Level 80+ to gain only 10% experience from Wrath mobs
by Brian Wood 
Dec 7th 2010 at 12:30AM
This means that level 80 and higher characters will only get 10 percent of normal XP from Wrath of the Lich King mobs. Likewise, level 70 characters will get 10% XP from The Burning Crusade mobs, and level 60 characters will need to go to the Outland to get full XP for kills.
This change likely happened in the recent hotfix, since at that time, level-capped hunters noticed the XP gains of their pets plummet. Blizzard has acknowledged the problem with pet leveling and promised a fix for that soon. Full blue post with details after the cut.
NethaeraWe recently made a change to the way experience is calculated and wanted to take some time to explain this change in order to clear up some confusion some may be having in regard to their rate of progress. If you are currently at the maximum level that you can be for an expansion (or higher), killing creatures from that expansion will now grant 10% of normal experience.
Examples:
Level 60 or higher players get 10% normal experience for killing creatures in Azeroth ("Old world" content)
Level 70 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Burning Crusade creatures.
Level 80 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Lich King creatures.
Level 85 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Cataclysm creatures.
What does this mean for those that have Cataclysm and are leveling up new characters? This means that you will gain normal experience through to level 60 and will then need to move on to The Burning Crusade zones until you reach level 70 and Wrath of the Lich King zones until you reach level 80. Once you reach 80, it is expected that you will be continuing your leveling adventures in the new Cataclysm zones and dungeons. We have made this change so that players will continue to progress through the appropriate content for their level versus grinding on quick re spawns in a less ideal location.
This change will also affect hunter pets and their leveling rate if the player is at max level, however, this is an unintended change that we will be addressing in the future.
Examples:
Level 60 or higher players get 10% normal experience for killing creatures in Azeroth ("Old world" content)
Level 70 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Burning Crusade creatures.
Level 80 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Lich King creatures.
Level 85 or higher players get 10% of normal experience for killing Cataclysm creatures.
What does this mean for those that have Cataclysm and are leveling up new characters? This means that you will gain normal experience through to level 60 and will then need to move on to The Burning Crusade zones until you reach level 70 and Wrath of the Lich King zones until you reach level 80. Once you reach 80, it is expected that you will be continuing your leveling adventures in the new Cataclysm zones and dungeons. We have made this change so that players will continue to progress through the appropriate content for their level versus grinding on quick re spawns in a less ideal location.
This change will also affect hunter pets and their leveling rate if the player is at max level, however, this is an unintended change that we will be addressing in the future.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, 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
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Mugutu Dec 7th 2010 12:31AM
Damn, way to kill chaining Wrath heroics. Kudos, Blizzard.
Cranch Dec 7th 2010 12:32AM
http://img340.imageshack.us/i/wowscrnshot120710071445.jpg/ Forscience aka Athene has hit 80
Cranch Dec 7th 2010 12:32AM
85*
Kylenne Dec 7th 2010 12:38AM
The same Athene that got banned when he "got" level 80 at Wrath launch. Color me skeptical that this time was any more legit than the last time.
cranch Dec 7th 2010 12:44AM
He did his mob tagging out side of instances this time. Bliz said that strat is legit so it should be a legit 85.
Bloodvein Dec 7th 2010 12:45AM
@Kylenne My thoughts exactly.
Kylenne Dec 7th 2010 12:50AM
If he's doing it legally, why isn't he streaming? If I were a known cheater that got busted once for an exploit, I'd be damn sure to stream the next time so there'd be no question. He's got to understand people aren't going to exactly be leaping to give him the benefit of the doubt.
And legal or not, mob tagging outside of instances is just as sleazy IMO as doing it in one. Running around spamming one attack on a bunch of mobs and having a swarm of silly fanboys do all the work for you is kind of ridiculous and hardly something worthy of praise.
Bloodvein Dec 7th 2010 12:50AM
@cranch didn't Athene say that last year was a legit way as well and that blizzard condoned it?
Magma Dec 7th 2010 12:54AM
My question is, how the hell does he get people to do this for him? He doesn't exactly seem like he's the greatest guy ever, so what's the deal?
Ametrine Dec 7th 2010 12:55AM
In mere hours. Now we get to hear him and his cohorts whine for the next two years about how the expac is boring and there's nothing to do.
Namus Dec 7th 2010 1:02AM
Actually he/she got screwed last time, he had pics showing a conversation with a GM asking if the way he had planned for leveling was legal or not and got the OK from said GM. then when he got it another GM showed up and banned him before he/she even had time to say a word.
Herman Dec 7th 2010 1:33AM
actually, athene is a decent guy, he just plays an ass. if you ever followed him before he became semi famous in wrath, he and his group of friends did a bunch of satirical and interesting stuff, like a series on net neutrality and some other stuff, athene started out as a way of making fun of people that take games too seriously, however the average wow player apparently fails at irony
Jawbone Dec 7th 2010 1:38AM
To quote a tongue-in-cheek lyric from one of Nhym's songs:
"Athene's my 'hero' - he got the world levelling record //
... nobody cared."
Vajira Dec 10th 2010 7:13PM
I am so bummed by this. Why bother with the game at all if your only goal is to see who can get to the end first? This game is so much more than that. What satisfaction can there possibly be in this? I suppose after he/she helps his friends do the exact same thing they will what? Take their alts and play the game the way it was meant? Or just sit around and complain that there is nothing to challenge him? Or worse harass those of us that want the proper experience? I have absolutely ZERO respect for anyone that does this but since I'm no one important or special, I doubt my opinion/respect matters anyway. Just expressing my humble opinions and deep frustration!
Leodrake Dec 7th 2010 12:36AM
Uhm did they really think this out? if so just. WOW and that kind of sucks
Skippy Dec 7th 2010 12:37AM
That certainly explains why it was taking me forever to level up my Fox pet this afternoon. Oh well; I reckon good ol' Tails will be up to 80 in a few more hours anyway.
Cowfodder Dec 7th 2010 12:37AM
This means I can't grind lvl 1 board then grab the sword of 1000 truths. Curse you Blizzard!
Cowfodder Dec 7th 2010 12:38AM
And by *boards* I mean *boars*
Damned Evo spelling correction.
Jhiggles Dec 7th 2010 4:43PM
Does this also include the elites and bosses in Wrath dungeons?
GrumblyStuff Dec 7th 2010 7:18PM
I'm kinda wondering about quests. It'd suck if you leveled from kills while on a questing marathon and suddenly all your quests only give a pittance of xp per turn in.