Where to Adventure Guide - Levels 31 - 40

Eastern Kingdoms

Alterac Mountains - Contested

The Alterac Mountains are located just north of the Hillsbrad foothills. If you wind your way through the passes heading north you will reach the Western Plaguelands. As the name implies the zone is full of mountains and passes. Deep in the mountains lay the ruins of Ruins of Alterac which has been invaded by elite ogres. To the west part of the zone on the plains just north of Hillsbrad lay the ruins of Dalaran home of ancient mages and site of a great catastrophe.

Alterac Mountains also house the Alterac valley battleground. The Alliance entrance can be found in the center of the zone along the southern edge in the mountains. The horde entrance is located in the center of the eastern edge of the zone. You can read all about the Alterac Valley battleground in the TenTonHammer Guide to Alterac Valley.

The Alterac Mountains do not actually house or start many quests other than those for the Battleground. Instead almost all the questing in the zone is done from quests in the Hillsbrad Foothills that send you here to gather items or kill mobs. It is also a very good place to farm cash at a low level. The ogres in the ruins and the yetis in the mountains both drop a lot of coin for their level and the ogres drops silk and mageweave as well. Once you can kill them easily it is a fast way to grab some cash solo. For a complete list of quests that do take place in the zone check out our TenTonHammer database entries for the Alterac Valley .

For gathering professions the Alterac Mountains have the following items. For herbalists you will find some Khadgar's whiskers, moderate concentrations of grave moss and fadeleaf and high concentrations of goldthorn and wintersbite. For miners expect to find lots of Iron and Mithril and a fair amount of truesilver. Those into skinning will find some beasts here to level from 150 - 170 skill.

You can find a map of the zone here and a list of all the quests in the zone in our database.

Arathi Highlands - Contested

The Arathi Highlands are located on a large mountain plain between the Hillsbrad foothills to the west and the Wetlands to the south. The zone is full of large hills and valleys and the odd farm . In it you will find the Alliance refuge point, the semi-Alliance held Stromgarde Keep and the Horde fort of Hammerfall. Once you get to the mid to high 30's then the Arathi Highlands become a viable place to adventure. If you are playing on a PvP server please note that this area is very popular and you should be prepared at all times to be attacked. This zone also houses the Arathi Battlegrounds.

There are many quests available here for mid to high 30 level players. The main quest chains here are Hammerfall, Sigil of Strom and the Hammer may Fall for the Horde side and Malin's Request and Hints of a New Plague for the Alliance. There are also a few quest chains available to both factions, they are: Crystal in the Mountains and Sunken Treasure. For a complete list of quests in the zone check out our TenTonHammer database entries for the Arathi Highlands. You can also find a map of the zone here.

For the herbalist the Arathi Highlands has an abundance of wild steelbloom, good levels of grave moss and kingsblood as well as some liferoot. Miners love this zone as there are tons of ore viens that appear including Iron, mithril and truesilver. Iron is the most common in the zone and can be found all around the edge of the zone (primarily the north and east edge though), and if you head to the small cave just east of Hammerfall in the mountains there is a very high density of mithril and truesilver. I know it's where I head to level my mining quickly and whenever I need iron, mithril of truesilver quickly at lower levels (IE: not 60). For skinners there are a fair amount of beasts in the zone and you can get skinning from level 150 - 180.

The Badlands - Contested

The Badlands is a large red sand and rock desert located just south of Loch Modan. While the scenery can run towards the barren look, it completely fits this zone, and if you hunt around you will find that there really is allot to see in the zone. Along the eastern edge is Lethlor Ravine, to the south is dustbelch grotto and in the north is the Uldaman instance. The only town in the zone is Kargath a small horde outpost located along the western edge of the zone.

The Badlands start to come into play for the mid to high 30's. It is a contested zone though and most mobs are around level 40-45 so it only comes into play with a party or if you are near level 40. The Badlands also houses the Uldaman instance for players in the 45-50 range.

Even though there is only a Horde settlement in the zone there are still many quests for both factions. The main Alliance only has one major quest chain which is A Sign of Hope, while the Horde has the Broken Alliances and Kill on Sight quest chains at the normal zone level. At level 60 the Warlords Command quest starts here as well which is the Horde Onyxia quest chain. There a few quest chains available to both sides in the zone as well, they are Gyro... What? and Study of the Elements. For a complete list of quests in the zone check out our TenTonHammer database entries for the The Badlands . You can also find a map of the zone here.

Herbalists will find a high amount of kingsblood, a moderate amount of wild steelbloom, khadgar's whisker, and purple lotus, as well as the odd firebloom. Miners will find decent amounts of tin and iron, and the odd mithril and truesilver (mainly along the eastern edge and in the Lethlor Ravine). Skinners really like this zone as there are a ton of beasts to skin that range in skill from 175-225.

Stranglethorn Vale - Contested

Stranglethorn Vale is located at the southern tip of the Eastern Kingdoms and is accessible through Duskwood. It is also accessible via boat from Ratchet or Zeppelin from the Undercity or Ogrimmar. Stranglethorn Vale is a huge tropical jungle zone, complete with tigers, panthers, and apes, oh my! It also features a ton of ancient ruins guarded by voodoo practicing trolls and even some ogres, as well as several pirate camps along the southern shore What more could you want in a jungle zone?

The Alliance has a small outpost along the northern edge of the zone, but there is no flight point there. The Horde have a fort about half way south in the zone. There is also Booty Bay at the southern tip which is a neutral town run by the goblins. It has everything you will need along the way, flight points, a bank, profession trainers and more. Because of all the towns and activity in the zone, it is very dangerous if you are on a PvP server. Be aware of your surroundings at all times if you are in PvP.

There are a huge number of quests in Stranglethorn Vale, and it is almost like an express highway from level 30 to level 40. So many quests, so little time. There are over 35 quests in Stranglethorn Vale in the level 30 - 40 range. Stranglethorn Vale also houses the high end level 60 raid instance called Zul'Gurrub. The main quest chains in Stranglethorn Vale are Panther Mastery, Tiger Mastery, Raptor Mastery, the Bloodsail Buccaneers, Stoley's Shipment and Zandalarian Shadow Talisman which are available for both factions. For the Alliance there is also the Haunted Isle, Bookie Herod, and Bad Medicine quest chains. While for the Horde there are the headhunting, Mok'thardin's Enchantment, Trollbane and the Singing Crystals quests. For a complete list of quests in the zone check out our TenTonHammer database entries for the Stranglethorn Vale . You can also find a map of the zone here.

Stanglethorn Vale is a haven for both Herbalists and Skinners as it has so many different herbs and skins available in it. Both professions should spend a lot of time leveling there skills here. Herbalists can find the odd stranglekelp, fadeleaf and goldthorn here, as well as moderate amounts of bruiseweed, liferoot, khadgar's whisker and blindweed. Skinners will find more than enough skins and hides here to level up to skill 250, and can also find several specialty skins in the zone, such as the shadowhide panther skin. Miners can also find joy here in the form of high iron concentrations, as well as some mithril and truesilver.

Swamp of Sorrows - Contested

The Swamp of Sorrows comes into play for the mid to high 30's as the quests range from level 37 to 42. It is a contested zone though and most mobs are around level 37-42 so it only comes into play with a party or if you are very close to 40. While this zone is mainly a Horde zone, there are a few quests for Alliance members and you will of course be coming through the zone to visit the Sunken Temple instance which can also be found here.

The zone itself is setup on a mainly east - west lay out, with access to it only through Deadwind pass to the west. To the south you can find the Blasted Lands and the Dark Portal. While I really like the look and feel of the zone, being an overgrown mangrove type swamp, the zone feels unfinished as you play it. For the vast amount of land that the zone contains there is very little to do. Sure there are some quests, but not enough to make me feel the zone has met it potential. The sole Alliance quest chain in the zone is called The Lost Caravan, while the Horde have the Fall From Grace, Lack of Surplus and The Atal'ai Exile quest chains. For a complete list of quests in the zone check out our TenTonHammer database entries for the the Swamp of Sorrows . You can also find a map of the zone here.

The Swamp of Sorrows has many items for gather professions including decent amounts of fadeleaf, goldthorn, khadgar's Whisker and blindweed for herbalists. Miners can find moderate amounts of iron, mithril and truesilver, while skinners will find a large number of beasts to skin that should allow them to get from 175 skill all the way to 275.

Kalimdor

Desolace - Alliance

There's a good place in the Night Elf lands that are perfect for the 30-36 gap - it's called Desolace, take the boat to Auberdine (from Menethil Harbor)then head south through Ashenvale forest. Go South east and find a cave that starts Talon Deep Path. This takes you through to Stone Talon Mountains, wind Southwest through that zone, and you'll be in Desolace. Lots of kill exp in this area and quests. There's a lot of higher level stuff there too, but's a nice buffer to fill the 30-35 gap. You could always bounce back and forth between there and Southshore, just leave yourself bound in Menethil harbor for a quick get back.

The zone is a wasteland that holds several secrets as well as hints of past glory. There are several ruins in the zone that house undead and demons, as well as a few small villages that hint at the past. You can also find a huge lighthouse, a cult fortress and a kodo graveyard. All worth sights on any trip through the zone.

For quest chains in the zone there is The Corrupter for Horde players and Vahlarriel's Search for Alliance players. There is also Raid on the Kolkar and Assault on the Kolkar available to both. The zone has many single stage quests for both factions and is really easy to level in. For a complete list of quests in the zone check out our TenTonHammer database entries for the the Desolace . You can also find a map of the zone here.

Desolace also houses the instance of Maraudon which is for slightly higher level players. It can be found to the south west in the back of a Kolkar camp. It features three wings and lost of quests and lot that are worth going there for.

While the experience and quests in the zone are very good, there is not a lot for the gathering professions. There is a little bruisweed, grave moss, kingsblood, liferoot and a moderate amount of gromsblood for herbalists. For miners there is a little mithril and truesilver, while skinners have it best in the zone with a high amount of beasts, but most only provide leather from skill 100-175 which may be lower than you need at this point.

Dustwallow Marsh - Contested

Dustwallow Marsh starts to come into play for the mid to high 30's. It is a very good place for mid 30 level players in groups to adventure. The Zone houses Theramore for the Alliance which is your main connection point via boat from the other continent and an ogre run Horde village to the north. The zone is an overgrown costal swamp area and is at time very creepy. Besides the normal swamp critters you would expect to find, you can also find dragons and dragonkin in the swamp. Be on the lookout for some higher level dragonkin while you adventure as several of the ruins in the are hour higher level quests, especially when you are still starting in the zone. Onyxia's Lair is also found in this zone in the far south, and of course we have a complete guide here: TenTonHammer's Guide to Onyxia.

The quest chains available in the zone include Get the Scoop and Soothing Spices for both factions. The Black Shield is an Alliance only quest chain, while the Horde have access to Identifying the Brood. For a complete list of quests in the zone check out our TenTonHammer database entries for the the Dustwallow Marsh . You can also find a map of the zone here.

Herbalism and skinning professionals should like this zone with moderate amounts of stranglekelp, kingsblood, fadeleaf, goldthorn, khadgar's whisker for herbalists and a plethora of beasts to skin from skill level 150 to about 250. The zone is also the best place to skin for worn dragon scales for your dragonscale leatherworking quests. Unfortunately there is not enough of any ore to make mining viable in the zone.

Thousand Needles - Contested

This zone continues to be in play through the low 30's. See the write up in the levels 21 to 30 section for more details.

Instances

Razorfen Downs - Contested

Razorfen Downs is located in the far south of the Barrens and is an instance meant for levels 35-40. It is very similar to Razorfen Kraul and other than the level difference could almost be considered just another wing of the dungeon. This one is full of undead MOBs though, but keeps with the slightly more difficult pace of the other Razorfen instance.

It is often ignored by adventurers though due to its remote location in the deep south of the Barrens. Alliance have a very difficult time getting there, especially on a PvP server. It is well worth the trip though as the loot and experiece is very good for the level.

The Scarlet Monastery - Contested

The Scarlet Monastery is one of my absolute favorite instances in the game. It is a monastery controlled by the Scarlet Crusade and is a very well themed instance. The monastery is split it into four separate ones, the Graveyard, Library, Cathedral, and Armory . It is the first "winged" instance in the game, get use to them, you will see more of them later in your adventures. Each instance can usually be finished in about an hour. To get to all the instances you will need to have the Scarlet key. With out the key the only instances open to you are the Graveyard, and Library. The Scarlet Key is found in the Library at the end of the instance. The easiest section of the Scarlet Monastery is the grave yard followed by the Library, then Armory and finally the Cathedral.

The Monastery is a great place to adventure and to farm for gold. It is the place that most players earn there money to buy their mount at level 40. You can enter the instance, run it, and move onto another very quickly. All the mobs drop decent amounts of coin and the item drops are very good in the zone.

This instance is a cluster of 4 instances located in a Monastery in the far north region of Tirisfal Glades. It is meant for levels 36-45. It is a real pain to get to if you are an Alliance player as you must fly to Southshore in the Hillsbrad Foothills and then run north through the Alterac Mountains and the the horde controlled Tirisfal Glades. If you are on a PvP server be very careful, you will get ganked!

You can find a complete guide to the Scarlet Monastery here: TenTonHammer's Guide to The Scarlet Monastery and many screenshots here.

 

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