Eleven paths to develop
Hearthvale has Farming, Fishing, Mining, Forestry, Exploration, Cooking, Herbalism, Smithing, Thieving, Archaeology, and Combat. Skill mastery reaches level 99.
These are different ways to progress, not a requirement to do everything at once. Gathering can support your equipment and village, while combat and exploration give you reasons to prepare for a trip.
Follow the requirements
Activities and equipment can require a particular skill level. Some skills and destinations also need an unlock before you can use them. The in-game menus and item descriptions explain the relevant requirements.
Respect works alongside skills rather than replacing them. Having enough respect for a service does not automatically give you a high-level skill, and a high skill does not remove every destination requirement.
Choose a routine you enjoy
For a gathering session, plan what materials you need before setting out. For a combat session, check the creatures, bring useful food, and keep your gear in good condition. Rotate activities when one starts to feel repetitive.
A village can support your preferred skills through its lodges and production upgrades. Earned skill experience and fixed rewards such as XP lamps are separate systems; not every boost applies to every reward.
Compare progress with the community
The website’s Hiscores show total level and individual skill boards. Use them to follow your own progress or set a friendly goal with someone else. The point is to find a route through Hearthvale that you enjoy, whether you focus on one skill or build a broad character.
Open the interactive Hiscores to see the available rankings.