World of Warcraft Newbie Guide

Westfall is mainly 10-12 up to about 20, with some further quests later on, and an instance zone in the middle (Deadmines).

Sentinel Hill

You should arrive in Westfall from Elwynn Forest with two quests: Furlbrow’s Deed, and Report to Gryan Stoutmantle. Deliver his deed to Farmer Furlbrow, who is one of the first people you will meet. Then collect Verna Furlbrow – Westfall Stew and Poor Old Blanchy, Farmer Furlbrow – The Forgotten Heirloom. Then move to the next farm south to deliver the stew request to Salma Saldean, and collect Salma Saldean – Goretusk Liver Pie and Westfall Stew, and Farmer Saldean – The Killing Fields (save for later). Keep looking for sacks of oats that you can safely reach, and report in at Sentinel Hill. Make sure you check the flight path with Thor and register at the inn.

You should also collect: Gryan Stoutmantle – The People’s Militia, Captain Danuvin – Patrolling Westfall, Scout Galiaan – Red Leather Bandanas, and Quartermaster Lewis – A Swift Message.

Save the message for your next scheduled visit to Stormwind City for spell/ability upgrades. Start to work around the farm in NE Westfall collecting oats, and killing young fleshrippers (10-11), goretusks (12-13) and golem hastvesters (9-12). You will probably want to leave the goretusks to later. The recipes also require murlocs, which are on the north coast close to the Furlbrow’s, and are 11-14.

You also need defias trappers and smugglers, which drop the red leather bandanas. There is a camp of them quite close to Sentinel Hill directly to the northwest and due east of the guard tower, another due east of the tower, and further north at the Janglode Mine, and at Furlbrow’s Farm (where his watch is: note that this is guarded by a level 15, Benny Blaanco, and you will only be able to reach the watch at this level if someone else is killing here). While close to the mine, hunt gnolls on the north headlands as well.

By this time you should have gained a couple of levels (on two different characters, with a warlock I was 13, with a paladin 15, and 16 hours on the paladin), and the harvest watchers (14-15) for the Killing Fields are going to be feasible.

The main chain quest here is going to be The People’s Militia, leading into other quests relating to the defias. You will now have Gryan Stoutmantle – The People’s Militia (2), kill pillagers and looters (levels 13-15, in Moonbrook, the Alexston Farmstead, and the Gold Coast Quarry); and also Gryan Stoutmantle – The Defias Brotherhood, which requires travelling to Lakeshire, in Redridge Mountains. I think that I’d move to Redridge at this point, and come back after doing the basic quests in the Lakeshire area, before moving on to the murlocs and harder gnoll quests in Redridge.

The Dagger Hills

Gryan Soutmantle – The People’s Militia. Kill highwaymen, knuckledusters and pathstalkers in the Dagger Hills (15-18); the highwaymen are possibly all 17, and are well spaced out along the Dagger Hills, although there is a camp at each end; the west end is the easier entrance, but in the middle, SE of Moonbrook, there is a narrow ravine leading up.

Grimbooze Thunderbrew – Thunderbrew Lager; in the mountains in the south, used for a Redridge quest (Dry Times). He has his own camp in the middle of the Dagger Hills pass. He wants five hops from the harvesters.

The Westfall Lighthouse

This is in the southwest, just south of where Old Murk-Eye can usually be seen on the beach. The beach close to it and the waters when crossing over are safe; you can scramble down to the beach close to Old Murk-Eye.

Captain Grayson – Keeper of the Flame(oil from the harvesters).

He also gives: Captain Grayson – The Coastal Menance (Old Murk-Eye, level 20) and Captain Grayson – The Coast isn’t Clear (kill murlocs), levels 13-20. Tidehunters and Oracles are south of the quarry, Warriors north of the quarry, and Coastrunners on the very far north shore. First complete the Defias quests.

Remaining quests:

Scout Riell – Red Silk Bandanas (elite, linked with the Defias Brotherhood quests)
drop quest (murlocs) – Captain Sander’s Hidden Treasure 16; drops from murloc tidehunters (18-19) in SW

Deathknell

Outside the crypt is Undertaker Mordo – Rude Awakening. He sends you to Shadow Priest Sarvis – Mindless Ones, in the chapel at the bottom of the hill; that’s the first building on the left (west). You need to complete this before you can get any more quests. Kill and return.

Novice Elreth – The Damned; hunt to the west for these. Priest Sarvis – Rattling the Rattlecages, to the north; he will also have your level 2 class quest. Kill and return.

Once you complete this quest you can collect: Deathguard Saltain – Scavenging Deathknell; the boxes spawn in and around the houses at the north of the village. Executor Arren – Night Web’s Hollow (outside and inside the cave to the northwest). Spiders inside the cave are aggressive, of course – the highest is the Night Web Matriarch, level 5.

Executor Arren – The Scarlet Crusade; they are in the southeast of Deathknell. These are levels 3 and 4. Kill, then return for: Arren – The Red Messenger. Meven Korgal (level 5) outside the single tent to the southwest of the camp. Again, go back for: Arren – Vital Intelligence, which sends you to Brill. First, collect Novice Elreth – Marla’s Last Wish (head to the north east of the starting area, south of the road, halfway to the exit from Deathknell; you need to kill Samuel Fipps, who is level 4 or 5? The graveyard you need to return to is immediately north of the chapel). The area you find Samuel Fipps is close to the Scarlet Crusade area, and a little north of it.

You should be well through level 5 in just over one hour. Time to leave Deathknell for Brill; head northeast, then follow the road to the east.

On your way out, at the exit from the Deathknell area, get Calvin Montague – A Rogue’s Deal, at the exit.

Brill

On the road out of Deathknell, pick up: Deathguard Simmer – Fields of Grief (for later, when you need to go to Solliden Farm), but keep on towards Brill, to the east. Gordo – Gordo’s Task; Gordo wanders close to the road; you might be able to do this carefully on your way in, but level 8-9 aggressive mobs (vampiric duskbats) roam the fields; gloom weed is also found closer to Brill, east of the bridge, where mobs are 5-7.

Report to Executor Zygand, and start collecting quests. Deathguard Dillinger – A Putrid Task; kill back on the road into Brill to the west. Apothecary Johaan – A New Plague; the deathhounds (level 5-6) needs for this are in the same area as the previous task, so work them together. Gretchen Dedmar – The Chill of Death (this probably requires level 7 to collect); you can collect duskbat pelts, if you can get the quest, while killing the deathhounds – otherwise, work them on the way to Solliden Farm later on. Buy the required coarse thread in Brill from the trade vendor. Collect all of these tasks that you can, and then register at the inn, which is the last building on the north side of the road, heading east. Finally go back west of Brill and kill for your quests.

When you hand in for Gordo’s task, you find that Gordo got it wrong, and there is more work for you to do: Apothecary Holland – Doom Weed. This will be found north of the graveyard, but save it until you need to do the Graverobbers quest, under Garren’s Haunt.

Solliden Farmstead

Executor Zygand – At War with the Scarlet Crusade (next to Solliden Farmstead to the west); couple this with Fields of Grief (levels 6 and 7). Come back to Brill to collect: Deathguard Burgess – Proof of Demise (this one probably requires you complete the first At War); you can get the rings from the Scarlet Crusade back at Solliden Farm, but you may not be able to get the quest any earlier than this.

Apothecary Johaan – Fields of Grief (part 2). This is carried out purely within Brill. Level 7, four hours played.

Agamand Mills

Back to Brill, then to Agamand Mills (in the northwest, past Solliden Farm). First collect: Deathguard Dillinger – The Mills Overrun, and Coleman Farthing – The Haunted Mills (Devlin Agamand). Devlin is level 9, and wanders to the left of the road; the rattlebones and others are 6-8. A random drop, mainly from rattlecage soldiers or Cracked Skull solders, is Letter to Yvette – A Letter Undelivered (Yvette is in the Brill inn); if you don’t get it this time, don’t worry, you’ll be coming back here soon. Back to Brill. Make the hand in for: Johaan – Fields of Grief.

Garren’s Haunt

Magistrate Sevren – The Graverobbers (north of Brill at Garren’s Haunt); level are 6-8, remember to pick your Doom Weed while hunting here, for Apothecary Holland. Apothecary Johann – A New Plague (2), to Garren’s Haunt and North Shore. Murlocs are also on the beach north of Solliden Farm; these are 8-9, but run around quickly, so it is easy to get several adds, often casters. It is probably best to stay at the edge of the beach and pick off any single wanderers that come close.

Wanted poster (in Brill) – Wanted: Maggot Eye! Maggot Eye (level 10/11) is in house north of Garren’s Haunt farm. Back to Brill.

The Undercity

First collect: Magistrate Sevren – The Prodigal Lich, Forsaken Duties. Both of these require you to make a trip towards Undercity, so do them when you need to go there. Linnea is at the crossroads just outside Lordaeron. Pick up: Deathguard Linnea – Rear Guard Patrol, Return to the Magistrate.

Executor Zygand – At War With the Scarlet Crusade (2). While you are there, go to the tower to the SW, for the Scarlet Crusade; levels 7-9. The easiest way to reach it is by going west from the crossroads outside Lordaeron. Captain Perrine is in the tower and level 9, usually with one guard; sometimes he is on the ground floor, at other times he can be on the top floor. This spot is also a target for the warlock level 10 class quest, so bear that in mind if your are a warlock.

Bethor Iceshard – The Prodigal Lich; He can be hard to find, but is in the Mages Quarter, north east of the Temple of the Damned (head down below bank when you enter the Undercity first to gain access to the outer areas, including the Mage Quarter); Bethor is at the back up some stairs, and you won’t see him until you are at the top of the staircase. Bethor Iceshard – The Lich’s Identity. The Lich is on the island on the Brightwater Lake, on the north side, by the jetty. You can get to the book on the table in front of Gunther by watching the pattern of the wanderers, which are 7-9. Back to Bethor.

Level 10, 5 and a half hours played.

Bethor Iceshard – The Prodigal Lich Returns. Back to Gunther’s Retreat on the island; you can fairly quickly pick up the quest and open the crate to take a candle, but be aware that the very slow text scolling speed of the standard UI can cause problems if you haven’t cleared the nearby wanderers. The following part is a little harder, so save it for later: Gunther Arcanus – Prove Your Allegiance (Lillith Nefara, level 12).

Level 10 class quests: starting from Brill, the warrior one is:

Austil de Mon – Speak with Dillinger
Deathguard Dillinger – Ulag the Cleaver (level 11)
Deathguard Dillinger – Speak with Coleman
Coleman Farthing – Agamand Heirlooms

You can do the first three stages now, but wait to return to the Mills for the last step.

The Amagand Mills

Coleman Farthing – Deaths in the Family. Nissa is in the first house (on the right) at Mills, to the southeast. At the plaza take the left fork; Gregor is behind the first or second windmill on right. Thurmond is at end of road, all the way to the west. At the back, creatures are 8-10. Back to Brill. Coleman Farthing – Speak with Sevren.

For a warrior, this is best combined with the class quest, Agamand Heirlooms, in the mausoleum north of the mills. Most mobs are 6-8, but can come in twos and threes. Other mob levels?

The Balnir Farmstead

Collect Apothecary Johaan – A New Plague (3), and Executor Zygand – At War with the Scarlet Crusade (3).

Rear Guard Patrol, at Balnir’s Farmstead, go past Linnea, then take the road to the north (not the first small track); levels 8-11, with a named ghost (Fellicent’s Shade), an 12 elite. Then to Venomweb Vale is to the east, but north of the Crusader Outpost, up that small track we skipped earlier, with level 8-10 spiders for A New Plague (3). Watch out for Sri’skulk, a level 13 elite. Next is the Scarlet Crusader outpost (Crusader Outpost on the map); approach from the rear, from Venomweb Vale. Kill Captain Vachon (mobs are 8-11). Back to Brill, and execute the quest: Apothecary Johaan – A New Plague (4).

Tidying Up

Time to kill Lillith in the lake, on the island SW of the main island, then return to Undercity for Bethor. Gunther Arcanus – The Prodigal Lich Returns (2).

Executor Zygand – At War with the Scarlet Crusade (4); kill Captain Melrache, level 12, and his two level 8 bodyguards, in the Scarlet Crusade tower to the north (in the north east of Tirisfal). Train.

Magistrate Sevren – The Family Crypt. Take the right fork at Amagand Mills plaza. The middle stairs lead to Captain Dargol; levels 9-13. Back to Brill.

Executor Zygand – At War with the Scarlet Crusade (5)??. Crusader tower to N (Scarlet Watch Post, NOT the Monastery, which is 30+ elite). Back to Brill.

Your next stage is to leave for Silverpine Forest, which has quests for the level 10-20 range. I haven’t yet fully checked, but it may be advantageous to go there and carry out the initial quests close to Tirisfal Glades before returning for the tidying up quests. Make sure that you have: Apothecary Johaan – A Delivery to Silverpine.

Professions

Alchemy: Brill
Blacksmithing: Undercity?
Cooking: Undercity
Enchanting: Brill, upstairs in the inn
Engineering: Undercity?
Fishing: west shore of Brightwater Lake east of Brill; fishing rod at the crossroads by Linnea
First Aid: Brill, inn
Herbalism: Brill
Leatherworking: crossroads outside Lordaeron
Mining: Undercity?
Skinning: crossroads outside Lordaeron
Tailoring: west of Brill, at Cold Hearth Manor

Warlock Quests

Shadow Priest Sarvis – Tainted Scroll; this is given at level 2, and involves talking to the warlock trainer next to Sarvis.

Venya Marthand – Piercing the Veil; collect 3 rattlecage skulls. This quest gives you your imp, and you may well be given it before you can collect the scroll quest.

At level 10, you can collect in Brill: Ageron Kargal – Halgar’s Summons; go to Carendin Halgar in the Undercity. Carendin Halgar – Creature of the Void; retrieve a book from the Scarlet Crusade Tower west of Undercity (can combine with War 2). Carendin Halgar – The Binding; summon and kill a voidwalker in the circle next to him. He talks about the summoning circle being “below”, but this is just a confusion from the other race warlock level 10 quests, all of which include the same phrase.

Start by collecting a couple of quests leading there. There’s a good guide on Allakhazam, which is described as an introduction to Stranglethorn Vale. This is reasonable, as there aren’t a lot of quests in Thousand Needles, and most quest givers will push you towards Stranglethorn Vale.

In Ironforge:
Pilot Longbeard (Military Ward) – The Brassbolt Brothers

And in the Wetlands, Menethil Harbor (he is in the keep, at the bottom of the staircase):
Red Jack Flint – Fiora Longears

This takes you to Theramore, in Dustwallow Marsh. Find in the inn:
Fiora Longears – Highperch Venom (NW 1kNeedles)

From there, just follow the road, watching the signposts. At an appropriate level, aggro from the animals by the road isn’t a problem, most being around level 35. The road skirts around the Horde outpost in Dustwallow Marsh, and you will enter the Barrens. From there, just follow the road and head south. There is one tauren on the road you should run around; then at the far south there are two taurens guarding the Great Lift. These can be sneaked around, or just plain run past if you are the right level. The base of the lift is completely clear, and the graveyard is close by. As you arrive at the bottom, ahead and to your right is a dwarf shaped smudge, which gives you a quest: Henrig Lonebrow’s Journal. This sends you to the nearest flight path, which is in Feralas; follow the road ahead, then turn right (west). Just before you enter Feralas you will see a signpost for Thalanaar, which is the flight path; you can reach it without having to cross any of the rest of Feralas, which is a much higher level zone.

The area for the Highperch Venom quest is directly southeast of the Great Lift, on the south zone wall, quite close to Thalanaar.

When you are done, follow the road back south east through Thousand Needles. There is one horde outpost west of the Great Lift that is back from the road, but also one east of the lift that has two high level guards directly on the road. Again, when you reach the Shimmering Flats, there is another horde post, but well clear of the road. The quest area is Mirage Raceway, in the middle of the flats, south east of here. There is also a flight path across the boarder into Tanaris, in Gadgetzan (directly to the south of the track).

Pick up these quests:

Kravel Koalbeard – Rocket Car Parts
Fizzle Brassbolts – Salt Flat Venom
Wizzle Brassbolts – Hardened Shells
Pozzik – Load Lightening
Trackmaster Zherin – A Bump in the Road

Start to the west of the racetrack, where there is a camp of scorpids around a broken cart. Kill anything that comes near until you have finished Salt Flat Venom. Pick up any parts that you see, and return to hand in when you are ready. There is a camp of 34-35 gazers south of the raceway at Tahonda Ruins that should complete A Bump in the Road. Birds always drop their quest parts, the rest are less common; I finished the shell quest last. Total experience at 32, including killing, was about 2/3 of a level (rested).

Turtle meat is used in a recipe you have to quest for in Southshore, Hillsbrad Foothills, and mystery meat in several different recipes (Dragonbreath Chili and Mystery Stew, both recipes sold in Theramore Isle).

When you have done this, there are a few follow on quests to take:

Wizzle Brassbolts – Encrusted Tail Fins (for Stranglethorn Vale)
Kravel Koalbeard – Hemet Nesingwary (ditto)
Pozzik – Goblin Sponsorship

This last quest sends you to Ratchet, then on to Booty Bay. In Ratchet, collect:

Wharfmaster Dizzywig – Parts for Kravel
Wharfmaster Dizzywig – Passage to Booty Bay

Then go back to the race track to complete the quests, and head out to Booty Bay, by boat from Ratchet. Overall, it is probably easiest if you set your hearthstone in Ratchet when you visit there. Ratchet has the only boat directly to Booty Bay; however, if you have been there at any point before and picked up the flight path, it may be easier to go to Gadgetzan, fly to Theramore, take a boat to Menethil, and then fly to Booty Bay. It all depends.

Booty Bay

rebel camp, 3 quests
Nesingwary’s Expedition/hunter camp

I’m just going to refer you to the three good guides on Allakhazam:

Stranglethorn – Getting Started
Stranglethorn Guide North and
Stranglethorn Guide South

The second guide is a more recent update of the first; you should ignore the first and start with the second guide, Stranglethorn North. This also includes an extensive section covering Thousand Needles.

A few notes from me:

Booty Bay is on the flight paths from Stormwind, and reached by boat from Ratchet, which has lousy connections. The rebel and hunter camps in the north of Stranglethorn are a long, long run from anywhere else. In fact, they are roughly equidistant from Darkshire in Duskwood. The run from Booty Bay is relatively safe, even though mobs in the first half of the run are 38-41.

Don’t forget that the fishing skill book is sold in Booty Bay; a couple of useful cookery recipes for the zone are sold in the rebel base.

You should have arrived here from Dun Morogh, through the south pass, with the Stout to Kadrell quest. At the guard tower just inside Loch Modan, stop to collect two quests: Captain Rugelfuss – The Trogg Threat, and Mountaineer Cobbleflint – In Defense of the King’s Lands. You can complete these quests now, on the way to Thelsamar, but I prefer to set my hearthstone and the flight path as soon as possible, so… keep on the road north to:

Thelsamar

Run around the town picking up quests, and find Kadrell walking around on the main street. Go to the inn and register with the inn keeper, and find the gryphon master up the ridge south of the town; Brock Stoneseeker – Honor Students, will send you to him if you need reminding. You will also have: Mountaineer Kadrell – Rat Catching, and Vidra Hearthstone – Thelsamar Blood Sausage (cooking).

Opportunities for Travel

You can get the easy travel quests out of the way first: Brock Stoneseeker – Honor Students, which sends you to the gryphon master and then to Ironforge, and back again. Before you go, run to the north tower (Algaz Station) for Mountaineer Kadrell – Mountaineer Stormpike’s Task. Collect Mountaineer Stormpike – Filthy Paws. Stormpike will send you to Stormwind, which can be reached easily from Ironforge by the Deeprun Tram. Make sure you pick up the flight path while you are there. The next logical step of this quest series is in Goldshire, in Elwynn Forest: Smith Argus – Elmore’s Task, which will send you back to Algaz Station.

If you have taken blacksmithing, in Ironforge you may be able to pick up: Tormus Deepforge – Supplying the Front (blacksmithing). You have to make 6 each of two different smithed items, each of which requires 6 copper bars – so be aware that you will need 72 copper ore to fulfil this quest, making it one of the most expensive possible. I did this quest; it took 3 hours, including farming the ore and delivery. The exp and faction rewards were relatively small, and the only item reward is plans for a copper chain vest; no cash is given. There’s a follow on quest to make and deliver to Redbridge Mountains, which probably requires 50+ blacksmithing skill.

Alternatively, you can wait until you have more reason to visit Ironforge, at which point there will be more available quests to pick up from there.

West side of the Loch

First step is to go to one or both of the two tunnel rat mines, north of Thelsamar (this is the Silver Stream Mine) and northwest, to kill kobolds. On the way, look out for spiders, bears and boars to kill. Tunnel rats will be 10 or 11, beasts 10-12. Boars are commoner towards the lake, to the east.

Then go back to the guard tower and kill troggs, either in the small camp west of Thelsamar, or a little north and east of the guard tower, down the side turn to the east, in Stonesplinter Valley.

When you return to the Valley of the Kings, you will be given: Mountaineer Gravelgaw – In Defense of the King’s Lands. You can go deeper in to Stonesplinter Valley for these mobs, or combine with Bingle’s tools quest (below), as the same mobs needed for this and the next In Defense quest are on the islands where the tools are; however, the spawn rate makes these quests excessive hard for their level. Leave them for now.

Now is time to go back to the Silver Stream Mine, and this time go inside to try for the items for Filthy Paws; kobolds here are 10-15, with a fast respawn. This is a significant step up in difficulty from the last quest, and you may want to grind exp for a level or two first. A good spot for this is south of Grizzlepaw Ridge (the southwest of the loch), where you can kill 11-14 bears, 14-15 boars, and 13-14 spiders. See below for a couple of run around quests that may also help.

A box of miner’s gear should spawn right by the entrance; this is guarded by two 12-13 kobolds, so it may be possible to get all the items right here. You can sneak around from the north side of the mine to the entrance possibly without any other fighting. In the deepest chamber is Grizlak, a 15 elite, with a few level 14 guards, and a probable chest. There is plenty of linen and veins of ore.

Ironforge

By this point you will be about midway through level 13. If you make a side trip to Ironforge, you can collect Gnoarn – Find Bingles. Gnoarn is in Tinkertown, and Bingles is standing at the side of the Loch, to the SE. If you are level 13, you can pick up in Thelsamar: Jern Hornhelm – Ironband’s Excavation. When you find Bingles, you can also collect Prospector Ironband – Excavation Progress Report, which has to go back to Jern Hormhelm in Thelsamar, and Jern wants you to report back to Ironforge. Bingles – Missing Supplies: Bingles wants his tools, which are on the northmost island in the Loch, and the small island to the west of it. This quest is currently very hard to complete, because of the respawn rate of the troggs (which has been lowered in a subsequent patch, I must check it out).

Mountaineer Wallbang – In Defense of the King’s Lands 15

Not done:

Captain Rugelfuss – In Defense of the King’s Lands 17

Supplying Ironband’s Excavation

If you choose to follow the Resupplying the Excavation sequence, you should be aware that when you approach the powder wagon at the south of the lake, you will be attacked by three level 10s. these can easily be dealt with at level 13 by the approach of killing one, then running away, recover, and repeat. In fact, you don’t even need to do this, as the quest is completed even if you don’t kill them – think of it as a hint of what is to come.

The next quest in the series is: Miran – Protecting the Shipment, which is an escort quest. Based on my experiences with other escort quests, these will involves waves of multiple mobs, and are effectively impossible without assistance, so I skipped over it; however, this one isn’t so bad. This stage involves escorting Miran to the excavation site. He will aggro anything aggressive along the way, usually one or two spiders, and you should help him. Just as he reaches the site, he will pause, and be attacked by two level 14 Dark Iron dwarves. This is pretty easy if you are 14 or higher, or in a group.

Farstrider Lodge

The hard part is getting here. Just go east from the excavation site, dodging bears and buzzards. The entrance is at the back of the lodge, and you need to go around the north side to get there.

The first quest to do it: Marek Ironheart – Crocolisk Hunting. Leave Daryl’s quests until you can give them your undivided attention, as they are timed. The crocs are on the east shore near Bingles, but are in profusion on the two southern islands in the loch. If you can’t see any on the shore, check in the water first.

Now for Daryl. Daryl the Youngling – A Hunter’s Boast. Kill a few buzzards in 15 minutes; this is very easy, and can be done at a lower level (I did it at 15 with a priest). The biards are all close to the lodge. Next is: Daryl the Youngling – A Hunter’s Challenge. This is a little harder; note that he wants elder boars, not any other type, which are on the east shore, roughly north of Bingles. Watch out for bears.

Ironband’s Excavation

Magnar Fellhew – Gathering Idols. This is pretty easy, provided you stay at the edges and pick off troggs. Mostly 18-20, I think. If you go deep in, there is at least one spot where you can potentially pull a lot of troggs by just standing in the wrong spot.

The Stonewrought Dam

In the middle of the dam to the north you will find: Chief Engineer Hinderweir VII – A Dark Threat Looms. The start isn’t too bad – at the east side of the dam, to the east of the ramp, are two dark iron dwarves, both level 17. Kill them, and check the barrel they were guarding. However, the next stage sends you on the long run to Dun Modr, in the far north side of the Wetlands, and back to Hindenweir. That’s not too bad, although you are probably too low still to pick up the Dun Algaz quest to kill in the pass, which would make the trip a little more rewarding. But the next stage requires you to kill in the north east of Loch Modan; the spider and crocolisks are no problem. However, the mo’grosh crystal is a rare drop from the level 17-20 elite ogres. I think I cleared the entire area at least once before finding one. This is not a solo feasible task while this is still a worthwhile quest; a group is a must. You should combine this with Magistrate Bluntnose – Mercenaries. You are almost certain to complete Mercenaries before you find a crystal; Bluntnose is in Thelsamar, one of the houses set back from the village street.

Once you have the items, for the next part just jump into the lake where Hindenweir is standing; the barrel you need to defuse is at the base of the dam close to there, possibly a little to the east. I wasn’t bothered by the thrashodons or loch frenzies that were in the area.

Leaving Loch Modan

The logical progression from Loch Modan is into The Wetlands, by the Dun Algaz tower (north west of Loch Modan). If you run short of quests or appropriate mobs at any point, consider Darkshore, Westfall, or, if you are 15+, Redridge Mountains. At the higher end, if you don’t like the thought of the Wetlands, both Ashenvale and Duskwood are good for 20+.

Vyrin Swiftwind – The Head of Ol’Sooty 15 (level 20 elite)

Professions

Mining: Thelsamar
Herbalism, Alchemy: Thelsamar

East of Elwynn Forest; part of the human starting grounds, suitable for 15-20. Enter with Gryan Stoutmantle – The Defias Brotherhood, from Westfall, and collect Guard Parker – Encroaching Gnolls, as you enter on the road from Elwynn Forest.

Lakeshire

As you enter Lakeshire, you will pick up: Foreman Oslow – The Lost Tools. Also take: Verner Osgood – The Price of Shoes, Magistrate Solomon – Messenger to Stormwind, Darcy – A Free Lunch, Barkeep Daniels – Dry Times, Shawn – Hilary’s Necklace, Chef Breanna – Redridge Goulash, and Dockmaster Baren – Selling Fish (fishing quest, requires level 16). The contact for the Defias Brotherhood quest (Wiley) is upstairs in the inn.

The necklace is somewhere west of the bridge (random location); it appears as a black shape. The tools are in a fixed location, in the middle of the murlocs (18-20). The spot is east of the pier, just north of the “L” of Lake Everstill on the map, just where it turns deep. You can only get them at this level if someone is killing the murlocs.

Take care of your fishing, then to back to Guard Parker, and kill a few tarantulas and goretusks in the Three Corners area if you like.

Then it’s back to Stormwind, out to Goldshire, and on to Westfall again; and back, and again… When that’s all over, come back to Lakeshire. Along the way, try to get the items for Dry Times from Stormwind, Goldshire and the dwarf in the Dagger Hills of Westfall (he wants five hops from the golems). The final item is from Darkshire in Duskwood, and is best obtained by running in from Redridge. Remember, as always, to pick up the flight path while you are there. The items for the quest are expensive, but the payback is good, and more than makes up for it.

If you have blacksmithing, in Ironforge there is: Tormus Deepforge – Gearing Redridge. The reward is a pattern for Ironforge breastplate; as with all the blacksmithing quests, it is very expensive to carry out (88 copper bars required), with relatively low cash and experience returned.

Lakeridge Highway

If you haven’t already, collect: Verner Osgood – Underbelly Scales (the run to Goldshire is required before you can get any of his further quests, so you might as well do it), and Deputy Feldon – Assessing the Threat. South of the lake, take the path to the east. On either side of this path you will find whelps (17-18), gnoll mongrels and poachers (15-17), and dire condors (18-19). This will be enough to complete: Assessing the Threat, Underbelly Scales and Redridge Goulash. The whelps and condors have low hit points, and I could easily kill them with a 17 paladin.

Redridge Canyons

On the hills directly above Lakeshire, you can find gnoll brutes and mystics, 17-19, for Foreman Oslow – the Everstill Bridge, and Verner Osgood – A Baying of Gnolls.

It’s at this point that there are no available easy quests (yellow or lower), so I’d advise a return to Westfall to clear out the remaining Defias quests. I had cleared to this point as a level 18 paladin. Alternatively, move on to Duskwood, which has quests for 20-30.

Dockmaster Baren – Murloc Poachers 20 (requires level 20)
Marshall Marris – Blackrock Menace 21 (19-25 orcs to N, nr Burning Steppes)

Bailiff Conacher – Solomon’s Law 23 gnolls, 21-26, NE of zone
Martie Jainrose – An Unwelcome Guest 24 (can’t get until 18) kill Bellygrub, level 24.
Guard Howe – Blackrock Bounty 25 (elite)

Copied from US forums post by Haunted:

Most of these have been confirmed to be good, but in order to prevent overcrowding in areas I will try to list several different places, all of which should be pretty decent. More often than not, the areas will only hold one or two people maximum as far as spawn rates go – any more than that and you have too many people and too little mobs to support them. Unfortunately, because of this, you might end up somewhere that isn’t quite as good as you might’ve hoped, and if that’s the case, I apologize in advance.



The levels are approximate, you may or may not have to supplement grinding for one or two levels in order to move onto the next zones early on, although most of the later parts deal mostly with areas to grind in. Also, when a level is listed next to a grind area, that means this is the level at which you can more than likely *start* grinding the mobs. You can probably *stop* grinding them about 4-5 levels past where the start level is. In fact, it’s probably recommended that you do stop 4 levels past them.



Also, keep in mind that this is mostly for Alliance players, as it’s the only faction I’ve played and thus have no experience with Horde lands. You’ll also note the lack of Kalimdor lands up until Feralas/Tanaris. While I’m not saying Ashenvale, Stonetalon Mountains, Thousand Needles or Desolace are bad places, I honestly have no experience with them either, and these areas that I do list are typically sufficient to take you up in levels.



Please note that the level listed beside a place, if there is one, is the level recommended to *begin* the place. Each place should typically be able to last you for 4-5 levels (with the exception of quest areas), whether you have the patience to stay at that one place for that long is another thing.



Thanks to everyone that has contributed and added to the list!



Level 1-12:

– Newbie Zone :: You may have to leave at level 11.



Level 12-20:

– Westfall [Sentinel Hill, Westfall Lighthouse]

– Loch Modan [Thelsamar, Farstrider’s Lodge, Stonewrought Dam]

– Darkshore [Auberdine]

– Elite Area: Mo’grosh mound (Loch Modan)

– Instance: Deadmines



Complete the easiest quests in the first area that you go to (Night Elves should visit Darkshore first, Dwarves/Gnomes should visit Loch Modan first, Humans should visit Westfall first.) Move onto the next zone, and do the same, but this time you can complete more of the zone. Leave the most difficult, unless you can get a group for them – don’t waste too much time on it, though. Move onto the last zone and complete all, or nearly all of the quests available in that zone. By this time, you should be about level 17-18. Go back to the first zone, and complete the rest of the quests there.



Typically, my "first zone" is Westfall, in which case you can go back when you are done with both Loch Modan and Darkshore, and finish the Van Cleef line of quests and be at a good level to run the instance.



Level 20-22:

– Redridge Mountains [Lakeshire, Tower of Azora in Elwynn]



Again, do the easy quests in Redridge, which should take you up to level 21 or 22. Skip the more difficult quests unless you have a group for them. I’d skip the entire Stonewatch Keep area of quests just simply because that entire area itself is crap.



Level 22-30:

– Redridge Mountains [Lakeshire, Tower of Azora in Elwynn]

– Duskwood [Darkshire, Sven’s Camp, Abercrombie]

– Wetlands [Menethil Harbor, Greenwarden, N. Loch Modan (The Algaz Gauntlet)]

– Ashenvale [Astranaar ?]

– Stonetalon Mountains [?]

– Elite Area: Dun Modr (Wetlands)

– Instance: The Stockades

– Instance: Shadowfang Keep

– Instance: Blackfathom Deeps

– Happy Loot: Naraxis’ Fang (Duskwood)

– Happy Loot: Tiny Crimson Whelpling (Wetlands)

– Grind Area [26]: Dragonmaw Encampment (Wetlands)

– Grind Area [26]: Whelgar’s Excavation Site (Wetlands)

– Grind Area [28]: Rotting Orchard (Duskwood)

– Grind Area [28]: Raven Hill Cemetary (Duskwood)

– Grind Area [29]: Vul’Gol Ogre Mound (Duskwood)



Preparation: Purchase Bronze Tube.



Start at either Duskwood or Wetlands. This is where "quest stacking" can come in really handy if you want to be efficient. There are many, many quests that send you to the same areas, and if you get all of the quests at once, you can knock all of them out without having to run back and forth. Considering Wetlands and Duskwood are fairly bad for having their towns on one side of the map and the quest mobs/areas on the other side, this saves a lot of time. A lot of these are parts of quest chains, so honestly it’s hard to know if you don’t have prior knowledge or do a lot of quest research beforehand – so don’t worry about it too much, but try to be as efficient as you can. Once you finish one of the two new areas, you should be about level 25 and can go finish the harder parts of Redridge, and then finish the last zone.



Note for Stockades : There are 6 quests you can obtain for this instance. Lakeshire, Darkshire, Wetlands, Van Cleef note continuation (Bazil Thredd), and two from Stormwind.



Level 31-37:

– Stranglethorn Vale [Rebel Camp, Nesingwary’s Expedition, Booty Bay]

– Hillsbrad Foothills [Southshore]

– Arathi Highlands [Refuge Pointe]

– Desolace [32]

– Thousand Needles [31]

– Instance: Gnomeregan

– Happy Loot: Howling Blade (Skhowl, Alterac Mountains)

– Happy Loot: Toxic Revenger (Gnomeregan)

– Happy Loot: Tiny Emerald Whelpling (Swamp of Sorrows)

– Grind Area [31]: Kurzen Encampment (Stranglethorn Vale)

– Grind Area [33]: Stranglethorn Raptors (Stranglethorn Vale)

– Grind Area [33]: Growless Cave (Alterac Mountains)

– Grind Area [34]: Gallow’s Corner (Crushridge Ogres – Altarac Mountains)

– Grind Area [34]: Witherbark Village (Arathi Mountains)

– Grind Area [36]: Venture Co. Base Camp (Lake Nazferiti – Stranglethorn Vale)



Preparation: Purchase all 15 pages of The Green Hills of Stranglethorn, 4 Bloodstone Ore.



Start at Stranglethorn Vale. Quest stacking here is also godly, since you don’t want to have to run all the way to the northern end of the zone, do one or two quests and turn them back in at Booty Bay. Rebel Camp’s quests are largely independent of the rest, though, so you can do those first. Then, head to Booty Bay, where you can pick up two main quests for the northern area: Investigate the Camp and the start of the Excelsior chain, both of which takes you to Nesingwary’s Expedition, where you obtain all of the nice happy quests there.



Hillsbrad is only good starting at about level 33, at which point you can actually *do* all of the quests that you could obtain at level 30… Arathi only has one or two quests that you can actually do right now, but it’s listed anyways.



Kurzen Cave has been fixed, which perhaps means that Jungle Fighters and Headshrinkers have as well, so someone test that out please.



Level 37-43:

– Stranglethorn Vale [Booty Bay, Nesingwary’s Expedition, Rebel Camp]

– Arathi Mountains [Refuge Pointe, Faldir’s Cove]

– Badlands [Various camps around the zone]

– Desolace [37]

– Elite Area: Stromgarde

– Elite Area: Mosh’ogg Mound

– Instance: Scarlet Monastery

– Instance: Uldaman

– Instance: Razorfen Downs

– Happy Loot: Tiny Black Whelpling (Badlands)

– Grind Area [37]: Lashtail Raptors (Stranglethorn Vale)

– Grind Area [37]: Water Elementals (Stranglethorn Vale)

– Grind Area [39]: The spider cave north of Brackenwall (Dustwallow Marsh)

– Grind Area [39]: Rock Elementals (Badlands)

– Grind Area [39]: Elder Crag Coyotes (Badlands)

– Grind Area [41]: Scalding Whelps (Badlands)

– Grind Area [41]: Agmond’s End (Badlands)

– Grind Area [41]: Ziata’jai Ruins (Venture Co. Stuff, Stranglethorn Vale)

– Grind Area [43]: Naga Explorers (Stranglethorn Vale)

– Grind Area [4X]: Grimtotem Compound (Feralas – Low 40s, not absolutely sure)



Preparation: Purchase 9 Blue Pearls, 1 Frost Oil, 1 Gyrochronatom, 4 Buzzard Wings, 1 Elixir of Water Breathing.



37 is where you obtain your next batch of quests from Stranglethorn Vale. Arathi Highlands has fairly decent quests in Faldir’s Cove, or if you’re feeling group-friendly, knock out the ones in Stromgarde. Badlands has a lot of nice quests, but you have to actually find them. This is where supplementing experience by grinding becomes more efficient at times, and at 42-43 you should be closing the last of your Stranglethorn quests, and be finished with Badlands and Arathi both, as well.



Scarlet Monastery. Black Menace or Sword of Serenity. Nothing more needs to be said – except where to obtain the quest: Desolace.



Level 43-46:

– Feralas [Feathermoon Stronghold]

– Tanaris [Gadgetzan, Steamwheedle Port]

– Instance: Zul’Farrak

– Grind Area [43]: Wastewander Bandits (Tanaris)

– Grind Area [44]: Isle of Dread (Feralas – Inside Cave; South of Feathermoon Stronghold)

– Grind Area [45]: Feral Scar Vale (Feralas)

– Happy Loot: 14slot bag! Cortello’s Riddle quest, starts in one of the ships in Stranglethorn Vale for the end of the Bloodsail Buccaneers line of quests.



Fairly self explanatory, I guess. Not much going on here, really.



Level 46-50:

– Tanaris [Gadgetzan, Steamwheedle Port]

– The Hinterlands [Aerie Peak]

– Instance: Zul’Farrak

– Instance: Maraudon [49]

– Instance: Temple of Atal’Hakkar [50]

– Grind Area [47]: Undead in Western Ashzara (Azshara)

– Grind Area [47]: Dunemaul Compound (Tanaris)

– Grind Area [47]: Elementals/Golems around The Cauldron + N of it (Searing Gorge) – Elemental Leatherworking Supplies





At this point, you more than likely have a bunch of quests saved up for The Hinterlands – including but not limited to, the quest to gather Wildkin Feathers (from Rutheran Village), the quest to obtain a snapshot of Gammerita, the quest to obtain Violet Trajan, the last part of Cortello’s Riddle, etc. Feel free to knock them all out at once.



Level 50-55:

– Searing Gorge [Kalaran Windblade]

– Blasted Lands [Blood Elf camp]

– Un’Goro Crater [Marshal’s Refuge]

– Felwood [Emerald Sanctuary]

– Burning Steppes [Morgan’s Vigil]

– Instance: Temple of Atal’Hakkar

– Grind Area [50]: Deadwood Village (Felwood)

– Grind Area [51]: Ruins of Eldarath (Azshara)

– Grind Area [52]: Dreadmaul Rock (Firegut Ogres – Burning Steppes)

– Grind Area [52]: Legash Encampment, Thalassian Base Camp, Ursolan (Azshara)

– Grind Area [52]: Jaedenar (Felwood)

– Grind Area [52]: Sorrow Hill (Western Plaguelands)

– Grind Area [53]: Ironwood Trees in northern Felwood

– Grind Area [54]: Temple of Arkkoran (Azshara)

– Grind Area [55]: Jadefire Run, Felpaw Village (Felwood)



The quests in Blasted Lands all stack on top of each other. Five in total, one for each stat; they give 4700 experience per turn-in, along with always the chance of obtaining a Draenethyst Sphere for Kumi’sha the Collector with every mob you kill. Un’Goro Crater has the biggest collection of quests out of all of these zones.



Level 55-60:

– Winterspring [Everlook, Starfall Village]

– Western Plaguelands [Chillwind Point]

– Eastern Plaguelands [Light’s Hope Chapel]

– Instance: Blackrock Depths

– Instance: Blackrock Spire [60]

– Instance: Stratholme [60]

– Instance: Scholomance [60]

– Grind Area [55]: Felstone Field, Dalson’s Tears, The Writhing Haunt, Gahrron’s Withering (Western Plaguelands)

– Grind Area [56]: Northridge Lumber Camp (Western Plaguelands)

– Grind Area [56]: Corin’s Crossing (Eastern Plaguelands)

– Grind Area [56]: The Pillar of Ash (Burning Steppes)

– Grind Area [56]: Winterfall Village (Winterspring)

– Grind Area [57]: Blackrock Stronghold (Burning Steppes) [NOTE]

– Grind Area [57]: Ice Thistle Hills (Wintespring) – Rugged Leathers



Notes: Blackrock Stronghold is probably the best place to grind for a rogue; however, you do have to get used to how the roamers work. You’ll probably die a few times along the way while learning them. Also, this might likely be another area where they’re increasing the armor on the mobs, but two of the four kinds of orcs that spawn are casters, anyway. Ice Thistle Hills is not the best place to grind for experience, but it’s probably one of the better places to get a nice quiet grind going and also leave with a few backpacks full of Rugged Leather.



Okay — So this isn’t really a "complete" grind area list, because honestly, you only have to sit down and grind at one or two places for a few levels before you can move onto the next tier of zones, and that’s typically what I did. Just sit down and grind at one place, don’t move around everywhere and you’ll be out of there in a few hours or days. I’ve tried my best to list the best quest areas and zones as well for those that would rather try to quest and not grind their way through the game, too, but that’s also somewhat incomplete, especially at later stages since I don’t have much knowledge of the various new quests they implemented in Winterspring and the Plaguelands.



Anyway, hope it helps to answer some of the "where can I go at level X?" questions.



The promised Horde section. Implemented from various posts in this thread by Horde players that have contributed. Some of these spots were also taken from Ratama of Nurfed.



14-16: Pirates south of Ratchet (Barrens)

16-19: Various wildlife, especially cats, in Barrens. Note that if you’re using a dagger crit build, then exp for this is insane.

19-22: Bramblescar (Barrens) on lizards and quillboars. Unless you’re doing leatherworking, just leave the lizards alone.

22-24: Tarren Mill (Hillsbrad) on bears and spiders. Dagger crit chain heaven.

24-26: Across the road from Tarren Mill on tougher bears and cats. Dagger crit chain heaven.

26-28: Spiders/Bears in back of Syndicate tower (Hillsbrad)

28-30: Cats and Spiders around Nethander Stead (Hillsbrad)

30-32: Harpies inside cave (Thousand Needles)



NE of Brackenwall (2 min run there)- Raptor den

36-37 raptors there – lots of them



40-42 Skeletons in Desolace. They’re about the only squishies I could find to grind on. It’s part of an Alliance quest, so the usual PvP warnings apply.



42-45 Jungle Stalkers in SV. The loot drop isn’t nearly as good as the Lashtails, but they’re as squishy as ever. Also, they don’t seem to have the knockdown attack that the lashtails do. Virtually no one kills these guys on my server, and they’re easily chainable.

This is a listing per instance giving the approximate level, and details the quests that you can complete in the instance, as well as any prerequisites for those quests. Some of these quests are for items that are needed to complete the instance, so are important.

The Atlas addon, which is included in Cosmos, is very useful for instances. It gives a map image of the instance, with markers for the various named mobs. The levels given below are the level range of mobs in the instance, quoted from the Atlas addon and from the WoW official instances page. The level ranges given on the meeting stones are for groups, and are a little higher.

• Ragefire Chasm 13-15
• The Deadmines 15-20
• Wailing Caverns 15-21
• Shadowfang Keep 18-25
• Blackfathom Deeps 20-27
• The Stockades 23-26
• Gnomeregan 24-33
• Razorfen Kraul 25-31
• Scarlet Monastery 30-40
• Razorfen Downs 35-40
• Uldaman 35-45
• Maraudon 40-49
• Zul’Farrak 43-47
• Sunken Temple 44-50
• Dire Maul 47-56
• Blackrock Depths 48-56
• Blackrock Spire 53-60
• Stratholme 55-60
• Scholomance 56-60
• Onyxia’s Lair 60+
• Molten Core 60+

There’s a site with a few instance guides here (infoceptor). Only covers low level instances, emphasis on Horde. There’s another set of guides at Basin Wiki. Probably the best collection of instance guides is at wowwiki.