LOTRO Leveling Plan
While leveling your character, it helps to have a plan. As we saw in the Top Tips for Fast Leveling, Traits and Legendary Items are a big part of leveling in LOTRO.
What order should you tackle the zones in? How should you balance XP with working on traits? When should you do your class quests? What can you do when run out of quests?
Plenty of Content
The good news is LOTRO has plenty of content for leveling. Some players hit a rough patch somewhere between level 32 and 45, in part because these zones haven't been "smoothed" yet. Still, with a plan, getting through these levels is a breeze.
Below are our suggestions for leveling efficiently from 1 to 65 in LOTRO. While this path works generally well for all classes, keep in mind this is a game you play to have fun. Don't like the flavor of a particular area? Try another. Prefer skirmishing to questing? It's your character, go for it!
Below are our suggestions for leveling efficiently from 1 to 65 in LOTRO. While this path works generally well for all classes, keep in mind this is a game you play to have fun. Don't like the flavor of a particular area? Try another. Prefer skirmishing to questing? It's your character, go for it!
Levels 1-7: Tutorial and Introduction
If this is your first character, do the Tutorial, otherwise you can skip it. The Introduction is worth doing for the armor and weapons it gives you for starting out in Middle-earth. Do all the quests and get a feel for your class and the game.
Levels 5-15: Racial Starter Areas
Upon completion of the Introduction, Men will find themselves in Bree-land, Elves and Dwarves will be in opposite ends of Ered Luin and Hobbits will be in The Shire. You don't need to stay in your area. Inexpensive horse routes exist between the starting areas, so hook up with a friend if you want. These levels will go by quickly. Some things not to miss:
- Each of the starter areas includes a Prologue to Volume I, Book 1 of the epic story. Doing this pays good XP and can be a good source of gear upgrades.
- Your first Class Deeds open up when you enter your racial starter area. Take some time to look at your deed log and work these skills into your combat rotation so they start to level.
- You'll start earning Virtues as you quest and kill stuff. Visit a Bard and slot the best ones you have - they will make your character sturdier. The first Virtue slots open up at 7, 9 and 11.
- At level 13, your first Racial Deeds open up. Each race has hated foes to defeat! Dwarves will want to kill Dourhands and Goblins, Elves will want to kill Goblins and Orcs, Hobbits will want to kill Wolves and Spiders and Men will want to kill Wights and Wargs.
Levels 14-22: Bree-land
At about level 14 or so, head to Bree-town and do the Welcome to Bree quest. Questing in Bree-land has been "smoothed", so you should have no trouble finding quests to take you to 22 or so. Be sure to complete at least 45 quests in Bree-land for the virtues you will earn. Some other things not to miss:
- Volume I, Book 1 of the epic story will give considerable XP and other rewards through these levels. Visit Barliman Butterbur in the Prancing Pony.
- At level 15, you'll want to do your Class Quest for your first class trait and a piece of good gear.
- 15 is also the level you can set a Surname (at the Notary) and buy a House. Even if you can't afford a house yet, the housing quests give good XP and let you check out the housing area.
- At 20, you can get your first mount! Also at 20, you can start wearing cosmetic clothing.
- Before you leave Bree-land, you may want to group up for The Great Barrow, the first dungeon instance available when leveling in LOTRO. It can be a lot of fun.
Levels 22-32: Lone-lands and North Downs
Some other things not to miss:
- More Class Deeds opened up at 20. Be sure to try each of your skills and note which ones have unfinished deeds, so you can work these skills into your combat rotation.
- Volume I, Book 2 of the epic story line will give considerable XP and other rewards through these levels.
- At level 29, you can start working on the deed for your racial port. Dwarves need to kill goblins for the Return to Thorin's Gate skill. Elves kill orcs (Return to Rivendell), Hobbits kill spiders (Return to Michel Delving) and Men kill wargs (Return to Bree).
- At level 30, do your second Class Quest for another trait and more gear.
- Also at 30, Skirmishes open up. Be sure to do the intro quests for more XP.
- Before you leave Lone-lands, you may want to group up for the Garth Agarwen instance.
Levels 32-40: Evendim, Trollshaws, North Downs and Misty Mountains
Some things not to miss:
- More Class Deeds opened up at 30. Be sure to try each of your skills and note which ones have unfinished deeds, so you can work these skills into your combat rotation.
- Volume I, Books 3 and 4 of the epic story line will give considerable XP through these levels.
- At level 35, you can earn the Riding Skill and purchase a faster horse.
- At level 39, the deeds for your Legendary Class Traits open up. Buy the books from your class trainer, then visit Rivendell to advance the deeds.
- Before you leave North Downs, you may want to group up for the Fornost instance.
Levels 40-45: Angmar, Forochel, Misty Mountains and Trollshaws
From level 40 to 45, your choices are the western portion of Angmar (40-45), the Tal Bruinen area of Trollshaws (40-44), southwest Misty Mountains (41-45) and the Kauppa-Kohta area of Forochel (44).Some things not to miss:
- More Class Deeds opened up at 40. Be sure to try each of your skills and note which ones have unfinished deeds, so you can work these skills into your combat rotation.
- Volume I, Books 5 and 6 of the epic story line will give considerable XP and other rewards through these levels.
- Keep a special eye out for pages to complete your legendary class deeds - the top four pages for each drop from humanoids in Angmar or Eregion, the bottom four pages for each drop from humanoids in Misty Mountains and Forochel.
Level 45-46: Class Quests and Legendary Items
Around level 45, you should take a break from regular questing to start your level 45-50 Class Quests and get your first Legendary Items. Completing these will make your character feel more powerful. These also give good XP - you'll earn a level or more doing them.- The level 45-50 Class Quests can be started at level 45 - these require you gather items and kill specific named mobs. Completing the quest series will give you another Legendary Class Trait and some gear. While many players still run Carn Dum and Urugarth (level 50 instances) for the rare items, another way to get these now is to barter for them with Skirmish Marks or buy them from the auction house.
- Volume II of the Epic Story opens up at level 45. The Prologue (starts at Elrond) is optional, Book 1 will award your first legendary weapon. Completing Volume II, Book 1 can be challenging at this level, but rewarding! If it is simply too hard, come back in a couple of levels.
Level 46-51: Misty Mountains, Forochel, Evendim, Angmar and Eregion
Some other things not to miss:
- Now that all of Volume I can be soloed, there is considerable XP and gear to be earned by doing the rest of Volume I, Books 7 to 15, especially if you enjoy the Lord of the Rings lore. The final book awards a beautiful (and sturdy) white horse.
- There are a number of instances and raids designed for level 50 players (back when this was the level cap). Consider grouping up for Annuminas, Helegrod, Carn Dum, Urugarth, Barad Gularan or The Rift if you get the chance.
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Levels 51-60: Moria
Some things not to miss:
- More Class Deeds opened up at 50. Be sure to work the skills for unfinished deeds into your combat rotation.
- Volume II, Books 2 to 5 of the epic story will give considerable XP and other rewards through these levels.
- Repeatable quests in Dolven-View are a fast way to earn additional IXP and reputation.
- The Level 58 Class Quest awards another legendary class trait and is well worth doing while in Moria.
- Earning Kindred standing with the Iron Garrison Guards lets you purchase yet another legendary class trait.
- Starting at level 58, you can start running the Moria Instances for Medallions of Moria which can be traded at your class trainer in Twenty-first Hall for gear, or at the barter vendor for legendary item accessories. If your main goal is radiance armour, you may want to save your efforts for max level, where a full set can be earned in Mirkwood for far less effort.
Levels 59-61: Lothlorien
At level 59, you can start running quests (sooner with a partner) in the Dimril Dale area of Lothlorien. You need to achieve Acquaintance standing with the Galladhrim to cross the Nimrodel without being shot on sight by archers stationed along the border of the Golden Wood. Volume II, Books 6 to 8 of the epic story pay a lot of Galladhrim reputation, as do repeatable quests.Some things not to miss:
- Friend standing with the Galadhrim lets you enter Caras Galadhon, the city in Lothlorien, where there are many more quests.
- Many Lothlorien quests pay Lothlorien Silver Branches and Lothlorien Gold Leaves, which can be bartered for recipes, housing items, gear, even a horse! Barter vendors are located in Caras Galadhon, at the Vineyards of Lorien and the docks at Imlad Lalaith.
- Starting at level 60, you can start running the Lothlorien Instances (ironically located in Moria) for Medallions of Lothlorien which can be traded at your class trainer in Caras Galadhon for gear and other goodies.
Levels 60-65: Mirkwood
Some things not to miss:
- The Mirkwood Class Deeds opened up at 60. Be sure to work the skills for unfinished deeds into your combat rotation.
- Many quests pay Malledhrim Bronze Feathers and Malladhrim Gold Star Emblems, which can be bartered for gear, recipes, potions, scrolls for legendary items, a Return to Mirkwood skill and another horse! Check the barter vendors throughout Mirkwood as you gain standing.
- Around level 65, start running the Dol Guldur instances for Medallions of Dol Guldur which can be traded at your class trainer in Ost Galad for radiance armour, or at the barter vendor for scrolls for legendary items.
- Complete the Volume II, Book 9 Epilogue for more IXP, scrolls and other goodies.
