Shadowlands Leveling Guide: What You Need to Know
Players of The World of Warcraft: Shadowlands were surprised to see its narrow range of just 60 levels. The logic of climbing from 1 to 50 has also been overhauled. Now, you can choose what content to play through, and reaching the ultimate destination is quicker!
New neutral characters start at 1. Meanwhile, allied races begin with 10. You cannot create the latter unless you have reached the maximum level previously by completing a special questline. Like before, you can opt for Shadowlands boost to accelerate progress, saving time and effort.
The Beginning
Level 1 begins on the Exile’s Reach island. If you also have a leveled-up character, its default leveling area is also possible. Exile’s Reach is preferable, as it condenses 10 levels into one 1-2 hours of play.
Afterward, you are offered quests for the Battle for Azeroth expansion. These lead to the Kul Tiras and Zandalar islands — modern quest lines where the average player reaches 50-60 with little difficulty. Chromie, the gnome-dragon, allows swapping to any previous expansion. Each expansion can take you to 50.
1. Which Expansion to Pick
In any zone, you will start at 10 with basic ground-mount riding abilities. At 20, your riding improves. At 30, you can fly. Initially, progress is slow, but you can choose Warlords of Draenor or Legion to level up faster. On average, you will need at least 12 hours to cope with most expansions without the speed run. Speedrunners may get to 50 in as little as 4 hours.
If you are not focused on quick leveling, meander in Wrath of the Lich King, which has great lore. Mists of Pandaria is another slow-paced option. In comparison, The Burning Crusade and Cataclysm are hectic, with lots of running and chaotic storylines.
2. Dungeons vs. Quests
Every dungeon gives 2-3 levels. You can limit your activity to them, but be careful. First, without a tank or healing abilities, your character will need a partner, as the queues for damaged players can be long. Secondly, shorter queues in some expansions limit leveling to the chosen dungeons. Only some of them may offer quests for enhancement.
Players benefit from jumping around the expansions with dungeon quests. This strategy maximizes the experience, and it is recommended for those who are playing on their own. Generally, you should steer clear of the Warlords of Draenor, Legion, and Battle for Azeroth.
3. Familiar Leveling Items And Heirlooms May Disappoint You
Heirlooms do not provide any upgraded leveling experience anymore — just combat and quality of life bonuses. Some objects (e.g., Draught of Ten Lands) are only good for secondary characters in their original expansion.
Should You Level with Friends?
The Party Sync feature is a great way to maximize leveling. It allows you to synchronize quests and run dungeons with other players. Remember to un-sync before inviting a new character. This mode can be buggy, but it is also fun!