Actual effect of power/light levels

[Stormtempter]

What kind of quantitative improvement occurs? I don't know if the content scales with your level, but for the most part, going from 900 to 950 (and higher with artifact) doesn't seem to be that big a difference. I still will die in a few good hits, enemies still seem to take the same number of rounds before dying and the game goes on.

Is the impact of power level only really felt in raids and the upper two difficulties on 3 man content? Is ratcheting up a single level a game changer at times? Tangent to that, is your interactions in the game dealt with by your level average, or individual items (meaning, if I have 950 average, but swap to a 930 weapon, do enemies take reduced damage, or the same as a higher level weapon, given that the average is the same).

I could just not be seeing the difference, given how very slowly and incrementally your level increases, but it just feels like everything stays roughly the same.

Any thoughts or ideas on the impact of light levels?

[BlueLightning]

It is very helpful on modes where "Level advantage" enabled
otherwise it just either a minor buff, or because enemy at open world/lower diff scaled to your level.

[Suzaku]

My understanding is that most enemies in the game are actually power level 750, and you only gain a bonus of up to 100 light levels above them before they just scale up towards you, meaning once you hit 850, you'll never notice a difference in you/your enemy's damage/durability. Even if you swap to a much "weaker" weapon, like going from a 950 to a 750, if your overall light level is high enough, it literally won't even be different because you're already scaled to the max.

The only time it really matters is when performing activities where you select the power level, like in nightfalls, raids, or in something like Iron Banner where light level matters. At those points, you'll definitely notice a difference, especially in your own durability. Enemies that are many light levels above you will shred you in a handful of shots, but if you're at/above an appropriate level, then you'll be able to trade blows much more effectively.

[Master Cheeks]

Outside of Raids, high level Nightfalls and Nightmare Hunts and Irom Banner when it's around, light level really has no effect on your overall durability or damage output. Inside any of those aforementioned activities tho, going in with low light is a just signing your own suicide note.

[Lusus Symphonia]

I've heard if you're 20 power levels higher than other players, you become a buff person in real life.

[BlueLightning]

Originally posted by Booty Prospector:

Outside of Raids, high level Nightfalls and Nightmare Hunts and Irom Banner when it's around, light level really has no effect on your overall durability or damage output. Inside any of those aforementioned activities tho, going in with low light is a just signing your own suicide note.

Don't forget gambit, invaders!

[Master Cheeks]

Originally posted by BlueLightning:

Originally posted by Booty Prospector:

Outside of Raids, high level Nightfalls and Nightmare Hunts and Irom Banner when it's around, light level really has no effect on your overall durability or damage output. Inside any of those aforementioned activities tho, going in with low light is a just signing your own suicide note.

Don't forget gambit, invaders!

I did forget that, definitely something to remember especially if you're going into it as a new player.

[Procrastinating Gamer]

Enemies aren't so much scaled to your level so much as your level stops giving benefits when you're a certain point above them.

Generally enemies will be at about the same power level as the activity's recommended power, usually a little higher. It's not noticeable these days since most stuff is only at 750 (or a little higher in the case of the Moon) but you will notice a difference if you go into a 920 recommended activity (like one of the difficulty options for the Nightfall Ordeal) when you're only around 800 or so.

[Stormtempter]

All great info to know and/or confirm!