Hi - I am seeing more Story Mode leveling guide but not the Optimal Leveling guide. I have done 4 character journey so far and tested through anecdotal means. I am going to continue updating this either weekly or bi-weekly basis depending on my testing performed. For latest analysis, I will indicate the latest journey I took. You require 2 things - 200% and approximately 500K of credits. This assumes 200% XP - there's few ways newer/experienced players can reach this method:
For newer players:
1. 100% - 1 hour boost and 50% 2 hour boost can be easily farmed from MK1 card obtained from Shard farming.
2. 50% hero XP synergy can be reached by having 2 heroes at level 60 - easily doable from your first unlock and 400 ES you get on second day to obtain 2 heroes (or 3 heroes if you try your luck with random box)
For experienced players:
1. At 29 heroes at level 60, can easily have 200% XP on Character Sheet.
2. At 15 heroes at level 60, 125% character sheet - 1 100% 1 hour bar should do it
3. At 4 heroes at level 60, 75% character sheet -mix 1 100% and 1 50% boost
200% is not hard to get - do daily shards quests to get that MK1 cards and open them up. If you are new, this is still something you want to keep in mind for little later. Credit might be little harder to get - there are guides available for credit farming so I will not get into details - however, best way is to get same # of uniques and trade with crafters. I have not been able to find a good credit farming guide for newer players, but when I do, I will link it.
At around 200% XP character sheet, you should be able to level in approximately 2 hours. However, this may depends on the current event as currently, as server XP do not appear on the character sheet. EDIT: As of Sept 13, 2015, Current testings show that Story Quest XP do not account for Server Side XP. Please see Juggernaut/Ant Man link for testing performed. Also depends on the level of your legendary and your hero (as some are simply faster to level due to kit available at different levels). I will eventually update to show impacts of different events with various XP boosts.
Here is my current Optimal Pathway:
I left approximate level range you should be at certain points in the chapter, at around 200% character XP sheet (compare to my pics from Purple run) with no events. I put levels in Bracket after each event. Way points are colored in red. Edit: LQ zone show in blue. Eventually, I will add side notes for White run vs. Prestige for you to grab side objectives to get all the quest rewards. Otherwise, please refer to @rnadratowski 's excellent reward guide for now:
https://forums.marvelheroes.com/discussion/9051/rewards-per-chapter-marvel-heroes-2015-patch-1-67/p1
Prologue - level 1-5
1. RAFT - SHIELD checkpoint. Defeat Green Goblin (4). Then talk to Nick Fury (5).
Additional Note:
1. You can actually skip this step if you ahve a full legendary. Initially brought up by @whynot (thank you), I have tested myself, where you can actually see in the video. If you have enough boost/full legendary, you can skip to Abandoned Subway or Blood Rose Nightclub.
Chapter 1 - level 5-10
1. Abandoned Subway. Defeat Shocker (8). Move to Blood Rose Nightclub
2. Blood Rose Nightclub. Defeat Doc Oct. Collect tablet (10). Talk to Cloak, Ben, then you should be sent to jersey dock.
Chapter 2 - level 10-14
1. Cargo Freighter. Defeat Hood (13). Back to Avengers tower and talk to Maria.
White Run Note:
1. Add Taskmaster (Waypoint to be added later) kill to get some XP and 3 rarity boost
Chapter 3 - level 14-20
1. Safehouse. Talk to the dude with question mark (15).
2. Lowtown. Talk to Yukio. Take Muramasa Quest. collect and return to Yukio (16).
3. Hand Tower. Defeat Electra (18). Collect the tablet and back to Avengers tower. Talk to Ben (20).
White Run Note:
1.+ 15 PERMANENT SPIRIT Snakes in the Grass Enter Bamboo Forest -> Destroy snake statue -> Go to Poison Glade instance entrance -> Destroy Snake Boss and Snake Statue (from @rnadratowski 's guide)
Chapter 4 - level 20-25
1. Upper East Side. Talk to Ben. Move upstairs and defeat Bullseye. Talk to the corrupt cop (22). courtesy of @whynot
2. Fisk Tower Defeat Kingpin. Grab tablet and back to Avengers tower. Talk to Maria (25).
Chapter 5 - level 25-30
1. X-Mansion. Talk to Professor X (26).
2. Level up in LQ until level 31. with the boost you have, should take about 10 minutes.
3. Old Trainyard. Defeat Juggernaut (31). Talk to Professor X (32).
4. Return to LQ until 33. Should only take 1 Red LQ.
Chapter 6 - level 30-37
1. Hidden Cabin. Finish super fast/easy quest Dangerous Tech (34).
2. LQ until 36. 2 Red LQ should do it.
3. Command Bunker. Defeat Magneto (36). Talk to Professor X (37).
4. LQ until 44. Should take 18 minutes. Approximately 8~9 Red LQ should do it.
Chapter 7 - level 37-44
1. Sinister Lab. Defeat Sinister (44). Talk to Professor X (45).
White Run Note:
1. For quick power points, do go to Shield Science Station waypoint and speak with Beast just behind the science station - he is by the hill. The quest will lead you inside Science Station where upon completion, you will get 3 power points. You must talk to beast or quest do not trigger as of Patch 1.68 (added currently as per requests from @Toasterman and @MaverickXCR ) - as of patch 1.73, this is no longer true. You do not need to talk to beast to trigger the quest
2. + 150 PERMANENT HEALTH Mutate Genesis Enter Evolution Facility in Mutate Marsh -> Defeat Miniboss & Destroy computer (from @rnadratowski 's guide)
Chapter 8 - level 44-55
1. SHIELD Helicarrier. Talk to Nick. Go to AIM
2. AIM Weapon Facility. Talk to the scientist to grab the side quest. Defeat Oct Oct, Wizard, MODOK and break all 5 tubes (47). Talk to Nick afterwards (48).
3. Hydra Island. Talk to the quest giver by the way point. Complete the side quest and activate the device. Defeat Manadarin (48). Talk to Nick (50).
4. Level in LQ until 53.8ish (16Mish on the green line). To be comfortable, be at level 54. Should take about 25 minutes. 11~12 Red LQ should do it.
5. Doomstadt Outer Village. Complete super easy Poison question from a bar. This should show up on the map. Doing this is equivalent XP of completing a LQ (54).
6. Castle Doom. Destroy Artilleries and the control panel. Defeat Doom (55). Use ult if you are having trouble at the second stage.
Additional Note:
1. You can change the order around so that you visit Heimdall and Kurse first then back to Doom. Note that Doom's quest XP reward has diminishing return around 56 so you would want to defeat him before hit too high of a level.
Chapter 9 - level 55-60
1. Ancient Ruins. Speak with Heimdall (56). Move on and defeat Kurse. Talk to Sif (57). Take the portal to Asgard
2. Go to upper left corner to talk to Fandral. Go to lower Asgard by taking the boat (theoretically, you can simply go to lower Asgard) Defeat Malekeith then take the portal to canal. Defeat Malekeith again (58).
3. Back to Odin's palace. Talk to Volstagg and defeat Loki (60).
4. If you enter Chapter 9 at level 55 and at XP of 16M mark, you should not need to do anymore LQs. Otherwise, spend little more time to complete your 60 journey.
Adjust accordingly to your Character sheet XP. Less means more LQs between. More XP obviously requires less LQs and able to complete with fast boss story quests. The same path was used with my blue prestige with 313% XP with Odin's box. Less LQ was required.
Edit:
Will be doing further testing along with this guide - don't know who the author is at the moment but will give the credit to the author once I found out who did this. According to @DybrarH , the posters name was MmAgCh, who do not exist in this forum.
Optimal Story Mode Level XP range
Key Notes:
1. I suggest defeating bosses at appropriate levels I entered myself - this gives you sufficient level gap to fight them off. Too low of level, you get less XP upon completion of the quest and fight is harder. Too high of level and you start losing XP upon completion. These are levels I found appropriate to defeat the bosses. Exceptions are Chapter 9 - with higher boost, you are able to complete easy bosses earlier to take advantage of their XP gains.
2. I am still working on the path for level around 45~55 as I believe there could be better optimization here. I will have to run some tests to have some better anecdotal evidence of the run.
Some Leveling Times:
1. 213% Character XP with no server XP Psylocke able to follow and run within 1 hour and 40 minutes (boost time used is 1 hour and 26 minutes)
2. 313% Character XP with Odin's chest XP Psylocke able to follow and run within 46 minutes (boost time used is 37 minutes)
3.187% (approximate) Char XP with Cosmic 42% and FF event 50% XP, Human Torch able to follow and run within 55 minutes
4. 310% Character XP with 48%server XP Juggernaut able to follow and run within 1 hour 6 minutes (boost time used is 55 minutes)
Here are the current hero list of my Chronicled journey series. Set up/XP are in individual link's disclaimer section:
Ant Man - 1-60 White - Server XP - testing if it works in the story mode quest XP
Psylocke - 1-60 White to Purple with Deep Analysis - Including LQ vs Story Mode - Dated August 18th, 2015. During Cosmic/Odin's event
Human Torch - 1-60 Orange - Story Mode Only Dated August 10th, 2015. During Cosmic event
Juggernaut - 1-60 White - Server XP - testing if it works in the story mode quest XP
Just some video... this is with 900% boost so its short and gets you some pointers. I will be (hopefully) posting a "normal" one at 200%~350% boost sometime in the future.
Thanks and I will take any feedback to make this better for you.