WoW Forever Starting Zones

WoW Forever keeps every Classic race where it always started. Humans wake up in Northshire, Orcs and Trolls in the Valley of Trials, Undead in the crypt of Deathknell. What changed is everything around them: each starting zone gained 30 to 50 new quests, a free bag quest, junior gathering trainers and a camping introduction, and the new Skyborne race starts on its own island, Zephras Isle, for both factions. Six new race and class combinations also begin with a new class letter and, for three of them, a brand-new trainer.

This guide covers all seven starting zones: where each race starts, the first quest giver, the free bag, where the new combinations train, how Skyborne leave Zephras Isle, and which zone is the fastest start for leveling. Everything is checked against the October 15 beta build.

All Starting Zones in WoW Forever

Seven starting zones cover all ten race and faction starts. Each one carries you to about level 10 to 12, because Forever moved experience from dungeon monsters into quests:

The starting zone is fixed by race: you cannot pick another one at character creation. You can walk, ride a boat or take the tram to any other starting zone and quest there from level 1, for example a Troll who levels in Tirisfal Glades.

Free Bag Quest in Every Starting Zone

Every starting zone now gives a free 6-slot bag for a short quest around level 6. Five of them are new, only Durotar keeps the Classic one. Do it as soon as it appears: an early bag saves many trips to a vendor. All bags in the game are in our WoW Forever bag guide:

Alliance Starting Zones

Elwynn Forest: Human

Humans start in Northshire Valley with A Threat Within from Deputy Willem in front of the abbey. Goldshire is the first town, and from there the zone is full of new quests: a kobold chain in the mines, a murloc and fishing chain at Crystal Lake, new book quests that lead to the Book Bag, and two new named enemies, Croaky and Elmpaw, at levels 11 and 12. The new hubs around Ridgepoint Tower and Eastvale Logging Camp carry you to about level 12 before Westfall.

Elwynn is dense and flat, so you level fast, but it is always the most crowded zone on launch day. Watch out for the fast respawns in the kobold mines, the murloc camps by Crystal Lake and Hogger, a level 11 elite. Sam Sarsaparilla at his tent in Goldshire teaches the new camping mechanic, see our camping guide.

Dun Morogh: Dwarf and Gnome

Dwarves and Gnomes start in Coldridge Valley with Dwarven Outfitters from Sten Stoutarm. Kharanos is the first town. Forever adds a snow and ice chain at level 8, new quests at Gol'Bolar Quarry at level 10 and snow leopards and wendigos to hunt. The free bag, Canvas Latchbag, comes from Grund Drokda right at Anvilmar.

The runs between hubs are long, and with every Dwarf Shaman and Gnome Priest starting here, the first hubs will be packed at launch: group up for kill quests. At level 13 the new dungeon under Ironforge, Hall of Thanes, is a nice break from questing. Kill Dark Iron Spies in Gol'Bolar Quarry for the item that starts its quest chain, and pick up "A Visitor to Dun Morogh" in Kharanos.

Teldrassil: Night Elf

Night Elves start in Shadowglen with The Balance of Nature from Conservator Ilthalaine, then move to Dolanaar. New in Forever: a chain in the Ban'ethil Barrow at level 9, a rebuilt Crown of the Earth line and new named enemies at level 12. The bag quest is Soft Saber Pelts from Aldia.

Teldrassil is the slowest Alliance start: quests are spread out, the caves are long, and leaving takes a boat from Rut'theran Village. Do not go into the Ban'ethil Barrow alone. From Auberdine, boats now go to Stormwind Harbor and to Southshore as well as Menethil, so check which boat you board. Every route is on our WoW Forever travel routes map.

Horde Starting Zones

Durotar: Orc and Troll

Orcs and Trolls start in the Valley of Trials with Your Place in the World from Kaltunk. Razor Hill is the first town, and Trolls also have Sen'jin Village. New in Forever: Wayward Weapons at level 2, a Bloodtalon Matriarch chain at level 8 and a Thunder Ridge chain at levels 10 to 12. The bag quest is still the Classic Carry Your Weight.

The Valley of Trials is one of the fastest starts from 1 to 6. After that the hills cost time: the Burning Blade caves sit on raised ground, so find the ramp before you run in. Orcs and Trolls share every spawn, so expect competition.

Tirisfal Glades: Undead

Undead start in Deathknell with Rude Awakening from Undertaker Mordo, then move to Brill. Tirisfal has the most new content of any starting zone: the north-west corner, the Whispering Wood, is now open, with Bandarion Keep as the hub of the new Undead Paladins and Shadowvale next to it. The bag quest Sticks and Bones starts with Deathguard Bartholomew in Brill.

Questing is compact: you pick up three or four quests in Brill and finish them in one loop. Undercity is next door for professions and the bank, and the new Ruins of Lordaeron dungeon opens at level 15.

Mulgore: Tauren

Tauren start at Camp Narache with The Hunt Begins from Grull Hawkwind, then move to Bloodhoof Village. New in Forever: the Longwalkers chain at levels 8 and 9, Skywatcher Plateau north of Thunder Bluff, and Windshapers arriving from Zephras Isle. The bag quest Grace of An'she and Mu'sha is for Tauren only.

Mulgore has long runs across open plains, which makes it the slowest Horde start. Plainsrunning helps a lot: you gain 1% speed for every 5 seconds you keep moving, up to 30%, but it drops when you stop or take damage.

Skyborne Starting Zone: Zephras Isle

Skyborne of both factions start on Zephras Isle, levels 1 to 12. Both factions use the same map, but you only see your own side: Alliance Skyborne work for the High Order, Horde Skyborne for the Windshapers, and some quests differ. The first quest is Coming of Age from Ailee Farheart in Thendal Village. You need the Skyborne Heroic Pack to play the race, see our Skyborne guide.

• The isle is shaped like a U: Thendal Village in the north-west, Shen'dar Village in the middle, Valanaar with the auction house and bank in the south-east.
• The bag quest The Problem With Prideclaws comes from Indari Sunseam in Shen'dar Village.
• Wandering tornadoes give 40% movement speed for 5 minutes until you enter combat. Horde Skyborne also get a 15-minute speed buff from Skysight near an Elemental Convergence.
• Every profession has a trainer on the isle. Engineering is taught only by the Strange Hermit in Shadowgale Forest.
• The quests are clear and forgiving, but the story scenes and the long second half of the U are slow. A full clear takes you to 13 or 14.

How to Leave Zephras Isle

No quest is needed to leave, and you can go at any level. Two skyboats leave the docks in Valanaar about every 5 minutes, and both factions can ride either one:

• Alliance: the eastern dock flies to Dalaran in Alterac Mountains. A portal to Stormwind stands in the building in front of the landing. See our Dalaran guide.
• Horde: the western dock flies to the cliffs by Skywatcher Plateau in Mulgore. Glide down to Thunder Bluff with Walk on Air, and keep 50 copper for the flight to Orgrimmar.

Many beta players recommend doing only the first half of the isle to about level 10 and then taking the skyboat, since the second half is slow.

Where the New Race and Class Combinations Start

Each new combination starts in its race's usual zone and gets a class letter at level 1 that sends it to the right trainer:

Dwarf Shamans get their Earth totem at level 4 from Teo Hammerstorm, and the Fire totem quest at level 10 sends them into mobs up to level 14, so bring a group. Undead Paladins move their story to Bandarion Keep around level 10. How each class levels after that is in our Shaman, Paladin, Hunter, Mage and Warlock leveling guides.

Fastest Starting Zone for Leveling

Nobody has timed every zone yet, but beta players and leveling creators mostly agree:

• Horde: Tirisfal Glades is the fastest. Its quests are close together around Brill, and Undercity is next door. Durotar is close behind with the best levels 1 to 6. Mulgore is the slowest, even with Plainsrunning.
• Alliance: Elwynn Forest is the fastest, with dense quests and flat ground, if the launch crowd lets you. Dun Morogh has long runs, and Teldrassil is the slowest because of spread-out quests and boats.
• Zephras Isle is the smoothest start for new players, with speed buffs and clear quests, but it will be crowded at launch and the second half is slow.

On launch day the zone matters less than the crowd. Group up with other players on the same kill quest, skip quests whose mobs are camped, and come back later. If you want to skip the starting zones entirely, our WoW Forever leveling service takes your character to any level, and our best leveling class guide helps you pick what to play.

Starting Zone Tips

• Bind your hearthstone in the first town, so city trips end with a quick hearth back.
• Do the free bag quest first: a 6-slot bag at level 6 is worth more than any early quest reward.
• Take the free gathering book from the junior trainers even if you plan two crafting professions. Early herbs and ore pay for your spells.
• Eat cooked food: any Well Fed buff gives 5% more experience from kills.
• Log out in an inn. Outside an inn you build rested experience far more slowly.
• On Zephras Isle, bind Walk on Air to an easy key before you start.
• At Rut'theran Village and Auberdine, check where the boat goes before you board.

More WoW Forever Leveling Guides

Picking a race is the first step. Our WoW Forever race tier list compares the racials, and the new zones guide covers what waits after level 12. These guides go further:

WoW Forever Starting Zones FAQ

These are the questions players ask most often about the starting zones.