Breakfast Topic: Netherstorm vs. Shadowmoon Valley
by Eliah Hecht 
Apr 6th 2007 at 8:00AM
Outland has a fairly linear zone progression. From Hellfire Peninsula, you move on to Zangarmarsh, then Terokkar, Nagrand, and Blade's Edge. After that, though, you have a choice of two zones: Netherstorm or Shadowmoon Valley. They're both of approximately equal level, and on both the characters that I've taken through Outland, I've only needed one of the two zones to get to level 70. I've picked Netherstorm both times, and was 70 before I was done with it. That leaves the Shadowmoon quests available for lovely gold rewards.
Having quested around in both, I have to say I vastly prefer Netherstorm. Shadowmoon Valley just feels icky to me. The mobs are constantly killing me, and the zone just doesn't seem to "flow" like it should. Also, I love the way ethereals look, and Netherstorm is full of them. However, I know people who feel precisely the opposite way, generally preferring Shadowmoon and avoiding Netherstorm. What do you think? Do you have a preference between the two zones, or do you like them equally?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Features, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Deebs Apr 6th 2007 8:12AM
I agree. Netherstorm is alot better for a lvl 68-70 character to grind out rep and quest. But there are a few key area's in Shadowmoon that are vital to the progression as well. It's the starting location to get your Shattered Halls key, the Netherwing faction, Scryer and Aldor quests, and it just looks and sounds cool.
Many of the mobs are bugged in Shadowmoon however, especially with pet classes (Warlock, Hunter, maybe Mage) where the mob's respawn after you burn 'em to around 30%. I spoke with a GM about it and he said "We're working to resolve the issue..."
I think Netherstorm WAS intended to be next after Blades Edge, assuming it's the next closest zone, and it has fairly lower lvl mobs compared to Shadowmoon.
Either way, you're eventually going to visit both.
Amanna Apr 6th 2007 8:52AM
From a gear perspective, I prefer Shadowmoon Valley. I'm a feral druid, and while there is good gear for me in both zones, I've found the majority of the gear I'm looking for is in SV vs. Netherstorm.
Mats Apr 6th 2007 8:24AM
I prefer to hit 70 in Blade's Edge. So I get both Netherstorm and Silvermoon for the great XP to Gold system.
Tigraine Apr 6th 2007 8:28AM
I avoid Blade's edge as hell and go from nagrand directly to either Netherstorm or Shadowmoon.
When I hit 70 I eventually go back to Blade's edge to do the quests for gold.
Till this way payed off for my both lvl 70 chars. Although I must admit that Netherstorm was slightly better to level than Shadowmoon. But on my second char I decided I wanted to do 70 in Shadowmoon for a change.
In Fact, I am already 70 for some time on my Warrior and haven't got a single FLightpath in either Blade's Edge or netherstorm
cynthias Apr 6th 2007 9:10AM
My druid dinged 70 on the first mob I hit in Shadowmoon Valley. But being a resto tree, I find the area a bit challenging; I've got some decent feral gear and I'm not that bad at killing things, it just takes a bit too long sometimes.
That said, I must admit that I bypassed about 2/3 of the quests in Nagrand (too many people trying to kill too many antelopes, giant yaks and birds) and 2/3 of the quests in Blade's Edge (one death in the upper northwest and facing a corpse run from the absolute farthest GY--what's wrong with the GY at the more northern village, WTF? and I was outta there). I ended up running instances to get to almost 70, ran into SMV, killed a doomguardish thingy and dinged. The wicked repop rate in Shadowmoon and Blade's Edge is a killer for anyone specc'd more for healing than DPS. Haven't really seen much of Netherstorm at all, so I have that to look forward to.
immo Apr 6th 2007 9:29AM
I went the same way, Netherstorm for 70 and Shadowmoon for gold afterwards. Im not sure but I think that Netherstorm is easier than Shadowmoon with the mobs. But I don't really know why so much people hate Blades Edge Mountains, I really like that area. Ok it's not too big or let me say it is mostly the same everywhere with Ogres and stuff. But still I liked that spikes everywhere with the Dragons and the quests were pretty easy and fast.
But other than that, I were the first 70 of my faction (well I just quested alot) so I never had problems with other players doing the same quests or killing me.
Mike Schramm Apr 6th 2007 9:32AM
I like Netherstorm more, because the Consortium is awesome. But I like the graphic on this post, too.
NewDark Apr 6th 2007 9:52AM
Oh yea, Netherstorm was way more interesting than Shadowmoon by far. Not to mention all the hilarious references that arise there.... Area 52? Negatron? Sholey Pore? And some consortium rep is handy for a hunter that wants that consortium gun or a rogue that wants the epic dagger. Barely even touched shadowmoon, just enough to do a few quests to know I dont like it alot -_-, havent even did the gorefiend quests becuase teir 2 hunter gear looks saddening at best
Mark Apr 6th 2007 6:26PM
Shadowmoon, def. Netherstorm is alright and might be more interesting, but the cluster of easy quests, good rewards, fun chains, and mobs makes shadowmoon faster to ding in I think..
Masema Apr 6th 2007 10:21AM
Seeing as though I play with a core group of about 10-15 players I chose SV to level from 68-70. A lot of the quests in SV require groups so I would have other people help me with those and now I can solo most of the BEM, NS quests for gold.
Faisca Apr 6th 2007 10:20AM
I was rested the entire time I leveled to 70 (casual gaming ftw). I hit 70 in Nagrand last night, and I still have Blades Edge, Netherstorm, and Shadowmoon Valley to go. Can you say, "cha ching"?
Heymish Apr 6th 2007 10:18AM
Netherstorm FTW! After I got my flying mount, I loved the zone. I did a flyover in Shadow moon and wasn't impressed. Plus the zone's story is more interesting with Kael'thas Sunstrider ominously looming over the zone in Tempast Keep, which is also the best of the new instances. Plus it's all purple!
RaydenUni Apr 6th 2007 10:27AM
I just wish there was an alternative to Hellfire. That place sucks.
Flit Apr 6th 2007 10:39AM
"I just wish there was an alternative to Hellfire. That place sucks."
I loved it. The quests were fast paced, good drop rates, and a good introduction to outlands (running through the dp for the first time, and seeing that battle right by the entrance was pretty damn cool.)
Brad Apr 6th 2007 10:50AM
Your picture confuses me to no end. It's Nethermoon Valley!!
eMarkM Apr 6th 2007 11:28AM
I love the look of Netherstorm with the purple colors and all the floating islands. And for purposes of leveling, it's much easier to do in Netherstorm. While you can't fly over the zone and have to take some long routes over the bridges, the actual questing is easier pre-flying mount.
In SMV, some of the quests are considerably more difficult without a flying mount. Anything around Black Temple means fighting through dozens of mobs to get to your objective. The one at Eclipse Point, where you have to kill a couple of elites, is tedious to say the least if you can't just fly up there. Dozens of mobs, many linked together with wandering elites with short respawn times. Not worth it pre-70. Level in Netherstorm, end game in SMV.
Baluki Apr 6th 2007 11:38AM
I don't recommend that anyone do Shadowmoon until they're 70. There are a few quests that REQUIRE a flying mount (like the one where you've gotta talk to the flying dragon...which is really buggy) but there aren't any like that in Netherstorm.
One of the Gorefiend quests takes you to the floating island in the southeast. When I did it, I was grouped with a couple 68's, and we had to port them TO the island, then I had to rez them a couple times when they died trying to get to the top of the mountain, then we had to port them back OFF the island.
So please, hit 70 before you go to Shadowmoon.
Julemand Apr 6th 2007 1:27PM
i have played 4 chars to lvl70 and only on 1 of them did i visit Shadowmoon valley before i had to buy my flying mount, i preffere netherstorm anytime :) i seem unable to empty the zone for quest even if i tryes :)
Sylythn Apr 6th 2007 12:33PM
You must have skipped quite a bit of content to need those to hit 70. I managed to hit 70 about 6 quests into Nagrand. Off to Blade's Edge next. :)
Dragontamer Apr 6th 2007 12:33PM
They key consideration for me was the quest rewards. As a feral druid, most of the key rewards were in Shadowmoon, so that's where I leveled.
As an aside, understanding where the valuable quest rewards are is probably a good topic for an article.