This guide does not require platinum.
STEP 1:
Making your character-
First thing you want to do is choose a class.
Bird:
1. Easily levels up
2. Has range which helps in the long run
3. Can nuke, good for farming
4. Has less armour
Mage:
1. Easily Nukes
2. Has significant range
3. Good for PvP at all levels
4. Dies often
Bear:
1. No range (Unless you are using bow, but I'm talking about class specific attribute, i.e. Bear = Strength)
2. Cannot nuke as well as bird and mage
3. Very good at End game PvP
4. High survivability
Fox:
1. Can kill mobs very fast
2. Can dash for faster runs
3. Considerably less armour
Rhino:
1. Tanky, doesn't die easily
2. Can dash for faster runs
3. Doesn't nuke much
I would choose Dex Bird / Int Mage.
Make sure you choose a good name, it well help you later on :p
THE PLAN:
1. Get your character to level 50 At least. From here you can farm shadows.
2. Next 3x Combo, Level it up to 56. Here you can farm L56 Glyph until you get another 3x Combo
3. The next time you get a 3x Combo, go to L61 to L66. At 61 you can farm expensive L61 items and at L61 +, you can farm Dragon pieces
4. Moving on to level 71 with your next 3x Combo. It is a good and balanced PvP level. Can farm L70 Tiki and L71 items.
5. Go to L75 or as much as possible from L71. Now you can wear Savage / Swift / Fiery.
6. L76. You have finally capped. Can farm at Slayer.
7. L77. Its a long way but now you can wear the best set in the game. Your journey is complete.
STEP 2:
Where to level up-
1 - 10: Forest Haven (Can be soloed)
10 - 15: Dark Forest (Can be soloed)
15 - 18: Wyldwood, Level 2 (Can be soloed)
From here on I recommend waiting for a combo, preferably a 3x Combo.
18 - 27: Fathom Crypt, Mega maze mash-up
27 - 33: Lost Expedition / Frozen Nightmares
[Estimated Average Time taken to get to this level with 3x Combo from Level 1 = 45 minutes to 1 hour]
33 - 38: AO1, The Great Pyramid remakes
38 - 47: AO2 Plasma Pyramid remakes
[Estimated Average Time taken to get to this level with 3x Combo from Level 1 = 3.5 to 4 hours]
From level 38 - 47, spend on 1.5x XP elixirs from plat store for 2K gold because you will recieve the same amount of money each run. Liquidate all items, even Pink, if you are not using it.
47 - 50: AO3: Crush the Keeper remakes
50 - 53/54: Balefort Sewer runs
53 - 62: Nuris Hallows, Haunted Symphony / Nuris Funhouse remakes (Unlocked after finishing all Nuri quests)
[Estimated Average Time taken to get to this level with 3x Combo from Level 1 = 12 hours]
You might want to use plat for very quick levelling after this.
62 - 68: Mount Fang, Crypt remakes
68 - 76: Either Humania or BSM. I prefer BSM. Dragon's Nest and Magma fields remakes. Lost valley.
76 - 77: Ancient Caverns / BSM. Still recommend doing lost valley, magma fields and drags nest at BSM.
STEP 3:
Most Important Step!
Listen to music while playing the game. It helps time pass, A LOT. I listen to Linkin Park because their music is very jumpy and keeps me energized.
EDIT:::::
For higher level players.
STEP 4:
Do not check your experience every now and then. Set a time period. Maybe every 10 to 15 minutes.
STEP 5:
Always Level Up with a team.
--------AN EXTRA PART SUGGESTED BY EPW---------
Stat Distribution.
I'm only going to tell you what your stats should look like at L77 because thats what we're aiming for in this leveling up guide. Also, one mistakes that a lot of newbies make is distributing their stats in all three areas. The max should be two.
Bear:
1. Full Dexterity Bear
2. 169 Str, Rest Dex Bear
Those are the only viable builds I know at endgame bear.
Bird:
1. Full Dex Bird
2. 60 - 70 Str, Rest Dex (Str for ring)
3. 169 Str, Rest Dex
Mage:
1. Full Int Mage
2. 169 Str, Rest Dex
3. 169 Str, Rest Int
4. 169 Dex, Rest Int
5. 169 Int, Rest Dex (Tested by me, works pretty well)
5. 300 Dex, Rest Str (L76 Build, use Elite Bow)
Fox:
Only one I know of is-
169 Str, Rest Dex
Rhino:
Only one I know of is-
169 Str, Rest Dex