Levelling Guide

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The first map on this section shows all the levelling areas currently available if you have all expansions of the game, together with a note of the recommended levels needed to quest there.

The next part gives a simple list of each of those areas, in level order, with an indication of zone type (horde, alliance or a special zone).

Finally, thanks to Wowhead, we have a brief guide on levelling a character to 58, complete with suggested routes.

 

 

 

 

Map of All Questing Zones

 

 

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List of Questing Zones

This article is a list of all zones by level.

  • Colors indicate Alliance territory, Horde territory, Contested territory, Combat zone
  • Numbers within the bars indicate the level range.
  • TBC, WotLK and Cataclysm indicate the required expansion.
  • ( only) indicates the zone is instanced, and thus exclusive, for that race or hero class.

 

1-5
 Cataclysm Gilneas (WorgenWorgen only)
1-5
 Cataclysm Kezan (GoblinGoblin only)
1-10
 TBC Azuremyst Isle
1-10
 Dun Morogh
1-10
 Durotar
1-10
 Elwynn Forest
1-10
 TBC Eversong Woods
1-10
 Mulgore
1-10
 Teldrassil
1-10
 Tirisfal Glades
5-12
 Cataclysm Gilneas (WorgenWorgen only)
5-12
 Cataclysm Lost Isles (GoblinGoblin only)
10-15
 Westfall
10-20
 Azshara
10-20
 TBC Bloodmyst Isle
10-20
 Darkshore
10-20
 TBC Ghostlands
10-20
 Loch Modan
10-20
 Northern Barrens
10-20
 Silverpine Forest
15-20
 Redridge Mountains
20-25
 Ashenvale
20-25
 Duskwood
20-25
 Hillsbrad Foothills
20-25
 Wetlands
25-30
 Arathi Highlands
25-30
 Northern Stranglethorn
25-30
 Stonetalon Mountains
30-35
 Cape of Stranglethorn
30-35
 Desolace
30-35
 Hinterlands
30-35
 Southern Barrens
35-40
 Dustwallow Marsh
35-40
 Feralas
35-40
 Western Plaguelands
40-45
 Eastern Plaguelands
40-45
 Thousand Needles
45-48
 Badlands
45-50
 Felwood
45-50
 Tanaris
48-50
 Searing Gorge
50-52
 Burning Steppes
50-55
 Un'goro Crater
50-55
 Winterspring
52-54
 Swamp of Sorrows
54-60
 Blasted Lands
55-58
 WotLK Scarlet Enclave (DeathKnight only)
55-60
 Deadwind Pass
55-60
 Moonglade
55-60
 Silithus
58-63
 TBC Hellfire Peninsula
60-64
 TBC Zangarmarsh
62-65
 TBC Terokkar Forest
64-67
 TBC Nagrand
65-68
 TBC Blade's Edge Mountains
67-70
 TBC Netherstorm
67-70
 TBC Shadowmoon Valley
68-70
 Deadwind Pass
68-72
 WotLK Howling Fjord
68-72
 WotLK Borean Tundra
70-73
 TBC Isle of Quel'Danas
71-75
 WotLK Dragonblight
73-75
 WotLK Grizzly Hills
74-76
 WotLK Zul'Drak
76-78
 WotLK Sholazar Basin
77-80
 WotLK Crystalsong Forest
77-80
 WotLK Hrothgar's Landing
77-80
 WotLK Icecrown
77-80
 WotLK Storm Peaks
77-80
 WotLK Wintergrasp
80-82
 Cataclysm Mount Hyjal
80-82
 Cataclysm Vashj'ir
82-83
 Cataclysm Deepholm
83-84
 Cataclysm Uldum
84-85
 Cataclysm Twilight Highlands
84-85
 Cataclysm Tol Barad

 

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Questing Flow Guide

 

Eastern Kingdoms: Horde (Blood Elves, Undead)

Eastern Kingdoms: Part One (1-12)

If you choose to roll a Blood Elf, you may want to just do the starting quests to level 5 then head to the capital city to teleport to Undercity. Otherwise, you'll be missing out. The redone Forsaken starting area is haunting and builds up to the events that transpire in Silverpine Forest as well as Hillsbrad. It's great!

Eastern Kingdoms: Part Two (10-35)

There are two paths you can take at this point, either Ghostlands or Silverpine Forest. However, any path missing out on Silverpine Forest isn't worth taking. In our opinion, it's the coolest Horde zone in all of this expansion! It fleshes out the character of Lady Sylvanas Windrunner significantly and paints the Forsaken in a terrifying light. So ditch Ghostlands, you'll be happy you did; nothing will beat the innovative use of phasing and dynamic questlines that Silverpine has to offer.

Hillsbrad is also an incredibly well-done zone. It's also highly changed from its original roots. Intelligently, Hillsbrad counters the darkness revealed in Silverpine Forest's storylines with humor. The NPCs you'll meet will be memorable and hilarious; they serve as a tongue-in-cheek and loving message from Blizzard to fans. The introduction quest to the zone sets the entire tone. In Welcome to the Machine, you'll find the tables have turned as you take on the role of the quest giving NPC that doles out quests to adventurers. It just gets better from there, cumulating with an in-game version of PopCap's hit, Plants vs. Zombies. Defend your brains, err grains, long enough and leave the zone with your very own Sunflower vanity pet (Brazie's Sunflower Seeds).  We have a guide on how to complete this quest chain in our wiki here.

Suggested Route

Alternate Route

When you're done with Hillsbrad, you can take the zeppelin to Stranglethorn Vale near Undercity or head East from Hillsbrad Foothills to end up in Arathi and then the Hinterlands. Either way, both zones cover similar level ranges. Arathi Highlands and the Hinterlands are closer to Western Plaguelands which is where you'll be headed afterwards, but Stranglethorn offers a plethora of redone quests with a satisfying finish. If you're on the fence, just go to Stranglethorn; Arathi and the Hinterlands have been changed very little.

Eastern Kingdoms: Part Three (35-60)

After this, the paths converge. This is where you'll get to see a new, greener side of Western Plaguelands for the first time since the Lich King's fall. Make sure to head to the Bulwark on the border of Tirisfal Glades and Western Plaguelands to pick up the introduction quests to WPL from Apothecary Dithers and his camp. They're easy to miss, but these quests involve some of the best use of phasing yet in World of Warcraft. Be prepared to be asked to destroy farmsteads and help spread the blight. This zone is a wonderfully dark continuation of the Forsaken storyline that really took hold in Silverpine Forest and Hillsbrad.

When starting out in Eastern Plaguelands, players will also be able to do a series of introductory quests with Fiona's Caravan. Make sure these initial quests for the caravan are done right away to unlock the quest Fiona's Lucky Charm which grants players a buff called Fiona's Lucky Charm. This will cause a Hidden Stash to drop occasionally from EPL mobs; each one has a chance to contain the elusive Mr. Grubbs, a new vanity larva pet. Higher level players often end up having to farm him, so getting this blessing now is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. You will be able to farm for the pet while you level and complete other quests in the zone.

After this, you're conveniently brought to the Dark Portal where the first expansion will start.

 

 

 

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Kalimdor: Horde (Tauren, Orcs, Trolls, Goblins)

Kalimdor: Part One (1-12)

Kalimdor: Part Two (10-30)

After finishing with the initial starting zones, you have the choice of either Northern Barrens or Azshara. However, if you're the type of player who likes vanity items, consider stopping by Azshara and doing your teen levels there instead of in the Barrens. The zone's best reward is Faded Wizard Hat. This hat turns the wearer into various other in-game models such as a female Undead or a male Human. As an added bonus, it also opens up an endless stream of jokes about putting on your robes and wizard hat. The wizard hat's buff is persistent through combat and lasts thirty minutes, making it a great vanity item. You'll probably use this hat at 85 for laughs time to time and it's a good idea to pick it up while the XP is still good.

Beyond that, Azshara has been transformed from an empty zone to one teeming with quests; it's an interesting experience and a solid quest hub. It's the better choice by far.

Kalimdor: Part Three (30-60)

Suggested Route

Alternate Route

When you hit 30, you will have a chance to branch out and take alternate paths. This starts with either Desolace or the Southern Barrens. If you take the Southern Barrens path, you'll most likely go to Dustwallow Marsh to finish out the thirties. Unfortunately, it's a zone which remains largely unchanged due to the revamp it already received earlier. If you choose to level in Desolace instead, you'll end up in Feralas which has received a noticeable makeover; islands have been sunk and Feathermoon Stronghold has grown.

In either case, it's best to just skip Dustwallow. You've probably seen it before.

Both paths briefly reconvene at this point for Thousand Needles. If you've grouped in dungeons, used recruit-a-friend, or equipped heirloom gear you probably can skip this zone. You might even be able to without since leveling has gotten much easier. Missing Thousand Needles would be a mistake, though, because it's by far one of the best zones in this expansion. It's been flooded over, its valleys turned into a lake, and you will spend much of your time raiding on your own River Boat!

Yes, you get to quest on a boat! See why missing it could be a mistake now? Head there even if you're closer to 45 than 40 as it's worth seeing.

Suggested Route

Alternate Route

After Thousand Needles, pick your poison by heading South for Tanaris or North for Felwood. Felwood is our personal favorite; as the lore goes, it was corrupted by the Skull of Gul'dan. Building on that in Cataclysm, there's now an interesting quest arc involving Illidan (The Skull of Gul'dan) to explain how everything came to be through a series of scripted events. It also has a unique, bright green cat model for Hunters to tame (Winna's Kitten) and a cool trinket that shoots rainbows (Rainbow Generator).

Of course, if we haven't made a compelling enough case for Felwood, Tanaris is an adequate substitute--it's worth visiting to see the iconic Steamwheedle Port underwater with its Goblin survivors clinging to their washed out homes.

If you choose Tanaris, progress to Un'Goro Crater afterwards; in Un'Goro, you will be able to get Toy Windmill which comes from a great quest. If you choose Felwood, you should head to Winterspring to finish off the fifties. If for any reason after this experience you're not quite 58 yet, feel free to head to Silithus to finish up experience. However, at this point, the zone is currently unchanged by Cataclysm and fairly unremarkable. Luckily that might be changing in an upcoming patch.

 

 

 

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