Leveling up in Guild Wars 2 can take a while if you’re merely new to the game and exploring the open world PvE content for the first time. Here are some tips to quicken the pace in your lower levels.
PART 1. EXPERIENCE BUFFS aka stuff that gives you MORE XP!
I cannot stress enough how helpful it is with the many buffs available in the game that grant extra XP, this includes the following (from easiest obtainable):
- Lunar Newyear Firework and/or Exploding Draketail
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Lunar_New_Year_Firework
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Exploding_Draketail
Easily purchasable from the TP for around 2 silver (which ever one is cheapest; both have the same effect) and grants for 5 minutes a 10% bonus experience from all sources. This item can stack up to 2 hours so make sure you buy them in bulk & use your play time wisely.
- Food and Utility Food consumables
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Food
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Utility_item
One of the most basic helpful buffs in the game (bought on TP) is consuming these 2 items categorized as “Nourishment”. Food grants 10% XP from kills (15% on certain higher level foods) and Utility Food is exactly the same at respective 10% and/or 15% variations depending on the food consumed.
These consumables have timers that may last 30 minutes, 45 minutes or up to 1 hour. You cannot stack these foods. The only way to get the most out of these foods is by purchasing from the Gem Store Metabolic Primers and/or Utility Primers which last for 12 hours; any food/utility consumable you use will have the same remaining time as the primer.
- Guild Banners/Hero Banner/Guild XP Gain
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Guild_banner
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Guild_XP_Gain
If you’re starting out I highly recommend joining an active guild with a Guild Hall as they provide boosts/buffs via the Tavern NPC (e.g; the guild I am in grants a 24 hour 9% XP buff).
Guilds can drop items called Banners which stay active in the world for a certain time that anyone can walk up to and interact with to gain their buffs/benefits. These Guild Banner buffs generally last 30 minutes but you can keep interacting with them to boost your buff timer back to 30 minutes if the banner is still active in the world.
- 50% Experience Bonus
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/50%25_Experience_Bonus
This buff can be acquired in various ways. (e.g; completing X WvW daily usually grants a 20 minute 50% XP Bonus). This item is also available on the Gem Store in packs of singular, 5 or 25.
NOTE: Do not confuse this buff with the ‘original’ classic 50% Experience Bonus. You may see this buff using the same icon as the new buff on some players. That is because these players may still have the, now un-obtainable, original boosters or chose it via an Enchanted Reward Boost.
- Communal Boost Bonfire
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Communal_Boost_Bonfire
This item is acquired through either the Gem Store or as a possible RNG reward from a Black Lion Chest (needs confirmation) using a Black Lion Chest Key.
This buff is exactly the same as the original classic 50% Experience Bonus mentioned above (if the person lighting the Bonfire specifically chose the XP buff).
NOTE: You will NOT be able to acquire this buff from the Bonfire if you already have some form of the original classic 50% Experience Bonus, this is also the same for the person lighting the Bonfire in an attempt to choose the buff they already have on them, sadly.
SUMMARY: There’s so many different buffs in the game so take advantage of them if you can & use your play time wisely when you have these buffs active!