Best WoW Classic Leveling Zones: Alliance vs Horde Compared
Choosing the right leveling zones can make or break your WoW Classic experience. Here's our comprehensive comparison.
Alliance Leveling Zones
1-10: Starter Zones
| Race | Zone | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human | Elwynn Forest | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fast, clear progression |
| Dwarf/Gnome | Dun Morogh | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Good but more travel |
| Night Elf | Teldrassil | ⭐⭐⭐ | Isolated, requires boat |
10-20: Second Zones
| Zone | Rating | Quests | XP/Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westfall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 40+ | 15k+ |
| Loch Modan | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 35+ | 12k+ |
| Darkshore | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 45+ | 14k+ |
20-30: Mid-Level Zones
Best choice: Redridge Mountains → Duskwood → Wetlands
This triangle offers:
- Dense quest hubs
- Minimal travel time
- Great loot progression
30-40: The Grind Begins
| Zone | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stranglethorn Vale | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Elite quests, great rewards |
| Hillsbrad Foothills | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | PvP hot zone |
| Desolace | ⭐⭐⭐ | Long travel times |
Horde Leveling Zones
1-10: Starter Zones
| Race | Zone | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orc/Troll | Durotar | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Fast, streamlined |
| Undead | Tirisfal Glades | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Good lore, longer runs |
| Tauren | Mulgore | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Peaceful, quick quests |
10-20: The Barrens
Crossroads is king: This single hub offers 40+ quests.
Why it works:
- Centralized questing
- Multiple flight paths
- Dungeon access (Wailing Caverns)
20-30: Horde's Sweet Spot
Best choice: Stonetalon Mountains → Hillsbrad → Thousand Needles
Horde advantage:
- Better quest flow in Hillsbrad
- Thousand Needles is faster than STV
- Less competition for mobs
30-40: Horde Dominance
| Zone | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stranglethorn Vale | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Grom'gol base |
| Thousand Needles | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Excellent flow |
| Desolace | ⭐⭐⭐ | Horde has better camps |
Alliance vs Horde: Who Has It Better?
Speed Comparison
Level 1-40: Horde wins by ~15%
- Better quest density in 20-30 range
- The Barrens is unmatched for 10-20
- Thousand Needles > STV for pure XP
Level 40-60: Alliance wins by ~10%
- Better zones in 50-60 range
- More flight paths in Eastern Kingdoms
- Less contested territory
PvP Considerations
Horde advantage:
- More Horde on most servers = better world PvP
- Racials help in PvP (Will of the Forsaken, War Stomp)
Alliance advantage:
- Paladins = best support class
- Less Horde = less ganking in Alliance zones
Zone-Specific Tips
Stranglethorn Vale (Both Factions)
- Do Hemet Nesingwary's quest chain early
- Save the Green Hills of Stranglethorn pages
- Watch out for bloodthirsty higher-level players
The Barrens (Horde)
- Don't ignore the crossroads quests
- Visit the temple for easy XP
- Wailing Caverns quest chain is worth it
Redridge Mountains (Alliance)
- Do all the Orc quests in one run
- Stock up on potions for the final elite quest
- Great place to level gathering professions
Leveling Route Recommendations
Alliance Speed Route
- Elwynn → Westfall (1-20)
- Redridge → Duskwood (20-30)
- STV → Desolace (30-40)
- Tanaris → Feralas (40-50)
- Winterspring → Un'Goro (50-60)
Horde Speed Route
- Durotar → Barrens (1-20)
- Stonetalon → Hillsbrad (20-30)
- Thousand Needles → STV (30-40)
- Tanaris → Feralas (40-50)
- Un'Goro → Silithus (50-60)
Conclusion
Both factions have excellent leveling paths. Choose based on your preference:
Play Horde if you want: Faster 1-40, better racials, world PvP
Play Alliance if you want: Better 40-60, Paladins, less competition
Check out our race guides for detailed faction-specific leveling strategies.