In many ways, Rift is similar to World of Warcraft, as well as other games. For example, many of the mechanics are similar to WoW, but with the addition of something which is similar to Warhammer Online’s public quests system, and more. Basically, another MMORPG game, but this one will not be released unfinished and with hundreds of annoying bugs. The developers are making sure of it, and while it’s still early to tell, Rift might very well be a worthy competition to WoW.

Leveling in Rift works pretty much as in other MMORPG games. It’s nothing innovative and groundbreaking: the same old process of doing quests, killing X amount of monsters and grinding. You can however speed up the process a great deal by following a quality leveling guide, which is exactly what this page is about. I’ll be reviewing ALL Rift leveling and strategy guides and help you figure out which one is the best.

Currently, there’s quite a lot of different leveling guides available for Rift, some of them good and some even bad. Make sure to read the reviews below carefully before you purchase one.

1. Killerguides Rift Strategy Guide (review) – rated 5/5
2. Xerxes Rift Mastery Guide (review)  – rated 4/5
3. KFGuides Rift Leveling Guide (review) – rated 3/5
4. Rift Blueprint Guide (review) – rated 2/5
5. Rift Domination Guide (review) – rated 2/5
6. Fero’s Rift Strategy Guide (review) – rated 2/5
7. MMO Guide Mart’s Leveling Guide (review) – rated 2/5
8. Kalmar’s Rift Guardian Leveling Guide (review) – rated 1/5
9. Catari’s Rift Defiant Leveling Guide (review) – rated 1/5

1. Killerguides Rift Strategy Guide

Rating: ★★★★★ 

A very, very frequent mention on this site, Killerguides was once again the first to publish a guide for Rift. It received several updates since then and overall is extremely detailed and helpful and definitely my top recommendation.

It includes battle strategies, equipment breakdown, solo and group tactics, raiding techniques and guide, as well as a leveling guide. However, most of the stuff in Killerguides Rift Strategy Guide is just beginner information, unless you get all 5 Rift guides by Killerguides. The guides specific to callings, namely Rogue, Cleric, Mage and Warrior have more advanced and useful information, however they do come at a higher price than most other guides (although you do get a large discount if you purchase them all).

Overall Killerguides deserves a 5/5 rating, however it would be much nicer to have all the info packed in one single guide rather than have five different ones. Nevertheless it’s chock full of great contents that will help both new and veteran players get a better grasp of the game and I highly suggest you check it out.

2. Xerxes Rift Mastery Guide

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Xerxes guide is my second favorite guide for a number of reasons. First of all the leveling guide is the most detailed one and includes an impressive amount of screenshots and maps to guide you through quests. Some other guides (although not all) have maps and screenshots but it’s not nearly as much as in Xerxes.

Xerxes Mastery Guide also has really insider stuff about callings and souls. Some guides just post the beginner stuff inside with a few additions, but Xerxes clearly has a lot of experience playing all classes and his recommendations on equipment, stats, soul builds, soul pairings etc. are invaluable. This really is the professional, expert advice you will want to read.

This guide also includes a ton of additional bonuses, all of which are really useful: dungeons, professions, PvP, puzzles, platinum making, the list goes on. Overall Xerxes guide no doubt stands out from the competition and you won’t regret if you get it.

Note: Xerxes guide is no longer available!

3. KFGuides Rift Leveling Guide

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

KFGuides is in fact a very decent leveling guide. It includes maps and screenshots and the quest info is nicely outlined and easy to follow. The only issue is that it’s only for the Defiant faction.

Another bad thing is that KFGuides Rift Leveling Guide doesn’t have any additional bonuses to make it a worthwhile purchase. The few guides they do have can be viewed for free anyway, and aren’t really that useful (mostly dungeons and puzzles).

4. Rift Blueprint

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 

Rift Blueprint has enough content to make it a decent guide but not enough for me to recommend it over any of the guides above. Simply put the content and guides aren’t as detailed and useful. It does have a ton of beginner guides but it simply doesn’t cut it: these tips won’t help you stand out from other players too much.

The leveling guide inside is not even a leveling guide but rather a few notes about quests and doing rifts. The most useful part is the comprehensive dungeons guide giving you boss strategies and locations, but the same can be found in Xerxes guide, therefore there’s no reason why you would want to download Rift Blueprint.

5. Rift Domination Guide

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 

Similar to Blueprint and Fero’s guide, Rift Domination doesn’t really have anything useful which would make me recommend it to anyone. Beginner guides won’t do much good to anyone, and the lack of any other useful content makes me not want to even write a more detailed review.

I do have to give at least some credit to Rift Domination guide though, as there are far worse guides (see below), but unfortunately I can’t recommend it. It won’t help you dominate.

6. Fero’s Rift Strategy Guide

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 

Fero’s guide is almost identical in quality as Rift Bluprint. It doesn’t have any secrets or all that many useful tips and strategies. Again, beginner guides, the same dungeons guide as you can find elsewhere, and a few tips and notes that won’t really do you much good.

I recommend you skip Fero’s guide.

7. MMO Guide Mart’s Rift Leveling Guide

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 

MMO Guide Mart is a new website which will apparently publish guides for MMORPGs. However, their very first guide is the one for Rift, and it’s extremely lacking.

MMOGuideMart’s Rift Leveling Guide is an incomplete leveling guide, with only a few beginner guides as bonuses. The only good thing about it is that it’s cheap and has a nicely designed cover, but that’s really no reason to download it.

8. Kalmar’s Rift Guardian Leveling Guide

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ 

Kalmar’s guide does have step-by-step quest guides which I can’t say for all other guides, but the guide is currently incomplete despite being advertised that it is. The only thing Kalmar provides is a 1-19 leveling guide for the Guardian faction, and even that isn’t that well done.

Personally I much prefer to have Xerxes guide which has a ton of really useful bonuses, and a more detailed and complete leveling guide — for both factions.

9. Catari’s Rift Defiant Leveling Guide

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ 

Other than KFGuides this is the only Defiant faction specific leveling guide, and it ain’t a good one either. Incomplete, with absolutely no bonuses whatsoever.

If you didn’t notice yet, Catari’s guide comes from the same author as Kalmar’s guide, and as such suffers from the same issues. Skip it.

—

Summary

Xerxes guide is hands down the winner here. Massive amounts of useful content, and the most detailed leveling guide. Best buy, highest rating, top recommendation, etc. Download Xerxes, you will love it.