Zwift launched levels 101+ for riders today, plus levels 31-50 for runners. I hopped onto my bike to confirm, and realized I was only a few kilometers from hitting level 101… so I kept pedaling!
Running levels 22-30 were added in January 2023, while cycling levels 61-100 were added in December 2023. Many thousands of riders and runners have hit the level cap since those new levels were added, so the launch of fresh levels is big news, particularly for longtime/dedicated Zwifters.
Here are the XP requirements for reaching the new levels:
- Riding Levels:
- Levels 101-199: 20,000 XP per level
- Levels 200-299: 21,000 XP per level
- Levels 300+: 22,000 XP per level
- Running Levels:
- Levels 31–35: 9,000 XP per level
- Levels 36–40: 10,000 XP per level
- Levels 41–45: 11,000 XP per level
- Levels 46–50: 12,000 XP per level
Zwifters who have been stuck at the level cap for a while won’t have to actually earn the XP shown above in order to level up, though. And they also won’t immediately be upgraded to their “proper” level based on all the XP they’ve earned while stuck at the level cap! Instead, Zwift is once again using “accelerated leveling” to let Zwifters with extra “banked” XP level up much faster. Why? Because Zwift’s game designers believe it’s a better user experience to enjoy each level-up rather than immediately jumping to our “earned” level. To receive multiple small dopamine hits over time, instead of a single large one.
(For the record, I’d rather be immediately upgraded to my proper level. But I just write about Zwift features… I don’t make ’em!)
How does this accelerated leveling work? That’s what this post is all about…
Accelerated Leveling: the Basics
Zwift says, “Any extra XP you have over 807,000 at level 100 for cycling or XP over 149,000 at level 30 for running is banked and applied toward accelerated leveling. Cyclists with banked XP will accelerate through levels 4 times faster and runners will accelerate 2 times faster. [Cyclists will] know accelerated leveling is active if you see the three-chevron icon next to your rider score.”
If it applies to you, accelerated leveling works automatically in the background as you ride and run. There is no intervention needed from you, no options to set. It just works, and you’ll reach your new higher levels much faster thanks to the extra XP you’ve banked while stuck at the previous level cap.
That’s the simple explanation. But if you want to dig into exactly how this works, keep reading…
Digging Deeper
Accelerated leveling works by combining XP you’ve already earned (while stuck at the level cap) with fresh XP you earn from today forward.
The simplest example: On my first ride after the new levels launched, when I rode my first kilometer, I earned 20 XP. That 20 XP was combined with 60 XP I had “banked” previously, and Zwift applied that full 80 XP to reaching level 101.
You can see this on the main Menu screen in game. Each kilometer you ride, your rider score (on the left) will increase by 20. But the “Until Next Reward” number on the right will decrease by 80. Here are before and after shots of that happening today:
We earn XP in various ways on Zwift: by accumulating distance, by extending our Week Streak, by finishing a workout block, by riding through an arch and getting a small or large XP bonus powerup, by earning achievement badges (including route badges), by burning calories (runners only), and by completing certain quests/challenges.
Most of the XP we earn will be paired with banked XP to accelerate our leveling up. The simple way to think about it is, if you are in the game when you earn the XP, and you see it pop up on your screen, it will be paired with banked XP to accelerate you to the next level. That means all the XP methods listed above will be accelerated except for Week Streak bonuses, questions/challenges, and distance XP from outdoor activities.
Accelerated Leveling Examples
If you’ve been at the level cap for very long, you probably have the same questions as I:
- How quickly will I level up with accelerated leveling?
- How long will accelerated leveling continue for me? Or to put it another way: what level will I be at when my banked XP runs out?
Let’s look at examples that will help you answer each question.
How quickly will I level up?
Assuming you’ve got banked XP to pull from, how many hours of riding will it take to jump to the next level? Levels 101 onward require 20,000 XP per level, which means moving up one level requires you to earn 5,000 XP, which Zwift will combine with 15,000 XP from your bank to make 20,000 XP.
Riders can typically expect to earn 500-700 XP per hour, although there are ways to boost that earning rate. Let’s assume you earn 600 XP per hour of riding. That means it would take you 5000/600=8.3 hours of riding on Zwift to earn 5,000 XP.
So 8.3 hours is a realistic estimate of how many Zwifting hours are required to bump up to the next level. Add in a Week Streak bonus and perhaps a bit of XP farming, and you could probably level up with just 5-6 hours of riding.
How long will my accelerated leveling continue?
The math required to answer this question is quite simple. If you are at level 100+ and want to find out when your acceleration will end, here’s the formula:
RiderScoreAtEndOfAccel = CurrentRiderScore + (CurrentBankedXP / 3)
Example: Right now, I’ve earned 2,386,680 XP. Since 807,000 XP is required to reach level 100, my banked XP amount is 2,386,680 – 807,000 = 1,579,680 XP.
So for me, the formula is:
RiderScoreAtEndOfAccel = 2386680 + (1579680/3)
That means my rider score at the end of acceleration will be 2,913,240 XP. Then all I need to do is look that up on a level lookup table (here’s a quick Google sheet I made) to determine which level I’ll be at when my banked XP runs out. Looks like I’ll be at level 204. Let’s gooo!
(Also, in a late UI addition, Zwift added this level to your menu screen, so if you’re in game, you can see what minimum level you’ll be accelerated to. See screenshot above.)
I also made a simple Google sheet where you can plug in your current Rider Score and easily see where your accelerated leveling will end.
This assumes all the XP I’m earning is that “online” XP that gets accelerated, though. I know I’ll be earning XP via Week Streak bonuses and outdoor riding, though, which means I’ll actually be at a higher level when acceleration ends.
Additional Notes
I’ll use this space to answer additional questions from the comments, if any pop up.
Hitting Level 100 With Less Than 807,000 XP
Due to how Zwift has changed leveling requirements in the past years, it’s quite possible for Zwifters to reach level 100 having earned less than 807,000 XP. Zwift tells me these riders will essentially be “gifted” XP – their rider score will be adjusted up to (at least) 807,000 XP when the new levels go live. I say “at least” because you will also keep any “banked” XP you’ve earned since hitting level 100.
Example: You hit level 100 with 600,000 XP, before levels 101+ launch. You are now at 700,000 XP, meaning you’ve banked 100,000 XP. When the new levels go live, your Ride Score will be increased to 807,000 XP plus the 100,000 XP you’ve banked (so 907,000 total).
Questions or comments?
Got questions about accelerated leveling? Share below! You can also share comments on the official Zwift forum thread.
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