WoW Forever Phase 1 Leveling Guide 1-20: Complete Route
Phase 1 of the WoW Forever beta caps at level 20 (corrects earlier coverage). This guide covers the fastest path to the cap, including Zephras Isle (Skyborne starting zone), Hall of Thanes (13-18 dungeon), and the optimal 18-20 transition.
For broader coverage, see our Beta Phase 1 vs Phase 2, Beta Leveling Guide 1-30, and Best Addons articles.
Quick summary: Total Phase 1 time is 6-10 hours for experienced players, 10-15 hours for first-timers. Skyborne path: Zephras Isle (1-12) → main continents (12-13) → Hall of Thanes spam (13-18) → Ruins of Lordaeron partial (18-20). Non-Skyborne: standard Vanilla zones with same dungeon strategy.
Phase 1 timing
| Player type | Time to 20 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Experienced | 6-8 hours | Optimized dungeon spam |
| First-time | 10-15 hours | Quest-heavy |
| Casual | 15+ hours | Lots of exploration |
Levels 1-12: Starting zones
Skyborne: Zephras Isle
Skyborne players level 1-12 in Zephras Isle, the custom starting zone. See our Zephras Isle Guide for the full walkthrough.
Key points:
- Complete all 5 quests for bonus XP
- Do all 3 bonus objectives
- Pick your faction carefully (permanent choice)
Non-Skyborne races
Standard Vanilla starting zones — efficient but content-light:
| Race | Fastest path |
|---|---|
| Human | Northshire + Elwynn |
| Dwarf / Gnome | Coldridge + Dun Morogh |
| Night Elf | Shadowglen + Teldrassil |
| Orc / Troll | Valley of Trials + Durotar |
| Undead | Deathknell + Tirisfal |
| Tauren | Camp Narache + Mulgore |
Levels 12-13: Transition
Once you reach 12, you can join the main continents. Don’t waste time on quests in your level range — go straight to Hall of Thanes.
- Alliance: Take boat to Menethil → run to Wetlands → Dun Morogh → Hall of Thanes entrance
- Horde: Run to The Barrens → Ashenvale → Wetlands → Dun Morogh → Hall of Thanes entrance
- Skyborne: Same paths based on faction
Levels 13-18: Hall of Thanes spam
Hall of Thanes is the best XP/hour dungeon in Phase 1. See our Hall of Thanes Guide for full details.
| Level | XP/run | Time/run | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | ~6,000 | 30 min | First runs slower |
| 14 | ~5,500 | 28 min | |
| 15 | ~5,000 | 26 min | |
| 16 | ~4,500 | 24 min | |
| 17 | ~4,000 | 22 min | |
| 18 | ~3,500 | 20 min | Switching soon |
Strategy: Queue as tank or healer for instant pops. As DPS, 5-15 min wait.
Total time Hall of Thanes spam 13-18: ~3-5 hours
Levels 18-20: Ruins of Lordaeron + final quests
At 18, switch to Ruins of Lordaeron for the final stretch:
| Level | XP/run | Time/run |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | ~3,500 | 22 min |
| 19 | ~3,000 | 20 min |
| 20 | ~2,500 | 18 min |
Plus 5 quest chains for bonus XP.
Total time 18-20: ~2-3 hours
Total Phase 1 time
| Phase | Time | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| 1-12 (starting zone) | 1.5-2.5 hours | 1.5-2.5 hours |
| 12-18 (Hall of Thanes) | 3-5 hours | 4.5-7.5 hours |
| 18-20 (Ruins of Lordaeron) | 2-3 hours | 6.5-10.5 hours |
Phase 1 priorities (what to test)
- Zephras Isle — full Skyborne starting experience
- Hall of Thanes — all 5 bosses + loot
- Faction choice — try both Alliance and Horde
- 6 new race-class combos — Undead Paladin, Dwarf Shaman, etc.
- Class balance — try your main at level 20
Tips for fast Phase 1 leveling
- Use rested XP — log out at inns
- Bring friends — dungeon spam is faster with guild
- Skip side quests — focus on main story + dungeon runs
- Use heirlooms — if you have them, +15% XP
FAQ
Can I reach level 20 in Phase 1?
Yes — level 20 is the Phase 1 cap. All content up to 20 is available.
What’s the fastest way to level 1-20?
Skyborne: Zephras Isle + Hall of Thanes spam.
Do I need to do quests?
Quests give bonus XP but dungeon spam is faster.
What about other races?
Standard Vanilla starting zones work similarly.
Final verdict
Phase 1 is mostly about Hall of Thanes spam. The 1-12 starting zone + 12-13 transition is quick, then 3-5 hours of dungeon grinding carries you to 20.
For most players: focus on Hall of Thanes, submit bug reports, and try multiple faction/race/class combos.
For Phase 2: continue with Excavation Site at level 24+.
For more leveling guides, see our Beta Leveling Guide 1-30, 1-60 Complete Route, and Phase 1 vs Phase 2 articles.
