The question of how much XP to Level Up you require has two sides to it.
One side has clearly stated rules that you have to follow. But the other side is the more liberal side – but what do I mean by this?
In RAW (Rules As Written) it states that each creature has a Challenge Rating. Based on that Challenge Rating each creature that you defeat gives you a set amount of XP that is divided throughout your group. Yes, divided. Each player doesn’t receive 50XP, but it’s divided between all players.
Now, what do I mean by a more “liberal side” to this system?
The Player’s Handbook numbers the three pillars of adventure: Exploration, Social Interactions & Combat. If your DM is willing to deal with the hassle, he may award you with XP after each of these events has transpired.
This is why this question is tricky to answer, it all relies on the whim of your DM.
If your DM wants to he can award you for every small thing, if he is lazy and doesn’t want to bother he can just award you a predetermined amount at the end of every session.
So let’s look at the objective facts at least.
Table of Contents
Table of How Much XP You Need to Level Up
This table shows us the specified experience point total a character requires per level to reach the next level. A character who reaches this increases their prowess, this advancement is called a level up. As you can see, once you get to those higher levels it gets much more difficult to level up.
But, as Uncle Ben said. “With great power, comes great responsibility.” The same lesson can be applied here. Over time your character can get pretty beefy with what they can do. So to curtail that, discuss with your DM by what system you will receive your experience.
After all, you don’t want to become a demigod in the starter zone. If you remove the challenges then the game overall becomes less fun.
Why You Would Want to Level Up
There are endless texts that can be written on this question. As your character goes on adventures and overcomes challenges you gain a level. Once you gain a level you can go on bigger and better adventures, see where I’m going with this? Understandably then…
This question is a bit self-explanatory. There are many reasons you would want to level up. Mainly, you wouldn’t want your game to feel “pointless” so; that is why the leveling system is present. So as to allow you to feel progression through your story. Plus, it feels good to have your hard work rewarded.
Let’s also list all the other benefits shall we:
- Hit Points increase: This is one of the greatest benefits you get. Good luck beating the final encounter if you still have the same Hit Points you started with.
- Ability Score Increases: This is the other great benefit. If you do something repeatedly in real life you get better at it. The same can be applied here, depending on your class; every few levels you get the option to increase certain Ability Scores.
- Feats: Alternatively you can choose to take certain Feats that you want instead of choosing to up your ability score.
- Proficiency Increase: This ties in with the previous two points. As if you make the right choices you can influence proficiency increases in a certain skill.
- New Abilities and Spells: With time you unlock new abilities and spells, this obviously adds more options – thus making the game more fun in the process.
- Class Features: Certain classes get certain features that they can opt to take. Take the Sacred Oath system and Patron system we looked at in previous articles on the Paladin and Warlock respectively.
- Subclass Features: But wait, there’s more. Not only do you get class features, with most classes you also get subclasses that let you further specialize in certain capabilities.
- The Ability to Multiclass: This is an option that not everyone will take, but it’s nice that it’s there. As Multiclassing opens even more avenues of approach to how you play the game.
Conclusion
That basically covers everything you need to know about how much XP to Level Up you require. The system is really basic and is widespread through most video games nowadays, so it isn’t that hard to grasp.
A level is always a nice little reward at the end of a specific adventure, it feels rewarding when your character gains a level. Not only does gaining a level give you a small dopamine boost, but it also increases your hit point maximum. Also, he or she gains other benefits from this increase. Possible constitution modifier increases, among other scores, the list of benefits is almost endless.
Again, I’ll reiterate. Dungeons and Dragons isn’t dogmatic about how this system works, it just gives you some suggestions. The most important thing is to discuss with your DM what systems and rules you will use. As the right progression will allow you to have a constant challenge throughout the entire game – thus making the entire game fun.
