System • 2/3/2026

The Ultimate Strategy to Leveling a Node Fast in Ashes of Creation

By VerraVeteran

Why Leveling Nodes Matters

In Ashes of Creation, the world doesn’t just exist—it reacts. You aren’t just grinding XP for yourself; you’re grinding it for your home. Leveling a Node from a tiny Expedition (Stage 1) to a sprawling Metropolis (Stage 6) unlocks everything: dungeons, raids, better housing, and crucial crafting stations.

But here’s the catch: It takes a massive amount of collective effort. A Metropolis takes months of coordinated server activity. If you want your city to rise above the rest, you need a plan.

The Mathematical Truth of Node XP

Experience in a Node isn’t magic. It comes from specific player actions within the Node’s Zone of Influence (ZOI). Understanding this “XP Math” is how top guilds dominate the map.

1. The “Ant Farm” Strategy (Grinding Mobs)

This is the brute force method. Every monster kill contributes a tiny sliver of XP to the Node.

  • Solo Play: Negligible impact.
  • The Strategy: Gather a raid of 40-50 players. Find a high-density spawn point inside the ZOI. Kill everything. The sheer volume of death feeds the Node faster than anything else.

2. The “Quest Bomb” (Coordinated Turn-ins)

Quest XP contributes directly to the Node.

  • The Trick: Do not turn in your quests one by one. Have your entire guild complete 10-20 local quests but hold the turn-in.
  • Execution: Wait until the Node bar is near a stage transition (e.g., 90% to Village). Coordinate a mass turn-in. This can push a Node instantly into the next stage, catching rival nodes off guard.

3. Gathering & Crafting: The Silent Contributors

Every tree chopped and every ingot smelted counts.

  • Tip: Don’t just gather. Process your materials at the local Node’s crafting stations. The act of processing generates significant Node XP and is often safer than open-world combat.

Risks: The Siege Timer

Remember, leveling a Node fast puts a target on your back. Once you hit Stage 3 (Village), your Node can be sieged. Growing too fast without a defense force is a recipe for disaster. Build your walls as fast as you build your XP bar.