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7 Most Exciting Starter Zones In World Of Warcraft

Discovering the most exciting starter zones in World of Warcraft is super important if you’re a newbie. Those first 20 levels can make or break whether a new player sticks to the game. I’m going to list the 7 most exciting starter zones from least to greatest. If you’re a newbie or if you’re trying to bring in a friend, maybe consider having them play one of these suggestions. Remember we want to give a new player that WoW factor when they play. World of Warcraft excels at ambiance, music, atmosphere, and fun.

We don’t want our first impression tainted. First impressions are everything. If my friends hadn’t convinced me to keep playing I would’ve stopped. I played a human during Vanilla. It was boring and I was confused. Honestly, I was also a kid at the time, so I spent most of the playtime killing bunnies anyway. Most newbies aren’t going to have awesome friends to show them the ropes, and to keep encouraging them. WoW has so many cool things to see, and so many awesome stuff to do.

We don’t want a new player to miss out because their first 20 levels sucked. The most exciting starter zones in World of Warcraft are only my suggestions. Leave a comment with your favorite starter zone. Maybe it can help another newbie find their home in Azeroth too.

Most Exciting Starter Zones In World Of Warcraft

New Starter Zone In Shadowlands Expansion

Beginning in the Shadowlands expansion all new players begin their adventure in Exile’s Reach. The new starter zone immerses them within the world of Azeroth. They begin their journey on a mission for either the Horde or Alliance, as they search for their missing allies. The island of Exile’s Reach is a fantastic starter zone because it teaches new players the mechanics of the game. You’ll learn how to equip your weapon, how to attack, and how to quest.

There’s even a chat channel specifically for new players to ask questions. Once players complete their journey in Exile’s Reach they go to either Stormwind (Alliance) or Orgrimmar (Horde). This is where they’ll be introduced to their faction leaders and be given a tour of the city. Returning players can choose whether they’d like to start in Exile’s Reach or one of the original starter zones.

Original Starter Zones

7. Draenei

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Let’s begin with the Draenei starter zone, Azuremyst Isle. Draenei is from the planet Draenor. Draenor becomes Outland once the Dark Portal is opened. Their space ship, the Exodar, crashed into Azuremyst Isle when they escaped from Tempest Keep on Outland. Blood Elf Prince Kael’thas Sunstrider had attacked the keep, which is a dimensional fortress, and the Draenei were only able to escape with a section of the place. That piece was the Exodar.

Draenei made this list because of their cool science fiction vibe. Their leader is the Prophet Velen. He’s connected to awesome lore involving the Burning Legion. I’ve always enjoyed playing Draenei, and I have a Draenei Priest, Death Knight, and Shaman. Draenei joined WoW during the Burning Crusade. If you’d like to know more about their race, the Naaru (light) they worship, and the Burning Legion, it’s certainly worth questing in their starter zone. Also, the area is unique, and no other area on Azeroth looks like Azuremyst Isle or Bloodmyst Isle with it’s crystals.

6. Blood Elf (Sin’dorei)

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The Blood Elf (Sin’dorei) starter zone is in the northern Eastern Kingdoms. Their kingdom is called Quel’thelas. They joined Warcraft during the Burning Crusade. Blood Elves have a gorgeous zone. The music is so pretty to listen too. They’re an ancient race who migrated to the Eastern Kingdoms from Kalimdor about 10,000 years ago. Night Elves didn’t agree with their use of the arcane, so the ancient Highborne knew they had to leave their homeland Kalimdor.

Sylvanas Windrunner was once a High Elf before the Death Knight Arthas Menethil murdered her and raised her from the dead. She was able to free herself from his control, and now she’s the leader of the Forsaken in the Horde. As High Elves, they were in the Alliance of Lordaeron. Most of the Blood Elven population was killed in Arthas’s attack. Now, the Blood Elves not only seek freedom from the magical addiction, but they also wish to forge a new future due to their painful past.

5. Night Elf (Kal’dorei)

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Night Elves are an ancient race. They’ve existed on Azeroth for at least 10,000 years. Their starter zone made this list because of its beauty and ambiance. It’s worth checking out this starter zone because of its uniqueness and calmness.

The Night Elves were once ruled by the Highborne Queen Azshara. She was addicted to the arcane arts. Azshara made a deal with the Burning Legion. The Well of Eternity was destroyed during the Legion invasion. It was where the elves were getting their magical power from. This caused an event called the Great Sundering which tore Azeroth apart. The Maelstrom was formed from the Well.

Zin’Azshari was lost in the sundering. This was the Elven capital and the seat of Azshara’s power. Everyone drowned in the city, except for Azshara and her most loyal supporters. Azshara survived because she made a pact with the Old God N’Zoth to become a Naga, but sadly some of the Highborne didn’t make it. In the real world, we’d think of the Sundering like Pangea. So basically all of the continents were one continent, until a blast broke them apart, and created many new continents.

After the Great Sundering, the Night Elves turned away from the arcane and began to focus on nature. They began worshiping the Moon Goddess Elune. The Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage and his wife High Priestess Tyrande Whisperwind became the leaders of their people. Not all Highborne drowned in Zin’Azshari. It was those elves who left Kalimdor and sailed across the sea to the Eastern Kingdoms.

4. Undead

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The Undead made it on this list because of how cool and creepy their starter zone is. Undead call themselves the Forsaken. They were once living citizens of the former Kingdom of Lordaeron. When Death Knight Arthas Menethil murdered his own father, King Terenas II, Arthas then turned all the citizens of Lordaeron into the undead Scourge. Kiljaeden created the Scourge. The dread lord trapped the soul of the Orc Shaman Ner’zhul inside the Frozen Throne in Northrend. By trapping him there, Ner’zhul became the Lich King, and this allowed him to have control of the damned. Arthas merged with the Lich King and became the Lich King himself.

When Sylvanas Windrunner broke from Arthas’s control, she was able to lead the Forsaken to victory. She reclaimed Lordaeron for the Forsaken, and they worked to rebuild their own home. Now, Sylvanas is Warchief of the Horde, and she’s currently on the run after Overlord Saurfang challenged her to Mok’Gora, which is a duel to the death. At first, Forsaken were trying to find their place in a world that didn’t want them, so what is their purpose now?

Top 3 Most Exciting Starter Zones In World Of Warcraft

Here are the top 3 most exciting zones in World of Warcraft. They’re great to experience at least once. There are positives and negatives with this though. With the more updated starter zones, you can only leave them if someone teleports you out. If that happens, then you won’t be able to return to the zone. Also, you’re unable to teleport from the Pandaren starter zone because you don’t choose a faction until the very end. Despite these drawbacks, these final three zones are some of the most exciting in World of Warcraft to experience at least once.

3. Pandaren

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The Pandaren were introduced in the Mists of Pandaria expansion. Their starter zone is gorgeous and incredibly immersive. You have a cohesive story being told from the beginning until the end. Pandaren was the first neutral race introduced to World of Warcraft. This means it’s possible to level to 120 without ever choosing a faction. In fact, there’s a player named Doubleagent who’s been doing just that since Mists released.

Pandaren doesn’t begin the game in Pandaria. Their starter zone is actually on the Wandering Isle. The Wandering Isle is a gigantic turtle called Shen-zin Su, which has been sailing the ocean for thousands of years. Residents of the Wandering Isle have been sailing the open seas ever since the Great Sundering.  The isle has it’s own complex ecosystem, and it’s just as beautiful as Pandaria itself. The music is top-notch, and the ambiance fits the setting beautifully.

Your character is tasked with saving the Wandering Isle from destruction. The isle has drifted too close to the Maelstrom, which is the dangerous spiral in the center of the ocean created from the Great Sundering, and if you guys don’t act soon, then the isle may be lost. Elders from the Temple of the Five Dawns have asked four elementals for aid. There are several potential ways to protect the island, and no one can agree on how to solve it.

2. Goblin

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Goblins have one of the most exciting starter zones in World of Warcraft. They begin on the Isle of Kezan. During this immersive starter zone, you’ll be roleplaying as a part of the story. You’ll have an assistant, fight the trade prince, and get your own car. The zone takes about three hours to complete, but you’ll be having a blast and probably won’t notice the time go by. The Isle of Kezan is where the Goblins in the Horde are from. Their island is destroyed when Deathwing emerges from within Azeroth. The Cataclysm causes your character to escape from the island.

This starter zone is similar to the Pandaren one. There is a singular and immersive story being told. You’re also being introduced to a race. The music and ambiance are also unique to the zone. If you’d like to experience a highly themed zone, then you’ll want to check out the Goblin starter area. I have three Goblin characters, two of whom had to start here. My Death Knight is the only exception because Death Knights always begin at Acherus regardless of their race.

1. Worgen

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The Worgen starter zone has to be the best one in the game. It’s so immersive and really cool. Gilneas has a creepy Victorian vibe to it. It’s dark and the buildings look super awesome. Worgen are werewolves and you’re going to become one yourself. You get to follow your character as the Kingdom of Gilneas is dealing with the Worgen crises. As you begin to transform into a monster, you still have to help save everyone from the undead lurking nearby. Sylvanas has sent in Forsaken, add this to the fact Deathwing is about to burst forth from the depths of Azeroth, and we’ve got drama. The whole zone is so fun. Music is top-notch, the ambiance is epic, and your level pretty quickly. You should finish the zone in about three hours.

Honorable Mention

I couldn’t write this article without mentioning the Death Knight and Demon Hunter starter zones. If you’re a newbie or if you’re bringing a newbie into the game, they probably shouldn’t start with these characters. Death Knight’s and Demon Hunters are Hero Classes. They’re best for players who already know how to play the game. Hero Classes normally have a level requirement to unlock. They’re incredibly fun to play, and they normally have immersive starting zone experiences too.

Death Knight

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Death Knights first appeared during Wrath of the Lich King. You no longer need to have a level 55 character to unlock this class. So a newbie should be able to try to out a Death Knight if they wish. These knights begin their service under the Lich King’s control. They’ll eventually break free and join the Horde or Alliance. You’ll be starting at Acherus the Ebon Hold in the Eastern Plaguelands. The starter zone is highly themed and super immersive. You learn the Death Knight backstory. By the end of the zone, you’ll be level 60. So you’ll be able to choose whether you want to move on to Outland or Northrend.

Demon Hunter

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Demon Hunter’s joined Warcraft during Legion. You need to have at least one level 70 character on a server to unlock them. These powerful Illidari are Illidan Stormrage’s elite army. Illidan Stormrage was a Night Elf who became a Demon Hunter. He was once a mage, but he betrayed his own people in the pursuit of power, and to destroy the Burning Legion. He now has the nickname ‘the betrayer’. As a Demon Hunter, you’re going to travel to the distant planet of Mardum to help find the Sargerite Keystone. The Sargerite Keystone is a fel-corrupted titan device that allows the user to travel to any world. Illidan wants the Demon Hunters to find the Keystone so we can stop the Burning Legion from destroying Azeroth. This starter zone involves traveling to another planet, fighting a demon, and escaping the Wardens prison. It’s a thrilling zone and a lot of fun. So be sure to check it out at least once.

7 Most Exciting Starter Zones In World of Warcraft – Conclusion

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What starter zone is your favorite in World of Warcraft? Please leave a comment with your answer.

Also, feel free to check out the World of Warcraft Terminology and Lingo guide, the best ways to gain reputation in WoW, How to make gold in WoW Classic, and the World of Warcraft Patch 8.2.5 Content Notes. The holidays are coming up fast, so feel free to visit the 23 must-have gifts for World of Warcraft fans. Want a more general list? Then check out the 22 must-have gifts for Video Gamers. WoW Classic has been a hit, so don’t miss the best addons for WoW Classic. BlizzCon is next month and we’ve got many juicy things to discuss. Check out the World of Warcraft Story so far, and the possible World of Warcraft Expansion leaks.

Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.

Happy Hunting,

Spyells


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