Manual key points: Prioritize questing, dungeon first clears, and new zones; Beta cap is 30, with 1-60 full route prepared for official release.
Launch Notes & Leveling Principles
- Beta is wiped, capped at Lv 30, ending early morning Oct 27; follow 1-30 route for Beta, saving 30-60 for live launch Nov 4/5. Manual (Official: Beta began at Lv 20, later raised to 30; Oct 26 is the final full test day.)
- Run dungeons strictly for "First Clears": Accept all dungeon quests beforehand to get full quest XP and blue gear in one run; repeat grinding XP has been heavily reduced (community consensus).
- Main story quests and new zones take priority: Zephyr Isle (1-12) and Riverwood (35-45) feature dense quest lines with minimal mob competition.
- Legacy Progression: Prioritize XP bonus perks in the Adventure tree ("Invigorated" increases rested XP cap and accumulation rate).
- Log out in major cities, inns, or camps to accumulate rested XP.
- No Dungeon Finder (LFD): Groups must assemble manually and travel to instance entrances; no level boosts, no WoW Tokens (community test data).
- Sleeping Bag Quest: 3% XP buff, essential for efficient leveling (community guide 9/29). — Database: "Comfortable Sleeping Bag" grants +1% XP after resting 1 min, up to +3% after 3 min, lasting 2 hours. Available from Lv 14 for both factions, following the Season of Discovery hidden object chain from Westfall/Barrens to Thoradin's Wall, awarding two 12-slot bags and a chosen ranged weapon along the way.
- Food provides minor XP bonuses (Manual: community test data); new flight and boat routes make travel between continents fast and convenient (Official, see Maps).
Alliance Route (1-30)
| Level Band | Zones | Dungeons | Key Milestones |
|---|
| 1-10 | Elwynn Forest (Human), Dun Morogh (Dwarf / Gnome), Teldrassil (Night Elf) | — | Class quests around Lv 10 (e.g. Rogue "Devious Blade") |
| 1-12 | Zephyr Isle (Scion starting zone) | — | Scion exclusive starting storyline, joins mainland after completion |
| 10-20 | Westfall, Loch Modan, Redridge Mountains, Darkshore | Hall of Thanes, The Deadmines | The Deadmines "all quests first clear"; Ironforge Hall of Thanes all quests for blue gear |
| 20-30 | Duskwood, Wetlands, Ashenvale | Excavation Site, The Stockade, Gnomeregan | Wetlands 24-29 paired with Excavation Site; Gnomeregan first clear after Lv 25 |
Horde Route (1-30)
| Level Band | Zones | Dungeons | Key Milestones |
|---|
| 1-10 | Durotar (Orc / Troll), Mulgore (Tauren), Tirisfal Glades (Undead) | — | "Protecting the Trade Route" outside Orgrimmar at Lv 8-9 (1H weapon reward) |
| 1-12 | Zephyr Isle (Windshaper Scion) | — | Scion exclusive starting line, transitions to The Barrens or Silverpine Forest |
| 10-20 | The Barrens, Silverpine Forest, Stonetalon Mountains | Wailing Caverns, Ruins of Lordaeron | Wailing Caverns Fang set (Druid / Rogue); Harpy quests after Lv 16 |
| 20-30 | Hillsbrad Foothills, Stonetalon Mountains, Ashenvale | Shadowfang Keep | Lv 20 Ashenvale elite spider quest (rewards 1H sword) |
30-60 Common Route
| Level Band | Zones | Dungeons | Key Milestones |
|---|
| 30-40 | Thousand Needles, Arathi Highlands, Badlands, Stranglethorn Vale | Scarlet Monastery, Sunken City | Dense STV questlines; prioritize new zones |
| 35-45 | Riverwood (New zone), Dustwallow Marsh, Swamp of Sorrows | Sunken City, Kroldrok Fortress | Riverwood has dense quests from Lv 35 and lower competition |
| 40-50 | Tanaris, Felwood, The Hinterlands | Zul'Farrak, Razorfen Downs, Uldaman | Rotate between zones to avoid quest dead ends |
| 45-55 | Searing Gorge, Blasted Lands, Azshara | Alcaz Island Prison, Maraudon, Sunken Temple | — |
| 50-60 | Western Plaguelands, Eastern Plaguelands, Winterspring, Burning Steppes, Silithus | Blackrock Depths, Blackjaw Stronghold, Progenitor's Terrace | Endgame transitions into Mount Hyjal at Lv 60 |
Zone levels and quest counts: see Maps; new dungeon levels per official/database records: see Dungeons.
Dungeon First-Clear Checklist
See Dungeons · First-Clear List.