Leveling from 1 to 60 in Project 1999 is a notoriously long, brutal journey that requires a deep understanding of EverQuest’s classic mechanical quirks. To reach max level efficiently regardless of your class or race, you must learn about zone modifiers, economy hacks, group dynamics, and the psychological hurdle of “hell levels.”
This Leveling Guide will break down the best Strategies and Spots for fast leveling from level 1 to 60. starting with Newbie Phase and money making, to Endgame leveling Spots.
Mechanical Rules
- Zone Experience Modifiers (ZEM): Not all zones grant the same amount of experience per kill. High-danger dungeons have massive hidden ZEM bonuses to incentivize risky play, while open outdoor zones typically have much lower modifiers.
- The “Hell Level” Wall: Due to structural programming remnants from original EverQuest, certain levels require vastly more experience to complete. Expect a massive slowdown at levels 30, 35, 40, 45, 51, and every level from 54 to 59.
- Expansion Power Creep: Mobs in the Classic era zones are significantly weaker than mobs of the exact same level in Kunark or Velious expansion zones. For easier soloing or smoother grouping, stick to Old World classic dungeons.
The Newbie Phase (Levels 1–20)
Levels 1–10 Strategy
The first ten levels are all about establishing your economic footing. Because Project 1999 uses a classic rule set, you start with no map, no compass, and zero money. Your physical location depends entirely on your race, but the general strategy remains identical across all starting areas.
Level 1 to 4
- The Goal: Safely reach level 4 without dying to avoid losing your starting weapon.
- Target Mobs: Stick strictly to “yard trash” right outside your city gates (Decaying Skeletons, Bats, Rats, Fire Beetles).
- The Rule of Conning: Always target a mob and press C to check its difficulty.
- Green: No experience (or very little). Skip.
- Blue: Safe, optimal experience.
- White: Even match. Fight only at full health.
- Yellow/Red: Run away immediately.
- Loot Priority: Loot everything. Even Ruined Wolf Pelts and rusty weapons sell for a few copper pieces to vendor merchants.
Level 4 to 10
- The Goal: Transition to static camps or slightly deeper parts of your starting zone.
- Target Mobs: Large Scarabs, Orc/Gnoll Centurions, Grizzly Bears, and Greater Skeletons.
- Combat Technique: At this stage, classic health and mana regeneration are incredibly slow. Sit down (
/sit) immediately after every single fight. Standing up reduces your regeneration rates drastically.
The Newbie Economy
Do not buy armor or fancy weapons from NPC merchants in your starting town. This is a common rookie mistake that wastes your precious early currency. Instead, collect “player-wanted items” and sell them to high-level players.
- The Money Making: Collect and stack
Bone Chips, Spider Silk, and Spiderling Silk. Do not sell these to NPC merchants. Take them to the East Commonlands (EC) Tunnel and sell them to high-level players for 10–20 platinum per stack. This gives you enough early cash to buy all your spells and starter gear.- High Quality Bear Pelts: Dropped randomly by bears. Tailors use these for customized bags. A single pristine pelt can sell for 10 to 25pp.
Levels 10–20 Solo Strategy
Reaching level 10 is a major milestone in Project 1999 because it marks the end of protected starting yards. From levels 10 to 20, you must migrate to major regional leveling hubs, navigate punishing death penalties (you now lose a massive chunk of experience per death), and learn to handle complex social aggro mechanics.
To achieve the absolute fastest, most optimal experience from levels 10 to 20 on Project 1999, Kurn’s Tower is the best method. This method depends on the platinum that you farmed during your first 10 levels by selling 
Bone Chips, 
Spider Silk, Spiderling Silk, and 
High Quality Bear Pelts to other players so you can travel to the spot and gear up.
Kurn’s Tower
- Best For: Solo players, duos, or trios who want the fastest possible raw experience bar progression.
- The Location: Kurn’s Tower, located in the center of the Field of Bone on the continent of Kunark.
- Why it is the Best Method:
- Kurn’s Tower has a massive, hidden Zone Experience Modifier (ZEM). It is almost entirely populated by lower-tier undead mobs (Skeletons).
- Non-Social Agro: Unlike classic zones where attacking an orc pulls every orc nearby, the skeletons in the main rooms of Kurn’s are often completely non-social. You can stand right next to a group of three skeletons and pull only one.
- No Fleeing: Because they are undead, they will never run away when their health drops below 20%. You don’t need snare spells, and you never have to worry about a runner bringing a whole room of monsters to kill you.
The High Density Group Hubs (Levels 10–20)
High-density group hubs are the true social heart of Project 1999. In these zones, full 6-man parties lock down distinct geographic “camps”, working in tight harmony to slaughter enemies as fast as they spawn
To survive and excel in these zones from levels 10 to 20, you must understand the mechanical anatomy, camping rules, and pull dynamics of the game’s top three group hubs.
The Estate of Unrest
Located in Faydwer, The Estate of Unrest features a 130% Zone Experience Modifier (ZEM). It is heavily packed with undead, making it the premier destination for Clerics (who use Ward Undead spells) and Paladins.
- Group Strategy
- The puller must be extremely careful when opening interior doors. Mobs inside the house have tightly overlapping aggro radii. If a puller doesn’t use “line-of-sight” corner tactics, they will accidentally pull the entire main floor, triggering a deadly house train.
Crushbone
Located just north of Greater Faydark, Crushbone boasts a massive 160% ZEM. It is hyper-congested, highly social, and features constant pick-up groups running around the clock.
- Group Strategy
- Crushbone is famous for Orc Belts and Legionnaire Pads. A designated group member usually handles looting or rolls are strictly enforced. Do not leave the zone without your stacks; turning these into the warriors in Kaladim or Kelethin gives you massive bonus chunk experience.
The Oasis of Marr
Located in the vast deserts of Antonica, the Oasis of Marr serves as a sprawling open-world grouping playground.
- Group Strategy
- The Sand Giant Threat: Massive Sand Giants and the named giant Cazel walk directly across the crocodile leveling camps.
- The Spectre Island: The center of the lake holds a tower surrounded by level 35+ Spectres. If a player swims too close, they will aggro them onto the beaches.
- The Rule: Your group’s puller must constantly keep their eyes on the horizon. If a Sand Giant is spotted heading toward your camp, the tank must hold position while the group runs out into the deep water to drop aggro.
The Best Spots For Levels 20–40
Leveling from 20 to 40 is famously dubbed the “mid-level grind.” This is where your progression slows down, monsters hit significantly harder, and cash flow becomes crucial.
To navigate this bracket efficiently, the absolute best spots are broken down into Grouping Hubs and Solo Spots.
Grouping Hubs (Fastest XP)
If you are a physical class (Warrior, Rogue, Monk) or a group-dependent healer, these zones offer the highest Zone Experience Modifiers (ZEM) and constant public pick-up groups (PUGs).
Mistmoore Castle from Level 20 To 35
Mistmoore Castle is widely considered one of the premier grouping hubs for the 20 to 35 level bracket because of its phenomenal Zone Experience Modifier (ZEM) and its perfectly tiered progression layout. The dungeon features a natural layout that scales seamlessly with your group’s strength, allowing a party to safely lock down the pond and graveyard camps at level 20 before smoothly transitioning up to the highly lucrative castle courtyard and fountain camps by level 25. Furthermore, because Mistmoore is populated heavily by dark elves and gargoyles, it provides a goldmine for young groups; monsters frequently drop Gargoyle Eyes that vendor for roughly nine platinum pieces each.
Lower Guk Dead Side From 35 To 40
Lower Guk is universally recognized as one of the single best spots for groups to level from 35 to 40 because its legendary “Dead Side” combines an exceptional Zone Experience Modifier (ZEM) with some of the most lucrative mid-game loot in the entire game. In this specific bracket, a well-balanced party can comfortably lock down camps like the Bedroom or the Executioner, where the static spawns of undead Frogloks provide steady, rapid experience without the unpredictability of roaming open-world threats.
What makes Lower Guk truly magnetic for mid-level groups is the sheer density of named monsters that drop permanent, highly sought-after upgrades and valuable items; camps in this area routinely yield pieces like the Flowing Black Silk Sash for haste or items that vendor for hundreds of platinum pieces to easily fund your upcoming level 39 spells.
Solo Spots
If you are a solo class (Necromancer, Druid, Wizard, Bard) that thrives on open space, these locations allow you to kite or root-rot without competition.
Southern Karana From 20 To 30
South Karana is the best zone for leveling from 20 to 30, completely flat landscape offers maximum safety and predictability for solo players. The zone is heavily anchored by the iconic Aviak Town, which serves as a central hub teeming with non magical bird men like Aviak Darter that are entirely straightforward physical brawlers with no tricky spellcasting or rooting mechanics. This makes the region a playground for solo casting classes, as it provides optimal conditions for safe Druid or Wizard quad kiting, Necromancer fear kiting, and bard swarm killing.
The Overthere From 30 To 40
The Overthere is widely considered one of the absolute best outdoor solo spots for the 30 to 40 level bracket because its massive, wide-open geography and predictable mob pathing provide unparalleled freedom for solo players. The zone features a flat, obstacle free landscape.
This wide-open space acts as a perfect playground for Druids, Wizards, and Bards to execute flawless quad kiting and swarm kiting, while Necromancers can safely fear kite without the constant anxiety of a fleeing mob running into hidden walls or geometry traps. Additionally, the presence of the evil outpost in the zone offers a highly convenient, centralized hub where evil aligned races or players with proper illusion magic can easily bank and sell vendor loot, minimizing your downtime so you can maintain a steady, unhindered experience rate all the way to level 40.
Levels 40–50
Groups
The City of Mist is the best grouping hub for leveling from 40 to 50 bracket because its high player density, structural safety features, and modular camp design create the smoothest leveling experience during the game’s toughest experience drought. Unlike classic dungeons that suffer from narrow corridors and unpredictable pathing, this ruined Iksar city features a sprawling, open-air layout that allows 6-man pickup groups to easily set up stable, predictable base camps at progressive milestones—starting at the highly safe entrance and stables for lower 40s, before pushing deeper into the temple, arena, and upper areas as the party gains strength.
What truly cements CoM as a mandatory group destination is its structural design: it offers incredibly high Zone Experience Modifiers (ZEM) alongside a built-in safety net where groups can pull monsters cleanly without the constant threat of a fleeing enemy causing a base-wide “train.” Furthermore, because it is an absolute magnet for the server’s player base, characters can log in at any hour, type /ooc LFG near the zone line, and quickly secure a spot or join a waitlist, allowing you to bypass the agonizing mid-game leveling wall with continuous, low-risk momentum
Solo
The absolute best, most definitive outdoor spot for solo players from levels 40 to 50 is Dreadlands, specifically targeting the roaming monsters and yeti caves located along the massive western safety wall. This zone is an absolute playground for solo casters because it offers an infinite stretch of wide-open, completely flat terrain with zero line-of-sight obstructions, enabling flawless Necromancer, Druid, Wizard, and Bard.
The Endgame Slog (Levels 50–60)
Groups
The absolute best spots for groups to level from 50 to 60 in Project 1999 are The Hole, Old Sebilis, and Chardok because their massive, hidden Zone Experience Modifiers (ZEM) are paired with tight, high-density mob setups that allow a fully optimized 6-man party to counter the game’s brutal endgame experience crawl.
The Hole stands as an elite option where parties can chain-pull elemental and gargoyle guards near the city docks, utilizing the area’s massive classic ZEM bonus to push straight through the agonizing levels 51, 54, and 59.
For groups looking to balance experience with high-tier platinum generation, the subterranean ruins of Old Sebilis provide legendary dungeon crawls.
Finally, Chardok is heavily favored by organized, high-level player groups who use Enchanter charm strategies, allowing you to bypass the public overcrowding of entry level hubs while building crucial raiding faction and gear wealth before reaching the ultimate level cap.
Solo
The absolute best spots for solo players to level from 50 to 60 are Cobalt Scar, the Western Wastes, Frontier Mountains, and Howling Stones. This endgame tier is notoriously brutal, forcing solo archetypes to rely entirely on specific environmental quirks rather than raw brawling.
For Druids and Wizards, Cobalt Scar is an unrivaled paradise; the shoreline Wyverns are predictable, non magical melee targets with zero line of sight obstructions, making them the ultimate endgame choice for continuous, lucrative quad-kiting up to level 56.
For classes that rely on root rotting, fear kiting, or pet tanking, such as Necromancers, Shamans, and Shadow Knights, the Frontier Mountains offers a low risk, non social camp of named giants that can safely carry you all the way to level 60 with minimal resistance.
Meanwhile, hyper geared soloers or master Enchanters and Necromancers looking to maximize their experience velocity often brave the dangerous hallways of Howling Stones (Charasis); despite the threat of instant death from broken charms, its massive, hidden Zone Experience Modifier (ZEM) and endless legions of undead targets make it the fastest indoor solo meatgrinder on the game.
Final Thoughts
Conquering the grueling climb to level 60 on Project 1999 is less about fast and far more about patience, resource management, and social capital. Every bracket presents a unique survival test, forcing you to constantly adapt from the fragile, broke economy of the early newbie yards to the high-stakes, tightly packed dungeon camps of Sebilis, Chardok, and Howling Stones.