PoE2 Leveling Guide 0.5.5: Acts 1–4, Interludes, and Forbidden Rites

Quick summary

• The campaign is Acts 1–4 plus three Interludes, roughly level 1 to 59. Finishing it opens maps. Community walkthroughs put the Act ranges at 1–14, 14–29, 30–42, and 42–52, with the Interludes at 52–59.
• Don't skip the permanent rewards. The full campaign gives 24 weapon-set passive points, 100 Spirit, +10% each to Cold, Lightning, and Fire Resistance, +20 life, +5% max life, and +5% max mana (Mobalytics, domistae).
• Ascend twice in the campaign: the Trial of the Sekhemas at about level 28 (Act 2) and the Trial of Chaos at 33+ (Act 3).
• In Forbidden Rites (0.5.5) every campaign area has a Ritual that rewards leveling currency and gear. Boss Effigy clusters, twice per Act and once per Interlude, end in a Tribute shop with Unique items (GGG).
• Rule of thumb: stay at or above the area level, and no more than about three levels under it (domistae). Keep your weapon and resistances current.

Pick your league first

GGG's 0.5.5 patch notes list Standard, Hardcore, and Solo Self-Found versions of Forbidden Rites. Hardcore characters who die move to Standard Forbidden Rites.

If you want...	Pick	Leveling note
A fresh economy plus campaign Rituals	Forbidden Rites	The Rituals in this guide apply
The same with permadeath	Forbidden Rites Hardcore	Skip any Ritual your build can't handle
To find every item yourself	Forbidden Rites SSF	Rituals and their Tribute shop matter even more
To continue an existing economy	Runes of Aldur	No campaign Rituals. It has its own per-Act Runeforging chain (domistae)

Plan the route by level range

Act	Level (community)	Key zones in order	Act boss	Permanent rewards
Act 1	1–14	Riverbank → Clearfell → Grelwood → Red Vale → Grim Tangle → Cemetery of the Eternals → Hunting Grounds → Freythorn → Ogham Farmlands → Ogham Village → Manor Ramparts → Ogham Manor	Geonor	+4 SP, +30 Spirit, +10% Cold Res, +20 life, Salvage Bench
Act 2	14–29	Vastiri Outskirts → Mawdun Quarry/Mine → Traitor's Passage → Halani Gates → Mastodon Badlands → Bone Pits → Keth → Lost City → Buried Shrines → Heart of Keth → Valley of the Titans → Titan Grotto → Deshar → Path of Mourning → Spires of Deshar → Trial of the Sekhemas → Dreadnought	Jamanra, the Abomination	+4 SP, +10% Lightning Res, +1 Charm slot, 1st Ascendancy
Act 3	30–42	Sandswept Marsh → Jungle Ruins → Venom Crypts → Infested Barrens → Chimeral Wetlands → Temple of Chaos → Jiquani's Machinarium/Sanctum → Matlan Waterways → Azak Bog → Drowned City → Molten Vault → Apex of Filth → Temple of Kopec → Utzaal → Aggorat → Black Chambers	Doryani, Royal Thaumaturge	+4 SP, +30 Spirit, +10% Fire Res, Servi's choice, Reforging Bench, 2nd Ascendancy
Act 4	42–52	Kingsmarch → Whakapanu, Shrike Island, Abandoned Prison, Isle of Kin (any order) → Eye of Hinekora → Halls of the Dead → Trial of the Ancestors → Kedge Bay → Journey's End → Plunder's Point → Arastas → Excavation → Ngakanu → Heart of the Tribe	Tavakai	+4 SP, +5% max mana, tattoo choices, Hideout
Interludes	52–59	Three storylines in any order	Several	+8 SP (incl. final turn-in), +5% max life, +40 Spirit, free Unique

Zone order follows the domistae 0.5.5 walkthrough. In 0.5, Act 3 was reordered, the Dreadnought Vanguard zone was removed (you fight Jamanra directly in the Dreadnought), and monster density was reduced in the back half of the campaign, especially the Interludes.

Act 1: Clearfell to Ogham Manor (levels 1–14)

Permanent rewards (Mobalytics, domistae):

Zone	Do this	Reward
Clearfell	Kill Beira of the Rotten Pack	+10% Cold Resistance
Hunting Grounds	Kill The Crowbell	+2 skill points
Freythorn	Activate three small Ritual Altars, then kill The King in the Mists	+30 Spirit and a Spirit gem
Ogham Farmlands	Find Una's Lute and return it to Una	+2 skill points
Ogham Village	Find the Smithing Tools (first character)	Salvage Bench
Ogham Manor	Kill Candlemass, the Living Rite	+20 max life

Worth the detour: Mud Burrow's Devourer (skill gem), the Blacksmith's Chest next to the Smithing Tools (Artificer's Orb and a blank rune), and the Cemetery's sarcophagus (Iron or Lazuli Ring).

Watch out: Areagne in the Grelwood is the hardest early optional fight, and the Crowbell's slams can one-shot you. The walkthrough suggests having a level 10 flask and a level 11 chest piece before Ogham Manor.

Act 2: Vastiri to the Dreadnought (levels 14–29)

Zone	Do this	Reward
Keth	Kill Kabala, Constrictor Queen	+2 skill points
Bone Pits / Keth	Kill hyenas for the Sun Clan Relic and snakes for the Kabala Clan Relic	Needed for the Relic Altar
Valley of the Titans	Place both relics at the Relic Altar	+1 Charm slot, plus a swappable choice of 30% Charm charges or duration
Deshar	Find the Fallen Dekhara's letter and deliver it to Shambrin	+2 skill points
Spires of Deshar	Interact with the Sisters of Garukhan shrine	+10% Lightning Resistance

Ascend at about level 28. You need a Djinn Barya for the Trial of the Sekhemas. The walkthrough recommends the level 28 Barya from the two vultures in Deshar over the level 22 one from Balbala in Traitor's Passage, since it's easier for most builds. In the trial, prioritize rooms in this order: Ritual > Chalice > Hourglass > Gauntlet.

Tip: do Mastodon Badlands before Keth. It raises Keth's level, so Kabala drops a level 7 gem (domistae). Tor Gul in the Spires is one of Act 2's hardest fights, so cap Lightning Resistance first.

Act 3: Sandswept Marsh to the Black Chambers (levels 30–42)

Zone	Do this	Reward
Jungle Ruins	Kill Mighty Silverfist	+2 skill points
Venom Crypts	Bring the Orok poison (venom vial) to Servi	Permanent choice: +25% Stun Threshold, +30% Elemental Ailment Threshold, or +25% mana regeneration
Jiquani's Machinarium	Kill Blackjaw, the Remnant, and use the Flame Core	+10% Fire Resistance
Azak Bog	Kill Ignagduk, the Bog Witch	+30 Spirit and a Spirit gem
Molten Vault	Kill Mektul and return the Hammer of Kamasa to Oswald (first character)	Reforging Bench
Utzaal / Aggorat	Get a Sacrificial Heart from Vaal Goliaths and offer it at Aggorat's altar	+2 skill points

Ascend at 33+. Kill Xyclucian in the Chimeral Wetlands for the Inscribed Ultimatum, then run the Trial of Chaos at the Temple of Chaos. Avoid lightning-rune modifiers if your Lightning Resistance is low.

Guaranteed rares: explorer camps give gloves (Jungle Ruins), boots (Infested Barrens), and armor (Chimeral Wetlands), and Servi offers a rare belt (domistae, Mobalytics). Most builds take Stun Threshold from Servi.

XP stop: Mobalytics calls the Azak Bog flame ritual a strong farm spot until about level 34. Reset from the checkpoint to repeat it. Act 3 also has six Vaal Beacons (Fate of the Vaal), which open the Vaal Ruins portal.

Act 4: Kingsmarch and the islands (levels 42–52)

Zone	Do this	Reward
Eye of Hinekora	Pay respects at the Silent Hall altar	+5% max mana
Halls of the Dead	Complete the three tests and pick a tattoo for each	Permanent choice per test: +5 Dex or Lightning Res, +5 Int or Cold Res, +5 Str or Fire Res
Trial of the Ancestors	Kill Yama the White, then talk to Navali and Hinekora	+2 skill points
Journey's End	Kill Omniphobia, Fear Manifest, then talk to Tujen	+2 skill points
Abandoned Prison	Kill Forael and use the Goddess of Justice	Swappable: +30% life or +30% mana recovery from flasks
Whakapanu Island	Kill the Great White One and turn in the Shark Fin	Permanent choice. Mobalytics lists Kaom's or Rakiata's Lesson. Domistae lists a gem plus a Tukuama blessing. Check the dialogue in game

Forbidden Rites players, don't skip this: collect the four Torn Maps (Whakapanu, Shrike Island, Isle of Kin, Kedge Bay) and turn them in to sail to Plunder's Point. Finishing The Runeseeker there is the only way to unlock the Verisium Anvil outside Runes of Aldur (domistae, from the 0.5.5 notes).

Free upgrades: the Magma Twins in the Volcanic Warrens drop a Ruby or Topaz Ring, depending on kill order. The Beckoning Clam's pearl trades for an all-resistance amulet. The Arastas bells give 3 Exalted or 3 Regal Orbs (Mobalytics, domistae).

Interludes: finish before maps (levels 52–59)

The three Interludes can be played in any order in 0.5 (domistae). Their rewards are missable before maps.

Storyline	Key reward	Source
The Stolen Barya (Khari Crossing, Qimah)	Kill Akthi and Anundr for +2 SP. The Molten Shrine in Skullmaw Stairway gives +5% max life. The seven Qimah pillars give a swappable bonus	Mobalytics
Doryani's Contingency (Mount Kriar)	Kill Lythara, the Wayward Spear for +40 Spirit. +2 SP (Mobalytics: Abominable Yeti; domistae: Icy Tusks to Hilda). Free Unique from Elder Madox in Kriar Peaks	Mobalytics, domistae
The Curse of Holten (Ogham/Wolvenhold)	Kill Oswin, the Dread Warden for +2 SP	Mobalytics, domistae
After all three	Talk to The Hooded One in Kingsmarch	+2 SP, for 24 total

Order (the sources disagree): domistae recommends Mount Kriar first for the +40 Spirit, then Ogham, then the Khari storyline. Mobalytics recommends The Stolen Barya first because it's the hardest and gets harder at higher levels, unless you need Spirit early. If you run minions, buffs, or auras, take Spirit first. Otherwise, clear the hard one while you're strongest relative to it.

Use Forbidden Rites Rituals as you level

Per GGG's 0.5.5 notes, each campaign area has a Ritual that gives leveling rewards like crafting currency and equipment, not endgame Ritual rewards.

1. Regular Rituals: clear them at a pace your build handles, check the reward window for weapon damage, resistances, life or ES, and movement speed on boots, and equip clear upgrades right away.
2. Boss Effigy clusters (twice per Act, once per Interlude): effigies sit on the area's boss, and each boss you beat joins the next Ritual in the cluster. Finish the chain to spend Tribute on Unique items.
3. Before a cluster's later stages, check resistances and flasks. You'll face stacked bosses.
4. Party play: members earn their own Tribute and a limited reward selection that can't be rerolled. Everyone must hear Aoife's introduction before the Ritual starts (GGG).

Example: your Act 2 build handles packs fine but struggles when two bosses overlap. Before the second cluster, spend your crafting currency on resistances and a weapon upgrade, then fight at the edge of the circle so you have room to dodge-roll.

Compare leveling methods

Method	Pros	Cons	Best for
Full campaign, every Ritual	Most gear and currency, fewer stalls	Slower per zone	First characters, SSF, Hardcore
Campaign, permanent rewards only	Fastest solo route	Gear falls behind without trading	Experienced players with a trade budget
Party leveling	Shared clears, more XP per hour	Needs coordination. Ritual rewards are split	Friends starting together
Farming XP spots (Azak Bog ritual)	Catches you up to the area level	Repetitive	When you're more than about 3 levels under

Keep your build on track

• Commit to one main skill early and add supports as gems drop. Our league starter builds guide lists builds that level well in Forbidden Rites.
• Track resistances after each Act. Campaign resistance rewards add up to +10% each for Cold, Lightning, and Fire, and domistae recommends resistance tattoos in the Halls of the Dead for most builds.
• Save crafting orbs for your weapon at the end of Act 4 (domistae). That's the weapon you'll carry into the Interludes and maps.
• Make sure your Ascendancy is final before the last +2 SP turn-in.

Alts, returning players, and Hardcore

• Second characters: the Salvage Bench and Reforging Bench are first-character unlocks, so alts can skip the Smithing Tools and Mektul (domistae). Skill points, Spirit, and resistances must be collected again on every character.
• Returning from 0.4 or earlier: Act 3's order changed, Matlan Waterways levers are now walk-over pressure pads, Jamanra is fought directly in the Dreadnought, and the Verisium Anvil now comes from Act 4's Runeseeker quest outside Runes of Aldur.
• Hardcore: skip any Ritual or boss cluster your build can't comfortably clear. One missed reward window costs far less than the character.
• 1.0 is coming: GGG has announced Path of Exile 2's full free-to-play release for December 11, 2026, adding the Duelist. Check GGG's announcements before investing heavily in a character.

Want a hand with this?

If you would rather not grind this part yourself, Path of Exile 2 powerleveling services are listed on FullBoosts. Read Grinding Gear Games's Terms of Use before you buy any service from anyone, FullBoosts included — a marketplace listing isn't publisher permission.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the PoE2 campaign in 0.5.5?

It's four Acts plus three Interludes, roughly levels 1–59 by the community route. Time depends on your build and how many Rituals you do.

How many skill points do you get from the PoE2 campaign?

1. Each Act gives 4, the Interludes give 6, and The Hooded One gives the final 2 once all three Interludes are done (Mobalytics, domistae).

When should I do my Ascendancy in PoE2?

Your first in Act 2 at about level 28 (Trial of the Sekhemas, with a Djinn Barya), and your second in Act 3 at 33+ (Trial of Chaos, with the Inscribed Ultimatum).

What order should I do the Interludes in?

Any order works in 0.5. Take Mount Kriar first if you need the +40 Spirit early. Otherwise, the Mobalytics checklist suggests The Stolen Barya first, since it's the hardest.

What is the fastest way to level in PoE2 Forbidden Rites?

Follow the campaign, collect every permanent reward, and stop for Rituals that give useful gear. If you fall more than about three levels below the area, farm a spot like Azak Bog's flame ritual.

How do campaign Rituals work in PoE2 0.5.5?

Every campaign area has a Ritual. Twice per Act and once per Interlude, effigies sit on the boss, and defeated bosses carry into the next area's Ritual. Finishing the chain opens Tribute purchases for Unique items.

What level should I be before maps in PoE2?

Finishing the campaign puts you around 59 on the community route.

When does Path of Exile 2 1.0 release?

GGG has announced December 11, 2026 for the full free-to-play release, which adds the Duelist class.