Level

Levels are used to measure the general strength and combat abilities of a new character. Players unlock many basic features of the game by levelling up. The level cap is currently 30.

After reaching level 30, the vast majority of the game involves Combat Rating as the measure of strength of a character, which is raised by acquiring gear with higher Item Levels.

Experience (XP)[]

Experience is earned by completing races, missions, as well as defeating enemies. It is tracked by the purple bar directly below the power loadout at the bottom of the screen. Once the bar is filled, the player progresses to the next level, with each subsequent level requiring more experience than the last.

Completing the introductory mission, The Awakening, brings the player to level 4. After completing it once, players can use the skip tutorial option to skip it when creating other characters, and reach level 4 as well.

Gaining a Level[]

Also referred to as "dinging", gaining a level will instantly restore full health and power and increase the player's stats, as well as knocking back any opponents in the area.

Players will also earn and one skill point on odd levels (3, 5, 7 etc.), resulting in a minimum of 24 skill points at 30. Skill points can also be earned by completing feats.

Note that upon character creation one skill point is permanently assigned to your initial weapon of choice. This does not appear in your total skill point count.

In the character selection screen, it is possible to purchase instant advancements to level 25 (1000 Daybreak/Marketplace Cash) or level 30 and Combat Rating 425 (4999 Daybreak/Marketplace Cash). This is also available in Character Creation, additionally if you already have at least a character at level 4, you can skip any character to level 4 (and skip the tutorial) for free.

Unlockable Content[]

Main article: The DCUO Ladder

As player characters progress in levels, they will also gain access to new areas and powers.

NPC level[]

While NPCs, or mobs, also have their own level, it is usually not very indicative. For most of them, the level is the same as the involved mission's level, including bosses, meaning that bosses would be the same level as the mobs in the same mission despite being much more dangerous.

Even among bosses, the level does not reflect their combat prowess correctly, as it take into account whether the boss is supposed to be soloed or fought as a group.

Tips[]

Do not waste time grinding enemies for XP - the amount they give is minimal.
Do as many side missions, bounties and races as possible - doing only main storyline missions will not get you to level 30.
The first series of Mentor-based Missions (automatically started when tutorial ends) along with its directly associated side missions will take players to level 9, and should take about 20 minutes.
This pattern continues as completing that unlocks a level 8 mission series, which brings you to level 12; level 12 mission series, brings you to level 14; another level 12 mission series, to level 16; a level 13 mission series, to level 17.
After 7-8 mission series, you should reach level 20, which is the requirement for Events, and Casual mode in Episode content, as of Day of Reckoning.
Other than On Duty instances, level 20 also unlocks the episodes' daily and weekly missions, which can be repeated for XP and other rewards. However, it appears only missions in Atlantis (Episode) and later episodes grant XP. Oddly, it seems that at level 20, completing any daily or weekly mission always yields 766 XP - and around level 22, this is more than tripled to 2375 XP, but the XP required for each level seems massively increase to make the levels slower. This later jumps to 1250 XP at level 24 and 1335 at level 26. It seems this number is misleading - regardless of level, each mission XP drop gives you 10% towards the next level (one segment in the purple XP bar).
- A number of episodes after Atlantis, namely Metal Part I to Long Live the Legion, have their daily missions locked behind the introductory quest, making it no longer possible to new players to do them at level 20.
- Daily missions in Harley Quinn vs. Apokolips has a quirk of requiring you to check in with a second NPC before starting the mission, but this step also gives the same XP, essentially giving its missions double XP.
If someone not in your group is attacking an enemy or activating an object you need for a quest, go over and attack/be alongside them - in most cases it will count towards your quest objectives.
Don't forget you can use Supercharge and Soder Cola to help you out in a pinch.
Spending a point into Speed Force, Supersonic or Rocket-assisted Glide at level 9 will significantly reduce your travel times.