Crypt of Decay Leveling Guide
***Notice*** Everyone reading this guide in 2018 or later should note that this guide was written in 2009 or so when Underfoot was the current expansion pack. As you can imagine a lot has changed in the game since that time and some of what you read in this guide may be inaccurate or misleading. This page *does* still have some useful info which is why my newer leveling guides link here - but you should understand that most of the information here is outdated, I've taken what's correct and incorporated it into my newer leveling guides.
If you're here from one of my older links then head over to my new Everquest Leveling Guides Index page as you'll find guides for each expansion for you to choose from. I strongly urge you to use these newer leveling guides instead.
Once you're level 55 You have more planes that open up to you and even more areas that you can go to for a group. As with levels 50 - 55 I recommend that you go to the 55, 60 and 65 Hotzones and try to find a group. If you're successful in finding a group, great! If not then stick around in the planes until around level 60. Below are the planes that you will find good for your level...
Crypt of Decay
Plane of Valor
Also...
Additional Places to Level for all Level Ranges
Your options aren't very selective for these levels, but you only need level 57 to unlock the next tier of planes. The next tier of planes are the following:
Bastion of Thunder
Halls of Honor
There are more then just these two planes, but none of them are worth XPing in as much as these two. Usually you can stick in Bastion of Thunder or Halls of Honor till around 60. Once you reach 60 go to the 55, 60, 65 and maybe even 70 hotzone and try to find a group. I usually always do Crypt of Decay for levels 55-60, and then Bastion of Thunder 60-65.
**Level 59 Best AA Spot Ever**
Crypt of Decay
One of the best zones to level in through the 60s is Crypt of Decay. This zone has tons of mobs in it of all kinds. Upon zoning in the first type of mob you will come across are the Undead Puslings. These guys used to be strictly Undead which made them extremely fun to lay waste to on Paladins but recently they were changed to be Humanoids as well which makes them Headshotable by Rangers.
Further north upon entering the zone you will come across the Bubonian Rats which are all Humanoids and for the longest time were camping grounds of Rangers with the Headshot AA looking for some quick XP. Sometimes you will still catch a Ranger here but since Headshot got some horrible nerfs it's increasingly rare to see a Ranger using it to grind out some XP. Regardless, you can take out the Puslings or Rats if you're looking for some XP, I recommend skipping the mobs that spawn around Carprin to the west just because it seems that Carprin is always alive and here to kill people. And trust me at the levels you'll get XP here taking him out won't be an easy task.
Whichever you decide to kill in Crypt of Decay you won't be disappointed. The loot is excellent here and the mobs are fairly easy to kill for very good XP. Be sure to hang on to all the Cultural Items you get to sell in The Bazaar as well as the scrolls which are used in Spell Research and sell for a ton depending on what server you're on.
If you are struggling with this location or any other location around your level I have a few things that you could do to hopefully fix that. First and foremost you will want to upgrade your gear if you're still using Defiant Gear. There are a ton of Attunable items that you can find in The Bazaar, I recommend you buy the ones that are upgrades and equip them. If you want some help finding these items I highly recommend you use my Bazaar Gear Buying Guide (65+). The second and probably most important thing you can do is get all of the important AAs for your Class. To figure out what AAs are the most important AAs to get I recommend you read over my Everquest AA Placement Guide.
With better gear and all of the important AAs you will notice a gigantic difference in your character and what they are capable of.
Crypt of Decay Loot Table
Tainted Planar Essence
Diamonds
Peridot
Uncut Gems
Sunshard Ore
Binding Powder
Ethereal Parchment
- Can be turned in at PoK for a spell depending on what class trainer you give it too.
Fetid Chunk of Flesh
Defiant Gear
Strand of Ether
Brick of Ethereal Energy
Disease Ridden Scalp
Spell Research Materials
Rogue Poison Materials
Aug Drops
Cultural Silk
Cultural Marrow
Cultural Ore
Cultural Pelts
Cultural Spinneret Fluid
Cultural LoamAfter you reach level 60 and grab a couple hundred AAs it becomes time that you leave Crypt of Decay and head to a harder zone, the next zone I go to is Bastion of Thunder. To get to Bastion of Thunder head west through Plane of Tranquility. Look on the map, Bastion of Thunder is the northern most zone, in the zone. (Confusing I know.) It's out in the ocean! There that should help!! =)
Continue to Bastion of Thunder Leveling Guide
Return to PoHate Leveling Guide
Additional Places to Level for This Level Range: