Epic levels

Epic Levels
With the Menace of the Underdark expansion, DDO now defines two types of player characters: Heroic (levels 1-20) and Epic (level 21 and above).

What are Epic levels?
An Epic level is not added to a class, but is a generic level in and of itself.

On reaching Level 20, characters continue to receive experience points. When enough experience is gained, the player receives their first Epic level.

Epic levels no longer accumulate action points. This limit on points for enhancements remain fixed at 80 points (but can still be respecified using Fred).

Differences between Epic Levels and Destinies
Epic levels and Epic Destinies are different. Epic levels are granted to any player on reaching level 20. However, Epic Destinies are a purchased ability, either by purchase of the Menace of the Underdark expansion or as a DDO Store purchase.

As with enhancement ranks, Epic Destinies progress with gained experience.

How Experience Points are Applied
After a player character achieves Level 20 and Heroic level capstone, experience points continue to accumulate as Epic levels.

Epic levels are a generic class in itself. You no longer gain Heroic levels in any class, but find a new class, "Epic," in your character sheet. While some game mechanics and player conversation may describe you, for instance, as a "Level 21 Wizard," in reality, the game sees you as a Level 20 Wizard with 1 Epic level. This also applies to multiclassed characters.

If the player has purchased Epic Destinies, gained experience from level 20 is also counted towards "destiny points" that can add abilities from one or more destinies.

Once a player reaches level 25, the Epic level capstone, additional experience is counted towards progression of an Epic Destiny, provided that the destiny is active (in use) and has not reached its maximum experience limit and 24 destiny points received. Thus, an Epic character can continue to add new abilities and skills as long as they have an Epic Destiny that they can activate to apply any experience points gained during adventures.

Power-leveling penalties still apply in level 20+ dungeons. However, the penalty is reduced by the following rules, introduced in Update 14, Patch 2: Players in CR 20 quests will have the spread between the quest CR and the max player level reduced by 1. In CR 21+ quests, the spread will be reduced by two. This prevents over-level penalties caused by level 25 players running CR 20-23 quests.