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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Where will you level your Death Knight?
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Jul 30th 2008 at 8:00AM
While Death Knights start at 55, by the time they get out of the Ebon Hold, which is the instanced newbie zone that delivers the epic story of how a Death Knight becomes a Death Knight, they should be level 57 with a few bubbles in. Level 57 is pretty cool, but it's far from the level 68 or so you'll need to get to Northrend, and it's not even the level 58 that most people consider the minimum for heading to Outland. So, what's a fresh Death Knight to do?
I'm taking my Beta Deathknight to Winterspring to start with. I figure that between Everlook, Starfall Village to the north, and Donova Snowden to the west, I should be able to get a good, solid mix of quests that'll allow me to hit 58 and decide if I'm ready for Outland -- Not to mention a Mechanical Yeti.
Of course, there's other options as well. Eastern Plaguelands offers the chance to use Rune of Lichbane and mess up a bunch of undead in the name of the Argent Dawn, plus you can have your 70 collect Savage Fronds, Bone Fragments, Cores of Elements, Dark Iron Scraps, and Crypt Fiend Parts for some quick experience as well.
With a good group, you could also hit up Scholomance and Stratholme for some revenge against the Scourge, maybe grabbing some Deathcharger's Reins or a Barov Peasant Caller along the way. Or you could trust in the power of the imba and try hitting Hellfire Peninsula straight up at 57.
Then again, this is Beta, so they could always just switch things up, add a few more levels gained in Ebon Hold, maybe. Still, it's likely we'll still have a while to go before we can hit all the new stuff, regardless. So if you're rolling a Death Knight, how are you planning to start the level grind?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Machinima, Breakfast Topics, Instances, Leveling, Alts, Death Knight, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
annerjb Jul 30th 2008 11:52AM
blizzard said they are removing most of argent dawn turn in like savage fond because naxxramas is not gonna be in place.
Lokpesa Jul 30th 2008 1:15PM
Maybe it's just me, but, I had no trouble at all getting to 58 in the DK newbie zone. I do admit if you had an easy time on a couple of the more grindy quests... damn you pokers!!! Then i guess i could see how you may not be close.
Anyway, I'd have to say.... Winterspring, it's gonna be cold anyway so why not prep my self for it?
Kyane Jul 30th 2008 12:10PM
After the most recent patch to the Beta, new DKs were hitting 58 at the end of the quest chain. So if more XP was added or more of the quest was finished I don't know, but DKs are going straight from Ebon Hold to Outlands now.
Zone99 Jul 30th 2008 12:28PM
Stranglethorn Vale....because every toon should have to suffer the pain....
Steve Jul 30th 2008 12:37PM
For me, its Felwood to get Timbermaw faction up to make through the tunnel, thats basically one quest. Then do the quest lines for Donava Snowden, so I can get that trinket(Strength of the High Chief) that will probably last me till I'm near 70.
vlad Jul 30th 2008 12:54PM
leveled 4 60's to 70
the ones i was impatient with and rushed into outland at 58 did not have mount money.
the ones i waited for 60 both had lots of money for mounts.
also at 58 dazed dazed dazed dazed dazed dazed dazed just pisses me off.
vlad Jul 30th 2008 12:54PM
also, my dk will be opposite faction on a new server for the hell of it.
Andy Jul 30th 2008 12:57PM
Something that will help the Death Knights is the change to the leveling and xp curve for levels 60-70. Given that, I GUESTIMATE, the DKs could start in Hellfire AT 58 and ding 68 before finishing 2 or 3 zones in Outland.
My intent is to, create the Knight on the first day, park him for the rest xp. Then i am going to try to ding 62 in Azeroth. Then attempt to reach 72-73 in Outland. Then hit Northrend. The only snag that one would really run into, by this method, is the risk of out leveling quests. If you play your cards right, this risk is minimal.
Alch Jul 30th 2008 1:28PM
I did the DK chain last night and was only one bubble away from 58 when I was done. Not sure if they raised the xp or what.
Zakk Jul 30th 2008 3:41PM
I'm just hoping that when they complete Ebon Hold, it'll get me to 58. If it doesn't, your Winterspring idea sounds good. I love snowy areas (a big reason why I'm so excited for Wrath), so that should work out just fine =)
JDM Jul 30th 2008 4:44PM
I personally think that those of you who are only hitting 57 before leaving the DK start zone are rushing a bit. It's rather easy to hit 58 before leaving...
As for leveling afterward - I usually stay in Azeroth until at least level 63 before going to Outlands, and hit 70 at the very end of Zangar.
I imagine it would be quite possible to get to 75 before going to Northrend currently. If they buff the XP gains in Outland like has been rumored, perhaps you'll be high enough level to get CW Flight or possibly as far as level 80 (but I doubt it).
So, my plan is to hit 70 by the end of Zangar, like all of my other 70's, and then I'll have to decide what to do. I will probably stay in Outlands for a few more levels past that, all depends on how long I can stand the temptation to get to Northrend lol. If I can fight it off, I'd like to save Northrend until 75.
Kanzaki Jul 30th 2008 5:25PM
Wow how did you hit 70 at the end of Zangar? Was there a lot of rest xp or a lot of instancing? I am just curious cause going to Outlands at 60 with 3 characters I hit 63 in Hellfire and 66 right after doing all of Terokkar Forrest. I just don't see where the xp is coming from so just curious if you don't mind divulging your secrets.
JDM Jul 30th 2008 10:31PM
@Kanzaki:
Well, the first step I take is not doing any Outlands quests until at least 63. I run Ramps/BF and maybe some SP non-stop while simultaneously doing pre-Outlands quests. I usually hit 60 about halfway through Felwood, so I've got another 4 zones or so which I can keep busy with.
Once you're that far along, I head out to Outlands and farm rep from the Dead Mire's Bog Lords for both Spore and CE (plant parts). This also gives a ton of Primal Life, helping to get some money in your hands. While grinding this rep, move on and LFG for the mid level instances. Make it a goal to run at least 3 instances a day, whatever they are.
The instance running gets you the gear you're missing out on by not questing. There's some nice quest rewards, but not necessary! By the time you finish getting all of your plant parts and are honored or so with Spore, and have been running instances all day on top of it, you should be 65ish.
At this point, I head over to Nagrand and grind Kurenai/Mag'har rep from the southeast ogre cave - still running instances. Even if you have all the gear you need from an instance, it's still rep and experience! It also helps to keep you in the grouping frame of mind. These ogres will take a couple levels to finish up, and now you're 67ish.
The next thing to do is go to Terokkar and kill your Blood Elves/Cabal for the low-rank aldor/scryer rep drops until you have enough to stop getting rep from them. This shouldn't take more than a level to do, it's very fast.
Being level 68, and still not starting on any Outlands quests, it is best to go and do Hellfire, as some of the quests there will go grey if you continue to level. Doing all of Hellfire and Zangar (while instancing the whole time) will get you to 70 with no problems.
I know it sounds like a lot of grinding, but it's really not a big deal. It goes by fast, and you don't get as bored due to taking instance breaks during the grinding.
If you didn't care about quests going grey, you could easily get to 70 without doing any of the quests at all, and it wouldn't take too much longer, all told.
Depending on the class I'm playing, 1-70 only takes 9-12 days /played.
Larry-Steve Jul 31st 2008 4:12AM
Strategically start leveling a priest and leave him at level 57 in the Western Plaguelands... only to find out that DK's are self-sufficient enough to run 5 DK's through the Hellfire Regular instances! My grand plan has been swatted...
Wiley Jul 31st 2008 10:30AM
I was able to hit 58 on my DK by doing the WPL cauldron quests combined with Blightcaller line + the easy EPL quests. What I would suggest is gather the cloth necessary to do all the turn ins, as well as the AD quest turn ins in Lights hope before the expansion. They have since changed the DK start quests to put at about 58 when you hit EPL.
Auradin Sep 15th 2008 10:31AM
level 59 death knight pvp, camp until you get a few levels of rested...save up for that bomb pvp gear..nuff said