Divinity Original Sin 2 Max Level — The Level 22 Cap and XP Curve

The max level in Divinity Original Sin 2 — Definitive Edition is 22 (the original 2017 release capped at 20). Reaching it requires a nearly complete playthrough — every act cleared, most side quests done — because the XP curve is steep: level 21 needs roughly 13.3 million XP and level 22 needs even more on top of a 20-21 million total. The short version: plan to hit the cap in the final act if you are thorough, expect to end around level 20-21 on a normal run, and never feel bad about missing level 22 — the last two levels are a completionist's trophy, not a requirement. This guide covers the cap by version, the full XP table, what level you should be for each act, and the mods that let you keep leveling past 22.

Official resources: Steam store page · Fextralife — Experience · dos2.wiki — Classes · dos2.wiki — Talents · HowLongToBeat — DOS2

The Cap, By Version

The Definitive Edition raised the cap as part of its rebalancing — you gain the same points per level at every level (2 attribute points, 1 combat ability point, plus civil and talent points on a fixed schedule), so the higher cap is pure late-game power. Our build guide details the level-up point schedule and what the caps are per stat.

Official source: dos2.wiki — Classes — "Every attribute, ability, talent, and skill can be changed freely on each level-up, and full respecification is available from Act Two onward via the magic mirror aboard the Lady Vengeance." The level-up economy — 2 attribute and 1 combat ability point per level — is identical all the way to the level 22 cap.

The XP Table, Level by Level

The community wiki's Experience page lists the cumulative XP required to reach each level in the Definitive Edition. Notable milestones:

The curve accelerates steeply from level 14 — each level roughly doubles the gap. A full run that reaches level 22 totals around 20-21 million XP, which is why the cap is effectively a "did everything" badge rather than a normal stopping point.

How XP Works in a Party

Three rules govern how that XP reaches your party:

• XP is shared party-wide. All characters in the party track the same total; recruited companions instantly match the recruiter's experience.
• Sources of XP: completing quests, discovering new areas, and defeating enemies and bosses. Quests and exploration are the big chunk — grinding respawning fights is not a real strategy in this game (there are no respawning trash mobs to farm).
• Recruitment timing matters slightly. Companions you recruit late join at your current XP, so there is no catch-up problem — but the civil-ability plan (who gets Bartering, Thievery, etc.) should be set before you spend points, since respeccing civil abilities costs gold.

What Level Should You Be Per Act?

There is no official per-act level table, but the community's consensus targets (used in every walkthrough since 2018) are:

• Leave Act 1 (Fort Joy) at level 8-9. The ship to Reaper's Coast is the level gate; level 8 is comfortable, 9 is thorough.
• End Act 2 (Reaper's Coast) around level 16-17. Act 2 is huge — most of your total XP comes from here.
• End Act 3 (Nameless Isle) around level 18-19.
• Enter the final Act 4 (Arx) fights at level 20+. The community wiki notes that entering the final fight under level 20 makes the ending gauntlet noticeably harder.

If you arrive at a region below these targets, the level difference shows up fast — DOS2's armour and damage scaling punishes being 2+ levels under an encounter. The fix is always the same: explore more, do the quests you skipped, and check for missed source master quests. Playtime expectations behind those targets are in our how long guide.

Raising the Cap with Mods

The Steam Workshop has long-running mods that remove or raise the level cap (community names include "level cap" overhauls and the "Divinity Unleashed" rebalance family). What to know before installing:

• Mods disable achievements, and Gift Bag toggles behave the same way — modded campaigns are flagged.
• The game's content ends at level 22. There are no post-22 fights to enjoy unless you also install difficulty/encounter mods; raising the cap mostly matters for Lone Wolf runs, party-size mods (six-man parties need more XP to feel the curve), or challenge runs against modded bosses.
• Console versions cannot mod. The Workshop is PC-only; the PS5 guide and console guide cover the platform split.

A cleaner "keep leveling" option for everyone: the Definitive Edition's Lone Wolf talent doubles invested attribute and ability points, which makes two characters feel like a four-man party well past the normal curve — no mods required.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the max level in Divinity Original Sin 2?

22 in the Definitive Edition, which is the only version sold today. The original 2017 release capped at level 20; the free Definitive Edition upgrade raised it.

What was the max level in the original DOS2 release?

Level 20. The Definitive Edition (August 31, 2018) raised the cap to 22 as part of its rebalancing.

How much XP does it take to reach level 22?

Level 21 requires about 13.3 million cumulative XP and level 22 roughly 18.5 million — a full run totals around 20-21 million XP, which requires completing nearly every quest, area and optional fight.

What level should I be for each act in DOS2?

Community consensus: leave Fort Joy at 8-9, end Reaper's Coast at 16-17, end the Nameless Isle at 18-19, and enter Arx's final fights at 20+. Being two or more levels under an encounter is the most common cause of hard difficulty spikes.

Can mods raise the level cap in DOS2?

Yes — Steam Workshop mods can remove or raise the cap, and rebalance mods (like the Divinity Unleashed family) change the whole curve. Mods disable achievements, only exist on PC, and there is no official post-22 content, so most players only use them for modded party sizes or challenge runs.

Related Guides

• Divinity Original Sin 2 Build Guide — Best Builds & Stats
• DOS 2 Classes — All 14 Class Presets Explained
• How Long Is Divinity Original Sin 2? — Playtime by Playstyle
• Divinity Original Sin 2 Review — Verdict and Scores
• Divinity Original Sin 2 Races — Every Race and Racial Skill Explained
• DOS 2 Runes — Socketing, Upgrading and the Best Rune Combos

Last updated: August 13, 2026.