If you’ve spent any time grinding missions in The First Descendant, you’ve probably wondered how far you can push your favorite character’s power ceiling. One of the most common questions new and returning players ask is what is the max level in First Descendant, and whether hitting that cap is worth the extra effort. I’ve poured over 120 hours into the game across 7 different characters, so I’ve broken down every part of the level system, from early grind shortcuts to endgame unlocks you won’t want to miss.
What is the Max Level in First Descendant for Characters and Weapons?
First, let’s clear up the most common confusion around level caps. All playable Descendants have a fixed max level of 40, with no differences between free and paid characters. Weapons have a separate, higher max level of 50, regardless of their rarity or type. A lot of new players mix up individual character level with account rank, which has no upper limit as of now, so don’t be confused if you see players with three-digit numbers next to their name in co-op lobbies.
Once you hit level 40 on any character, you unlock the Excedent Level system, an account-wide prestige track that rewards you for extra XP earned on maxed-out characters. This system doesn’t raise your character’s core stats, but it gives you exclusive loot and bonuses that benefit every character on your account. You don’t have to grind Excedent Levels if you don’t want to, but the rewards are usually worth the extra playtime for most players.
It’s also worth noting that level caps have only been raised once since the game’s launch, and developers have signaled that any future cap increases will be tied to major content updates, not small patches. That means you don’t have to worry about your max level character becoming obsolete a month after you finish grinding it.
How to Reach the Max Level Fast Without Wasting Time
I made the mistake of grinding low-level side missions for my first 10 hours, and it took me twice as long to hit max level on my first Descendant as it did on my third. You don't have to grind nonstop to reach the max level in First Descendant, either. I’ve got a few proven tips to cut your grind time in half, even if you only play a few hours a week.
- Stick to co-op void intercept missions on hard difficulty once you hit level 20: these give 3x the XP of standard story missions, plus you get rare weapon drops you can use or dismantle for extra resources.
- Use XP boosters before starting long play sessions: you can earn these from daily login rewards, event passes, or by completing weekly challenge milestones, no real money required.
- Prioritize leveling one character first to max level: once you hit 40, you unlock a shared XP buff for all alternate characters on your account, cutting their level time by 25%.
- Always equip a weapon that is 2-3 levels above your current character level: higher rarity weapons grant a small passive XP boost for every kill you get with them, even if you’re using it on a low-level character.
But don't rush through the story if you care about lore, obviously. If you're just here to unlock endgame content as fast as possible, these tips will get you to max level in 8-12 hours of playtime, depending on how often you run void missions. I tested this with my recent alt run for the new water-based Descendant, and I hit 40 in just over 9 hours, which is way faster than the 22 hours it took me on my first run.
Rewards You Unlock When You Hit Max Level
Hitting the max level in First Descendant isn't just a flex for your co-op lobby. You unlock a ton of exclusive content that makes the grind completely worth it, even if you don't care about leaderboard ranks. First, you unlock the full skill modification tree for your character, which lets you tweak every ability to fit your playstyle, whether you want to build a full support healer or a high-damage AoE nuker. A lot of new players don't realize that 40% of the skill nodes are locked until you hit level 40, so you're not getting the full potential of your character until you cap out.
You also get access to exclusive max-level only missions, including the hard mode void raids that drop the highest rarity armor and weapon skins in the game. These raids are also the only way to get the crafting materials for the game's rarest Descendants, so if you want to collect every playable character, you'll need at least one max level character to unlock them. Hitting the max level in First Descendant also gives you access to exclusive community events that only max level players can join, with limited-time rewards that never return to the in-game shop.
Once you hit max level, all excess XP you earn goes into your account's Excedent Level pool, which gives you free loot crates, premium currency, and exclusive banners every time you rank up. These crates often have limited-time event items you can't get anywhere else, so even after you cap your character, you still get rewarded for playing them.
Common Max Level Mistakes to Avoid
Even if you hit max level fast, there are a few mistakes a lot of players make that waste their hard-earned progress. I made almost all of these on my first run, so I can tell you exactly what to skip. First, don't waste all your upgrade materials on low rarity weapons before you hit max level. I spent hundreds of rare enhancement cores on a purple shotgun when I was level 25, and it was completely obsolete by the time I hit 35. Save your highest rarity upgrade materials for level 50 legendary weapons, which you can use for every endgame activity. That means you can use lower rarity gear to get through the grind, but don't invest anything more than basic upgrades into them.
Second, don't ignore your alternate characters once you hit max level on your main. The shared XP buff you get from your first max level character makes leveling alts extremely fast, and each max level character gives you an extra weekly reward crate that has premium currency and rare crafting materials. You don't have to level every character, but having 2-3 max level Descendants will make endgame grind way easier, especially if you play a lot of co-op with friends who run different team compositions.
Third, don't skip the Excedent Level challenges. A lot of players think once they hit 40, progression stops, but the Excedent Level system has some of the best rewards in the game, including free character skins and exclusive weapon attachments. Even if you only play a few hours a week, you can rank up your Excedent Level fast just by completing daily missions, no extra grind required.
At the end of the day, asking what is the max level in First Descendant is only the first step to getting the most out of the game. The level cap is designed to be accessible for casual players, but still rewarding for players who want to put in the extra time to unlock all endgame content. Whether you're grinding for a specific character build, or just want to show off your max level rank in co-op lobbies, the progression system is fair and rewarding if you avoid the common mistakes we covered. If you're just starting out, take it slow, use the XP tips we shared, and you'll hit the cap before you know it.