Welcome, adventurers! Are you ready to embark on a journey from level 1 to 85 in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria Classic? Whether you're a seasoned player or a newcomer, Harldan's guide will help you level quickly and efficiently. Designed for solo play and applicable to all races and classes, this guide avoids relying on experience modifiers or monk-specific buffs.
Dungeon Spamming vs. Questing
Many of you might be curious about how dungeon spamming compares to questing. In this version of WoW, dungeon spamming is generally more effective than in retail, but this is only true for specific level ranges.
It's generally advisable to avoid spamming dungeons unless there are specific ones that align with this leveling strategy. However, completing each dungeon at least once is often worthwhile to finish the in-dungeon quests, which typically yield a significant amount of experience. There are exceptions to this rule, such as Wailing Caverns, Blackrock Spire, and any of the Caverns of Time dungeons. These tend to take too long to complete at their respective levels, making the extra experience from the dungeon quests less justifiable. The guide highlights sections where dungeon spamming is faster than questing, but remember that single dungeon completions for quests are generally beneficial as you follow this route.
It's crucial that you never queue specifically for any dungeon, as the random dungeon bonus experience is a key factor in making dungeons efficient. Additionally, while questing in the Cataclysm revamp zones, you might encounter rare mobs, which grant experience similar to a quest when defeated. While the chances of finding a rare one are low, knowing their locations can be helpful. For reference, here is a link to an old website that details rare mob spawn locations in every Cataclysm revamp zone.
When following this route, you may notice your quests turn green frequently, especially if you have multiple Heirlooms equipped. Don't panic—this doesn't reduce the experience gained. It simply indicates that the quest is intended for lower-level players. It's usually best to complete efficient green quests that require minimal travel time rather than spending hours in a zone meant for your specific level range.
Upon reaching levels 20, 40, 60, and 70, you can train higher riding skills, necessary for using mounts. At level 20, you can learn basic 60% speed ground mounts. At level 40, your ground mounts will move at 100% speed. At level 60, you can train for 150% speed flying mounts and fly in the old world and Cataclysm zones. Finally, at level 70, you can learn artisan riding, increasing your flying mounts' speed to 280%. You'll also need to learn cold weather flying at level 68 to fly in the Northrend continent. Keep in mind that this training will cost a significant amount of gold, especially artisan riding, which requires 5,000 gold in MoP Classic.
If you're new, you'll need to purchase an actual mount for your first character, but remember that all mounts are account-wide unlocks and can be reused for any additional characters you level. It's advisable to return to Stormwind or Orgrimmar to train these skills as soon as they become available, although this may not be feasible if you're low on gold. If you can't afford artisan riding, dungeon spamming becomes a more appealing leveling method from levels 70 to 80.
Darkmoon Faire XP Buff
Mists of Pandaria introduced the Darkmoon Faire XP buff. The Faire is available every two weeks in Classic, and you can check if it's active by looking at your in-game calendar. If it's active, speak with a Darkmoon Faire Mystic Mage in one of your faction's major cities to be teleported directly to the Faire. Once on Darkmoon Island, locate the carousel and purchase a ride ticket from the nearby panda named Kae Ti to receive a 10% experience buff. This buff can stack for up to 1 hour and, although it expires upon death, you can refresh it as many times as you like.
Monk Leveling Tips
Here are some general leveling tips for monks. Upon reaching level 20, you'll learn an ability called Zen Pilgrimage, which teleports you to The Peak of Serenity. Here, you can pick up quests that grant a 50% experience buff for 1 hour. This buff stacks, so completing two quests back-to-back gives you a 50% buff lasting for 2 hours. You unlock a new training quest every 10 levels, and you can also complete a daily quest for an additional hour of this buff.
Many players choose to level their Monks over a longer period by stacking the Enlightenment buff before leveling. The Peak of Serenity also provides portals to Orgrimmar and Stormwind, giving Monks great flexibility for traveling the world. You can use Zen Pilgrimage right after hitting level 20 to complete your enlightenment quests, then teleport back to your major city to learn riding, and use Zen Pilgrimage Return to return to your previous questing zone.
Additionally, speaking with Master Chang allows you to purchase powerful food buff items for agility or intellect. Despite being cheap, these food buffs remain effective until you reach level 80, at which point they are only marginally weaker than high-end Cataclysm food. It's recommended to buy a good supply of this food on your first visit to the Peak of Serenity, as it will save you time during the leveling process.
Levels 1-10
Leveling from 1 to 10 is straightforward. You'll want to quest in the starting zone of your chosen race. Travel time at this level is significant, and leveling from 1 to 10 is very quick, so it's not worth switching continents for slightly faster zones.
For Alliance players, the best starting zone is undoubtedly Elwynn Forest, while for Horde players, Tirisfal Glades is marginally faster, although the difference is much smaller compared to Elwynn. If you're playing as a Panda, Goblin, or Worgen, you must complete your entire starting zone before following the rest of this guide. Typically, you'll exit the starting zone between levels 11 and 14, depending on how many heirlooms you have, which can make the transition to levels 10 to 20 a bit awkward since most recommended quests will already be green.
As previously mentioned, this isn't a major issue, and the recommended zones will still provide the fastest leveling. For other races, abandon your starting zone immediately upon reaching level 10 and begin following the 10 to 35 portion of this guide.
Horde 10-35
For Horde players, start your questing journey in Silverpine Forest. This area is easily accessible for Undead players, but most other races will need to take a zeppelin. The zeppelin to the Undercity can be found in the center of Orgrimmar, while Blood Elf players will need to go to Silvermoon City and take the Orb of Translocation to reach the Undercity.
From there, all races can follow the road south to Forsaken High Command, the beginning of the Silverpine quest line. If you pick up and complete every quest you encounter, you'll follow a fairly linear path through the zone. Although Silverpine may initially feel slow due to several unskippable cutscenes early on, it compensates with a high quest density and minimal travel time during the last two-thirds of the quest line. This makes up for the slower beginning.
Midway through your questing experience, you'll be sent to Gilneas. Don't worry; this is just an extension of the Silverpine quest line. In the first area, you'll encounter Korok the Colossus, a giant ettin, whom you should defeat to receive a hidden quest. Continue along the quest line in Gilneas until you return to Silverpine. Towards the end of the zone, you'll reach the quest "Sowing Discord," which requires you to kill a camp full of elite dwarves. This can be challenging to solo, as their auto-attacks hit hard. If you struggle, consider dragging the mobs to Lord Godfrey and letting him and the other NPCs help you defeat them.
After completing this quest, kill a nearby crocodile to start the hidden quest "From the Belly of the Beast." Generally, Silverpine Forest is lengthy, and with heirlooms, you might reach level 20 before finishing the entire quest line. Stick around for about 1 to 2 levels until you hit level 22, then move on to Hillsbrad Foothills, one of the most efficient zones in the game.
Start the quest line in Hillsbrad by picking up "Welcome to the Machine" near Southpoint Gate. Hillsbrad is fairly linear, so as long as you pick up and complete every quest, you'll finish the entire zone. However, there are two quests that are recommended to avoid: "Stagwiches," which has a low drop rate for its quest item, and a small chain in the east starting with "A Haunting in Hillsbrad," which has low quest density.
Make sure to complete the other two nearby quests, "Extinction" and "The Durnhold Challenge." Some quests in Hillsbrad, such as "Yetimus the Yeti Lord" or "The Durnhold Challenge," require you to fight elite mobs that are tough to solo. While it's possible, especially with a full set of heirlooms, I suggest asking for help in general chat if needed. When fighting Yetimus, drag him into a nearby cave to avoid his knockback mechanic, although the fight will still be challenging due to his damage output.
As a Horde player, you might find yourself staying in Hillsbrad until level 30, beyond the recommended 20 to 25 range, especially since Arathi Highlands is inefficient and time-consuming to travel to. Stonetalon Mountains is a great questing zone from 25 to 30, but the travel time from Orgrimmar makes it less appealing. That said, if you want to spice up your leveling process, Stonetalon Mountains is one of the most enjoyable Cataclysm revamp zones.
From levels 30 to 35, Horde players face a similar challenge, as there are few good questing options. Dungeon spamming is the obvious solution, but it is advisable to choose the Hinterlands, which is close to Hillsbrad and has a high density of worthwhile quests around Revantusk Village. However, after finishing everything in Revantusk, you may not have enough quests to reach level 35 without running a few dungeons. Once you hit level 34, you can enter Western Plaguelands, the next zone in the route.
Alliance 10-35
For Alliance players, you have a choice at level 10: quest in Loch Modan (levels 10-20) or Westfall (levels 10-15) before moving to Redridge Mountains (levels 15-20). This decision can be tricky since Duskwood (levels 20-25) is the next zone, and it makes sense to go from Redridge directly into Duskwood due to their proximity.
However, Westfall isn't an ideal zone; it has some decent quests but is generally underwhelming in the Cataclysm revamp. There's no right or wrong choice here; it's mostly personal preference. Generally, I feel that gnomes and dwarves would prefer Loch Modan due to their starting location, while other races may find it more convenient to travel to Stormwind first, complete quests in Westfall, and then head to Redridge.
If you start as a night elf or draenei, take the southern dock in Rut'theran Village to get to Stormwind Harbor. Gnomes or dwarves can use the Deeprun Tram to reach Stormwind, which drops off in the Dwarven District. If you choose to do quests in Loch Modan, begin in the Valley of Kings, where you'll find good areas to fight troggs in Stonesplinter Valley, and you'll eventually be directed to Thelsamar, the main hub in Loch Modan. There are many quests available in the surrounding area and on the dry lake bed. Eventually, you'll be directed north to Algaz Station and complete quests in Silver Stream Mine. After a long series of quests, you will be directed over to the other side of the zone at Ironband's Excavation Site. The quest line will lead you to Farstrider Lodge and ultimately bring you back to the dry lake bed. There, you'll face off against some Twilight Cultists and clear out ogres in Mo'grosh Stronghold.
Keep an eye out for six interactable objects called Stolen Explorers' League Document, as they provide quests when interacted with. Some are in your questing path, but many are off the beaten track, so look up their locations to ensure you don't miss any. Each object gives a full quest worth of experience for minimal effort.
If you opt not to quest in Loch Modan, first head to Elwynn Forest and finish any remaining quests near level 10, such as those around Eastvale Logging Camp or the "Wanted: Hogger" at Westbrook Garrison. Once you reach Westfall, start with the quest line in The Jansen Stead and work your way down to Sentinel Hill.
As mentioned earlier, aim to leave the zone quickly, as the quests here are unsatisfactory. If you really want to, you could do quests in Loch Modan from 10 to 15 and then move to Redridge from 15 to 20, but the travel time often isn't worth it at such a low level. It's usually better to reach level 14 by doing whatever you can in Westfall and then head to Redridge one level early.
In Redridge, start the quest line in the southwest at Three Corners, completing quests that involve running around and killing wildlife. You'll eventually be directed to Lakeshire, the main hub for Redridge. Complete quests leading you north into Redridge Canyons and eventually to Alther's Mill, Render's Camp, then back down to Lakeshire and across Lake Everstill to Camp Everstill.
While the quests discussed so far are efficient, some quests become less so, particularly "Prisoners of War," which sends you east into Render's Valley. These quests are heavily roleplay oriented and take a long time to complete, so it's recommended to skip them. If you reach level 19, abandon Redridge and move to Duskwood. If you're still level 18 or below, either run dungeons or finish quests until you hit level 19.
As mentioned earlier, all roads lead to Duskwood. Although players questing in Loch Modan could move to Wetlands, it has considerable travel time for such a low-level zone, so it's not recommended. It's worth hopping on a flight point and traveling to Duskwood because this zone is fantastic. Duskwood has high quest density, making it efficient despite the travel time between various questing hubs.
After completing quests in and around Darkshire, head west to the Vul'Gol Ogre Mound, finish all quests there, then travel to Raven Hill and complete the remaining quests in the zone. If you have heirlooms, you'll likely reach level 25 well before finishing, which is fine. It is advisable to stay in Duskwood until around level 27 or 28.
The next stop for Alliance players is Northern Stranglethorn Vale, which you can reach by taking the southern road from Duskwood to Rebel Camp, the first major hub in this zone. Northern Stranglethorn has two main quest sections: some quests direct you east to Kurzen's Compound, while others send you to Nesingwary's Expedition for various wildlife-killing quests.
As you progress, you'll circle back to Kurzen's Compound to complete quests and return to the camp for more follow-ups. This process repeats several times, as you collect new quests from Nesingwary's Expedition and the Rebel Camp, circling the area and defeating enemies. Eventually, you'll be directed south to Fort Livingston, where you can pick up additional quests that will lead you into the Mosh'Ogg Ogre Mound. Once you reach level 30, you enter the most complicated part of the Alliance questing path, as the zones from 30 to 35 are not great.
You have a few options here. Dungeon spamming is a common method for leveling from 30 to 35, regardless of faction. If you prefer not to do that, you can stay in Northern Stranglethorn as long as possible, as there are usually enough quests to get you to level 32. At that point, head down to the Cape of Stranglethorn and pick up initial quests at the Explorers' League Digsite, which will direct you north into the Crystalvein Mine and eventually west toward the Nek'mani Wellspring.
Although you may not like questing in the Cape of Stranglethorn, it's the best option for the Alliance. You'll eventually need to travel to Booty Bay when you hit level 34. Here, you can speak with an NPC named War-Mage Erallier, who offers the quest "The Battle for Andorhal" and opens a portal to the Western Plaguelands, the next zone in the route.
Levels 35-49
Both factions will find themselves in the Western Plaguelands from levels 35 to 40, as it's the best questing zone in this range. Alliance players will begin directly in Andorhal after receiving their teleport. Complete quests in this area before heading south to finish all quests in that section of the zone.
Horde players may choose to start in Andorhal, but it's generally easier to travel to the Bulwark in the eastern part of Tirisfal Glades. The quests here mirror what Alliance players do down in Chillwind Camp. Eventually, you will be directed to fly over to Andorhal to complete quests. If you have heirlooms, you should reach level 39 at this point, which is a good time to head to Eastern Plaguelands for a better questing experience.
Both factions will eventually need to reach the neutral town of Menders' Stead, directing you north toward Hearthglen and east toward Gahrron's Withering. If you insist on doing quests in this area until level 39, that's fine, as the initial quests in this hub are efficient. However, the longer you stay, the more inefficient the quests become due to slow-paced roleplay.
You'll be questing in Eastern Plaguelands from levels 39 to 45. If you have heirlooms, you might even stay here until level 48 or 49. This zone is one of the best questing hubs from the Cataclysm revamp. Start in the western part of the zone at Fiona's Caravan and complete quests in the surrounding areas, hopping on the caravan for a roleplay ride down to Crown Guard Tower.
After finishing quests in this area, the caravan will take you to Light's Shield Tower, where you'll receive quests directing you south into Corin's Crossing and Lake Mereldar. Once completed, you can walk north to Eastwall Tower for additional quests or head to Light's Hope Chapel to continue the initial quest line.
At this point, Eastern Plaguelands branches out a bit, with quest lines directing you to the Noxious Glades before sending you west into Plaguelands. The chains in Eastwall Tower will direct you north towards Zul' Mashar, and there is another separate quest line in Tyr's Hand, which is the best quest line in the zone. It is advisable to complete every single quest in Eastern Plaguelands, even if it takes you well beyond the recommended level of 45.
The issue with heirlooms is that it's hard to predict where you'll end up after finishing all the quests. Some players might transition smoothly into the next portion of the route, while others may find themselves stuck around level 47 and needing additional experience before continuing. Unfortunately, every Cataclysm revamp zone from level 45 onward is subpar, so dungeon spamming is often the best option.
If you prefer questing, your first option is to head to Badlands, which picks up at level 45, directly where Eastern Plaguelands left off. You'll find a quest at Light's Hope Chapel that sends you on a roleplay flight down to the first major hub in Badlands, but this zone has a lot of travel and is heavy on roleplay.
The following zones, such as Searing Gorge from levels 47 to 51, are also not the best for efficient leveling. You might need to make your way to the Swamp of Sorrows from levels 52 to 54, which has semi-efficient quests in Stonard or Marshtide Watch, depending on your faction. However, the travel time to reach these zones often outweighs their benefits.
Another option is to head to Kalimdor and quest in Felwood. While it takes time for both factions to reach this zone, the quests are generally good. You'll start at the Emerald Sanctuary and work your way north to Whisperwind Grove. Eventually, you'll be directed through Timbermaw Hold into Winterspring, which is a level 50-55 zone.
Levels 49-58
Winterspring has efficient quests, but the travel time can be significant. However, it's one of the best zones from 50 to 55, though dungeon spamming remains the superior option. At level 49, you have a chance to encounter Blackrock Depths' Detention Block in the random dungeon finder, which is where dungeon spamming becomes incredibly efficient.
This dungeon is quick and easy to complete, allowing you to farm random dungeon completion bonuses. Plus, it benefits from a weird quirk in the random dungeon finder.
For instance, if you're level 49 and find yourself in this dungeon with a level 57 player, the only dungeon that both of you can queue for together is the Detention Block. If you can persuade them to queue with you again, you're guaranteed a continuous stream of runs through the Detention Block until your new companion reaches level 58. With a bit of luck, it's entirely feasible to level from 49 to 58 solely by spamming this dungeon. The experience gained during this process is astonishingly high. Even if you encounter some bad luck, you can still expect to find the Detention Block once every two or three runs.
Given that questing is particularly inefficient from levels 45 to 58, dungeon spamming becomes the clear choice for leveling during this period. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Once you hit level 58, the Blackrock Depths spam trick will no longer work, as you will exceed the level range of the Detention Block.
Now, you'll need to move on to Outland to continue questing. To reach those zones, return to your main city—Orgrimmar or Stormwind—and take the portal to the Blasted Lands, found in the Cleft of Shadow for Horde or the Stormwind Mage Tower for Alliance.
Levels 58-68
Once you arrive, simply run through the Dark Portal to enter Hellfire Peninsula. The early levels of The Burning Crusade (TBC) can feel a bit unusual, as you won't immediately unlock Hellfire Ramparts. Even after you do, it's the only dungeon available at that point. While Ramparts is decent, it's not necessarily the best option for spamming compared to traditional questing in Hellfire Peninsula. Therefore, I generally recommend focusing on questing instead.
Upon crossing through the Dark Portal, you'll receive a quest directing you to your faction's nearby flight master, sending you to either Thrallmar or Honor Hold. While the quests in this zone differ slightly between factions, their progression is quite similar. Both factions will complete quests around their starting area before eventually being sent west—Horde players to Falcon Watch and Alliance players to the Temple of Telhamat. Additionally, there are some excellent quests available to both factions near the Ruins of Shannar. Overall, it is recommended to stay in Hellfire Peninsula from levels 58 to 61, as the quests here provide ample experience before transitioning to Zangarmarsh.
Start questing in the Cenarion Refuge, one of the best hubs in Outland. There are many quests here that overlap around the eastern section of the zone. You should complete all these quests before moving on to Telredor for Alliance and Zabra'jin for Horde. If you enter Zangarmarsh at level 61 and have heirlooms, you'll usually reach level 63 or 64 by the time you finish everything in the east. At this point, consider moving on to Nagrand.
However, if you're still at level 62 or have just reached 63, it's often beneficial to stay in Zangarmarsh a bit longer to complete quests. This is also a great time to start spamming dungeons, as by level 63, you'll have access to many of the excellent TBC dungeons, giving you a solid selection to choose from.
In Nagrand, pick up all the quests in the northeast, as many can be done simultaneously while completing other objectives. Alliance players will head south to Telarr, while Horde players will go west to Garadar. The specific quests differ slightly between factions, but they generally send you to similar locations across the zone.
There's no single correct way to quest in Nagrand; look for a bunch of stack quest objectives that you can complete while waiting for dungeon queues. One important quest set is the Ring of Blood, located north by the Laughing Skull Ruins. This chain requires you to defeat elite mobs and is usually best done in a group, so don't hesitate to ask in general chat for assistance.
Once you hit level 67, head to Netherstorm, where quests within Area 52 are dense and easy to complete. Don't linger too long; continue queuing for dungeons as you quest in Netherstorm, since you'll unlock Sethekk Halls and Magister's Terrace at levels 67 and 68, respectively—both great dungeons for leveling.
Levels 68-80
Stick around in Netherstorm until you finish all quests in Area 52 and reach at least level 68, then move on to Northrend. Northrend has two optional starting zones: Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord, both ranging from 68 to 72. However, Borean Tundra is more recommended for its higher efficiency.
To reach Borean Tundra, Horde players should take the zeppelin from Orgrimmar, while Alliance players can take the northernmost boat from Stormwind Harbor. Currently, you can also speak directly with the zeppelin or harbor masters in Orgrimmar and Stormwind to be teleported to your starting hub in Borean Tundra, a mechanic Blizzard added during the launch of Wrath of the Lich King Classic.
Just like in Outland, both factions will have similar paths in Borean Tundra, despite some differences in initial quests. Horde players start in Warsong Hold and move to Garrosh's Landing, while Alliance players begin in Valiance Keep and head to Riplash Strand. Both factions should eventually go to Amber Ledge and complete all quests in that subzone before moving to Coldarra and finishing every quest there except for the final one, "Drake Hunt."
Afterward, head to the D.E.H.T.A. camp in this section of the zone and complete all quests available. Spamming dungeons during this range is not recommended. While the Borean Tundra is highly efficient, Utgard Keep and The Nexus are not ideal for spamming. As mentioned before, you should complete most dungeons at least once for the quests, but this does not apply to Utgard Keep and The Nexus at your current level. For some reason, these dungeons remain available throughout the entire Northrend leveling process. Therefore, you will likely queue into them again once you reach a higher level. If you run The Nexus and Utgard Keep now, you will almost certainly encounter them as duplicates later, which will reduce your overall efficiency.
Suppose you have no heirlooms and haven't reached level 72 after completing all recommended quests. In that case, you can continue questing in Borean by heading north to the Fizzcrank Airstrip for Alliance or east to Taunka'le Village for Horde.
Next, make your way to Dragonblight, where you will quest until level 75. Horde players start at Westwind Refugee Camp, while Alliance players begin at Stars' Rest. For Horde, you'll eventually be directed to Agmar's Hammer, the main hub in the zone, where you can pick up the remaining quests in Western Dragonblight. Complete every quest you encounter here, as both factions have similar quests with great overlapping opportunities.
Once you finish quests in Western Dragonblight, head to Wyrmrest Temple and complete the chains directing you to various dragonshrines. At this point, you should be at least level 73 and can start queuing for dungeons. Azjol-Nerub and Drak'Tharon Keep are now available and relatively easy to complete.
Along with sufficient dungeon runs, this is likely the only questing you'll need to complete in Dragonblight before moving on to Zul'Drak. However, if you lack enough experience, Horde players can head to Venomspite to complete quests in that area, while Alliance players should go to Winterguard Keep to finish quests beneath Naxxramas. Lastly, there are some quests available to both factions in the Crystal Vice, but it is advisable to tackle these only as a last resort if you need to reach level 75.
You should continue queuing for dungeons as you quest for the remainder of Northrend, especially in Zul'Drak. Start by completing all quests in Lights' Breach, then head north to the Argent Stand and complete quests in the center ring of Zul'Drak. Once you reach level 77 or 78, head over to the Amphitheater of Anguish, Northrend's version of the Ring of Blood. Many players will be looking to group up for this quest, so don't hesitate to ask for help.
After finishing the Amphitheater of Anguish, if you need a place to quest, consider going to Icecrown and starting the quest line in Argent Vanguard. While completing quests in this zone involves heavy roleplay, it can help you reach level 80.
After completing the Argent Vanguard, you'll need to make your way to your faction's gunship: Orgrim's Hammer for the Horde or Skybreaker for the Alliance. Alternatively, you could travel to the Storm Peaks and complete a few quests at Grom'arsh Crash Site for the Horde or Frosthold for the Alliance, but neither choice is particularly effective. As mentioned earlier, you need to focus on dungeon spamming for the remainder of the levels in Northrend.
Levels 80-85
Once you reach level 80, you'll need to quest through Cataclysm. From levels 80 to 82, you can choose between Mount Hyjal or Vashj'ir. Mount Hyjal is significantly faster, as Vashj'ir features lengthy roleplay sections. To access Hyjal, pick up the quest from your faction's mission board and take the portal to Moonglade within Orgrimmar or Stormwind.
After a short wait for a green dragon to fly you to Hyjal Summit, begin the quest line. All quests in early Hyjal are worth completing and are generally straightforward. You might want to stop questing in Hyjal after reaching level 81 to complete a few dungeons in order to reach level 82, as the later stages of Hyjal can be a little slow.
From levels 80 to 81, the only available dungeons are Blackrock Caverns and Throne of Tides. These are both relatively fast and efficient dungeons. But, in order to pick up Throne of Tides quests, you must complete the entire chain in Vashj'ir, which is highly impractical. That means running dungeons from level 80 to level 81 is a bad idea. However, once you reach level 81, you can access both Stonecore and Vortex Pinnacle, which are fast dungeons with multiple quests.
While spamming dungeons at this stage is not a good idea, it's worth completing Blackrock Caverns, Vortex Pinnacle, and Stonecore at least once. You won't unlock additional dungeon options in the random dungeon finder until level 84, so you have plenty of time to complete these instances as you level up.
Upon reaching level 82, all roads will lead to Deepholm. To access this zone, return to Stormwind or Orgrimmar and complete a short roleplay quest line that takes you into the Maelstrom. This leveling stage is straightforward—complete every quest you encounter in Deepholm. You'll also receive a bonus dungeon quest for The Stonecore after finishing the zone. So, if you haven't already completed the dungeon by this point, it may be a good idea to stop and do so before you head to the next zone, Uldum.
Uldum unlocks at level 83, but unlike previous Cataclysm zones, you won't receive free teleports. You'll need to fly down there yourself. If your Hearthstone is set to Dalaran, you can use it and take the nearby Caverns of Time portal to quickly reach Tanaris.
The quest line for Uldum starts just outside the zone in the southwestern corner of Tanaris. After interacting with a camel and watching a short cutscene, you'll be teleported to the center of the zone. Complete a few introductory quests before being teleported to Ramkahen, the primary quest hub for the first half of Uldum.
At this point, the zone will open up, and multiple sets of quests will become available. Each one will direct you to a separate subzone with additional quests. While you'll need to complete all these eventually, the order is up to you. The quests in Uldum are relatively linear and will guide you across most of the zone, helping you reach at least level 84.
Uldum has one unrelated quest line, starting with Harrison Jones at Khartut's Tomb in the northeast. This chain is filled with lengthy roleplay homages to Indiana Jones movies. Since this chain is disconnected from the main Ramkahen quests and takes a long time to finish, it's advisable to skip it while leveling up.
For the final stretch from level 84 to 85, the game expects you to quest in Twilight Highlands. However, this zone is inefficient and should ideally be skipped. Entering the Highlands requires completing a lengthy quest line in either Stormwind or Orgrimmar. Alliance players must complete various quests in the city, culminating in diffusing a bomb beneath the cathedral.
After this, you'll board a plane in Stormwind Harbor that teleports you to the Highlands. Horde players will complete a few quests in Orgrimmar before flying to Bilgewater Harbor in Azshara. After a few additional quests, you can board a zeppelin to Twilight Highlands. However, the Horde zeppelin is not an instant teleport, and you'll need to wait for it to arrive. Once it departs, you'll still need to endure a few minutes of additional roleplay as the Horde air fleet approaches the Twilight Highlands. Due to these delays and the generally inefficient quests in the zone, you may want to consider alternative methods for reaching level 85. Running additional dungeons is a great idea at level 84 since you'll gain three new options in the random dungeon finder: Grim Batol, Halls of Origination, and Lost City of the Tol'vir. While these dungeons are slightly slower, they're worth completing at least once for their quests.
Overall, dungeon spamming is likely to be faster than questing in Twilight Highlands, which is notably slow. However, there is an efficient set of quests in the Crucible of Carnage, Cataclysm's version of the Ring of Blood. These enemies are tough to solo, so it's generally best to form a group of five.
Final Thoughts
Leveling from 1 to 85 in Mists of Pandaria Classic can be a rewarding experience when done efficiently. By following this guide's optimized routes and tips, you'll save time while enjoying the game's revamped zones and engaging quest lines.
Good luck on your journey—whether you're slaying Yetimus in Hillsbrad or conquering dungeons in Blackrock Depths! If you found this guide helpful, share it with your friends and subscribe to Harldan's channel for more tips! Happy leveling!
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