XP and Leveling Up
Every level requires 1,000 XP flat. Encounters award XP by difficulty (40-160). Leveling grants HP, class features, feats, skill increases, and new spell slots.
PF2e uses a flat XP threshold for advancement: every level requires exactly 1,000 XP. When you reach 1,000 XP, you level up and reset to 0.
Earning XP: The GM awards XP based on encounter difficulty and accomplishments:
- Trivial encounter: 40 XP (or less)
- Low encounter: 60 XP
- Moderate encounter: 80 XP
- Severe encounter: 120 XP
- Extreme encounter: 160 XP
- Story awards: 10-30 XP per minor milestone, 30-80 XP per major accomplishment
Encounter Budgets: GMs build encounters by spending a budget of XP to "buy" monsters and hazards. A moderate encounter for 4 PCs has a budget of 80 XP. A level-equal creature costs 40 XP. Higher-level creatures cost more; lower-level cost less.
What You Gain Each Level:
- Increase HP by class HP + Constitution modifier
- Gain class features listed for that level (e.g., skill increases, ability boosts every 5 levels)
- Gain feats as indicated (class feats at even levels, skill feats at odd levels for most classes, ancestry feats at 1/5/9/13/17)
- If trained or better in a skill, add +1 (since proficiency includes level)
- Heighten cantrips and focus spells to half your new level
- Gain new spell slots (if a spellcaster)
Milestone Leveling: As an alternative, the GM can simply level up the party at narratively appropriate moments, ignoring XP tracking entirely. This is a common and supported option.