless they are almost dead.
Melees
MNK the complications of monk allow you free reign here. Use Howling fists whenever possible but you can choose to use arms of the destroyer and rockbreaker or to go around applying your dot while building greased lightning.
DRG pop off gcds whenever possible but heavy thrust>ring of thorns seems to be your best bet or apply dots.
NIN doton and katon (when doton is already up) whenever possible. Deathblossom the rest of the time or apply your dots.
Healing easiest to hardest
SCH>WHM/AST
Everyone should read SMN Tank section if you plan on using one, focus target the titan pet if you are. Do not attack any mobs until the tank establishes emnity over the group. Healing may be necessary before reaching the final light puddle. Move (eos/selene as well) into the corner for shelf line of sight if this happens.
SCH: you can dps more than the other healers. Pop off your dots with a bane while in cleric stance for some nice damage whenever healing permits.
WHM: Healing might allow you time to pop holy however I do not recommend this until the mobs are almost dead. If you blast away all your mp you’ll wipe. Apply dots instead when you get dps time.
AST: Cards all day e’ry day. Look at resources to determine whether to sacrifice or use ewer and spire cards. If healing permits apply dots.
Dzmael Darkhold
(Have not run speed comparisons with Palace of the Dead)
STRATEGY:
This requires a light (4 person) party of players currently, but not necessarily the balanced setup, however you will definitely need a healer. No one needs to be over leveled for this, so all members can be level 44. This power leveling strategy uses an abuse of mechanics. On the DD first floor there are puddles of light that offer protection against the first bosses aoe blasts. These puddles offer ridiculous damage reduction and this is the mechanic we shall abuse. The goal is to grab all the mobs on the first floor and run to the last puddle and then aoe damage them down to nothing. Then simply leave via duty finder and repeat. The experience rate is roughly 60k per 5 mins. A FULL GROUP IS NECESSARY TO AVOID PENALTY FOR DOING THIS, OTHERWISE LEAVING WILL CAUSE A 30 MIN LOCK OUT. Now onto the specifics.
Tanking easiest to hardest
DRK>WAR/PLD>SMN (TItan pet)
The difficulty with tanking this PL is not the damage mostly but maintaining aggro. Run by all mobs hit with any attack. You just need to initiate pulling the group. Keep running til you reach the last room. Grab all the groups, run in to the puddle of light and use the shelves to get all the enemies to stack up with line of sight. Then spam your aoe emnity move and span out your cooldowns to help the healer.
DRKs will find this really easy with unleash. Just keep your mp up with the mp restore combo and blood price.
WAR will have to cross class flash for this and will still find it difficult, but try your best to maintain aggro over the crowd with Overpower and Flash. Invigorate helps. as well as. a bard or nin for tp restore.
PLD flash your brains out and use mp combo to keep it up.
SMN hardest possible way to do this probably but the mobs go quicker and the smn can get levels out of this too on top of 2 other dps. This requires great control of your pet, so if you don't have the skill set or hot keys for it. dont try this. Pull out titan. Have him on Steady. This will change but for now leave him like that. Aggro all the mobs the same way and use shelves to stack the enemies. You’ll probably have to have healer stack there too. Use titan aoe to grab all the aggro. then place him on sic, he’ll do fine on his own after the intial aoe. Use sustain to help healer keep him alive but also pop aoes like you would in a dps role.
DPS easiest to hardest
Caster>Range>Melee
Everyone should read SMN Tank section if you plan on using one. Do not attack any mobs until the tank establishes emnity over the group.
Casters just do your usually aoe routines. BLM you may want to consider applying thunder II or III to mobs for thundercloud if you wanna have some fun, but with the vast amount of targets fire II/blizzard II is much quicker. SMN if you use obey, garuda’s contagion with your bane is far more damage than ifrit radiant shield on this.
Range dps Use tp song/turret and blast out your aoes, dont forget to use the free rain of death every 15 seconds. When TP song/turret has ran out your mp. you may want to consider switching to applying dots to all the targets, its much cheaper, unless they are almost dead.
Melees
MNK the complications of monk allow you free reign here. Use Howling fists whenever possible but you can choose to use arms of the destroyer and rockbreaker or to go around applying your dot while building greased lightning.
DRG pop off gcds whenever possible but heavy thrust>ring of thorns seems to be your best bet or apply dots.
NIN doton and katon (when doton is already up) whenever possible. Deathblossom the rest of the time or apply your dots.
Healing easiest to hardest
SCH>WHM/AST
Everyone should read SMN Tank section if you plan on using one, focus target the titan pet if you are. Do not attack any mobs until the tank establishes emnity over the group. Healing may be necessary before reaching the final light puddle. Move (eos/selene as well) into the corner for shelf line of sight if this happens.
SCH: you can dps more than the other healers. Pop off your dots with a bane while in cleric stance for some nice damage whenever healing permits.
WHM: Healing might allow you time to pop holy however I do not recommend this until the mobs are almost dead. If you blast away all your mp you’ll wipe. Apply dots instead when you get dps time.
AST: Cards all day e’ry day. Look at resources to determine whether to sacrifice or use ewer and spire cards. If healing permits apply dots.