If you’ve ever stared at a level 30 domain you can’t unlock, or gotten one-shot by a Ruin Guard while exploring Liyue, you know how frustrating slow progression can feel in Teyvat. Figuring out how to lvl up in Genshin Impact doesn’t have to mean grinding for 8 hours a day or swiping on genesis crystals, though. I’ve played since launch, have 12 fully built 5-star characters, and have never spent a penny on the game, so I’ve tested every trick to speed up progression without burning out. This guide breaks down the most reliable, low-effort ways to raise your Adventure Rank, character power, and world level at a pace that works for you.
How to Lvl Up in Genshin Impact: Start With Daily Tasks That Give Guaranteed EXP
Most new players make the mistake of wandering aimlessly for hours looking for chests, which gives tiny AR exp payouts compared to structured daily tasks. The 4 daily commissions take 10 to 15 minutes total to complete, and give you enough AR exp to move you up 1 full rank every 2 to 3 days in early game. If you only have 15 minutes to play a day, doing your daily commissions is all you need to keep steady progression going. I have a friend who only plays 20 minutes a day during the work week, and he still hit AR 50 in 6 months without any extra grinding.
Always claim your daily commission bonus from Katheryne before logging off – that extra 500 AR exp, mora, and enhancement ore adds up fast, and you’ll lose it if you skip claiming it before the 4 AM server reset. Expeditions are another passive win you don’t have to work for: send 4 characters on 20-hour expeditions every day, and you’ll get free ore, mora, and local specialties without lifting a finger. I usually send my unused 4-star characters like Xiangling, Barbara, and Kaeya on ore expeditions, since enhancement ore is always in short supply when you’re leveling up new weapons for your main team. So save the open world exploration for when you have extra time on weekends, not as your first priority when you log on for a quick play session.
Farm Character and Weapon EXP Materials In Bulk During Double Drop Events
If you’re looking for the fastest way to make progress when you learn how to lvl up in Genshin Impact, optimizing your resin spend is the single biggest change you can make. Original resin regenerates at a rate of 1 every 8 minutes, so you only get 180 a day for free, meaning you can’t afford to waste it on low-value tasks. Ley lines are the primary source of character exp books and mora, but farming them outside of double drop events is rarely worth the cost. Wait until there’s an active double ley line drop event to spend your original resin on EXP books and mora – you get twice the rewards for the same 20 resin cost, which cuts your farming time in half. When there’s no double event running, prioritize resin spends on items you can’t get any other way.
To help you prioritize, here’s my go-to ranking for how to spend 20 original resin, from highest to lowest value:
I once wasted 120 resin on regular ley lines the day before a double drop event launched, and I still kick myself for it. A little patience pays off massively here. Also, don’t forget to collect the free exp books from the Adventurer’s Handbook level rewards – you can get hundreds of purple exp books just by completing easy handbook challenges like unlocking teleport waypoints or defeating a certain number of enemies. Don’t level every character you pull equally – focus on your 4 main team members first, and only level side characters once your main team is strong enough to clear all core content comfortably.
Unlock Teleport Waypoints and Statues of The Seven Across All Regions First
A lot of new players stick to Mondstadt for the first 20 hours of the game, but unlocking all teleport waypoints across Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, and Natlan as early as possible cuts down your travel time for quests and farming by 70% at least. You don’t have to complete all the region Archon quests as you go, just run through the map to unlock waypoints and level up Statues of The Seven as you find them. You can even cross region borders early, as long as you avoid fighting high level enemies that will one-shot you.
Leveling Statues of The Seven gives you free AR exp, stamina upgrades, and primogems – the stamina upgrades alone make this worth doing, since you’ll be able to climb higher and glide farther without stopping. I unlocked all waypoints in Sumeru as soon as I hit AR 35, and it cut my daily commission time in half because I didn’t have to run across the desert for 10 minutes to get to a quest location. You’ll also stumble across dozens of common chests and puzzle rewards as you explore, which add extra exp and materials without any extra effort. Just make sure you have a few healing items on hand if you’re exploring higher level regions early – most enemies in Fontaine and Natlan are level 70 or higher, so they will one-shot you if you’re still running a level 20 team. You don’t have to fight them, though; just run past to unlock the waypoints.
Skip Unnecessary Grinds To Avoid Burnout While Leveling
One of the biggest mistakes new players make when leveling up is feeling like they have to 100% every region, collect every chest, and max every character the second they get them. That leads to burnout fast, and you’ll end up quitting before you get to experience the best parts of the game, like the later Archon Quests and fun co-op events. You don’t need to hit AR 60 in a month to enjoy Genshin Impact – most of the core content is unlocked by AR 45, which takes most casual players 2 to 3 months to reach without grinding. If you only have 30 minutes a day to play, stick to daily commissions, weekly bosses, and one short farming run, then spend the rest of your time doing whatever you find fun, whether that’s exploring, doing hangout quests, or playing co-op with friends.
Spiral Abyss rewards are optional, and you don’t have to clear all 36 stars to get enough primogems for your favorite characters – even clearing the first 8 floors gives you enough primogems for 2 to 3 pulls a month, which adds up over time. I’m AR 58 and still haven’t 100% explored Natlan, because I’d rather spend my time leveling up new characters I like instead of hunting for hidden chests that only give 10 AR exp each. Progression should be fun, not a chore, so don’t force yourself to do content you don’t enjoy just for a little extra exp. You’ll get to the end game eventually, no matter how slow you go.
At the end of the day, figuring out how to lvl up in Genshin Impact is all about working smarter, not harder. Focus on high-reward, low-effort tasks first, save your resin for double drop events, and don’t force yourself to grind content you hate just to level up a little faster. Whether you’re a brand new player just leaving Mondstadt for the first time, or a returning player coming back after a long break, these tips will help you progress at a pace that fits your schedule, so you can spend more time enjoying the parts of Teyvat you love most.