Fastest leveling experience in the game's history. Thanks to massive buffs to Nightmare Dungeons, reworked XP mechanics Diablo 4 Items, and a revamped system for leveling builds, reaching level 60 in under 90 minutes is now more than just theory-it's a reality.

In this article, we'll break down the best leveling strategy for Season 9, the top builds for each class, how Nightmare Dungeons and XP globes work, and how to optimize your journey from level 1 to 60-and beyond.

Fastest Leveling Ever in Diablo 4?

Season 9 introduces major changes to how experience is earned. The biggest shift: Nightmare Dungeons have been completely overhauled for early-game progression.

The key changes:

 Experience globes now scale better with your character level.

 Nightmare Dungeon difficulty no longer gates XP efficiency.

 The new "Forgotten Wisdom" affix massively boosts XP output.

 Pools of Refraction (similar to Diablo 3's XP wells) can increase XP further.

Players on the PTR have already demonstrated 1-60 leveling in just over 70 minutes, using efficient pathing and the new XP globes system. It's likely we'll see even faster runs once the new season begins.

Best Leveling Builds Per Class

Why it's good: The Hydra has been buffed to cost no resources or cooldowns.

 Combos perfectly with Firewall for area control and damage-over-time.

 Transitions straight into an S-tier endgame build.

 Great from level 1 all the way through to World Tier 4.

Necromancer-Skeletal Mage Minion Build (A+/S-Tier)

 Why it's good: Minions handle all the dirty work.

 Skeletal Mages received significant buffs, making this a top-tier endgame option.

 Zero mechanical complexity-just summon and stroll.

Rogue-Dance of Knives (A-Tier)

 Why it's good: Fastest-moving melee build for leveling.

 The true "spin-to-win" build, outperforming Barb in this style.

 Falls off sharply in the endgame-weak transition potential.

Rogue-Quill Volley + Evade (A-Tier)

 Why it's good: Strong projectile spam with high AoE.

 Synergizes with evade cooldowns and eagle-hall mechanics.

 Still one of the most reliable Rogue leveling builds overall.

Barbarian-Lunging Strike (B-Tier)

 Why it's good: Solid for early-game if paired with the right runes.

 Lacks clear endgame synergy, but fast enough to be viable.

 Still the weakest overall class for leveling.

Druid-Pulverize + Poison Puddle (B-Tier)

 Why it's good: High burst damage and great AoE.

 The new puddle mechanic adds strong synergy for endgame conversion.

 A reliable, familiar choice for Druid mains.

The Optimal Leveling Strategy: Nightmare Dungeon Mastery

The new leveling meta centers around Nightmare Dungeons and the experience globes they drop.

Here's how it works:

Start on Normal Difficulty

 Create a seasonal character.

 Grab your pet to collect gold/materials.

 If you own Vessel of Hatred, grab your mercenary early-they help in combat and provide extra loot.

Begin the Season Questline

 Unlock powerful Horadric Powers from the Season Journey (like 70% movement speed, barriers, and resource generation).

 These are crucial buffs that last the entire leveling process.

 Prioritize Nightmare Dungeons with the "Forgotten Wisdom" Affix

 These dungeons drop XP globes that scale with your character level.

 Globes can give up to 5-10% of a level per pick-up.

 Expect to gain 2-3 levels per dungeon if fully cleared.

Bonus XP from Pools of Refraction

 These yellow wells boost your XP gain even further for an extended time.

 Stack these with XP globes for huge efficiency gains.

 Use Salvaging + Crafting to Cycle Sigils

 Didn't get "Forgotten Wisdom" affix on a sigil? Salvage and recraft until you do.

 It usually takes only 2-3 tries to find one.

Clear EVERYTHING in the Dungeon

 Don't just rush objectives.

 Events, cursed chests, side rooms, and the Strong Room all contribute XP globes.

Reaching Level 60 in 90 Minutes

Based on PTR testing:

 Nightmare Dungeons with the correct affix + globes + XP wells = insane leveling speed.

 Most players can realistically hit level 60 in 90-100 minutes solo.

 With a group? Expect even faster times via shared sigils and better RNG.Don't Forget These Early Season Tips

1.Craft an XP elixir at launch-it adds a significant buff.

2.Complete Season Quests ASAP to unlock core powers and possibly get Nightmare Sigils.

3.If you're missing "Forgotten Wisdom" dungeons, grind Whispers + Helltide for more crafting materials.

4.Don't waste time on Strongholds unless you're totally out of sigils.

After Level 60: What's Next?

Once you hit 60:

 Keep doing Nightmare Dungeons to gear up and collect glyphs.

 Transition to your endgame build (like Hydra Sorc or Thorn Spirit Druid).

 Start farming Pits to unlock Torment 1.

 Target aspects for your build (defensive or offensive, depending on mode).

 Avoid high Pit levels early-they're not XP efficient yet.

Suggested Endgame Transitions

 Hydra Sorc: Keep using the same setup-no respec needed.

 Thorn Spirit Druid: Start with Quill + Evade, then move into Thorns.

 Necromancer: Stick with Skeletal Mages and evolve the build around Shadow or Blood powers.

 Barbarian: You'll likely have to switch completely. Lunging Strike won't scale well into Tier 4.

Final Thoughts

Season 9 brings one of the biggest shakeups to leveling in Diablo 4 to date. With the XP globes system, Nightmare Dungeon reworks, and multiple high-tier leveling builds, players are looking at a much faster and more enjoyable early-game experience.

Whether you're going Hydra Sorc, Poison Druid, or Minion Necro, the new system rewards efficiency, planning, and experimentation buy d4 mats. Even if your class isn't S-tier, the new tools ensure everyone can level fast and have fun doing it.