F2P Progression Roadmap: Day 1 to Endgame Without Spending
Vampires vs. Werewolves is completely playable without spending a cent. This roadmap proves it — with exact milestones, gold and gem income breakdowns, spending priorities, and builds optimized for free-to-play players. No hidden paywalls, no "but you need to buy X to compete" disclaimers.
The F2P Promise: What It Actually Means
VvW's monetization model is cosmetic-only. The gem shop sells skins, auras, mounts, name changes, and convenience items (inventory expansion, XP elixirs). There is no gear, stat points, or direct combat power for sale. A free player and a whale have identical power ceilings. The only difference is cosmetic appearances and some time-saving convenience.
This guide assumes you spend exactly zero real money. Every strategy, timeline, and recommendation works with zero gem purchases. Gems earned through free gameplay are addressed in the gem economy section below.
Phase 1: Day 1-7 (The Foundation)
Your first week sets the trajectory for everything that follows. Make smart decisions here and you will be weeks ahead of players who stumble through blindly.
Day 1: Character Creation to Level 10
| Task | Time | Reward | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete tutorial | 20 min | 50 gold + starter gear | Must do |
| Finish all starter quests (level 1-5) | 40 min | ~200 gold + quest gear | Must do |
| Grind to level 10 | 1-2 hours | Auction house access, party system | Must do |
| Buy a level 10 blue weapon from auction house | 5 min | ~3x DPS increase over quest weapons | Must do |
| Pick up Mining + Herbalism gathering professions | 10 min | Passive income source unlocked | Must do |
Day 2-3: Level 10-20 and Subclass Choice
- Grind to level 20 following the Duo Leveling Guide route through Darkhollow Woods and Cursed Farmlands.
- Gather every ore and herb node you pass. Sell raw materials on the auction house — do not vendor them. Player prices are 3-5x vendor price.
- Join a guild using
/guildlist. The +10% Guild XP Banner alone is worth joining any active guild. - Choose your subclass at level 20. F2P-friendly recommendations below.
Day 4-7: Level 20-35 and First Dungeons
- Run Moonfall Caverns (level 20 dungeon) for your first blue gear drops. Run it 3-5 times.
- Complete the Darkhollow quest chain for 150 gold reward and a rare trinket.
- Start Dispatch Missions at level 30. Send companions on 4-hour missions for passive gold (25-40 gold per mission).
- Push to level 35 and enter Iron Crypt dungeon for your first major weapon upgrade.
Week 1 Milestones: Level 35, ~800 gold earned, full blue gear set, guild membership, gathering professions started.
Phase 2: Week 2-4 (Building Momentum)
Week 2: Levels 35-50
| Activity | Gold/Hour | XP/Hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howling Plateau grinding | 40-60 | 35,000 | Good XP + gold combo; sell mob drops |
| Obsidian Spire dungeon runs | 50-80 | 42,000 | Best XP; purple ring drop at boss |
| Auction house flipping | 100-200 | 0 | Buy underpriced materials, resell at market rate |
| Gathering while grinding | 20-30 (passive) | 0 | Pick up nodes along your grind route |
| Dispatch Missions (4-hour) | 6-10 (passive) | 0 | Set before logging off; collect on login |
Week 3-4: Levels 50-70
- Enter Duskwood Highlands (level 45-50). Elite mobs here give 2.5x XP but require blue or better gear to fight efficiently.
- Run Abyssal Sanctum (level 50 dungeon) for epic gear. This dungeon is the gateway to mid-game power.
- Start crafting. By now you should have enough materials to begin crafting consumables for personal use, saving gold on potion purchases.
- Unlock the Arena at level 30 (if you haven't already). Do your 10 placement matches. Even losses give gold and experience.
- Push to level 70 for raid eligibility (see Weekly Raid Boss Guide).
Month 1 Milestones: Level 65-70, ~5,000 total gold earned, mix of blue/epic gear, first Arena placement, crafting professions leveled to mid-tier.
Phase 3: Month 2-3 (Endgame Preparation)
Reaching Level 80
The push from 70 to 80 is the longest grind stretch. Prioritize:
- Necropolis Depths dungeon (level 72+) on repeat. Best XP/hour in the game for the 72-76 range.
- Twilight Citadel quest chain (76-80). Massive quest XP rewards finish the leveling journey.
- Daily login rewards. VvW gives a daily login bonus that includes gold, XP scrolls, and occasionally gems. Never miss a day.
Gearing for Endgame
At level 80, your gear priorities shift from "whatever drops" to targeted farming:
| Gear Slot | F2P Source | Quality | Estimated Farm Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Weekly raid boss (Varkolak/Fenris) | Legendary | 1-4 weeks (RNG dependent) |
| Chest | Weekly raid boss (Morvaine/Colossus) | Epic | 1-2 weeks |
| Helmet | Shadowthorn Keep (dungeon farm) | Epic | 5-10 runs |
| Shoulders | Weekly raid (Varkolak) | Epic | 1-2 weeks |
| Hands | Crafted (Blacksmithing 250+) | Epic | Materials cost ~500 gold |
| Legs | Weekly raid (Fenris) | Epic | 1-2 weeks |
| Boots | Shadowthorn Keep (dungeon farm) | Epic | 5-10 runs |
| Ring x2 | Obsidian Spire (purple ring) + crafted | Epic / Rare | Varies |
| Trinket x2 | Raid bosses + quest rewards | Rare / Epic | Varies |
Gold Income Sources (Ranked by Efficiency)
Gold is the lifeblood of F2P progression. Here is every gold source in the game, ranked by gold per hour of effort:
| Source | Gold/Hour | Requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auction house flipping | 100-300 | Market knowledge + starting capital | Buy low, sell high; best gold source in the game |
| Ashenmaw dungeon farm (P3+) | ~120 | Prestige 3+ | Exclusive dungeon; drops sell for premium |
| Weekly raid S-Tier loot sales | ~100 (weekly avg) | Level 80, raid-ready | Sell crafting materials if you don't need the set |
| Shadowthorn Keep farm | 80-100 | Level 60+ | Consistent gold from trash drops + boss loot |
| Crimson Wastes grinding | 60-80 | Level 55+ | Dense mob packs; sell materials |
| Gathering (Mining/Herbalism) | 40-60 | Any level | Passive while doing other activities |
| Daily quests | ~30 (daily avg) | Level 30+ | 3 daily quests, 10 gold each + bonus rewards |
| Dispatch Missions | ~10 (passive) | Level 30+ | Set and forget; collect every 4-8 hours |
| Arena rewards | ~20 (weekly avg) | Level 30+ | Weekly Arena chest based on your rating |
| Eclipse War participation | ~50 (monthly avg) | Level 80 | 50-200 gold depending on performance |
Daily Gold Routine (30 minutes, ~150 gold)
- Collect Dispatch Mission rewards and send new missions (2 min, ~30 gold).
- Complete 3 daily quests (15 min, ~30 gold + materials).
- Check auction house for underpriced items to flip (5 min, ~50-100 gold potential).
- Run one Shadowthorn Keep (15 min, ~30 gold in drops).
- Sell gathered materials on auction house (3 min, ~20 gold).
This routine generates approximately 4,500 gold per month with just 30 minutes of daily play. Dedicated players who grind 2+ hours daily can earn 10,000-15,000 gold per month.
Gem Economy: Free Gems and What to Spend Them On
Gems are the premium currency, but F2P players earn a steady trickle through gameplay:
| Source | Gems | Frequency | Monthly Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily login bonus (Day 7) | 10 | Weekly | 40 |
| Daily login bonus (Day 28) | 50 | Monthly | 50 |
| Achievement milestones | 5-25 each | One-time | Varies |
| Eclipse War Top 100 | 20 | Monthly | 20 |
| Arena Season rewards | 30-100 | Quarterly | ~15 |
| Special events | 10-50 | Occasional | ~15 |
A consistent F2P player earns approximately 120-140 gems per month. Over a year, that is 1,500+ gems — enough for several significant purchases.
What to Spend Free Gems On (Priority Order)
- Inventory Expansion (50 gems each, up to 3): Extra 20 inventory slots per purchase. This directly saves gold by reducing vendor trips and letting you carry more loot from dungeon runs. Best gems-to-value ratio in the shop.
- Bank Expansion (40 gems each, up to 2): Extra 30 bank slots. Essential for hoarding prestige gear sets and crafting materials.
- XP Elixir Bundle (30 gems for 10 elixirs): 20% XP boost for 30 minutes each. Saves hours during prestige releveling.
What NOT to Spend Gems On
- Cosmetic skins (100-500 gems): They look amazing but have zero gameplay impact. Save these for much later when you have excess gems.
- Name changes (200 gems): Not worth it unless you absolutely hate your name.
- Individual XP Elixirs (5 gems each): The bundle is 40% cheaper per elixir. Never buy singles.
- Gold packs (gems for gold conversion): The conversion rate is terrible. You earn more gold per hour by playing the game than by converting gems.
- Mounts (300-800 gems): Movement speed bonuses are marginal. The Prestige 10 mount is free and better than most shop mounts.
F2P-Friendly Builds
Some builds are more F2P-friendly than others because they rely on easily farmable gear and do not require rare legendary drops to function. Here are the best F2P builds by role:
Best F2P DPS: Shadow Assassin (STR/DEX)
| Stat | Priority | Target at 80 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| STR | Primary | 180-200 | Gear + stat points |
| DEX | Secondary | 120-140 | Gear + stat points |
| LCK | Tertiary | 60-80 | Gear (don't spend stat points here) |
| VIT | Minimum | 80-100 | Gear only |
Why F2P-friendly: Shadow Assassin's damage scales linearly with STR, which is entirely stat-point driven. You do not need specific legendary weapons to deal competitive damage — any epic-quality dagger works. The Ashenmaw Fang (Prestige 3 dungeon) is essentially a free legendary for this build.
Best F2P Healer: Pack Shaman (WIS/VIT)
| Stat | Priority | Target at 80 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| WIS | Primary | 100-120 | Gear + stat points |
| VIT | Secondary | 140-160 | Gear + stat points |
| INT | Tertiary | 80-100 | Gear (for Spirit Wolf damage) |
| LCK | Minimum | 40-50 | Whatever gear gives you |
Why F2P-friendly: Healers are always in demand for dungeon groups and raids, meaning you get invited to content easily. Healing throughput scales with WIS, which is stat-point driven. The raid contribution system rewards healers generously, so you get top-tier loot without needing top-tier DPS gear.
Best F2P Tank: Moon Warrior (VIT/STR)
| Stat | Priority | Target at 80 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIT | Primary | 160-180 | Gear + stat points |
| STR | Secondary | 120-140 | Gear + stat points |
| WIS | Tertiary | 60-80 | Gear (for self-heal ability) |
| DEX | Minimum | 50-60 | Whatever gear gives you |
Why F2P-friendly: Tanks, like healers, are scarce and always wanted. Moon Warrior's survivability comes from VIT stacking, which does not require rare drops. Crafted epic armor (Blacksmithing) provides excellent tank stats and is entirely farmable.
Phase 4: Endgame (Month 3+)
Once you reach level 80 with a decent gear set, the endgame opens up. Here is what a F2P endgame routine looks like:
Weekly Activities
| Activity | Time | Reward | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly raid boss | 1-2 hours | Epic/Legendary gear + gold + materials | Highest |
| Arena matches (10+) | 2-3 hours | Rating + weekly chest + gold | High |
| Dungeon farming | 3-5 hours | Gear upgrades + gold | High |
| Auction house management | 1 hour | Gold (500-1000/week) | Medium |
| Daily quests (x7 days) | 3.5 hours | ~210 gold + materials | Medium |
| Crafting | 1-2 hours | Consumables + sellable items | Medium |
When to Prestige
As a F2P player, your first prestige should happen once you have:
- Full epic gear (not necessarily best-in-slot, but no blue pieces remaining)
- At least 1,500 gold banked for releveling expenses
- Completed the Nightborne Chain and Crimson Pact quest lines (unique rewards)
- A duo partner or guild willing to help you relevel (cuts time by 30-45%)
Monthly Eclipse War as F2P
The monthly Eclipse War is one of the best F2P income sources. Even participation-level rewards include 50 gold and Eclipse Coins. Top 100 finishes add 20 gems (free premium currency). Prepare for Eclipse War by:
- Stocking ATK/DEF potions (50 gold total investment)
- Being level 80 (mandatory for competitive performance)
- Coordinating with your guild for team-based WP farming
- Spending Eclipse Coins wisely at the Black Market the day after the event
Timeline Summary: F2P Milestones
| Timeframe | Level | Gold | Gear | Key Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 10 | 250 | Blue weapon + quest gear | Auction house, party system |
| Day 3 | 20 | 500 | Blue set + dungeon drops | Subclass choice |
| Week 1 | 35 | 800 | Full blue set | Dispatch Missions, Iron Crypt |
| Week 2 | 50 | 2,000 | Mix blue/epic | Abyssal Sanctum, Obsidian ring |
| Month 1 | 70 | 5,000 | Mostly epic | Raid eligibility, Arena placement |
| Month 2 | 80 | 10,000 | Full epic | Endgame content, prestige eligible |
| Month 3 | 80 (P1) | 15,000 | Epic + 1-2 legendary | Prestige 1, Reborn title |
| Month 6 | 80 (P3-P5) | 30,000+ | Epic + legendary set | Ashenmaw dungeon, Prestige Vendor |
Common F2P Mistakes
- Spending gems on cosmetics early: Inventory and bank expansion first. Always. Cosmetics never.
- Vendoring materials: Always check auction house prices first. Materials sell for 3-5x vendor price on the player market.
- Skipping daily quests: 30 gold per day seems small, but it compounds to 900 gold per month. Do your dailies.
- Ignoring the auction house: The AH is the single biggest gold source in the game. Learn to buy low and sell high.
- Rushing to level 80 without gear: A level 80 in quest greens is weaker than a level 70 in full epic. Gear up as you level.
- Not joining a guild: Guild bonuses (XP banner, guild bank, raid access) are worth thousands of gold over time. Join one on Day 1.
- Buying gold packs with gems: The conversion rate is 1 gem = 5 gold. You can earn 5 gold in 3 minutes of gameplay. Never convert gems to gold.
- Playing solo when duo is available: The Duo Leveling Guide proves that duo play is 30-45% faster. Use
/lfgto find partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any content locked behind a paywall?
No. Every dungeon, raid, quest, zone, class, and game mechanic is accessible to free players. The gem shop sells only cosmetics and convenience items.
Can F2P players compete in PvP?
Absolutely. PvP power comes from stats (earned through leveling), gear (earned through dungeons/raids), and prestige (earned through replaying). None of these require real money. The top Arena players include many F2P veterans.
How long until I am "endgame ready" as F2P?
Approximately 2 months of regular play (10-15 hours per week) to reach level 80 with a full epic gear set. This is comparable to most MMOs and browser RPGs.
Should I ever spend money?
Only if you want to support the developers and want cosmetics. There is zero gameplay reason to spend money. If you do decide to spend, the best value purchases are the Battle Pass (seasonal cosmetics + bonus daily gems) and inventory expansion bundles.