PoE Leveling Guide

Leveling Guide
This guide is a recommendation and is subject to change based on how powerful you are offensively and defensively, how much you skip while rushing, and your gear/spec.
NORMAL
1-28: Progress normally. You should not have to farm any zones at this point.
28-30: Farm docks to catch up in experience.
30-32: Progress through the story, kill Piety and Dominus.
33-36: Farm aqueduct to catch up in experience.
36-40: Progress through the story, kill Kaom, Daresso, and Malachai.
CRUEL
40-43: Rush to and farm ledge.
43-45: Progress through the story, kill Merveil.
45-46: Rush to and Farm Chamber of Sins level 1.
46-50: Progress through the story, kill Vaal Oversoul. Rush to docks.
50-53: Farm Docks.
53-55: Progress through the story, kill Piety & Dominus.
55-56: Farm Aqueduct.
56-58: Progress through the story, kill Kaom, Daresso, and Malachai.
MERCILESS
58-60: Progress through the story, kill Merveil.
60-62: Progress through the story, kill Vaal Oversoul. Collect items for the Chaos Orb recipe at this point.
62-63: Farm City of Sarn.
63-66: Rush to and farm Docks.
66-68: Progress through the story, kill Piety and Dominus.
68-70+: Farm Aqueduct/Dried Lake (100% exp through 74, 90% through 76).
70+: Start mapping.

Recommended Side Quests
These quests reward 1-2 skill points and should be done when you are advancing through the story.
A1: Dweller of the Deep
A1: Marooned Mariner
A2: The Way Forward
A3: Victario's Secret
A3: Piety's Pets
A4: An Indomitable Spirit