Best leveling zones in WoW Forever by level

Blizzard doesn't name the best leveling zones. So our ranking shows which zones offer the most quest XP in each level range, separately for Horde and Alliance. It's calculated from our own game data, based on the beta. More quest XP doesn't automatically mean faster leveling: travel, group quests and how close the quests are to each other aren't counted here. For the order to follow from your starting zone, the leveling route by race is the better place to start.

Level 1–10 · Level 11–20 · Level 21–30 · Level 31–40 · Level 41–50 · Level 51–60

Level 1–10

Alliance

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Elwynn Forest	27,975	65	430	1,795
2	Teldrassil	19,425	41	474	975
3	Dun Morogh	16,430	37	444	–
4	Zephras Isle	13,930	30	464	775
5	Westfall	3,750	8	469	–
6	Darkshore	2,530	4	632	–
7	Loch Modan	1,890	4	472	–
8	Stormwind City	345	3	115	–
9	Darnassus	295	2	148	–
10	Ironforge	45	1	45	–

Horde

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Durotar	19,755	38	520	–
2	Mulgore	18,420	38	485	–
3	Tirisfal Glades	18,410	39	472	–
4	Zephras Isle	14,080	32	440	775
5	The Barrens	3,950	10	395	–
6	Silverpine Forest	1,890	4	472	–
7	Thunder Bluff	1,715	3	572	–
8	Elwynn Forest	970	3	323	–
9	Undercity	525	1	525	–

How we calculate this

We count every quest with an XP value that you can do on your own. Dungeon, raid, PvP and event quests don't count.
Elite quests are listed in a separate column and don't count toward the ranking.
The level range follows the quest's level. XP values apply at the quest's level; if you're higher, you get less.
Quests without a set faction count for both Horde and Alliance.
New zones above level 30, like Riverglades, are barely covered by our quest data because the beta was capped at level 30. That's why they rank lower than they deserve. According to Blizzard, Riverglades has more than 150 quests for levels mid-30s to mid-40s.

Level 11–20

Alliance

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Darkshore	58,130	60	969	3,100
2	Loch Modan	30,130	33	913	5,475
3	Westfall	29,735	35	850	1,700
4	The Barrens	17,090	15	1,139	–
5	Redridge Mountains	16,740	21	797	–
6	Stormwind City	9,090	10	909	–
7	Zephras Isle	8,645	13	665	–
8	Ashenvale	7,820	7	1,117	–
9	Teldrassil	6,690	9	743	1,150
10	Dun Morogh	5,800	5	1,160	900

Horde

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	The Barrens	71,640	64	1,119	3,900
2	Silverpine Forest	29,060	35	830	4,050
3	Stonetalon Mountains	10,445	10	1,044	1,550
4	Durotar	9,395	13	723	900
5	Tirisfal Glades	7,195	11	654	900
6	Westfall	7,025	7	1,004	–
7	Zephras Isle	6,895	11	627	–
8	Thunder Bluff	6,695	7	956	–
9	Orgrimmar	5,830	8	729	–
10	Mulgore	4,805	6	801	1,150

Level 21–30

Alliance

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Ashenvale	64,480	37	1,743	2,750
2	Duskwood	62,495	57	1,096	3,650
3	Wetlands	55,205	37	1,492	5,500
4	Stonetalon Mountains	39,430	25	1,577	–
5	Redridge Mountains	21,850	12	1,821	14,100
6	Stormwind City	18,215	20	911	–
7	Darkshore	12,675	7	1,811	–
8	Thousand Needles	8,600	4	2,150	–
9	Hillsbrad Foothills	6,250	3	2,083	–
10	Ironforge	4,850	3	1,617	–

Horde

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	The Barrens	47,445	26	1,825	9,350
2	Ashenvale	41,200	18	2,289	10,750
3	Thousand Needles	35,500	21	1,690	10,850
4	Hillsbrad Foothills	34,730	17	2,043	6,700
5	Stonetalon Mountains	30,125	18	1,674	6,700
6	Thunder Bluff	15,250	8	1,906	–
7	Mulgore	9,200	4	2,300	–
8	Ruins of Lordaeron	4,950	3	1,650	–
9	Wetlands	3,550	2	1,775	3,050
10	Silverpine Forest	3,000	2	1,500	3,800

Level 31–40

Alliance

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Desolace	106,450	44	2,419	–
2	Stranglethorn Vale	91,090	47	1,938	12,300
3	Badlands	41,725	18	2,318	3,550
4	Arathi Highlands	40,780	16	2,549	24,250
5	Dustwallow Marsh	34,395	20	1,720	–
6	Stormwind City	31,950	23	1,389	8,250
7	Thousand Needles	31,130	19	1,638	4,800
8	Hillsbrad Foothills	26,620	12	2,218	–
9	Alterac Mountains	26,525	13	2,040	4,700
10	Swamp of Sorrows	23,175	10	2,318	–

Horde

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Desolace	89,420	40	2,236	3,900
2	Stranglethorn Vale	73,660	36	2,046	8,850
3	Arathi Highlands	55,750	26	2,144	19,200
4	Dustwallow Marsh	45,630	21	2,173	–
5	Thousand Needles	44,230	24	1,843	3,450
6	Hillsbrad Foothills	36,350	13	2,796	2,250
7	Badlands	27,625	11	2,511	3,550
8	Swamp of Sorrows	24,800	10	2,480	–
9	Orgrimmar	12,920	6	2,153	–
10	Undercity	6,400	3	2,133	3,300

Level 41–50

Alliance

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Feralas	120,970	43	2,813	4,400
2	Tanaris	106,970	31	3,451	4,700
3	Searing Gorge	76,570	21	3,646	14,850
4	Stranglethorn Vale	73,550	25	2,942	41,500
5	The Hinterlands	38,990	13	2,999	8,000
6	Blasted Lands	23,500	5	4,700	–
7	Westfall	23,300	5	4,660	–
8	Badlands	21,200	6	3,533	20,050
9	Shen'dralas	15,800	5	3,160	–
10	Thousand Needles	15,510	10	1,551	–

Horde

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Tanaris	113,720	33	3,446	4,700
2	Feralas	113,115	32	3,535	10,600
3	Stranglethorn Vale	100,540	33	3,047	38,350
4	The Hinterlands	70,700	17	4,159	25,000
5	Searing Gorge	61,400	17	3,612	9,400
6	Blasted Lands	25,170	7	3,596	–
7	Swamp of Sorrows	24,100	7	3,443	4,450
8	Badlands	17,750	5	3,550	9,650
9	Thunder Bluff	15,930	7	2,276	5,170
10	Shen'dralas	15,800	5	3,160	–

Level 51–60

Alliance

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Tanaris	213,050	36	5,918	9,900
2	Felwood	193,050	69	2,798	13,400
3	Silithus	187,350	42	4,461	116,000
4	Eastern Plaguelands	184,775	39	4,738	63,250
5	Western Plaguelands	178,000	49	3,633	92,900
6	Un'Goro Crater	170,675	38	4,491	7,300
7	Winterspring	127,050	31	4,098	21,300
8	Alterac Valley	81,100	10	8,110	–
9	Ironforge	71,600	22	3,255	–
10	Azshara	68,200	13	5,246	13,950

Horde

#	Zone	Quest XP	Quests	XP per quest	Elite XP
1	Tanaris	213,050	36	5,918	9,900
2	Eastern Plaguelands	193,975	41	4,731	86,950
3	Silithus	187,350	42	4,461	116,000
4	Felwood	171,125	63	2,716	13,400
5	Un'Goro Crater	165,475	37	4,472	7,300
6	Western Plaguelands	161,100	45	3,580	93,750
7	Orgrimmar	118,025	27	4,371	–
8	Azshara	98,700	22	4,486	13,950
9	Winterspring	96,375	25	3,855	41,600
10	Alterac Valley	96,000	12	8,000	–

FAQ

Where should I level at 20?

According to our game data (beta), the most quest XP for levels 11–20 is in Darkshore for the Alliance and in The Barrens for the Horde. From level 21, Ashenvale leads for the Alliance and The Barrens for the Horde. Blizzard doesn't name the best zones itself.

What are the best leveling zones in WoW Forever?

Blizzard doesn't name any. Our ranking shows the zones with the most quest XP from our game data for each level range and faction. For the order to follow from your starting zone, see the leveling route by race.

Why does Riverglades rank so low?

Our quest data barely covers the new zone because the beta was capped at level 30. According to Blizzard, Riverglades has more than 150 quests for Horde and Alliance, for levels mid-30s to mid-40s.

Does more quest XP mean faster leveling?

Not necessarily. Travel between quest givers, group quests and how close the quests are to each other aren't counted in our ranking. It shows where there's a lot of quest XP, not how fast you'll earn it.

As of Oct 25, 2026

Leveling Leveling route by race

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