WoW Forever Leveling Guide
The best leveling zones from 1 to 60 for the Alliance and Horde, on one map
Leveling route map
Hover over or tap a zone to see its levels and tips. The other faction's starting zones are faded out.
Alliance leveling route, 1 to 60
| Levels | Zones | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–12 | Elwynn Forest · Dun Morogh · Teldrassil · Zephras Isle | Finish your race's starting zone: Elwynn Forest (Human), Dun Morogh (Dwarf, Gnome), Teldrassil (Night Elf) or Zephras Isle (High Order Skyborne, to 12). |
| 10–20 | Westfall · Loch Modan · Darkshore | Move to the zone next door: Westfall from Elwynn, Loch Modan from Dun Morogh, Darkshore from Teldrassil. When one runs dry, do another. |
| 15–25 | Redridge Mountains | Redridge Mountains fills the gap before the 20s. Lakeshire's flight master is Alliance. |
| 20–30 | Duskwood · Wetlands · Ashenvale | Duskwood (Darkshire), the Wetlands (Menethil Harbor) and Ashenvale (Astranaar). Forever's new ships link Stormwind, Menethil Harbor, Southshore and Auberdine, so crossing between continents is quicker. |
| 20–35 | Hillsbrad Foothills · Thousand Needles | Hillsbrad Foothills (Southshore), then Thousand Needles from about 25. |
| 30–45 | Stranglethorn Vale · Riverglades · Arathi Highlands · Desolace | Stranglethorn Vale is the big one. Forever's new Riverglades zone (150+ quests) covers the same levels, and Arathi Highlands and Desolace fill the 30s. |
| 40–50 | Tanaris · Feralas · The Hinterlands · Badlands · Dustwallow Marsh | Tanaris and Feralas in Kalimdor, the Hinterlands and Badlands in the Eastern Kingdoms. |
| 48–55 | Un'Goro Crater · Felwood · Searing Gorge · Azshara | Un'Goro Crater and Felwood are the classic pair. |
| 51–60 | Western Plaguelands · Eastern Plaguelands · Burning Steppes · Winterspring · Silithus | The Plaguelands, Burning Steppes, Winterspring and Silithus take you to 60. |
| 60 | Mount Hyjal | Mount Hyjal is Forever's new level-60 zone, home of the Hyjal Summit raid. |
Horde leveling route, 1 to 60
| Levels | Zones | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–12 | Durotar · Mulgore · Tirisfal Glades · Zephras Isle | Finish your race's starting zone: Durotar (Orc, Troll), Mulgore (Tauren), Tirisfal Glades (Undead) or Zephras Isle (Windshaper Skyborne, to 12). |
| 10–25 | The Barrens · Silverpine Forest | The Barrens is the Horde's big early zone (Crossroads, Camp Taurajo, Ratchet). Undead start in Silverpine Forest, then join the Barrens. |
| 15–30 | Ashenvale · Stonetalon Mountains | Ashenvale (Splintertree Post) and Stonetalon Mountains (Sun Rock Retreat). |
| 20–35 | Thousand Needles · Hillsbrad Foothills | Thousand Needles (Freewind Post) and Hillsbrad Foothills (Tarren Mill). |
| 30–45 | Stranglethorn Vale · Riverglades · Desolace · Arathi Highlands | Stranglethorn Vale (Grom'gol), Forever's new Riverglades zone, Desolace and Arathi Highlands (Hammerfall). |
| 40–50 | Tanaris · Feralas · Dustwallow Marsh · The Hinterlands · Badlands | Tanaris, Feralas and Dustwallow Marsh in Kalimdor; the Hinterlands and Badlands in the Eastern Kingdoms. |
| 48–55 | Un'Goro Crater · Felwood · Azshara · Searing Gorge | Un'Goro Crater and Felwood, with Azshara on the side. |
| 51–60 | Winterspring · Eastern Plaguelands · Western Plaguelands · Burning Steppes · Silithus | Winterspring, the Plaguelands, Burning Steppes and Silithus take you to 60. |
| 60 | Mount Hyjal | Mount Hyjal is Forever's new level-60 zone, home of the Hyjal Summit raid. |
What's new for leveling in WoW Forever
- Zephras Isle (levels 1–12): the floating starting zone for the new Skyborne race. Every Skyborne starts there, then joins their faction's route at the 10–20 zones.
- Riverglades (levels 30–45): a brand-new Eastern Kingdoms zone with more than 150 quests, a welcome alternative to Stranglethorn Vale. Its spot on our map is approximate.
- Mount Hyjal (level 60): Forever's new endgame zone and home of the Hyjal Summit raid.
- Shen'dralas: another new place Blizzard has mentioned. Its level range isn't confirmed yet, so it isn't on our route.
- New ships: Blizzard added routes between Stormwind Harbor, Auberdine, Menethil Harbor and Southshore, so crossing between Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms is quicker.
- More than 1,000 new quests across levels 1–60. They may shift some zones' ranges a little, so treat the 30+ ranges as a guide.
Dungeons by level
Dungeons give great XP and gear on the way up. Forever adds nine new ones (marked New).
| Dungeon | Levels | Where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ragefire Chasm | 13+ | Orgrimmar | Forever client (minimum level) |
| The Hall of Thanes New | 13–18 | Ironforge | Blizzard |
| Ruins of Lordaeron New | 15–20 | Tirisfal Glades | Blizzard |
| The Deadmines | 16+ | Westfall | Forever client (minimum level) |
| Wailing Caverns | 17+ | The Barrens | Forever client (minimum level) |
| Shadowfang Keep | 18+ | Silverpine Forest | Forever client (minimum level) |
| Blackfathom Deeps | 22+ | Ashenvale | Forever client (minimum level) |
| The Stockade | 23+ | Stormwind | Forever client (minimum level) |
| Razorfen Kraul | 24+ | The Barrens | Forever client (minimum level) |
| Excavation Site New | 24–29 | Wetlands | Blizzard |
| Gnomeregan | 25+ | Dun Morogh | Forever client (minimum level) |
| Razorfen Downs | 25+ | The Barrens | Blizzard |
| City of Dalaran New | 28–33 | Alterac | Blizzard |
| Scarlet Monastery | 30+ | Tirisfal Glades | Forever client (minimum level) |
| Uldaman | 30+ | Badlands | Blizzard |
| The Drowned City New | 35–40 | Stranglethorn Vale | Blizzard |
| Krol'dok Stronghold New | 40–45 | Not announced | Blizzard |
| Zul'Farrak | 44–54 | Tanaris | Classic range |
| Maraudon | 46–55 | Desolace | Classic range |
| Alcaz Island Prison New | 48–53 | Dustwallow Marsh | Blizzard |
| Sunken Temple | 50–56 | Swamp of Sorrows | Classic range |
| Blackrock Depths | 52–60 | Blackrock Mountain | Classic range |
| Blackmaw Hold New | 55–60 | Azshara | Blizzard |
| Shaper's Terrace New | 58–60 | Un'Goro Crater | Blizzard |
Leveling tips
- Move on when your quests turn green. Green and grey quests give little XP; yellow and orange are where the XP is.
- Use rested XP. Log out at an inn and you earn bonus XP for your next session.
- Grab every flight path you pass, and set your hearthstone at the inn of the town you're questing from.
- Train as you level. New spell ranks make a big difference to kill speed.
- Group for dungeons when one fits your level: the quests inside give big rewards.
More help on the way to 60: the best leveling builds voted by players, 418 ready-to-copy macros to save keybinds, and once you hit 60, the WoW Forever raids and our Raid Composition Tool.
Your class matters too: see the best leveling class in WoW Forever, or pick yours for its leveling guide (the best leveling spec, every spell by level, tips and builds):
Click here to Level Ultra Fast
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Leveling FAQ
Where should I level in WoW Forever?
Finish your race's starting zone (to about level 10–12), then the zone next door: Westfall, Loch Modan or Darkshore for the Alliance, the Barrens or Silverpine Forest for the Horde. From the 20s most zones are contested, and both factions meet in Ashenvale, Hillsbrad, Stranglethorn Vale and the new Riverglades.
What level is Zephras Isle?
Levels 1–12. It's the new Skyborne starting zone, and every Skyborne starts there, whichever faction they pick.
What level is the Riverglades?
Blizzard describes the Riverglades as a mid-game zone for levels 30–45, in the Eastern Kingdoms, with more than 150 new quests.
What level is Mount Hyjal in WoW Forever?
Mount Hyjal is a level-60 endgame zone in WoW Forever, and the Hyjal Summit raid is there.
How long does it take to reach level 60?
It depends on class, route and how much you group, but expect it to take days of playtime, not hours. Following a planned route, using rested XP and grouping for dungeons all speed it up.