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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: How and where do you prefer to level your alts?
by Brandon Cox 
Dec 9th 2011 at 8:00AM
With all the improvements to the leveling process, you'd be hard pressed to find a player immune to the ill effects of altoholism. Everybody (and with the new free-until-level 20 system, probably their grandmothers too) is rolling that one class they've really, really wanted to try but were too put off by the leveling process to actually do so. In many cases, they are rolling several new alts. All those alts adds up to a lot of leveling -- far more leveling than the current content can support, even. Even after three alts, many find themselves having exhausted the zones currently available in the game. It can get stale very, very quickly.
To prevent the dread condition known as burnout, alt-heavy players have to mix things up as they level -- different zones, different continents, dungeons, Battlegrounds ... Anything to break up the monotony. Personally, while there are several zones I never skip -- Zangarmarsh, Netherstorm, Howling Fjord and Grizzly Hills, for instance -- I make an effort to play through the zones in a new order, hopping continents as often as possible, and never running dungeons or Battlegrounds. Sure, the story may be massively fragmented this way, but I've played through it before. I know the story; I'm there for the gaming aspects the second time through. Sure, dungeons and Battlegrounds may be fun and provide quick experience, but questing lets me go at my own speed.
When you level alts, how do you navigate the zones? Do you have a select few favorites that you always level through, or do you try to forge new adventures in new zones as you make your way to 85? Or do you bypass the zones entirely and opt for dungeon or Battleground farming?
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Rob Dec 9th 2011 8:45AM
I quest until I'm in the top two levels of a pvp bracket, then pvp until I ding into the bottom of the next bracket. I try to do as little of Hellfire as possible, and as little of Outlands in general, as I can get away with.
Joakim Dec 9th 2011 8:58AM
With three 85's and 2 80's (parked as bankers) plus an assortment of 15-78's spread out over 4 servers ... Hi, I'm an altoholic.
Funny thing is, on the server I'm most active - EU Saurfang - I only go for draenei, and as soon as I can I get the hell out of Azuremyst. So I start either with Teldrassil or Elwynn, and only once have I started out in Dun Morogh.
From there on it's really just what I fancy at the moment.
In Outland there's always Nagrand. It's like coming home :)
In Northrend I try to get to Grizzly Hills as soon as possible, via Borean Tundra and a few q's in Howling Fjord (just to get rep up with the tuskar). Why Grizzly Hills? The music. That ... sad violin.
Storm Peaks can be loads of fun (alas, no time lost proto yet :/ ) and once I'm Cataclysm ready it's off to Hyjal. Vashjir is the dreaded zone of alt toon death for me ...
Dungeon leveling can be fun with the right class (for me, usually mage or paladin; I haven't got the hang of a hunter in a dungeon, things tend to go too fast).
And right now I'm at the end phase of a hunter, thus - all set for a new alt.
Sad thing is it has to be a nelf - draneis obviously don't go rogue.
Twowolves Dec 9th 2011 9:02AM
If someone told me just a couple months ago, my Hordies would be gathering dust while I had a blast leveling a dwarf MM hunter, I'd say they were crazy. I've tried leveling new Alliance toons, but I hate leveling through their zones, or last least, I used to hate it. My dwarf is 49 through a mix of questing and instances and still going strong. Right now, I plan on staying with him to 85 and beyond.
underground_slacker Dec 9th 2011 9:10AM
westfall>duskwood>starnglethorn>plaguelands>felwood>hellfire>zangarmarsh>nagrand>howling fjord>girzzly hills>icecrown>hyjal>deepholm>twilight highlands
every damn time.
Brett Porter Dec 9th 2011 6:32PM
Sounds about exactly the same as me, with a few BGs and dungeons thrown in. :)
Bredman Dec 9th 2011 9:29AM
I have five characters at level 85, two of which began a year ago when Cataclysm came out.
DK levelling was done primarily through LFG - the fastest way by far if a tank spec is an option.
On my warrior I did quests to see how some of my old favorite zones reworked after the cataclysm, but switched to tank spec for BC
My shaman levelled almost entirely with archaeology and the odd instance as a healer.
The only thing that I do on EVERY one of the characters is level from around 77-80 in Zul Drak. Its the proximity to my standard HS (Dalaran) and the convenience of levelling to 80 in one place that drive me there
Yllys Dec 9th 2011 9:21AM
I have many alts - including some of my 8 lvl 85's. They usually try to take somewhat different paths as they level. Some duo with friends, for example, so I try not to outpace them. One of my druids is a pacifist - she's nearly 70 now, mostly from holiday quests and cooking in the post-cata world (she was nearly 40 before cata hit), but it's fun to see what other quests she can do non-violently.
There are zones I love and always try to hit, unless I'm leveling one especially to see some new cata content. My favorites include Darkshore (although I can hardly bear to level there since cata... too many sad reminders of what was), Winterspring, Zangarmarsh, Netherstorm, parts of Borean Tundra and Storm Peaks, and Hyjal. Aside from those, I usually go where the interesting quests are for a particular character. I only RP in my head, but the characters do have different preferences. The druids take different paths than my palys, for example. Just try to skip WPL and EPL on a paledin! Mine won't hear of that.
I usually do a few dungeons along the way, ones that I particularly enjoy or for the quests. I do like the Coilfang dungeons, and getting anything in Tempest Keep is a treat again (after spending way too much time there in BC). And I run as many Wrath dungeons as I can because leveling there has been such a grind and I know I don't much like the cata ones.
A couple of times I've chosen leveling zones for the rep they give. I always want the herb bags from cenarion circle rep for my tailors, so they do time in Silithus sooner or later. And I take my skinners, miners, and herbalists to the places where they can easily level their professions (yes I do level professions for all of the alts).
I haven't really run out of ways to level yet. I am, however, pretty much out of character slots...
Caylynn Dec 9th 2011 9:21AM
I avoid "dark" zones if at all possible. I hate dark zones - I find the colour palettes very depressing. So Zangarmarsh and Shadowmoon Valley are out, as are Zul'Drak and Deepholm.
I always hit STV, Nagrand and Sholazar.
When Battle for the Undercity was still in the game, I always made sure to do the Wrathgate questline - that was epic!
Other than that, I try to mix it up and see new stuff.
I mostly play healers, so I level through LFD mostly, with a bunch of quests and levelling of professions thrown in between dungeons.
Bluemain Dec 9th 2011 9:28AM
Leveling alts eh, now thats my ballpark. I have a set order to do zones in that i follow pretty regilously, allthough the changes to northrend have thrown that out of whack a bit, but usually its for ally Darn>darskhore>stonetalon>Southbarrens>hop over the sea>WPL>EPL>hop back over the sea>felwood>winterspring>hop back>swamp of sorrows>blasted lands, then Outlands, heavy in helfire,zanga, a touch of terrokar, heavy in nagrand and finish in Blades edge. 68 to 70 is in Borean then howling,dragonblight, and on.
though for some reason i dont get bored leveling, hell i love it, i love to see the characters get stronger and more effective as they go.
Ive done 17 toons so far to cap and 18th and 19th at 80, by the end of dec ill be starting on my third server. the toons are allreadyt here, for all 50 slots just waiting there turn.
oh and theres a blog too
www.bluemains50.com
robsmith77 Dec 9th 2011 10:02AM
Until level 60 I try to stick to one continent, something that is a lot easier now than it used to be (pre-Cataclysm). In Outland it's a bit trickier so I usually go Hellfire Peninsula, followed by Terokkar or Zangarmarsh and, if necessary, either Nagrand or Blade's Edge. Then it's on to Northrend, which is generally a random choice depending on my mood at the time!
As to actually levelling, I shun Battlegrounds totally and mostly avoid Dungeons and focus on quests.
towtruck Dec 9th 2011 10:07AM
I tried something new with my priest alt. I leveled exclusively with dungeons and when in queue I gather herbs and ore. The xp you get from each node is surprisingly high and it's better than questing in between and get the quest turn green before you complete them.
ravyncat Dec 9th 2011 10:11AM
Questing is my favorite part of the game and I have a small army of alts to prove it. I almost never do a dungeon because I don't enjoy them. Or any sort of PvP.
I mainly play Alliance. Zones I have enjoyed there enough to replay often are Westfall, Teldrassil and Bloodmyst Island.
The zone every alt hits is Duskwood! My favorite zone in the game bar none.
After that I either go Eastern & Western Plaguelands or I do Felwood and Winterspring. I love all four of those zones. Blasted Lands usually gets me that last little bit to 60.
I hate Hellfire and skip to Zangermarsh as soon as I can. I love Nagrand and also Nether Storm. I prefer Borean Tundra quests, but Howling Fjord is prettier. Really, I like every zone in Wrath and hit all of them. My favorite quests are in Icecrown.
Of the 80-85 zones, Hyjal is my favorite for repeating. Vash'Jir is fun too, but I don't always enjoy being underwater for so long. Deepholme gets very old after you do it once. Ditto the Harrison Jones part of Uldum. I loved his quests the first time through, but they don't stand up to repeats like the cat people do. Twilight Highlands is dull; I don't care about the dwarf wedding and I hate hunting down all the lost dwarf family in the ruins full of cultists. *shrug* It is the zone I like the least.
rockychristine Dec 9th 2011 10:17AM
Yes, I'm an altoholic too. I took a more lore-heavy path on my first major alt, to hit areas that I knew had interesting lore but I hadn't gotten to on my main because I was so focused on power-leveling.
On the death knight who's finally 68, I've been doing a lot more dungeons and battlegrounds and less questing. It's a really nice trip- getting to know the dungeons even better and staying away from some of the Outland areas that were nice the first time but I'm not eager to do again.
A few friends and I started leveling Alliance characters also. New lore perspective and different areas to quest in, especially in the beginning!
poggg Dec 9th 2011 10:20AM
Anywhere but Hellfire Peninsula.
See, back when Wrath first came out, I had a...PROBLEM with Death Knights. I couldn't stop rolling them. I would get one to about 61 or so, then say "no no, this is all wrong" and delete it just to roll another one.
I DID HELLFIRE PENINSULA SO GODDAMN MUCH YOU HAVE NO IDEA
So now it's customary for me to avoid the zone altogether. Usually by hopping straight into BC dungeons and running ramps/blood furnace until I can skip it. I know it's not a good thing to do, because of the gear jump, but...I just can't do it. I cannot take the Hellfire.
loli.gigis Dec 9th 2011 10:30AM
I never had an alt over 20, then after cata came out I did Loremaster on my main. Since then I have worked harder at leveling up alts (if only for the professions) so I can experience all my favorite quest lines how they were supposed to be :)
babywhiz Dec 9th 2011 10:34AM
With 7 level 85 toons, I can safely say I have tried most methods of grinding to max. One I did via PVP (Alterac Valley, I choose you!). The others were different questing zones, mixed with dungeons. I have yet to level solely through dungeon finder.
I always wanted to follow the chain of Darkshore, Ashenvale, Stonetalon, but for some reason, since Cata, I have been unable to get the connection between Ashenvale and Stonetalon...I don't know where the chain picks up at, and can never find it on the Hero's board....so I end up popping back over to Eastern Kingdoms until I can do Thousand Needles (which is one of the best zones redone in Cata...putting around on a boat..mhm! Now if they would have made it to where the boat could be parked and someone could join you on it for a party.....).
I may try what someone suggested above, staying in Azeroth until 60, because I just can't stand Hellfire. That's the point I usually pick up dungeon finder again, anything to stay outta Hellfire....
Most people say that they stay in Nagrand until 68, but I'm one of those weird people that will actually trounce through Blades Edge, and Netherstorm.
I'm about half and half on Borean and Howling and I always do Wrathgate. With the exception of my main, most of the time I do just enough quests to get to where I can pick up the next quests in the next zone.
I also park the toons until rested is back to 100%, before I haul them out. The exception to this was the rogue, who originally only leveled to 60 so she could pick pocket junkboxes, and my 3rd druid, which I leveled pretty steady because I needed another druid healer for alt raids. Otherwise, the rest of them would be pulled out, leveled up, and then parked.
Eliandor Dec 9th 2011 2:56PM
For anyone else wondering about the Ashenvale - Stonetalon link, there are a series of quests you need to do from (Stardust I think) down near the border attacking the horde around the Skunkwerks. There is a quest from the bomb itself that is the key, that leads to the quest chain that fully links into Stonetalon.
Annalietta Dec 9th 2011 10:37AM
I try to go a different route each time I start a new alt. I have 7 85s atm and the only place they've all quested is Twilight Highlands. There's no way around it if you don't level in BGs or dungeons.
I'm going for a full collection of classes and at least one of each race. That gives me 5 different starting zones (6 if you count the death knight) and after that I mix and match until I end up lvl 58 or 60 in either Winterspring, Un'Goro, Silithus or Blasted Lands. I take 58s to Hellfire Peninsula and the southern zones of Outlands and 60s to Zangarmarsh and the northern zones. I'm not a fan of either Shadowmoon Valley or Netherstorm so I usually go to Northrend at 68 alternating between Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord and of course ending up in either Icecrown or Stormpeaks. In Cataclysm ranged start in Vash'Jir, melee in Mount Hyjal. I've come to really like Vash'Jir: it was a pain to go through it first time on my pala main (who has done just about every quest in the game), but it's a lot smoother on ranged.
shade780 Dec 9th 2011 2:09PM
Wow, people really hate Hellfire. It's the boars, right?
ravyncat Dec 10th 2011 1:20AM
For me it is the orange. Lots and lots of ugly orange and Fel Reavers. O_o;;