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Wrath of the Lich King Classic Leveling Guide 1–80 — Guides · WoW WotLK

Wrath of the Lich King's leveling journey from 1 to 80: each race's starting zones, Alliance and Horde routes through Azeroth to 58, Outland from the Dark Portal to about 68, and Northrend from Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord to the level cap. Death Knights start at 55 in Acherus and join the route in Outland.

Human Warrior, level 1

Alliance · Eastern Kingdoms route · 26 stages · 0 marked complete

Stays in the Eastern Kingdoms, apart from a trip to Dustwallow Marsh by boat at the end of the thirties: Redridge and Duskwood, the Wetlands and Hillsbrad, Stranglethorn Vale and Arathi, then the Badlands, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge, Burning Steppes and Western Plaguelands, then Outland through the Dark Portal at 58 and Northrend from Borean Tundra at 68.

View route on the World Map

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  1. Current

    Humans start at Northshire Abbey and move on to Goldshire around level 5; Elwynn Forest's quests cover the first ten levels.

    In the zone

    Zone levels 1–14 · Friendly territory · 44 Alliance quests, median quest level 7

    Quests here lead on to Westfall (1).

    Class quests that start here

    Talents along the way

    Attach a saved character to see the talents its build takes along the way.

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Starting zones

RaceFactionZones
HumanAlliance
  1. 1–10Elwynn Forest
  2. 10–18Westfall
DwarfGnomeAlliance
  1. 1–11Dun Morogh
  2. 11–18Loch Modan
Night ElfAlliance
  1. 1–11Teldrassil
  2. 11–19Darkshore
OrcTrollHorde
  1. 1–11Durotar
  2. 11–19The Barrens
TaurenHorde
  1. 1–10Mulgore
  2. 10–19The Barrens
UndeadHorde
  1. 1–11Tirisfal Glades
  2. 11–19Silverpine Forest
Blood ElfHorde
  1. 1–10Eversong Woods
  2. 10–20Ghostlands
Begins at Sunstrider Isle
DraeneiAlliance
  1. 1–10Azuremyst Isle
  2. 10–20Bloodmyst Isle
Begins at Ammen Vale, Crash Site
Death KnightAlliance
  1. 55–58Plaguelands: The Scarlet Enclave
Death KnightHorde
  1. 55–58Plaguelands: The Scarlet Enclave

Routes

Alliance

Full Alliance guide →

Eastern Kingdoms route

24 stages · 4 continent changes

Stays in the Eastern Kingdoms, apart from a trip to Dustwallow Marsh by boat at the end of the thirties: Redridge and Duskwood, the Wetlands and Hillsbrad, Stranglethorn Vale and Arathi, then the Badlands, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge, Burning Steppes and Western Plaguelands, then Outland through the Dark Portal at 58 and Northrend from Borean Tundra at 68.

  1. 18–22Redridge Mountains
  2. 22–28Duskwood
  3. 27–31Wetlands
  4. 30–34Hillsbrad Foothills
  5. 34–38Stranglethorn Vale
  6. 37–40Arathi Highlands
  7. Kalimdor38–41Dustwallow Marsh
  8. Eastern Kingdoms40–43Badlands
  9. 42–45Stranglethorn Vale
  10. 46–50The Hinterlands
  11. 48–51Searing Gorge
  12. 53–56Burning Steppes
  13. 54–57Western Plaguelands
  14. Outland58–62Hellfire Peninsula
  15. 62–64Zangarmarsh
  16. 64–65Terokkar Forest
  17. 65–67Nagrand
  18. Northrend68–72Borean Tundra
  19. 71–74Dragonblight
  20. 73–74Grizzly Hills
  21. 74–77Zul'Drak
  22. 76–78Sholazar Basin
  23. 77–80The Storm Peaks
  24. 78–80Icecrown

Kalimdor route

23 stages · 4 continent changes

Spends most of the journey on Kalimdor: Ashenvale, Thousand Needles, Desolace and Dustwallow Marsh, a stretch in the Badlands and Stranglethorn Vale in the early forties, then Tanaris, Feralas, Un'Goro Crater, Felwood, Azshara, Winterspring, then Outland through the Dark Portal at 58 and Northrend from Howling Fjord at 68.

  1. 19–29Ashenvale
  2. 30–35Thousand Needles
  3. 33–38Desolace
  4. 38–41Dustwallow Marsh
  5. Eastern Kingdoms40–43Badlands
  6. 42–45Stranglethorn Vale
  7. Kalimdor44–47Tanaris
  8. 45–48Feralas
  9. 50–54Un'Goro Crater
  10. 52–55Felwood
  11. 52–55Azshara
  12. 55–58Winterspring
  13. Outland58–62Hellfire Peninsula
  14. 62–64Zangarmarsh
  15. 64–65Terokkar Forest
  16. 65–67Nagrand
  17. Northrend68–72Howling Fjord
  18. 73–74Grizzly Hills
  19. 71–74Dragonblight
  20. 74–77Zul'Drak
  21. 76–78Sholazar Basin
  22. 78–80Icecrown
  23. 77–80The Storm Peaks

Dungeon route

16 stages · 4 continent changes

Quests where a zone is strong, and dungeons for more of each ten levels: The Stockade and Blackfathom Deeps, Gnomeregan and the Scarlet Monastery, Uldaman, Zul'Farrak and Maraudon, and Blackrock Mountain before Outland at 58, and Northrend's dungeons from 69.

  1. 18–22Redridge Mountains
  2. 22–30Stormwind City
  3. 27–31Wetlands
  4. 30–40Dun Morogh&Tirisfal Glades
  5. Kalimdor38–41Dustwallow Marsh
  6. Eastern Kingdoms40–50Badlands
  7. 46–50The Hinterlands
  8. 50–58Searing Gorge&Burning Steppes
  9. Outland58–62Hellfire Peninsula
  10. 62–64Zangarmarsh
  11. 64–65Terokkar Forest
  12. 65–67Nagrand
  13. Northrend68–72Howling Fjord
  14. 69–76Howling Fjord&Dragonblight
  15. 74–77Zul'Drak
  16. 75–80Zul'Drak&The Storm Peaks

Horde

Full Horde guide →

Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms route

30 stages · 11 continent changes

Follows Horde quest hubs on both continents: Stonetalon and Ashenvale, Hillsbrad, Thousand Needles and Desolace, Stranglethorn Vale and Arathi, Dustwallow and the Badlands, then Tanaris, Feralas, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge, Un'Goro Crater, Felwood and Western Plaguelands, then Outland through the Dark Portal at 58 and Northrend from Borean Tundra at 68.

  1. 19–23Stonetalon Mountains
  2. 22–26Ashenvale
  3. Eastern Kingdoms25–30Hillsbrad Foothills
  4. Kalimdor28–33Thousand Needles
  5. 32–36Desolace
  6. Eastern Kingdoms34–38Stranglethorn Vale
  7. 36–40Arathi Highlands
  8. Kalimdor37–41Dustwallow Marsh
  9. Eastern Kingdoms40–43Badlands
  10. 41–44Swamp of Sorrows
  11. 42–45Stranglethorn Vale
  12. Kalimdor44–47Tanaris
  13. 45–48Feralas
  14. Eastern Kingdoms47–50The Hinterlands
  15. 48–51Searing Gorge
  16. Kalimdor50–54Un'Goro Crater
  17. 52–55Felwood
  18. Eastern Kingdoms53–56Burning Steppes
  19. 54–57Western Plaguelands
  20. Outland58–62Hellfire Peninsula
  21. 62–64Zangarmarsh
  22. 64–65Terokkar Forest
  23. 65–67Nagrand
  24. Northrend68–72Borean Tundra
  25. 71–74Dragonblight
  26. 73–74Grizzly Hills
  27. 74–77Zul'Drak
  28. 76–78Sholazar Basin
  29. 77–80The Storm Peaks
  30. 78–80Icecrown

Kalimdor route

23 stages · 4 continent changes

Stays on Kalimdor apart from Stranglethorn Vale in the early forties: Stonetalon and Ashenvale, Thousand Needles, Desolace and Dustwallow Marsh, then Tanaris, Feralas, Un'Goro Crater, Felwood, Azshara, Winterspring, then Outland through the Dark Portal at 58 and Northrend from Howling Fjord at 68.

  1. 19–23Stonetalon Mountains
  2. 22–26Ashenvale
  3. 28–33Thousand Needles
  4. 32–36Desolace
  5. 37–41Dustwallow Marsh
  6. Eastern Kingdoms42–45Stranglethorn Vale
  7. Kalimdor44–47Tanaris
  8. 45–48Feralas
  9. 50–54Un'Goro Crater
  10. 52–55Felwood
  11. 52–55Azshara
  12. 55–58Winterspring
  13. Outland58–62Hellfire Peninsula
  14. 62–64Zangarmarsh
  15. 64–65Terokkar Forest
  16. 65–67Nagrand
  17. Northrend68–72Howling Fjord
  18. 73–74Grizzly Hills
  19. 71–74Dragonblight
  20. 74–77Zul'Drak
  21. 76–78Sholazar Basin
  22. 78–80Icecrown
  23. 77–80The Storm Peaks

Dungeon route

15 stages · 5 continent changes

Quests where a zone is strong, and dungeons for more of each ten levels: Wailing Caverns, Shadowfang Keep and Blackfathom Deeps, the Scarlet Monastery and the Razorfen dungeons, Uldaman, Zul'Farrak and Maraudon, and Blackrock Mountain before Outland at 58, and Northrend's dungeons from 69.

  1. 20–30The Barrens
  2. 28–33Thousand Needles
  3. Eastern Kingdoms30–40Tirisfal Glades
  4. Kalimdor37–41Dustwallow Marsh
  5. Eastern Kingdoms40–50Badlands
  6. 47–50The Hinterlands
  7. 50–58Searing Gorge&Burning Steppes
  8. Outland58–62Hellfire Peninsula
  9. 62–64Zangarmarsh
  10. 64–65Terokkar Forest
  11. 65–67Nagrand
  12. Northrend68–72Howling Fjord
  13. 69–76Howling Fjord&Dragonblight
  14. 74–77Zul'Drak
  15. 75–80Zul'Drak&The Storm Peaks

Zone names open on the World Map.

Dungeons on the way

DungeonLevelsZone
Ragefire Chasm13–18Orgrimmar
Wailing Caverns17–24The Barrens
The Deadmines18–23Westfall
Shadowfang Keep22–30Silverpine Forest
Blackfathom Deeps24–32Darkshore
The Stockade24–30Stormwind City
Scarlet Monastery28–45Tirisfal Glades
Gnomeregan29–38Dun Morogh
Razorfen Kraul29–38The Barrens
Razorfen Downs37–46The Barrens
Uldaman40–50Loch Modan
Zul'Farrak44–54Tanaris
Maraudon46–55Desolace
The Temple of Atal'Hakkar50–60Swamp of Sorrows
Blackrock Depths52–60Searing Gorge
Blackrock Spire55–60Burning Steppes
Dire Maul55–60Feralas
Stratholme55–60Eastern Plaguelands
Scholomance58–60Western Plaguelands
Hellfire Ramparts60–62Hellfire Peninsula
The Blood Furnace61–63Hellfire Peninsula
The Slave Pens62–64Zangarmarsh
The Underbog63–65Zangarmarsh
Mana-Tombs64–66Terokkar Forest
Auchenai Crypts65–67Terokkar Forest
Utgarde Keep68–72Howling Fjord
The Nexus70–73Borean Tundra
Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom72–75Dragonblight
Azjol-Nerub72–74Dragonblight
Drak'Tharon Keep73–75Zul'Drak
The Violet Hold74–76Crystalsong Forest
Gundrak75–78Zul'Drak
Halls of Stone76–78The Storm Peaks
Halls of Lightning78–80The Storm Peaks
The Culling of Stratholme78–80Tanaris
The Oculus78–80Borean Tundra
Utgarde Pinnacle78–80Howling Fjord

How the routes are chosen

Each stage keeps to a zone's level range and to towns your faction can use, and the route only changes continent where a boat, zeppelin or portal runs. Every route is checked so the levels carry on without gaps from your starting zone to 80.

The routes are sensible paths, not the only way to level or a claim to be the fastest. Compare them in the planner: the Efficient style picks the one with the fewest continent changes, and the Dungeon-focused style swaps some zones for dungeon runs.

Your progress is what you mark: the planner never ticks off a stage or a dungeon because of your level.