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Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred (D4)
Season 12 Leveling Guide
★ NEW: Season 12 Guide and New Features
┗ Seasonal Content: New Uniques | Bloodied Sigils | Slaughterhouses
┗ Seasonal Mechanic: Killstreaks and Bloodied Items
★ NEW: Lord of Hatred Expansion Release Date
★ Check out our Vessel of Hatred expansion guide
This leveling guide provides the fastest ways to level up and farm EXP in Diablo 4 (D4) Season 12. Learn about the best ways, tips, and strategies to speed up your leveling from 1-60, and into higher difficulties during the Season of Slaughter update!
List of Contents
Season 12 Leveling Guide (Level 1-30)
| How to Level Up from 1 to 30 |
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1. Complete the Vessel of Hatred Campaign (Optional)
An alternative way to level at the start of a new season is by completing the Vessel of Hatred Campaign. Its guided and straightforward progression makes it one of the most reliable methods to get to max level.
By finishing the campaign, you can reach level 50 or higher without additional grinding, making it a viable option for players who want a straightforward start to Season 12.
2. Start the Seasonal Quest
Start the Seasonal Questline as early as possible. In Season 12, the questline is relatively short and can be completed quickly. Enter the Umbral Study in Gae Kul to begin.
As you progress, make sure to claim rewards from the Brutality Board, which provide valuable EXP and gear upgrades to help speed up leveling.
Season 12 Questline Walkthrough
3. Start Doing Helltides and Save Slaughterhouse Keys
The best activity for leveling in Season 12 is the new Slaughterhouse mode, though it requires keys to access. You can farm these keys through the Shrine of Slaughter mechanic in Helltides. Open Tortured Gifts for a chance to obtain Meaty Offerings, which are then used at the shrine. Save multiple keys so you can run Slaughterhouses consecutively in Gae Kul for faster progression.
Because of their high mob density and open layouts, Helltides remain one of the most efficient ways to farm EXP while also advancing the Brutality Board through Kill Streak bonuses.
4. Complete Whispers for Grim Favors
While farming Helltides, make sure to complete nearby Whispers. These grant Grim Favors, which can be redeemed at the Tree of Whispers or through the Raven of the Tree in towns for valuable caches and rewards.
How to Complete the Tree of Whispers
5. Run Slaughterhouses
After saving up Slaughterhouse keys, you can run them in Gae Kul at the highest difficulty you can access. Since the Butcher’s damage does not scale with gear, Slaughterhouses are possible to clear even while undergeared, making them a strong option for farming EXP and progressing quickly.
6. Get Your Dungeon Aspects
Before tackling the harder Rank 1 Season Journey challenges, clear Dungeons to unlock specific Legendary Aspects for you're class. These Aspects provide a significant power boost, making it easier to push through higher difficulties, or to farm lower difficulties faster.
7. Do Rank 1 Season Objectives
Once you’ve gained more gear, focus on the Rank 1 Season Objectives. These early tasks include running the Kurast Undercity and clearing Strongholds, both of which provide Smoldering Ashes and help progress the Season Journey.
How to Complete Season 12 Ranking and Rewards
Complete a Kurast Run
Since a run of the Kurast Undercity is part of the Rank 1 Season Objectives, it’s best to complete at least one before attempting the Capstone Dungeon. Use a Tributes that grant bonus EXP if possible.
Clear 3 Strongholds
As part of the Rank 1 Season Objectives and to earn your first Smoldering Ashes, clear any three Strongholds. It may be worth clearing the stronghold in Tul Dura in the Scosglen region and the one in the Onyx Watchtower in the Dry Steppes, as they provide necessary waypoints for certain Helltide spawns.
All Stronghold Locations and Map
8. Do the Capstone Dungeon
After reaching Level 30 and once you’re comfortable on Hard difficulty, clear the Vault of the Crucible Capstone Dungeon. Completing it rewards you with caches, Skill Points, and Smoldering Ashes, while also unlocking the second Rank of Seasonal Objectives for further progression.
Season 12 Leveling Guide (Level 30-50)
| How to Level Up from 30 to 50 |
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1. Run Some Nightmare Sigils
Craft and run three Nightmare Dungeons to earn an Experience Tome and an extra Smoldering Ashes. Once completed, return to farming Helltides, which remain the most efficient source of EXP and Slaughterhouse keys.
2. Continue Farming Helltides
Helltides are the most efficient way to farm EXP in Season 12. They make it easy to maintain Kill Streaks, provide access to the Shrine of Slaughter, and drop Slaughterhouse keys. Their high mob density and open layouts ensure fast leveling while also progressing the Brutality Board.
Do World Events if Possible
While navigating Helltides, complete World Events whenever possible. They provide extra loot, EXP, and count toward Season Objectives, making them a valuable addition to your farming route.
Keep Completing Whispers for Bounty Caches
Keep an eye out for Whispers during Helltides. These grant Grim Favors, which can be redeemed at the Tree of Whispers or through a Bird of the Tree in towns. Be sure to claim rewards promptly, as Grim Favors have a storage limit.
Best Tree of Whispers Rewards: Which Collection to Choose
3. Do More Slaughterhouse Runs
After collecting Slaughterhouse keys from Helltides, run them consecutively in Gae Kul for fast EXP. Each run takes about two minutes and provides a large chunk of experience, making Slaughterhouses one of the most efficient leveling methods in Season 12.
How to Farm Slaughterhouse Keys
4. Target Farm Aspects in the Kurast Undercity
If you can clear them efficiently, Kurast Undercity runs are a great way to target farm Legendary Aspects and upgrade gear. For maximum efficiency, use a tribute, such as a Tribute of Growth, to boost EXP and increase your chances of farming the specific Aspect needed for your leveling build.
5. Complete the Capstone Dungeon
After reaching Level 50 and being capable of clearing dungeons on Penitent difficulty, complete the Level 50 Capstone Dungeon. This grants additional reward caches, Skill Points, and Smoldering Ashes, while also unlocking the Pit of Artificers, which becomes the next major farming activity for progression.
Season 12 Leveling Guide (Level 50 - Onwards)
| How to Level Up from 50 Onwards |
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1. Run the Pit of Artificers
Do Pits as soon as you're strong enough to increase your Glyph levels, as well as for the extra experience. You will need to run the Pit to reach higher torment levels, so do the highest level once you're able to increase the rewards you get for all activities you do.
The Pit Guide and How to Unlock
2. Run Infernal Hordes
We recommend doing Infernal Hordes once you get a fast-clearing build setup, so that you can reach the required amount of aberrant cinders with ease, to maximize the rewards that you get from your Infernal Hordes runs.
Infernal Horde Guide and How to Unlock
3. Complete the Rest of the Low-Rank Season Objectives
Once you're comfortable running Torment I difficulty check any Season Objectives from Rank 1 and 2 with important rewards that you missed. Smoldering Ashes and Skill Points are the rewards you want to get back to since caches would contain low-level gear or only a small amount of EXP.
Diablo 4 Related Guides
List of Seasons: How Do Seasons Work?
Season 12 Guides
Season Guides
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Season 12 Leveling Guide
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