Reaching level 10 in Ashes of Creation in the Anvils is just the start — past this point, progression shifts from straightforward first quests to a Ashes of Creation Gold mix of grind, smart routing, and survival. Solo leveling in this mountainous northern region can be slower if done aimlessly, but with the right mindset and optimized routeing, you can keep your XP per hour high and avoid unnecessary deaths.

1. Understand the Solo Play Mindset

Solo leveling is less about raw speed and more about efficiency: staying alive, minimizing downtime (deaths, travel, repairs), and keeping a consistent XP flow. Questing helps early but becomes less effective after level 10, so your focus should shift toward grinding and strategic objectives.

Solo Strengths

Full control over your pulls (no overaggro).

Constant movement without waiting on groups.

Clean progression without hate waiting for spots.

Solo Weaknesses

You miss out on some large group XP bonuses.

Popular grind spots can be dominated by other players.

2. Optimize Your Routes & Pulls

After level 10 in the Anvils, stack quests only when they are on your path. Taking quests that add lots of travel drains XP/h and breaks your loop rhythm. Instead:

Pick quests that naturally loop you through grinding clusters.

Kill mobs you already pass toward objectives.

Don’t chase every quest marker across the zone.

For pure grinding:

Find dense packs of level‑appropriate mobs where you can pull safely one‑by‑one or in small controlled groups.

Avoid elite packs you can’t reliably defeat without dying; deaths cost significant XP/time.

3. Early to Mid‑Range Grinding Spots

While exact spawn points can shift with updates, general patterns hold:

Level 10–15

Look for humanoid bands and camps near your current quests — these mobs are usually easier to solo without waiting on others.

Level 15–20

Some players utilize spots around Vexelhelm or Dunhold, taking on Highwaymen and nearby beasts one at a time.

Controlled double pulls can increase XP/h without overwhelming yourself.

Level 20+

Areas like Timber Catch’s outskirts can yield steadier XP with manageable mobs.

Watch patrol patterns — avoid two‑star elite patrols until you’re ready.

Remember: efficiency means safe kills and short travel. If a spot is contested or too dangerous, move to the next.

4. Manage Downtime Smartly

Downtime is the real leveling killer. Avoid it by:

Repairing gear and restocking consumables before long grind sessions.

Using mounts and having a backup mount to avoid long foot travel or corpse runs (a common cause of XP loss).

Selling/sorting loot often so your inventory doesn’t bottleneck XP flow.

5. Use Every XP Source You Can

Grinding is central, but don’t ignore:

Adventure & Commission boards — they offer XP with minimal detour.

Settlement contributions — completing tasks contributes to node progression and gives XP bonuses.

Experience scrolls when available — these multiply XP gains for a limited time.

These smaller sources add up significantly over longer sessions.

6. Know When to Pivot

If:

Your XP/hour drops,

You’re dying too often,

Or travel eats into progress,

then it’s time to move to a new area, change the grind route, or retake quests nearby. An inefficient loop costs far more in time than a small detour to a better spot.

Final Takeaway

Solo leveling in the Anvils past level 10 rewards smart loops, safe grinding, and minimizing downtime. You won’t always sit in the hottest spots, but controlled pulls, smart quest stacking, and efficient travel will keep your XP ticking over faster than disorganized roaming. With discipline and a buy AoC Gold clear route, leveling as a solo player is not just viable — it’s efficient.