Level gap penalty
Reduces experience gained from a monster when its level is too far from your character level. This is the rule calculated above.
Character progression mechanic
Experience Level Penalty
You receive full experience while the monster level is inside your character's safe range. Outside that range, the level multiplier falls as the effective difference grows.
Safe range rule3 levels, plus 1 for every 16 complete character levels
A level 80 character has a safe difference of 8, so monsters from level 72 through 88 are inside the full experience range. Normal monsters use the area level. Magic and Rare monsters are one level higher, and bosses are two levels higher.
Level gap calculator
Check your XP multiplier
- Monster level
- 72
- Full XP range
- 72 to 88
- Effective difference
- 0
- Level multiplier
- 100.00%
The calculated level 72 monster is inside the full experience range. Extra monster levels include effects such as Irradiated and Coalesced Corruption or Cleansed.
Full experience ranges
Character level bands| Character level | Allowed level difference |
|---|---|
| 1 to 15 | 3 levels |
| 16 to 31 | 4 levels |
| 32 to 47 | 5 levels |
| 48 to 63 | 6 levels |
| 64 to 79 | 7 levels |
| 80 to 95 | 8 levels |
| 96 to 100 | 9 levels |
How the calculation works
One monster kill- Find the safe difference.Take 3 plus one for every 16 complete character levels.
- Compare character and monster levels.Subtract the safe difference from the absolute level gap. Values below zero become zero.
- Apply the multiplier.The current community reference uses ((level + 5) / (level + 5 + effective difference2.5))1.3.
Experience penalty chart
Normal monster level100% means the monster is inside the character's full XP range.
| Character level | Full XP range | Monster 60 | Monster 65 | Monster 70 | Monster 75 | Monster 80 | Monster 82 | Monster 84 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 60 | 54 to 66 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 59.4% | 13.2% | 3.84% | 2.56% | 1.78% |
| Level 70 | 63 to 77 | 78.2% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 78.2% | 48.5% | 27.1% |
| Level 80 | 72 to 88 | 8.17% | 30.0% | 92.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Level 85 | 77 to 93 | 3.17% | 8.70% | 31.4% | 92.4% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Level 90 | 82 to 98 | 1.53% | 3.38% | 9.23% | 32.7% | 92.8% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Level 95 | 87 to 100 | 0.86% | 1.63% | 3.59% | 9.76% | 33.9% | 56.1% | 82.8% |
| Level 100 | 91 to 100 | 0.59% | 1.03% | 2.00% | 4.56% | 12.9% | 21.1% | 35.2% |
This chart uses Normal monster levels. Add 1 level for Magic and Rare monsters or 2 levels for bosses, then use the calculator above for the exact result.
Do not confuse the penalties
Separate rulesDeath experience loss
Dying in an area accessed through a Map Device removes 10% of the experience required for the current level. It cannot lower your character level.
Character XP table
Check the exact experience required for every character level and calculate XP remaining for the next level.
Partying
Party size changes monster life, item quantity, loot allocation, and revival rules. The current checked PoE2 Partying source does not publish a party experience distribution formula.
Use this with area levels
AreasCheck campaign area levels, waypoints, bosses, quests, and connections.MapsCompare Atlas maps, bosses, biomes, and special rules.Item LevelUse the same area and monster levels to determine dropped equipment item level.Experience Loss on DeathCalculate the separate Map Device death penalty and Omen reduction.PartyingCheck exact party size scaling, loot allocation, shared effects, and respawn rules.CornathaumSee the Unique helmet that grants increased experience gain and how to obtain it.