Day 1: Birth of a Legend (Target: Level 5)

Your first day is all about establishing your character and learning the fundamentals. Every minute you invest here pays dividends for the rest of your journey.

Character Creation

Choose your race carefully: Vampire or Werewolf. This is a permanent decision that determines your skill tree, faction, race-locked locations, and even your companion options. If you are unsure, read our Race Comparison Guide before committing. Vampires excel at life steal and evasion with skills like Blood Strike (ATK x1.2, 5% Life Steal) and Dark Shroud (+20% Dodge for 2 turns). Werewolves lean into raw strength with powerful burst and regeneration abilities.

Complete the Tutorial

The tutorial takes about 10 minutes and rewards you with starter gear, 200 gold, and your first skill point. Do not skip it. The tutorial introduces combat mechanics, the stat screen, and the quest log. Pay attention to the combat timing system, as understanding turn order is essential for PvP later.

Your First Battles

Head to the Dark Forest (Level 1-15, Western Aeternum). This is your starting zone with weak monsters perfect for learning combat. Farm here until you reach level 5. You will unlock the quest board, which is your primary source of XP and gold for the entire first week.

Allocate Your First Skill Points

At level 5, you will have accumulated several skill points. For vampires, invest in Blood Strike and Night Sense (+5% AGI, +2% Dodge) first. For werewolves, prioritize your primary attack skill and any passive STR bonuses. Check our Skills Guide for detailed recommendations.

DAY 1 CHECKLIST

Create character, complete tutorial, reach Level 5 in Dark Forest, allocate first skill points, collect tutorial rewards (200 gold + starter gear).

Day 2: Quest & Connect (Target: Level 8)

Start the Main Quest Line

The main quest line becomes available at level 5 and offers the highest XP-per-minute in the early game. Follow it through the Dark Forest and into the Graveyard Lands (Level 5-20, Central Aeternum). Main quests also grant equipment upgrades that are stronger than anything you can buy at this stage.

Skill Point Strategy

By level 8, you should have enough points to unlock your second active combat skill. Do not spread your points thin across many skills. Instead, max out your primary attack skill first for maximum damage. Rank 5 of your main attack skill is a massive power spike that will carry you through the early dungeons.

Join a Clan

This is one of the most important things you can do early. Clans provide a passive XP bonus, access to clan missions, gold donations for shared rewards, and social support when you hit difficulty walls. Open the Clan panel and either join an existing clan or create your own. For more details, read our Clan Guide.

Day 3: Craft Your Advantage (Target: Level 10)

Unlock Crafting

At level 8, the crafting system unlocks. Visit the Workshop in Blood City (Level 8-25, Eastern Aeternum) to begin. Crafting is not optional in VvW: crafted gear consistently outperforms shop-bought items, and some best-in-slot pieces can only be crafted. Start with simple weapons and armor using materials you have gathered.

Gathering Basics

Every location has gathering spots. The Dark Forest offers Healing Herbs (herbalism) and Wolf Pelts (skinning). The Graveyard Lands has Copper Ore (mining). Gather materials every time you visit a zone, even if you are there for quests. These materials fuel crafting and sell well on the Auction House.

Inventory Management

Your inventory fills up fast. Sell common (white) items to NPC vendors, list uncommon (green) and rare (blue) items on the auction house, and bank all crafting materials. Never sell crafting materials to NPC vendors; they are always worth more on the player market or used in your own crafting.

Unlock Your First Companion

At level 10, purchase your race companion for 500 gold: the Bat Familiar (Vampires, +8% life steal) or Shadow Wolf (Werewolves, +10% STR). This is your most impactful early investment. Your companion fights alongside you and provides permanent passive bonuses. See our Companion Guide for leveling strategies.

GOLD TIP

Do not spend gold on common shop items. The gear you receive from quests and crafting is superior. Save your gold for your companion (500g at level 10) and crafting materials.

Day 4: Dungeon Delving (Target: Level 13)

Dungeons D1-D3

Dungeons unlock progressively with your level. Dungeons D1 through D3 are designed for solo players and offer massive XP, gold, and gear drops. Complete each dungeon daily, as dungeon loot resets every 24 hours. The boss at the end of each dungeon has a chance to drop rare equipment. For boss strategies and loot tables, consult our Dungeon Guide.

Companion Leveling

Your companion gains XP from every battle. Dungeons grant the most companion XP per session, so running dungeons daily is also the fastest way to level your companion. Focus exclusively on your race companion for now. A level 5 companion with its second skill unlocked is significantly more powerful than a level 1 companion.

Day 5: Enter the Arena (Target: Level 15)

PvP Arena Introduction

The PvP Arena unlocks at level 10, but we recommend waiting until level 15 when you have a stronger build. Your first few arena matches place you into the matchmaking system and establish your initial ELO rating. Do not worry about winning; focus on learning opponent patterns and testing your skills in a PvP context. Read the PvP Guide for arena strategies.

Daily Missions Routine

By day 5, you should establish a daily routine: complete your 3 daily missions first, then run available dungeons, then farm quests or PvP. Daily missions refresh every 24 hours and provide gold, XP, and Battle Pass XP. Maintaining a daily login streak also grants escalating bonus rewards. This routine will carry you through the entire game.

Day 6: Reputation & Exploration (Target: Level 18)

Faction Reputation

At level 15, faction daily quests become available. These reward faction reputation, which unlocks exclusive vendors, gear, and storylines. Start working on your faction reputation early, as the best faction rewards require weeks of daily quest completion. Our Reputation & Factions Guide has the full breakdown.

Explore New Regions

By level 18, you can access the Ruined Castle (Level 12-30, Northern Aeternum) and the Forbidden Swamp (Level 15-35, Southern Aeternum). Each new region has unique monsters, gathering resources, and quest chains. Exploration also contributes to map completion rewards, which grant gold and unique titles.

Day 7: Review & Plan (Target: Level 20)

Reach Level 20

If you have followed this roadmap, you should be close to or at level 20 by day 7. At level 20, the Night Raven companion becomes available (800 gems), the Shadow Mountains (Level 20-45) unlock, and higher-tier dungeon difficulties open up. Level 20 is the gateway to the mid-game.

Review Your Build

Open your character sheet and review your stat allocation, skill point distribution, and gear. Are your stats focused on your primary role? Are your skills upgraded efficiently? If something feels off, this is a good time to adjust. Check our Vampire Build Guide or Werewolf Build Guide for optimized builds.

Set Long-Term Goals

Now that you understand the game systems, set specific goals for week 2 and beyond. Common goals include: reaching level 30 for subclass selection, saving for specific crafted gear, climbing the PvP ranks, or pushing deeper into dungeons. Having clear goals prevents the mid-game plateau that causes many new players to lose motivation.

WEEK 1 SUMMARY

Day 1: Character + Tutorial + Level 5. Day 2: Main quests + Clan + Level 8. Day 3: Crafting + Companion + Level 10. Day 4: Dungeons D1-D3 + Level 13. Day 5: PvP Arena + Daily Routine + Level 15. Day 6: Faction Rep + Exploration + Level 18. Day 7: Review + Goals + Level 20.

Week 2 Preview: What Comes Next

With your first week complete and level 20 reached, the game opens up dramatically. Here is what to focus on in your second week:

  • Level 25: Unlock race-restricted zones (Vampire Citadel or Werewolf Territory) with exclusive quests and gathering spots.
  • Level 30: Choose your subclass (Blood Mage, Shadow Assassin, or Dark Knight for Vampires; Moon Warrior, Berserker, or Pack Shaman for Werewolves). This is the biggest decision after race selection.
  • Crafting Tier 2: Begin crafting iron-grade equipment and experiment with enchanting and rune socketing.
  • PvP Ranking: Start climbing the ranked ladder with your established build.
  • Clan Wars: Participate in your first clan war event for massive gold and reputation rewards.

For a complete mid-game and endgame roadmap, read our Leveling Guide and Endgame Progression Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I fall behind the roadmap?

This roadmap assumes moderate daily play (30-60 minutes). If you fall behind, do not stress. The key priority order is: daily missions first, dungeons second, quests third. Even at a slower pace, you will reach level 20 within 10-12 days.

Should I spend real money in my first week?

No. VvW is fully playable without spending. If you do want to support the game, the Battle Pass offers the best value. Wait until after your first week so you understand what you are buying.

Which race is better for beginners?

Both races are balanced for new players. Werewolves are slightly more forgiving due to higher HP and STR, while Vampires reward skilled play with life steal and evasion. Choose based on which fantasy appeals to you. Read our Race Comparison for details.

Can I reset my skill points?

Yes, skill point resets are available but cost gems. For your first week, follow the recommended skill order and you will not need a reset. If you make a mistake, it is not catastrophic; the reset cost is manageable.

When should I start worrying about PvP?

Not until level 15 at the earliest. PvP in VvW has level-based matchmaking, but having a solid PvE build foundation makes your PvP experience much more enjoyable. Focus on understanding game mechanics first.