For your first character, play to level 80, then buy a DLC package. Even if the DLC package has a level boost, use that level boost on your second character. As you are leveling up to 80, check out the gem store. If you think you need more bank or inventory slots pay for the quality of life features. Then you must start the Heart of Thorns story and play the prologue and the first mission to get the basic glider, and you need a level 80 character to do that. Once unlocked, the mastery and related skins will be account-wide, so you can do that with a different character, then go back to the low level character to use it. In general, exploration is the name of the game (well, actually its Guild Wars 2 but you know what I mean :P) - whatever you do, it'll likely give you experience, so just do what you enjoy. You'll get all skills and traits by level 80 anyway, so pick what sounds fun and experiment, you cant damage your character in the long run and you can The boost has a trial that allows you to test the class at 80 before confirming. But it's trash because it doesn't give you access to elite specialisations. You're better off making a character, finishing the tutorial, and then at level 2 going into the pvp lobby were you can try that class at level 80 and with all specialisations (including Make a new character, use the boost, delete the character, hence and repeat. Use it. A level 80 character using it will get all the equipment, bags, etc. Then delete the crap you don't want. However, some classes get full exotic Celestial gear, which isn't a bad alternate set to keep. 1. It is entirely up to you how you progress. You won't earn any less experience staying in the lower level zones- in fact, you could go clear the other race's starting zones and earn exp at the exact same pace. Fully exploring the map has its advantages- you can earn a bunch of exp, transmutation charges for customizing your appearance or The boost includes a box which is all of your gear from before you activated the boost. Do it at level 1, you'll get some starter gear back. Do it at level 14, you get all your armor/trinkets/weapons back. There is a level 80 gear box, and an "old gear" box. Option 2 (Boost first char): Learn everything the hard way, after being instantly at 80. If you then later want to play the lvl 80 content on another class, you have to manually level the second char, to unlock the content you can do with the first one. YUgNz2.