Borengora’s Hunter Guide: Leveling (1-60)

(This guide was created by Borengora, level 60 orc hunter of the Twisting Nether server. All credit is due to him for this wonderful guide. Date: 12/17/2006)

8. Leveling as a Hunter (1-60)

Hunters are the fastest, easiest class to level. This is a fact. Warlocks are a close second, but no class can match the leveling capability of the hunter, which is one of the reasons there are so many of us: noobs hear it’s easy mode, so they roll a hunter. This is sad, but the truth. However, easy as it is, leveling is still a pain, so I have taken it upon myself to point out what I believe to be the best way to level. It’s not the fastest, but it’s a combination of speed and enjoyability, because who cares if you hit 60 in a week and are too burnt out to play anymore.

That being said, here’s how I suggest you level your hunter to 60:

1-10: Nub lands. Questing is the fastest way to level, because grinding just doesn’t give enough XP at this level.

10-25: Barrens quests! Quest stacking is insane in the Barrens. Silverpine is for the losers who don’t know about the Barrens. Pick up the Centaur quests, the hunting quests, the raptor quests, and especially the WC chain quest. All these begin in Crossroads (except the centaur one that’s west along the road a bit). Pick up all of them and you can complete them in an hour or two and gain a level at least, and they’re all chains, so you can come back for round 2!

Instances:
Ragefire Chasm – no drops, but good XP, with a few quests (2 from TB, 1 from UC, especially) Wailing Caverns - (http://thottbot.com/?i=6593, http://thottbot.com/?i=3605, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3932, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3804) and great XP if you get a decent group.

Grinding:
13-15: Bristlebacks north of Crossroads, Pirates south of Ratchet (Ratchet rep!)
18-21: Razormanes East of Camp T.
20-25: Razormanes South of Camp T., just north of RFK. Bael Dun dwarves.
25-30: Thousand Needles quests. Pick up the Grimtotem quests and the Galak centaur ones at Freewind Post, plus there’s some more northwest along the road. You can solo the panther one if you have a tank pet and maybe a health pot, depending on crits and such.

Instances:
Shadowfang Keep – (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=5081, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=8571, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=10007, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=9757, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3749, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3003 ).
Blackfathom Deeps – (http://thottbot.com/?i=10326). Not much for drops, but good XP and
questage.

Grinding:
25-30: Grimtotems and Harpys along the south wall.

30-34: Shimmering Flats/Arathi Highlands quests. I’d suggest hitting Shimmering Flats until at least 34, but you can do some of the quests at 30 or 31, it’ll just take longer. Plus, Shimmering Flats is another place where quests stack like crazy. There are about 5 or 6 that are just random monster killing or picking up stuff that’s lying all over.

Instances:
Razorfen Kraul: (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=9902, from a quest that drops off Charlga, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=9855, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=7786 normalyl a warrior thing, but it’s so hawt I’d take it if the warrior already had, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=12630, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=4168, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3976 from an escort quest).
Gnomeregan (Only go once…): (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=6336, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=6346 for underwater travel later, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3958 disappears after the 3rd use…so only use it twice, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=2281 HAWT!!! From a quest).
Grinding:
30-38: Everything in Shimmering Flats, except turtles (stupid-high armor. May want to tame one for a tanking pet if you haven’t already, though).

34-40: Stranglethorn Vale/Desolace quests. I’d suggest hitting Desolace first until around 35, then going STV for the hunting quests, then back to Desolace around 37 for the second round of quests, then back to STV for Grom’Gol quests. It seems Blizzard wanted to make each zone have 2 difficulty settings, so stick to the northern parts of each when you’re lower, and venture south when in search of tougher prey. The Centaur quests in Desolace are especially nice.

Instances:
Razorfen Downs: (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3925, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=16390, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=7805 = random drop)
Scarlet Monastery: (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3797, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3612, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=12785 very situational, but nice to have, especially when combined with http://www.thottbot.com/?i=12425 [makes STV MUCH easier], http://www.thottbot.com/?i=40690, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=7136, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=3567)

Grinding:
34-40: Random wildlife in STV (watch out for gankers, though).
38-42: Dustwallow Swamp – Very Northeast islands, Murloc Warriors/Oracles

40-50: Tanaris/Feralas/Arathi Highlands quests. Finish up Arathi quests for some nice XP, then head to Tanaris for good quests and easy grinding on pirates. Hit up Feralas for more good quests and grinding after you get a couple levels. Blasted lands and Swamp of Sorrows have a few quests if you get burnt out.

Instances:
Uldaman (If you can get a group…it’s like pulling teeth): (http://thottbot.com/?i=15501, http://thottbot.com/?i=10677, http://thottbot.com/?i=5237, http://thottbot.com/?i=9139, http://thottbot.com/?i=5292, http://thottbot.com/?i=13807, http://thottbot.com/?i=5071, http://thottbot.com/?i=5704, http://thottbot.com/?i=7356).

Maraudon (AMAZING hunter instance): (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=38583, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=38472, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=19474, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=38433, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=19739, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=38627, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=38721, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=38411, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=53898 EPIC…yet not that great).

Zul’Farrak: (http://thottbot.com/?i=10529, http://thottbot.com/?i=9150, http://thottbot.com/?i=38135 an EPIC…pain in the ass, http://thottbot.com/?i=6136, http://thottbot.com/?i=18192, http://thottbot.com/?i=19904, http://thottbot.com/?i=7260).

Grinding:
40-46: Woodpaws in Feralas
46-48: Frayfeather Skystormers in Feralas
48-50: Harpies in Feralas
48-51: Thistleshrubs SW of Gadgetzan

51-54: Un’Goro Crater, Felwood (Timbermaw Rep), Azshera, Winterspring. Tons of quests, many that stack. Check them out on Thtotbot and figure out your best route. Un’Goro’s got great grinding as well, especially if you’re a leatherworker, and the mobs have a chance to drop a Glowing Brightwood Staff (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=5621) which will net you a few hundred gold. Grind on the Timbermaw guys as much as possible, because you’ll want Timbermaw rep later, and you might as well get XP from it as well.

Instances:
Sunken Temple (The Temple of Atal’Hakkar): (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=5073, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=10442, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=10526, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=21782 EPIC but not that great, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=17569 it’ll be great in the plaguelands and level 60 instances, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=16367, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=18359, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=12222, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=4787, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=8807)

Grinding: 51-54: Western Plaguelands – first field to the left. Great XP and great Argent Dawn rep.

55-60: WPL, Silithus, EPL quests (for great XP and AD/CC rep).
Instances:
Blackrock Depths: (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=17585 FR gear!!!, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=39276, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=7171, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=5163 but don’t roll against a warrior for it, http://www.thottbot.com/?i=16361, and a ton more stuff)

LBRS – too much to list
UBRS – too much to list
Stratholme – Too much to list
Scholomance – Too much to list
Dire Maul – too much to list (make sure to do the warlock dreadsteed event, has an amazing gun drop)

Grinding:
56-60: Scarlet Lumberjacks, EPL.



Between around 68,69 you might be able to start heading to outlands where you can begin you grind to 70.