Level at grace
You spend runes at sites of grace to raise your level. Each visit is a chance to convert a run into stats.
Runes come from fights
Enemies, bosses, and cleared points of interest all pay runes. The faster you clear, the faster you level.
Pick stats for the Nightfarer
Raise the stats your Nightfarer uses. Damage stats help attackers, while vigor and endurance keep everyone alive.
Buy gear, not only levels
Sometimes a weapon upgrade or a consumable beats one more level. Compare the two before you spend.
Do not hoard runes
Runes you never spend are wasted. Bank them at every grace instead of carrying a huge pile into a boss.
Level before the Nightlord
Arrive at the final boss already leveled. The last grace visit is the most important one of the run.
Team rune sharing
In co-op, the team levels together. Do not let one player fall behind the group’s pace.
Leveling has limits
Past a point, extra levels matter less than skill and gear. If you stop growing, fix the build instead. See the dormant powers guide.
Death costs you
Dying can cost runes you have not banked. Spend early and often so a death costs time, not progress.
Vigor comes first
Vigor is the stat that keeps you alive through the Nightlord, and even attackers want it early. A dead damage dealer deals nothing.
Spend at the last grace
Runes left unspent when the Nightlord appears are gone for good. Convert them at the final site of grace you reach, even if the level looks small.
Know when to stop
Past a certain point more levels barely change the fight. Shift those runes into a weapon upgrade or a consumable instead of another stat.