Leveling up fast in PoE 3.23 Affliction can be challenging, as the league mechanic can create very difficult enemies and situations. However, some tips and tricks can help you level up faster and smoother in Affliction.
Choose a build that can deal with multiple enemies and high damage.
Affliction can spawn a lot of monsters with various abilities and modifiers, so you need a build that can clear them quickly and efficiently. Some recommended Affliction builds are Explosive Arrow, Explosive Trap, Incinerate, Hexblast, and Detonate Dead.
Use the Wildwood to your advantage.
The Wildwood is a sub-zone you can enter from each map, where you can find Wisps, Encounters, and Wanderers. Wisps are used to empower monsters and unlock Wildwood Ascendancies, which can boost your damage, survivability, or utility. Encounters are special events that can reward you with loot, experience, or Wisps. Wanderers are vendors that can sell you rare and valuable PoE items, such as Tinctures, Charms, and league-specific items. You can use the Wildwood to gain more resources and items, but be careful not to overdo it, as the empowered monsters can become very dangerous.
Use the best leveling gear and gems.
Leveling gear and gems can greatly improve your leveling speed and ease. You should use gear that has high life, resistance, movement speed, and damage. You can also use gems that have high damage, area of effect, and utility. Some of the best leveling gear and gems are Tabula Rasa, Goldrim, Wanderlust, Lifesprig, Storm Cloud, Quill Rain, Porcupine, Stormblast Mine, Orb of Storms, Herald of Ash, Herald of Thunder, and Flame Dash.
Follow a leveling guide or a zone layout.
Leveling guides and zone layouts can help you optimize your leveling path and avoid unnecessary backtracking or wasting time. You should follow a leveling guide that suits your build and playstyle, and a zone layout that shows you the best way to navigate each area.
In addition to these general tips, here are some more specific tips for each act of the campaign:
Act 1
You can aim to finish Act 1 in about 20 minutes. You can skip most of the side quests except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You can skip most of the optional areas, except for the Coast, the Mud Flats, and the Ledge, where you can farm some experience and items. You can use Stormblast Mine as your main skill until you get your desired skill gem from the Breaking Some Eggs quest. You can also use Orb of Storms and Herald of Ash or Herald of Thunder to boost your damage. You can upgrade your weapon to a Storm Cloud or a Quill Rain as soon as possible. You can also look for a Tabula Rasa or a Porcupine card set from the Blood Aqueduct or the Channel map.
Act 2
You can aim to finish Act 2 in about 30 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 1, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the Riverways, the Western Forest, and the Chamber of Sins. You should use your desired skill gem as your main skill and support it with appropriate support gems. You should also use Withering Step as your movement skill and Malevolence as your aura. You should upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a Tincture or a Charm from the Wildwood or the Wanderers.
Act 3
You can aim to finish Act 3 in about 40 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 2, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the City of Sarn, the Docks, and the Lunaris Temple. You can use the same skill setup as Act 2 and upgrade your support gems with more damage, area of effect, and utility. You should also upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a league-specific item from the Wildwood or the Wanderers, such as a Feastbind, a Faminebind, or a Rigwald's Quills.
Act 4
You can aim to finish Act 4 in about 50 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 3, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the Aqueduct, the Dried Lake, and the Belly of the Beast. You can use the same skill setup as Act 3 and upgrade your support gems with more damage, area of effect, and utility. You should also upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a league-specific item from the Wildwood or the Wanderers, such as The Retch, The Taming, or a Rigwald's Command.
Act 5
You can aim to finish Act 5 in about 60 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 4, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the Control Blocks, the Reliquary, and the Chamber of Innocence. You can use the same skill setup as Act 4 and upgrade your support gems with more damage, area of effect, and utility. You should also upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a league-specific item from the Wildwood or the Wanderers, such as The Anima Stone, The Primordial Chain, or a Rigwald's Crest.
Act 6
You can aim to finish Act 6 in about 70 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 5, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the Mud Flats, the Riverways, and the Prison. You can use the same skill setup as Act 5 and upgrade your support gems with more damage, area of effect, and utility. You should also upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a league-specific item from the Wildwood or the Wanderers, such as The Baron, The Scourge, or a Rigwald's Savagery.
Act 7
You can aim to finish Act 7 in about 80 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 6, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the Crossroads, the Fellshrine Ruins, and the Crypt. You can use the same skill setup as Act 6 and upgrade your support gems with more damage, area of effect, and utility. You should also upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a league-specific item from the Wildwood or the Wanderers, such as The Devouring Diadem, The Dancing Dervish, or a Rigwald's Charge.
Act 8
You can aim to finish Act 8 in about 90 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 7, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the Toxic Conduits, the Quay, and the Solaris Temple. You can use the same skill setup as Act 7 and upgrade your support gems with more damage, area of effect, and utility. You should also upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a league-specific item from the Wildwood or the Wanderers, such as The Queen's Hunger, The Dancing Duo, or a Rigwald's Curse.
Act 9
You can aim to finish Act 9 in about 100 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 8, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the Vastiri Desert, the Oasis, and the Quarry. You can use the same skill setup as Act 8 and upgrade your support gems with more damage, area of effect, and utility. You should also upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a league-specific item from the Wildwood or the Wanderers, such as The Iron Fortress, The Dancing Duo, or a Rigwald's Command.
Act 10
You can aim to finish Act 10 in about 110 minutes. You should follow the same strategy as Act 9, skipping most of the side quests and optional areas, except for the ones that give you skill points or useful gems. You should also farm some experience and items in the Ossuary, the Reliquary, and the Cathedral Rooftop. You can use the same skill setup as Act 9 and upgrade your support gems with more damage, area of effect, and utility. You should also upgrade your gear with more life, resistance, and damage. You can also look for a league-specific item from the Wildwood or the Wanderers, such as The Surrender, The Dancing Duo, or Rigwald's Savagery.
I hope this guide has helped you understand how to level up fast in Affliction. If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know. Have fun and good luck!