WoW Rookie: Level 80 - now what?
by Lisa Poisso 
Feb 11th 2009 at 7:00PM
Ding ... you're 80! So what are you going to be when you grow up? Don't get us wrong: levelling your first character to 80 (especially if this is your first massively multiplayer online game) is a not-insignificant accomplishment – but you're not quite ready for prime time yet. Hitting level 80 in WoW is less like being a graduating senior than it is being a new sophomore. You've finished WoW 101; now it's time to make sure you've covered all your core classes and start taking a stab at some electives and specialized coursework.
If you've just hit level 80, consider this basic checklist a graduation gift of sorts from WoW Rookie. It'll help pointed you in the right direction for whatever type of game play you're interested in pursuing. Your game's just beginning. Dig in!
Build your rep. On a related note, keep your reputations moving. Now, you can purchase tabards to wear into level 80 instances that will help you gain faction with groups who'll offer a number of outstanding rewards.
Gear up. Defense, block, hit, expertise, resilience – there's a whole new world of stats awaiting your attention at level 80. While stronger players can help you through heroic five-man instances almost right from the start, it's generally wiser (and more fun for you, eh?) to gear up so you can pull your own weight. Browse our class columns for gear guides for new 80s in each class; look under Class in the drop-down menu at the top of the site, or click Classes in the Categories list on the left. Fill up those gem slots and enchant anything that isn't going to be upgraded today or tomorrow. Oh, and don't underestimate the Auction House, a continued source of upgrades.
Explore new specs. The talents that have helped you level may or may not be the best for whatever you have planned at 80. Look up popular specs, consult our Build Shop feature and browse our Class columns for ideas on what might work best for your play style.
Finish off your tradeskills. While tradeskills don't generally offer top-of-the-line, end-all, be-all BoP items for their practioners anymore, most do include items that are valuable (or fun!) beyond 80. Secondary trades like Fishing and Cooking are always smart additions for a well-rounded character.
Learn to raid. Raiding has never been more accessible than in today's Wrath. Learn what's expected of you before you accept your first raid invitation, and read Ready Check to learn specific strategies and tactics.
Find a good guild. It's not about the biggest guild, or the most quickly progressing guild, or the most exclusive guild – it's about the guild that plays what you want to play, when you want to play it, with people you enjoy playing with. Find a good fit and make your application count.
Get technical. There's plenty to ponder, experiment with and tweak once you hit the level cap. If you enjoy playing the numbers, now it's time to start maximizing your performance with theorycrafting.
Be an overachiever. The world of achievements unfolds fully at 80, allowing you to complete all sorts of individual, group, raid and PvP tasks. Savor it all!
WoW Rookie feeds you the basics to get you off to a good start in the World of Warcraft. Find more tools you can use in the WoW Insider Directory and WoW Insider Leveling Guides.Filed under: Tips, Features, WoW Rookie
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
niko Feb 11th 2009 7:11PM
The game starts over again at level cap. It's what makes WoW such an amazing game.
Truer words have never been spoken.
Manatank Feb 11th 2009 7:14PM
Reached the level cap? Okay, now you can start playing WoW.
Geniusjones Feb 11th 2009 7:20PM
You hit all the bases. If you want to get into raiding, make sure to focus on two things: the reputation rewards you need for those few items that can really give your character a leg, and doing heroics for that gear that will get you into the 10- and 25-man raids.
Gliminator Feb 11th 2009 7:27PM
Is probably lowest priority of all the things i would do, and is part of ticking off acheivements and questing mentioned in the article:
Explore the vanilla/BC/WoTLK instances and places most people rush through to get to 80 can be fun. Solo a vanilla instance etc
Liel Feb 11th 2009 7:30PM
Compared to the original game and last expansion I am finding myself wondering what direction to go at 80 rather than "raid" and start to level one of my alts.
ron Feb 11th 2009 7:53PM
That screenshot, if real, wins. Dinging 80 via exploration XP while simultaneously getting World Explorer, on a magic carpet? Well played, sir, well played indeed.
Lisa Poisso Feb 11th 2009 7:57PM
The screenshot's real as can be, and the player's a ma'am, not a sir. The screenshot's posted over at WI's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/WoW-Insider/109780035159. Come join the gang!
xnn Feb 11th 2009 7:55PM
Can I make a suggestion? Just for fun I was browsing back through the old build shop posts.. and much of it seems outdated.
It might possibly be since wrath is still relatively new, but it is hard to find good, up to date info on various builds for certain classes/specs/focus (pve/pvp). For instance, one of my friends was interested in learning more about SV hunter pve and pvp builds, and I have to admit is was an area I am not familiar with. After both of us spent hours scouring different sites, we were left with more questions than answers. Also, explaining the ups and downs of that specific build, as well as variants on said build, would be a great source of information for new and returning readers.
One of my favorite features on this site was the discussion of various specs. Is there anyway we can see more of this in the future?
Keep up the great work guys, and I hope to see more "build shop" type posts.
schm0 Feb 12th 2009 12:10AM
Check out http://www.talentchic.com, which has been mentioned here before. It has all the most popular builds, as well as variations on those builds.
Mitawa Feb 11th 2009 8:06PM
I don't necessarily like this "the game only starts" at 80 mentality.
Not everyone plays to raid. Twink brackets are never 80, and there's always the alt-aholoics to keep in mind without even dipping into the fact that Rp-ers don't need to be 80 or any other level to do what it is they like to do.
I mean, sure if raiding or arena is your thing you wanna get to 80 asap but... there are at -least- 3 other play styles in which 80 is something that may (or may not) happen just as a fringe benefit.
emptyrepublic Feb 11th 2009 8:20PM
There is plenty to do in the game at 80 that doesn't involve raiding or arena. All heroics are open to you then, on top of the fact if you want to achievement grind it's much easier to do when you can pick up easy badge epics. Etc. etc.
Though early 10-man raids are not more difficult than a heroic dungeon and any competent group (even a PuG) can complete them. Players interested in PvE would be doing themselves a disservice to completely ignore that.
Mitawa Feb 11th 2009 10:08PM
Yes, there are other things to do at 80, that wasn't the point of my post, really. I merely wanted to point out that there are ways to play that don't have to include level 80 in the formula if you don't feel like it.
I brought up raiding and arenas because those are the two things that would make you trip over yourself to get to 80, the most extreme examples of "the game doesn't start until level 80".
emptyrepublic Feb 11th 2009 8:16PM
For the love of god do not run into heroics immediately.
I realize it's very tempting, but I've had a few too many people in my heroic PuGs that turned 80 only a few hours before. Depending on your class and finances perhaps you can get away with it having enough money and rep to overhaul yourself instantly at 80; however this is usually not the case.
Do yourself and everyone a favor and spend about a week running the level 80 dungeons on regular to get level 78 blue items and perhaps a craftable epic or two. Then when you enter a heroic you won't be dragging the group down.
Nadril Feb 11th 2009 8:26PM
I did a 25m OS 5 minutes after turning 80 and did just fine. I don't even think I did any normal dungeons at 80. If you aren't retarded you'll do fine in even naxx 10.
Rob Feb 12th 2009 10:03AM
I always advocate getting geared before heroics, but so many people don't bother. You know what, its okay in my book. If your group can't cut it, they can't cut it. If the dps is bad then replace them. Ditto for healer/tank. However some classes even in level 78 blues or beyond simply don't do much damage, it really takes naxx epics to bring out the full realization of dps potential.
At 80 as a sv hunter I was doing 800 dps while leveling. Completely bad, I know. In a heroic I did about 1200 dps, still really low. After a week of improvement I'm at 1500 dps but all in 78-80 blues. What really went up for me is the hit cap and intelligence. That toon needs alot more work, but at this point there is only a handful of stuff available in heroics that are substantial upgrades (the epic ranged weapon is one).
Last night I healed a heroic OK run. The dps was doing 1000-1500 dps. We downed the bosses without a problem. Maybe the tank was good, maybe it was my healing, idk. Point being you can get away with sub-par dps if others are better geared (if you think this is being 'carried' i won't argue against you).
Anyway point being, unless you run a ton of heroics, don't expect your dps to shoot up overnight. It's pretty typical to run heroics even in crappy gear and have nothing good drop.
Radiophonic Feb 11th 2009 8:20PM
Level 80 now what? Well, you could awlays burn yourself out on Achievements.
Wow has been for for the past few years but lets be honest, Wrath was too easy and most of us ripped through it so quick that we're back to standing around major cities. Time for the next MMORPG, nothing changes here but the scenery and my stats that continually drop.
End of post that will get rated down. :P
PeeWee Feb 11th 2009 8:43PM
Can I have your stuff? You have obviously cancelled your account already, since paying for something you find so underachieving is, to put it simply, frigging retarded.
Am I wrong? Nope, I know I aint.
Radiophonic Feb 12th 2009 2:20AM
@PeeWee
Please rephrase your second sentence and try again.
Nokturnus Feb 12th 2009 8:54AM
I am not a grammar nazi and this is written exclusively to open Radiophonic's eyes covered by the flaps of his self-righteousness.
Quote:
Wow has been for for the past few years but lets be honest, Wrath was too easy and most of us ripped through it so quick that we're back to standing around major cities.
First part of the sentence doesn't make sense at all. (for for... what?!)
PeeVee's sentence, in contrary makes perfect sense to anyone without problems with basic grammar and comprehansion. The only thing you nailed so far is the fact that your post will be voted down. Try to use same measures of quality on your own posts before hitting 'Add comment' button. Good day.
Radiophonic Feb 12th 2009 2:15PM
@Nokturnus
You apparently share the same horrible education that Peewee has gotten. To think that the phrase "paying for something you find so underachieving" makes sense to you two makes me shudder.
Regardless, this MMO is tired.