TBC Anniversary Leveling Guide 1–70: Alliance and Horde Routes

Quick summary

• This guide gives a full route: an Alliance 1–58 route and a Horde 1–58 route with quest hubs and level ranges, then a 58–70 Outland route for both factions.
• Anniversary levels faster than the 2007 original. Levels 20–60 need about 15% less experience, quests give more from level 30 (dungeon quests more again), most elite quest mobs are non-elite, and the 60% mount comes at 30.
• Every Outland dungeon is in one table with its level range, unlock, and the quests to grab first. One run with quests beats several runs without.
• Being carried by a much higher-level player gets heavily penalized. Grey mobs cut group experience by about 90%, and anti-boost mechanics trigger in longer fights.
• Blizzard's Level 58 Character Boost skips Azeroth, and it now works on Draenei and Blood Elves too.

Know what changed for leveling on Anniversary

Anniversary isn't a straight copy of 2007 TBC. These are the changes that matter for a leveling plan:

Change	What it means for your route
About 15% less experience needed from 20–60	You leave each Azeroth zone earlier. Skip weak side quests.
More quest experience from level 30, and more again for dungeon quests	Dungeon quests are worth a detour. Collect them before you queue.
Most elite quest mobs made non-elite	Old group quests in zones like Stranglethorn and Hinterlands are soloable.
60% mount at level 30 (Apprentice Riding)	The 30–40 stretch is much faster. Save gold for it from your 20s.
Journeyman Riding (100% ground) at 60	It's a big spend, so most levelers wait until Outland gold comes in.
Level cap 70, Outland open from 58	The Dark Portal is in the Blasted Lands.
Draenei and Blood Elves playable	Two new starting zones: Azuremyst and Bloodmyst for Alliance, Eversong and Ghostlands for Horde.
Paladins for Horde, Shamans for Alliance	More class options for both factions.
Dual spec, meeting stones, instant mail between your characters	Switch between questing and dungeon specs, and fund alts.
Anti-boost changes	Being carried by a level 70 is mostly dead as a method.

Choose your leveling method

There are four ways to level. Most fast levelers mix the first three.

Method	Experience per hour	Gear and gold	Needs	Best for
Solo questing	Steady. The highest from 30 on, thanks to the Anniversary quest bonus	Quest rewards, steady gold, Outland reputation	Nothing. Add-ons that show quest objectives save time	Everyone, and PvE-realm solo players especially
Dungeon runs with quests	Spiky. Excellent with a clean group and quests in hand, poor with a bad group	Blue gear that lasts several levels	A group, travel to the entrance	Tanks and healers (fast groups), duos and trios
Grinding mobs	Fine for short gaps, but it never beats a dense quest hub	Cloth, leather, and greens for gold	A dense camp at your level	Bridging the last part of a level, Hunters and Warlocks
Power leveling (a higher player carries you)	Weak on Anniversary: grey mobs cut experience by about 90%	Very little	A friend, plus combat participation	Mostly not worth it now. See the anti-boost section.

Solo vs group: which is faster?

Questing solo is the most reliable from 1 to 70. It has no wait time, the Anniversary quest experience bonus applies, and the reputation you earn in Outland (Honor Hold or Thrallmar, Cenarion Expedition, Lower City, Sha'tar) is reputation you need anyway for Heroic keys.

Group leveling wins in two cases:

1. A dungeon at the right level with all its quests. Hellfire Ramparts, Blood Furnace, Slave Pens, Underbog, Mana-Tombs, and Auchenai Crypts all give large quest turn-ins, from about 12,000 to 22,600 experience per quest according to Warcraft Tavern's quest list, on top of the kills.
2. You're a tank or healer. Groups form around you in minutes, so you rarely wait longer than travel time.

Group leveling loses when you wait a long time to form a group, when you repeat a dungeon you've already done the quests for, or when the group includes someone who makes mobs grey.

Example: you're a level 61 Warrior in Hellfire Peninsula with "Weaken the Ramparts" in your log. Group for Ramparts once, turn in, and go back to questing until Blood Furnace has a group. Don't run Ramparts a third time for loot unless you're farming a specific item.

Follow the Alliance 1–58 route

Pick the branch for your race until level 20. The routes merge after that. Hub names are where you set your hearthstone and pick up most quests.

Alliance starting branches (1–20)

Race	1–10	10–20	Dungeon on the way
Human	Elwynn Forest (Northshire, Goldshire)	Westfall (Sentinel Hill), then Loch Modan (Thelsamar)	The Deadmines around 18–23 (the Westfall "Defias Brotherhood" chain ends there)
Dwarf, Gnome	Dun Morogh (Coldridge Valley, Kharanos)	Loch Modan (Thelsamar), then Westfall	Deadmines, or Gnomeregan later (29–38)
Night Elf	Teldrassil (Shadowglen, Dolanaar)	Darkshore (Auberdine)	Blackfathom Deeps later (24–32)
Draenei	Azuremyst Isle (Ammen Vale, Azure Watch)	Bloodmyst Isle (Blood Watch)	Take the Exodar boat to Auberdine and join at Darkshore or Westfall

Alliance 20–58

Levels	Zone	Hubs	Notes
18–25	Redridge Mountains	Lakeshire	Short loops. Pairs well with early Duskwood.
20–30	Wetlands or Duskwood	Menethil Harbor / Darkshire	Wetlands if you came from Loch Modan, Duskwood if you came from Westfall. The Stockade (22–30) is in Stormwind.
20–30	Ashenvale (optional)	Astranaar	Good for Night Elves and Draenei. Blackfathom Deeps entrance.
25–30	Hillsbrad Foothills	Southshore	Contested and busy on PvP realms.
30	Train Apprentice Riding	Your racial mount vendor	Plan the gold for the mount and skill.
30–35	Arathi Highlands, then Thousand Needles	Refuge Pointe / Mirage Raceway	Scarlet Monastery wings (28–45) fit in this window if a group forms.
30–40	Desolace	Nijel's Point	Optional. Skip it if Stranglethorn is quiet.
32–45	Stranglethorn Vale	Rebel Camp, Nesingwary's Expedition, Booty Bay	The biggest quest pool in the range. Do it in two visits (low 30s, then high 30s to early 40s).
35–45	Dustwallow Marsh, then Badlands or Swamp of Sorrows	Theramore Isle (no Alliance town in Badlands or Swamp of Sorrows)	Uldaman (42–52) is in Badlands.
40–50	Feralas, Tanaris, The Hinterlands	Feathermoon Stronghold / Gadgetzan / Aerie Peak	Zul'Farrak (44–54) from Tanaris.
45–50	Searing Gorge, Blasted Lands	Thorium Point / Nethergarde Keep	Blackrock Depths (52–60) opens from the mountain.
48–55	Un'Goro Crater, Felwood, Azshara	Marshal's Refuge / Talonbranch Glade	Un'Goro has the densest quests in this range.
50–58	Burning Steppes, Western Plaguelands	Morgan's Vigil / Chillwind Camp	Lower Blackrock Spire (55–60) if a group forms.
53–58	Eastern Plaguelands or Winterspring	Light's Hope Chapel / Everlook	Leave as soon as you reach 58.

Follow the Horde 1–58 route

Horde starting branches (1–20)

Race	1–10	10–20	Dungeon on the way
Orc, Troll	Durotar (Valley of Trials, Razor Hill)	The Barrens (Crossroads)	Ragefire Chasm (13–18) in Orgrimmar, Wailing Caverns (15–25)
Tauren	Mulgore (Camp Narache, Bloodhoof Village)	The Barrens (Crossroads)	Wailing Caverns ("Leaders of the Fang" from Thunder Bluff)
Undead	Tirisfal Glades (Deathknell, Brill)	Silverpine Forest (The Sepulcher), then The Barrens	Shadowfang Keep (22–30)
Blood Elf	Eversong Woods (Sunstrider Isle, Falconwing Square)	Ghostlands (Tranquillien)	Use the Orb of Translocation in Silvermoon to reach Undercity, then Silverpine or Hillsbrad

Horde 20–58

Levels	Zone	Hubs	Notes
20–27	Stonetalon Mountains	Sun Rock Retreat	Finish the Barrens' 20s quests in the same trip.
20–30	Ashenvale	Splintertree Post, Zoram'gar Outpost	Blackfathom Deeps (24–32).
25–30	Hillsbrad Foothills	Tarren Mill	Heavy world PvP on PvP realms.
30	Train Apprentice Riding	Your racial mount vendor
30–35	Thousand Needles, Arathi Highlands	Freewind Post / Hammerfall	Razorfen Kraul (30–40) and Scarlet Monastery (28–45).
30–40	Desolace	Shadowprey Village	Optional filler.
32–45	Stranglethorn Vale	Grom'gol Base Camp, Nesingwary's Expedition, Booty Bay	Two visits, like Alliance.
35–45	Dustwallow Marsh, Badlands, Swamp of Sorrows	Brackenwall Village / Kargath / Stonard	Razorfen Downs (40–50) and Uldaman (42–52).
40–50	Feralas, Tanaris, The Hinterlands	Camp Mojache / Gadgetzan / Revantusk Village	Zul'Farrak (44–54). Maraudon (46–55) is in Desolace.
45–50	Searing Gorge, Azshara	Thorium Point / Valormok	Blackrock Depths (52–60) from the mountain.
48–55	Un'Goro Crater, Felwood	Marshal's Refuge / Bloodvenom Post	Sunken Temple (50–60) is in Swamp of Sorrows.
50–58	Burning Steppes, Western Plaguelands	Flame Crest / The Bulwark	Lower Blackrock Spire (55–60).
53–58	Eastern Plaguelands or Winterspring	Light's Hope Chapel / Everlook	Leave for the Dark Portal at 58.

Example: a Blood Elf Hunter finishes Ghostlands at about 20, takes the Orb to Undercity, and does Silverpine's last quests and then Hillsbrad (Tarren Mill). From there they take the zeppelin to Kalimdor for Stonetalon and Ashenvale, and pick up the main route at 30 with a mount.

Use the Azeroth dungeons when they fit

Dungeon	Level range (Wowhead)	Location	Faction note
Ragefire Chasm	13–18	Orgrimmar	Horde
Wailing Caverns	15–25	The Barrens	Mostly Horde quests
The Deadmines	18–23	Westfall	Alliance
Shadowfang Keep	22–30	Silverpine Forest	Mostly Horde quests
The Stockade	22–30	Stormwind	Alliance
Blackfathom Deeps	24–32	Ashenvale	Both
Gnomeregan	29–38	Dun Morogh	Mostly Alliance quests
Razorfen Kraul	30–40	The Barrens	Mostly Horde quests
Scarlet Monastery (Graveyard, Library, Armory, Cathedral)	28–38, 29–39, 32–42, 35–45	Tirisfal Glades	Both
Razorfen Downs	40–50	The Barrens	Both
Uldaman	42–52	Badlands	Both
Zul'Farrak	44–54	Tanaris	Both
Maraudon	46–55	Desolace	Both
Temple of Atal'Hakkar (Sunken Temple)	50–60	Swamp of Sorrows	Both
Blackrock Depths	52–60	Blackrock Mountain	Both
Lower Blackrock Spire	55–60	Blackrock Mountain	Both

Warcraft Tavern makes a fair point: some faction-light dungeons, like Razorfen Kraul for Alliance or Gnomeregan for Horde, aren't worth running for their quests. Prioritize the dungeons that have quests waiting in your current hub.

Prepare for the Dark Portal at 58

Before you go through the Portal in the Blasted Lands:

• Level: 58 minimum. Hellfire's first quests are level 58–59, and Hellfire Ramparts and Blood Furnace both take players from 58.
• Quest log: empty it. Abandon old Azeroth quests, because Outland quests replace their rewards within a few levels.
• Bags: 14–16 slot bags if you can. Outland quests hand out a lot of vendor items.
• Professions: keep gathering up to date. Outland herbs and ore need high skill, and selling them is the easiest gold for flying (see the TBC Anniversary gold farming guide).
• Weapon: upgrade it as soon as a quest offers one. Weapons are the one slot Outland greens don't replace at once if you arrive with old raid gear.

Level 58–70 in Outland, step by step

The order below is the same for both factions. Only the hubs differ. Zone ranges come from Warcraft Wiki.

Levels	Zone	Alliance hubs	Horde hubs	Neutral hubs and key chains
58–62	Hellfire Peninsula	Honor Hold, Temple of Telhamat	Thrallmar, Falcon Watch	Cenarion Post. Do the six Honor Hold or Thrallmar starter quests to unlock "Weaken the Ramparts."
60–64	Zangarmarsh	Telredor, Orebor Harborage	Zabra'jin, Swamprat Post	Cenarion Refuge, Sporeggar. Grab "Lost in Action" from Watcher Jhang at the Coilfang entrance.
62–65	Terokkar Forest	Allerian Stronghold	Stonebreaker Hold	Shattrath City (pick Aldor or Scryers), Cenarion Thicket, Auchindoun quests outside the Ring of Observance.
64–67	Nagrand	Telaar	Garadar	Nesingwary Safari, Throne of the Elements, Halaa (PvP), Ring of Blood (group chain).
65–68	Blade's Edge Mountains	Sylvanaar, Toshley's Station	Thunderlord Stronghold, Mok'Nathal Village	Evergrove, Ogri'la (level 70 daily content later).
67–70	Netherstorm	Area 52 (neutral)	Area 52 (neutral)	The Stormspire, Cosmowrench. Tempest Keep dungeons.
67–70	Shadowmoon Valley	Wildhammer Stronghold	Shadowmoon Village	Altar of Sha'tar (Aldor) or Sanctum of the Stars (Scryers).

How to move through it fast:

1. Hellfire Peninsula (58–61/62). Do the main hub, then Temple of Telhamat or Falcon Watch. Run Ramparts once with "Weaken the Ramparts," then Blood Furnace with "Heart of Rage." Leave when the remaining quests are green.
2. Zangarmarsh (61–63). Cenarion Refuge first, then your faction hub, then Sporeggar. Do Slave Pens and Underbog with the Watcher Jhang and Sporeggar quests.
3. Terokkar Forest (63–65). Set your hearthstone in Shattrath, which also has portals to every capital. Grab the Auchindoun quests before Mana-Tombs and Auchenai Crypts.
4. Nagrand (64–67). It's the densest zone. Telaar or Garadar, then Nesingwary and the Throne of the Elements. Group for the Ring of Blood if you can.
5. Blade's Edge or Caverns of Time (66–68). If Blade's Edge feels slow, use 66–68 for Old Hillsbrad Foothills. Start "To The Master's Lair" from Andormu in the Caverns of Time.
6. Netherstorm and Shadowmoon (67–70). Most players do Netherstorm and keep Shadowmoon for after 70. Its quests also pay well toward flying.

Example: you hit 66 halfway through Nagrand. Finish Nagrand to 67, hearth to Shattrath, take the portal to the Caverns of Time, and pick up the Old Hillsbrad chain. Then come back for Netherstorm.

Run these Outland dungeons with their quests

Levels are Wowhead's recommended ranges. "Unlock" means a requirement beyond the minimum level. Quests are from Wowhead's TBC dungeon quest guide. Grab them before you zone in.

Dungeon	Level	Location	Unlock	Quests to grab first
Hellfire Ramparts	60–62	Hellfire Citadel	None	Weaken the Ramparts (Honor Hold: Lieutenant Chadwick; Thrallmar: Stone Guard Stok'ton), Dark Tidings (drops from Vazruden)
The Blood Furnace	61–63	Hellfire Citadel	None	Heart of Rage (needs Weaken the Ramparts), The Blood is Life (needs Dark Tidings)
The Slave Pens	62–64	Coilfang Reservoir, Zangarmarsh	None	Lost in Action (Watcher Jhang; split with Underbog)
The Underbog	63–65	Coilfang Reservoir	None	Lost in Action, Bring Me A Shrubbery!, Oh, It's On!, Stalk the Stalker (Sporeggar)
Mana-Tombs	64–66	Auchindoun, Terokkar	None	Safety Is Job One, Undercutting the Competition, Someone Else's Hard Work Pays Off (escort inside)
Auchenai Crypts	65–67	Auchindoun	None	Everything Will Be Alright (Greatfather Aldrimus)
Old Hillsbrad Foothills	66–68	Caverns of Time, Tanaris	Andormu's chain: To The Master's Lair, then The Caverns of Time	Old Hillsbrad, Taretha's Diversion, Escape from Durnholde, Return to Andormu
Sethekk Halls	67–69	Auchindoun	None	Brother Against Brother, Terokk's Legacy (Isfar)
The Steamvault	68–70	Coilfang Reservoir	None	The Warlord's Hideout (Watcher Jhang), Orders from Lady Vashj (drop)
Shadow Labyrinth	69–70	Auchindoun	None for Normal	Trouble at Auchindoun, The Codex of Blood, Into the Heart of the Labyrinth, The Soul Devices, The Lexicon Demonica
The Shattered Halls	69–70	Hellfire Citadel	Shattered Halls Key, or a Rogue	Turning the Tide or The Will of the Warchief, Pride of the Fel Horde, Tear of the Earthmother
The Black Morass	70	Caverns of Time	Complete Old Hillsbrad	The Black Morass, The Opening of the Dark Portal
The Mechanar	70	Tempest Keep, Netherstorm	None	How to Break Into the Arcatraz, Fresh from the Mechanar
The Botanica	70	Tempest Keep	None	How to Break Into the Arcatraz, Capturing the Keystone
The Arcatraz	70	Tempest Keep	Key to the Arcatraz (from the Mechanar and Botanica chain)	Harbinger of Doom, Seer Udalo

For leveling, the best value is in the first eight rows. Shadow Labyrinth, Shattered Halls, and the Tempest Keep dungeons are better at 70 for gear and reputation. Heroic versions need a key from the matching faction, and from the October 22 update that key needs only Honored. We list the Heroic route on the TBC Anniversary dungeons page.

Avoid the anti-boost experience penalty

This is the biggest leveling difference from 2007, and the main reason "get a 70 to run you" no longer works:

• Grey mobs cut group experience by about 90%. Players report that if a mob is grey to anyone in the group, everyone's experience from it drops by roughly 90%. Blizzard hasn't published the figure. It comes from player testing on r/classicwow. Warcraft Wiki's grey-level formula puts grey at 51 and below for a level 60. So a level 60 helping a friend needs mobs of level 52 or higher.
• Mobs adapt in long fights. Testers report that in leveling dungeons from about Scarlet Monastery up, mobs become immune to slows after about 30 seconds, then to roots and stuns after about 60 seconds, then speed up. That stops the old Mage AoE pull. Ragefire and Shadowfang reportedly don't have it.
• Participation rules. In April 2026 Blizzard hotfixed dungeons so players had to take part in combat to get experience. It reverted that change on April 15 because of loot bugs. Check current blue posts before planning a duo run. The rule could return.

What still works: groups of similar level, a level 70 friend running Outland dungeons where the mobs aren't grey to them (level 61 and up), and gold or materials from a main to fund your alt's bags, mount, and skills.

Use the Level 58 boost (or start from it)

Blizzard sells a Level 58 Character Boost (Anniversary) in the shop. It has been usable since the pre-patch, and Blizzard's Dark Portal Pack page confirms Blood Elf and Draenei characters can use it and check the shop page before you buy.

If you boost to 58:

1. Learn your class before Hellfire. You get a full spellbook at once. Set up your action bars and do a few kills outside the Dark Portal before you take on the Hellfire starter quests.
2. Check what you got. Look at your gear, bags, and riding skill against the shop description, and don't sell anything until you've read it. Train any spell ranks you're missing in Shattrath once you reach Terokkar.
3. Pick up professions. A boosted character starts with no professions. Gathering levels quickly in Hellfire.
4. Follow the Outland route above from step 1. The faction starter quests unlock "Weaken the Ramparts," so don't skip them.
5. Queue as DPS only once you're comfortable. If you boosted a tank or healer, run Ramparts with friends first.

A 58 boost doesn't give Azeroth reputation or old-world gold. Plan your riding gold from Outland quests.

Return to leveling as an alt or returning player

• Second character, same faction: mail bags, gold, and Outland greens from your main with instant mail. Set your hearthstone in Shattrath at 62–63 for portals.
• Returning after a break: Phase 3 removed previous raid attunements, and the October 22 update drops Heroic keys to Honored and removes the Hyjal and Black Temple attunements (see our Zul'Aman preparation guide). You can level an alt straight into current content without old quest chains.
• Dual spec: set one spec for questing and one for dungeon roles. Healers and tanks get dungeon groups much faster.

Use class-specific leveling tips

These are community consensus, not Blizzard data. Choose a class you'll enjoy at 70. Our TBC Anniversary class tier list covers endgame rankings.

Class	Usual leveling spec	Why
Hunter	Beast Mastery	The pet tanks and you kite. Very little downtime.
Warlock	Affliction or Demonology	Pet tanking, Life Tap, and Drain Life keep you going.
Mage	Frost	Safe kiting and free food and water. Note the anti-boost limits on AoE.
Priest	Shadow	Strong damage with self-healing once Shadowform is online.
Druid	Feral	Flexible, with fast travel forms.
Shaman	Enhancement	Good weapon scaling and Ghost Wolf.
Paladin	Retribution, or Protection for AoE	Very safe, slower to kill.
Rogue	Combat	Steady damage. Stealth skips fights.
Warrior	Arms, or tank in dungeons	Gear-dependent. Tanking gets you instant groups.

Cut combat, recovery, and travel time

• Combat: train new ranks at every even level and replace your weapon first.
• Recovery: keep First Aid current and drink while you walk to the next pull where your class allows. Avoid pulls you might lose. A corpse run costs more time than a careful pull.
• Travel: collect every flight path as you pass, stack quests in the same sub-zone before turning in, and set your hearthstone at the hub you'll come back to, not in a capital.

Prepare for level 70

At 70 several things open at once:

1. Flying. Train Expert Riding in Outland. It's the biggest gold target of leveling, so start saving at 64–65.
2. Heroic dungeons and reputation. Keep the reputations you leveled through. Heroic keys need only Honored from the October 22 update.
3. Raids. Zul'Aman opens October 22 with no attunement.

Want a hand with this?

If you would rather not grind this part yourself, TBC Anniversary powerleveling services are listed on FullBoosts. Read Blizzard's End User License Agreement before you buy any service from anyone, FullBoosts included — a marketplace listing isn't publisher permission.

Frequently asked questions

What level do you go to Outland in TBC Anniversary?

1. Hellfire Peninsula starts at 58, and Hellfire Ramparts and Blood Furnace take players from 58. There's little reason to stay in Azeroth longer.

What is the fastest way to level 1–70 in TBC Anniversary?

Quest through dense hubs in route order, and run each dungeon once at the right level with all its quests. Use grinding only to close small gaps. Being carried by a much higher-level player is heavily penalized on Anniversary.

What is the best Outland zone order?

Hellfire Peninsula, Zangarmarsh, Terokkar Forest, Nagrand, then Blade's Edge Mountains or the Caverns of Time, then Netherstorm. Shadowmoon Valley is usually saved for 70.

Can a level 70 boost me through dungeons on Anniversary?

Not efficiently. If a mob is grey to anyone in the group, players report about 90% less experience for everyone. A level 60 or 70 helper only works where mobs are still green or better to them.

Can I use the level 58 boost on a Blood Elf or Draenei?

Yes. Blizzard lifted the original restriction; the Dark Portal Pack page says both races can use the Anniversary 58 boost.

When do you get a mount in TBC Anniversary?

The 60% mount (Apprentice Riding) is at level 30. The 100% mount (Journeyman Riding) is at 60, and flying (Expert Riding) is at 70.

Is dungeon leveling better than questing in TBC Anniversary?

For tanks and healers with quick groups, often yes. For most DPS, questing with one run per dungeon is faster, because group wait times add up.

How long does it take to level to 70 in TBC Anniversary?

It depends heavily on your class, route, and experience. Blizzard doesn't publish a figure. The Anniversary changes make it noticeably faster than the original TBC.