With the release of Cataclysm Classic, many players want to gain an edge over others by leveling fast in the game. Much of the content in the new expansion is locked behind levels, so character progression is necessary for the game. While there are many ways to rank up in the World of Warcraft Classic, specific methods are more efficient than others. This WoW Cata Classic leveling guide teaches the most efficient way to level with both Horde and Alliance.
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Different Types of Leveling Methods in Cata Classic
The primary methods of leveling up for most MMOs are mostly the same. However, the effectiveness of these ways may vary, which is the situation for World of Warcraft. Here are all ranking up methods in WoW Classic:
Raids or Dungeons in WoW Classic refer to content wherein players enter instances or challenges that they usually face against elite mobs or unique bosses. Though this content takes the longest to complete, they are the most rewarding due to the amount of EXP and loot acquired. Conducting these raids usually gives players big jumps in their progression, especially if they are lucky with the rewards.
Quests are arguably one of the most exciting features of the game. While, questing develops the storyline of Cataclysm classic, players might need some help with this method of leveling. Quests may not provide as many rewards as raiding, but it does give players a more relaxed and enjoyable experience due to the amount of lore and variety of activities available, including professions.
Grinding is considered the mindless farming of mobs in certain zones. While this method is highly encouraged in other games, it’s not as suitable for World of Warcraft Classic due to the low mob density in the wild. However, players can still opt for this method if they want to.
WoW Cata Class Leveling Guide
If players want to level up fast in Cata Classic, they should only consider doing Raids and Quests. Grinding is not really that rewarding or optimal, so players should avoid going that path unless there is no other choice. We will focus on the first two for this guide.
Ideally, focusing on Raiding will get you to level 80 the fastest. However, combining Raids with Quests is the most optimal way of leveling up. Aside from EXP and gear from the Dungeons, missions can make gaming sessions much more interesting by introducing variety and giving players breathing space. In addition, integrating some quests can also ensure that adventurers can progress in their Professions.
Raiding
Raiding is your primary source of EXP and gear. Compared to the other two methods, it yields significant experience points, so you should spam this content as much as possible. However, there are still several pros and cons that players should know about when doing this feature:
Pros
- High EXP reward
- Good gear from loot
- Consistent source of upgrade materials
Cons
- Requires planning
- Requires a group (Static or Pug)
- Takes too much time
- Tunnel visions on a single content only
- Might take too long to start sessions if a group member is missing
Note: Static means a constant party dedicated to Raiding. Pug means joining or playing in a random Raid party.
As players may notice, Raiding requires a lot of planning before it can be started. The most crucial aspect of beginning a Dungeon is to have a group. Even losing one member is enough of a headache that can stall the team for hours. In addition, finding a replacement isn’t easy, since you have to ensure that the new member knows the mechanics of the Raid.
The alternative to the Static group is Pugging. This can be extremely frustrating since you will be playing with random people you have never played with before. This can create tensions in the Raid party due to inefficient communication and unfamiliarity with each other’s tactics.
While Raiding has many cons, the rewards are tremendous, and it is still the most effective way of progressing your character. The amount of EXP given ensures that you gain the most from your leveling experience, while the equipment you acquire gives you an even more substantial gear score.
Raid Sequence
The sequence for raids is very straightforward since you can only do dungeons available at your level. While Alliance and Horde players begin at different starting points, the Raid instances follow the same pattern. Here is the order of an efficient leveling session:
- Fly to Coldarra after speaking to Surristrsz in Amber Ledge
- Accept the following tasks from these NPCs:
- Reading the Meters – Archmage Berinand
- Secrets of the Ancient – Archmage Berinand
- Have They No Shame? – Librarian Serrah
- Keristrasza – Keristrasza
- You must complete Reading the Meters and Secrets of the Ancient first before you can accept their subsequent missions: Postponing the Inevitable and Quickening, both received by Archmage Berinand.
- Do The Nexus dungeon to progress from level 70 to 73, which will enable you to complete most of the currently accepted quests (finish the Keristrasza quest chain that ends with Prisoner of War)
- Turn in your Nexus quests and go to Azjol Nerub in Dragonblight
- Accept the following quests:
- Death to the Traitor King – Kilix the Unraveler
- Don’t Forget the Eggs! – Kilix the Unraveler
- The Faceless Ones – Kilix the Unraveler
- Complete Death to the Traitor King and Don’t Forget the Eggs by running Azjol Nerub once
- Run the Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom to reach level 77 from 73 (make sure to complete the Funky Fungi quest and get the Ring of Blood style mission from the Amphitheater of Anguish in Zul’drak after level 75)
- Go to the Ulduar in The Strom Peaks
- Run the Halls of Lightning raid from level 77 to 80
- Once you’ve hit level 80, you can alternate between Bastion of Twilight, Throne of the Four Winds, and Blackwing Descent. They all provide the same amount of EXP and have the same loot Ilvl drops.
Questing
For lower-level players who don’t have access to Raids yet, doing quests is the most common form of leveling up until Dungeons become available. Though it is not as efficient as Raiding, it develops other aspects that are needed at end-game stages. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this feature:
Pros
- Casual and relaxing
- Can be done solo
- Allows you to develop your professions
- Becomes more efficient in a group
Con
- Can be time-consuming
- Might become boring after an extended period
- Requires travel time
- Kill quests can be tedious
- You can easily get sidetracked
Questing can be highly relaxing since not all of them are Kill Missions. Some of them require players to meet new NPCs or gather materials. In addition, adventurers can group up or do quests solo, which removes the stress of looking for more party members.
The most significant advantage of questing is that you also develop your Profession. Many missions will require players to harvest materials or process some items. These sessions will allow you to level up specific trade skills essential in end-game situations. Purely focusing on Raids does not give you time to engage in these activities, so you should integrate questing with it.
There are many disadvantages to doing quests, but none of them invalidate its benefits. Tasks can be tedious and time-consuming due to the time you spend traveling and the need to kill the same mobs repeatedly. In addition, the efficiency of doing quests also depends on your class since some jobs can have an easier time completing objectives.
Unlike Raids, Alliance and Horde players will have varying paths in their quest grinds. Knowing the optimal sequence of these missions will help gamers reach their desired level much sooner. Here is the efficient pathing for each faction.
Cata Alliance and Horde Leveling Guide via Quests
There are tons of missions that players can accept in the game. The best way to optimize your mission rotations is to focus on specific areas on certain levels. Here are the best places to go to depending on your rank:
- Howling Fjord (level 68-71)
- Borean Tundra (level 71-73)
- Dragonblight (level 73-75)
- Grizzly Hills (level 73-75)
- Zul’Drak (level 74-76)
- Sholazar Basin (levels 76-78)
- Crystalsong Forest (level 77-80)
- The Storm Peaks (level 78-80)
- Icecrown (level 79-80)
- Hyjal and Vashj’ir (level 80-82)
- Deepholm (level 82-83)
- Uldum (level 83-84)
- Twilight Highlands (level 84-85)
Try to focus on one zone at a time. Only move on to the next once you have reached the recommended level. Players should be aware of the color coding on each quest. The shade of the mission’s name indicates their recommended level, so if your character is too far off, you will have trouble completing all the related tasks. Here is the color-coding for quests:
- Red: These quests have a significantly higher recommended level, and you shouldn’t attempt to do them until you reach the higher ranks.
- Orange: These quests are doable, but you need help doing them. They have a much higher recommended level, so they will be much harder to finish if you try to solo them. It’s best to ask a friend or guildmate to help you finish them.
- Yellow: These quests are slightly more challenging than your average tasks but are still doable solo and within your capabilities. They are worth taking because they provide a massive boost to your EXP.
- Green: Green ones are the ones in your recommended level. They provide a decent amount of EXP, which would take significantly less time to finish. It’s best to complete all green quests before you rank up, so your EXP gain won’t be negligible.
- Gray: These quests are way below your recommended EXP level and aren’t worth doing. While you can still complete them if you want specific achievements or quest chains, you should not expect much experience from them.
While you are advised to be in groups when doing Yellow or Orange quests, you should not attempt to clear them when in a raid party. Some issues in these groups might cause you to fail to complete the requirements for specific missions.
New Warchief’s Command Board & Hero’s Call Board
Cataclysm introduced a new way of gaining EXP and other rewards through the Command Board and Call Board. Each faction has its own version, with the Alliance having the Hero’s Call Board and the Horde having the Warchief’s Command Board. You can find these bulletins in the faction capitals, Stormwind and Orgrimmar.
These boards will offer you quests within your level range to ensure you can efficiently finish them and maximize your rewards. These posts will usually guide you in figuring out which quests or challenges you should be doing next, depending on your current rank. Make sure to consult the board whenever you need help with your progression.
Grindings
As mentioned, grinding mobs is not recommended since they do not provide significant EXP. However, you can consider going for this route if, and only if, you need more experience to reach the next rank. Sometimes, you can’t accept a task or join a raid because you are only a few points away from the recommended level. Farming a few mobs can help bridge this gap instead of doing one long quest chain.
Be mindful when grinding mobs in groups because your EXP is shared between members. The more players there are, the bigger the dividends. Here is the breakdown example:
- Solo: 100% EXP
- 2 Players: 50% EXP per player
- 3 Players: 39% EXP per player
- 4 Players: 33% EXP per player
- 5 Players: 28% EXP per player
Don’t Forget Your Class Trainers
Leveling up means you get access to more powerful abilities. You can learn a new skill or upgrade your existing ones by interacting with Class Trainers in every major city in Azeroth. Aside from gear, attributes, and abilities, it would help if you powered up other aspects of your character, so always remember to check your nearby NPC for any upgrades.
Professions
While raising your level, it is crucial that your Profession also progresses since it will be beneficial later on. You can craft many items at the end-game stage, which you can use or sell for a lot of gold. Here are some of the best trade skills to level up:
- Skinning
- Mining
- Herbalism
- Blacksmithing
- Leatherworking
- Tailoring
- First Aid
You pick only one or two professions during your leveling stage, and it's best to stick to them as you progress. However, we advise players to get First Aid as one of their options since it helps players level up by providing various healing methods. Archaeology is also good to pick up after the Cataclysm expansion, but it requires too much RNG. You can either get lucky with each dig or gain nothing after spending hours looking for rubble to uncover.
Tips:
- Use an Epic Mount. Whether you are doing quests or hopping to raids, mounts are essential to get you where you need to go. This will help reduce your idle time in your gaming sessions.
- Be Mindful of your Gear. As you level up, you gain access to more areas. However, the monsters and bosses in these zones will also become more potent, so you must ensure that your equipment is current. Having the appropriate gear not only ensures that you can defeat your foes but also ensures your survival.
- Use consumable buffs. Food and water are essential in any aspect of the game. You might not notice them much, but they significantly boost your max HP, MP, regeneration, and statuses.
- Take a Break! While it is understandable that you want to rush your level, taking rests in between is an absolute must. A maxed-out character doesn’t mean a thing if you are too burnt out to play anymore.
