Cataclysm 101: What to do first in Cataclysm
by Alex Ziebart 
Dec 6th 2010 at 7:20PM
Cataclysm has already gone live in Europe, and it's only hours away now for those of us in North America. Are you prepared for it? Do you know what you need to know to hit the ground running when Cataclysm content becomes active on live realms? If you don't, we're here to help. Below are answers to some of the most common questions that have been asked about starting the Cataclysm experience.
How do I learn to fly in old Azeroth?
You can get your Flight Master's License in Outland or Northrend, but the much better options are Stormwind for the Alliance and Orgrimmar for the Horde. Horde players want to talk to Maztha and Alliance players want to talk to Bralla Cloudwing. Wowhead has excellent maps for finding both of them.
Which zones do I go to first to level in Cataclysm? How do I get there?
You have the option of going to either Hyjal or Vashj'ir. Which you go to is purely personal preference. Stormwind and Orgrimmar have breadcrumb quests for both. Either the quest will be offered to you immediately upon logging in with a pop-up style quest prompt, or you will need to go to your city's Hero's Board/Warchief's Command Board.
Deciding to go to Hyjal will route you through Moonglade to gain entrance to the zone -- don't worry, going through Moonglade won't take as long as you think. You won't need to hoof it the whole way.
Deciding to go to Vashj'ir will send you to your respective faction's nearest harbor. In the case of Stormwind, you go to the Stormwind Harbor. In the case of Orgrimmar, you will be sent to the new dock in Durotar.
I'd like to pick up archaeology before I head out and level. Where do I do that?
There are archaeology trainers all over the world, but we'll focus on Stormwind and Orgrimmar, since those are going to be your central hubs in Cataclysm. Alliance players need to head into the Stormwind Keep to talk to Harrison Jones. Horde players need to speak with Harrison's nemesis, Belloc Brightblade. If you're having difficulty finding them, the simplest tip is to ask a guard. They will put a convenient little flag on your map.
I want to run the new dungeons, but I can't seem to queue for anything. What's the deal?
As of Cataclysm, it's required that you discover a dungeon in person before you can queue for them. Right at level 80, your only real instance option is Blackrock Caverns, tucked away in Blackrock Mountain. If you plan on running instances while you level through Hyjal and Vashj'ir, you may want to swing by Blackrock Mountain before you depart.
WoW Insider's YouTube account has a few videos on how to find some of the Cataclysm dungeons. All of these videos are linked below. Do note that in the videos where the guide is a ghost, it is not required that you be dead to discover the instance. Graveyards are just convenient landmarks ... and let's be honest, you're going to die in these dungeons. Knowing how to get to them from the graveyard is a good thing.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it; nothing will be the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion (available Dec. 7, 2010), from brand new races to revamped quests and zones. Visit our Cataclysm news category for the most recent posts having to do with the Cataclysm expansion.Filed under: Cataclysm, Archaeology
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Noyou Dec 6th 2010 10:52PM
Dungeon finder if eligible. If not hoof it or fly as far as you can then run in and try to avoid the guards :) Oh and yes, I do on my server love attacking the opposite faction when they run in just to make up for all the aholes who like to keep popping out and killing lowbie NPC's :)
Boobah Dec 7th 2010 12:40AM
I assume you mean "How are we supposed to discover a dungeon stuck in one of the opposing faction's capitals?" It's not an issue, since you only need to discover the new Cataclysm dungeons.
schnaps Dec 6th 2010 10:34PM
If you want to run BRC sounds like the way to go is logout right next to it, discover it after the launch then hearth to the capital city, buy old world flying and be on your way. if you discover it pre cata can you still queue for it? at this point id rather not take the chance
vinniedcleaner Dec 6th 2010 11:46PM
What no comment on the Raiders of the Lost Ark reference.
Belloc - Belloq or as Sallah would say... Bellosh
Vymiot Dec 7th 2010 1:28AM
So... correct me if I'm wrong. U only have to "discover" the brand new dungeons in Cata NOT all the dungeons (including the low lvl ones -imagine "discovering" stockades or Reagefire Chasm as an opposite fraction player)?
vanye111 Dec 7th 2010 10:57AM
I have a level 24 horde pallie (Belf, ty) who can't do Wailing Caverns because she hasn't discovered it yet. Don't know if it's a bug or not.
Cyrus Dec 7th 2010 1:49PM
"I have a level 24 horde pallie (Belf, ty) who can't do Wailing Caverns because she hasn't discovered it yet. Don't know if it's a bug or not."
I'm as sure as I can be that it's a bug, without being you or a Blizzard employee or anything. Several days ago I did Wailing Caverns on my gnome priest (level 28 now, don't know what level she was when I did it) and she's never even been in Kalimdor. As well as several other instances she has never set foot in the zone of. And, on another toon, a couple BC instances, which this toon has been in the same toon as but I'm pretty sure never was within 100 yards of the instance entrances. So I'm pretty sure that the "discover" requirement is just for new Cataclysm 80+ instances.
Raikuchi Dec 7th 2010 3:11AM
Sweet good guide
Neyssa Dec 7th 2010 6:55AM
Just one thing I would like to add: If you want to start with the other instance, Throne of the Tides, it is not that hard: you only have to do about 5 quests (3 being in Orgrimmar)
We started leveling with my tank + dps friends (me being the healer). We wanted to see Throne of the Tides, so we did the breadcumb quests in Org, took the ship to Vashj'ir, DK did a Path of Frost (or you can climb out on a ship above the water), and we flew to the Abyssal Maw. It is really easy to see on the map (just type "map of vashj'ir" in Google, you can find a map easily, you have to go to that giant dark purple maelstorm in the middle). If you do the first two quests at the start point, you get unlimited breath (or if you are a druid you dont even need it). Just keep on swimming down to that maelstorm (it is a long swim, about 1-2 minutes), and it will suck you down right to the entrance of Throne of Tides. The istance is beautiful, fun, it was totally worth it. After two runs, we just HS-ed back to Orgrimmar).
Comito Dec 7th 2010 7:03AM
Nice info, will make and confirm my initial plans once I'm in game......better check tracking over at amazon now :) was 50miles away last I heard!
Kerevin Dec 7th 2010 3:12PM
And of course, the best reason of all for having to discover a dungeon physically first before queuing for it... helps to cut down on the "can someone res me? I'm lost and can't find the dungeon entrance" issues!
ed Dec 8th 2010 12:47AM
I lucked out while at level 80 and picked up The origami:slime pattern, hadn't even noticed I had it until I was leveling my scribe. Managed to go from 280-290 just making them, saving me thousands of gold in mats to level up :D
Shadehealer Dec 8th 2010 11:22AM
i like the dungeon thing too, but if i make 7 alts, its a pain in the butt like leveling without mount-for 1 or 2 times-ok, for 4 time-no way!
hero2016 Dec 23rd 2010 3:48PM
I think it's great that you have to find the dungeon. That way if you die you know the way back instead of getting yourself lost.
kaniwynplz Dec 24th 2010 10:39PM
learn to fly in azeroth. i forgot to and regretted it. but follow the questing because not only is there a level minimum but a gear minimum for dungeons.
oringal Dec 25th 2010 10:23PM
sfg