Powerleveling, in WoW or in any other MMO, is simply the process of getting your character leveled as quickly as is possible. It implies skipping the “normal game” in favor of piling on the levels ASAP, but it can also be as simple as doing it yourself with 100% of your focus on leveling as efficiently as possible. That said, here’s how it’s genereally done…

Botware

Let’s say that you need to gain a few, or many, levels but your available time (or love for leveling) just isn’t there. So you look into a software system to play your character for you (this is commonly referred to as “botting.” You get levels with no work, some miscellaneous loot and gold, what’s not to like? Just the fact that many players hate botters and the company will ban your account if they catch you (and those players are reporting you, believe me.)

Basically what you will be doing here is loading up a set of scripts (google them) which will play your character for you. You have to do some set up work and make sure the character reacts well to this and that, but people have done that and so can you. Once debugged and running, if you still have your account, you can set it to grind out some serious levels while you do something else. By tthe way, many players hate botters and will report you on sight (and try to kill your character, if they can.)

Buying

Is it surprising that some enterprising types wil play your character for you, in exchange for money, and level it from X to Y? They’ll even get some sweet gear and a fair chunk of gold for you (for more money.) So yeah, they’ll take your brand new level 1 and take it all the way to 80 (or 85 when Cataclysm hits) and leave you with gold and sweet gear.

Of course, if you get caught you will lose your account and whatever money you paid to get that toon leveled. And you’re giving a 3rd party access to your account, but you trust them, right?

Did I mention that you’ll be banned if Blizzard catches you?

Instance Rushing

Have access to higher level characters through your guild, friends, contacts, or something else? Ask them to rush you through one or many dungeons.

Here is where your lower level and the high level team up. You then enter then dungeon and your toon hangs back while the other one destroys everything. You get a ton of XP and probably get to keep everything that drops.

Leveling Guides

Basically all a leveling guide does is tell you where to go and what to do, hopefully in the most efficient manner possible. You go to area A, grab a bunch of quests or kill a bunch of mobs, and when you level a bit you head to the next area. Guides show you the best path to follow and the best order to do things. These guides are available as freebies or as paid guides. Typically the freebies are in the form of a web page, like these wow levelig guides, or as a PDF.

Even though you’re doing it yourself leveling can be almost too easy. How? Get one of the paid guides. They’ll show you that path, track your tasks, and do it in-game. Some will lete you do the entire 1-80 path solo, others take you through the various dungeons (yes, dungeon leveling guides, for faster XP and much better loot.)

Leveling Tips

Assuming that you’re doing it yourself there are a couple of tips to make it even faster. Always log out of the game at an inn so that you can use the “rest XP” when you come back. You will get double XP for killing hte opposition and it will last for a length of time that depends on how long you were logged out. Another way is through Blizzards “Recruit a Friend” system which allows 3x XP.

Try to organize your tasks so that you spend as little time as possible moving between them. Also, make sure that you have lots of bag space and adequate supplies. This way you don’t have to constantly head back to town to dump loot or resupply. Therre are also various web guides out there that will help with specific character tips, such as this Shaman leveling guide.

And loyal fans might have something other things to look ahead to: Lars and the guys reportedly may release an exceptional Metallica-only version of the game ont following year.

In related news, Guns N Roses, will also bring out their new track, “Shackler’s Revenge” on Guitar Hero’s rival, Rock Band II, in September.