Most Dragonwilds grinds stall on supply, not on XP: empty nodes, missing seeds, no ammo, long walks back to storage. Use the route table below, then swap methods the moment the switch when condition appears.

Every skill levels to 99, and each level unlocks a small bonus or a new spell tied to that skill. So the order you train in matters as much as the method.

Which Skills Take Longest

Players who have pushed skills far report very uneven progress. One community summary of every 99 listed Mining as capped, then Farming (96), Artisan (95), Magic and Attack (90), Ranged (89), Runecrafting (87) and Cooking (83). Plan around the slow ones early.

Woodcutting, by contrast, is commonly named one of the easiest skills to level because it gives quick XP and useful unlocks. It makes a good first skill.

Route Table: Pick, Run, Switch

Each row gives a starting route and the condition that tells you to abandon it.

Pick the route you can sustain for an hour, not the one with the best-looking single lap. The slower skills in the previous section deserve the most attention.

Gathering: Fix Supply First

Mining and Woodcutting

Mining: Clear a cluster, unload once, and check whether the first cluster is back when you return. If it isn't, add a second cluster. Standing beside an empty node is the most common waste. Don't push to higher-tier ore if the nearest deposit is a long walk away. [3]

Woodcutting: Plant a small plot, harvest it fully, and count whether your seeds cover a second cycle. Expand only if your abilities clear more trees per swing. A bigger plot that scatters fallen trunks across the ground costs you time.

Fishing and Farming

Fishing: Run a net and a rod for the same 10 minutes each. Count catches, bait used, and time lost walking between spots. Nearby storage helps with carry limits but doesn't refill an exhausted spot.

Farming: This is the second-slowest skill to cap in the community summary, so start it early. Log seeds planted, seeds recovered, yield, upkeep time, and full growth time before you enlarge the farm. A big harvest means little without those inputs.

Processing: Count the Whole Supply Chain

Cooking: Cook what your farm and fishing already produce. Compare recipes by XP, time, burn losses and ingredient cost, not by how rare the ingredient is. Cooking sits near the bottom of the 99 ranking, so expect a long grind.

Artisan: Set aside materials for your next gear upgrade first, then spend the rest on training. Load all compatible stations, then leave to gather.

Merchant loops: Test one small batch before buying in bulk. Log purchase cost, fuel, inputs, sale return and restock limits. A loop that loses money can still train quickly, but it won't fund itself.

Construction: Build what your base needs, such as storage, workspaces and outposts. Before repeating a place-and-dismantle cycle, confirm each placement still gives XP and that you recover materials. Don't rely on reload tricks unless you've reproduced them on your current build.

Runecrafting: Craft the same essence amount manually and automatically, and compare XP per minute. A slower interaction can lose to a faster one even if it uses resources more efficiently.

Combat and Agility: Count the Failures

Judge a method by full sessions, including deaths, repairs, misses and resets.

• Attack: Compare a durable-enemy loop against a repeatable boss. Add respawn waits and moments when the boss can't be hit.
• Ranged: Pick targets you can hit from a stable spot. Count ammo replacement and missed shots before upgrading to a higher-damage setup.
• Magic: Give spells a real share of each fight. Don't count on the last hit to deliver much XP. Dense groups pay off only if your runes last and you stay alive.
• Agility: Time several laps including falls and the walk back. Then run a harder course for the same total time and compare. Walking short distances between objectives can help, but check what it costs your other training.

Magic and Attack both sit around 90 in the community summary, so they are slow skills. Give them dedicated sessions instead of hoping to level them on the side.

What is the fastest way to train skills in Dragonwilds?

Run the route with the highest complete-session XP, counting travel, resupply and failures. Start with Woodcutting for quick early levels, then spend most of your time on the slowest skills, which are Mining, Farming and Artisan.

Which skills should I train first?

Train whatever is blocking your progress now: tool access, processing capacity, or rune supply. Woodcutting is a safe opener because it levels quickly and unlocks useful bonuses.

Should I always gather the highest-tier resource?

No. A lower-tier resource is better if it's closer, easier to replace and faster to process. Compare the full cycle, not the tier.

Are merchant loops worth it for Cooking or Artisan?

Only after a small test batch. Include inputs, resale, restocking and the time spent earning currency.

Can I level Magic with finishing blows alone?

Don't count on it. Test whether XP follows damage dealt. If it does, a nearly dead enemy gives little, so cast through a meaningful share of each fight.