Starting Zones

8:12 Every starting zone in World of Warcraft: Forever gets dozens of new quests, characters and stories, Blizzard says, plus one wholly new zone, Zephras Isle, for the Skyborne. "Whether you're starting your journey as an orc in the Valley of Trials or a night elf in Shadowglen, there's something new just for you," the Classic team's lead content designer told the Found Photographs panel at BlizzCon 2026: new characters may greet players, give quests or teach skills and profession recipes.

Quick facts

Where each race starts

Blizzard has named only some of these in Forever's text. Where it has not, the entry is the original game's and is marked. Beta notes mention quest fixes in Elwynn Forest, Dun Morogh, Teldrassil, Durotar, Mulgore and Tirisfal Glades (Blizzard).

What is new

1:39 Blizzard's video of Oct 9, 2026 says new stories in the Undead starting zone explain how Paladins have emerged among the Forsaken. 17:23 Those Paladins go around level 10 to Bandarion Keep in the Whispering Wood, part of Tirisfal Glades that could not be reached before. Beta notes raised the level of quests there so they would not be green on arrival (Blizzard).

Forever's Quests count more than 1,000 new quests across levels 1 to 60. Blizzard has not said how many are in each start beyond "dozens".

Traveling between them

9:59 The first new ship route runs from Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine, so humans and night elves, and dwarves and gnomes, can play with friends through starting zones together. The second is a three-stop route from Menethil to Southshore and Auberdine. See Updated Zones.

20:29 The team said on Sep 24, 2026 that Skyborne leaving Zephras Isle reach Azeroth by faction: Windshapers near an Earthen Ring area in Mulgore, the Alliance into Dalaran.

What the beta changed

Blizzard's notes tuned the zones up to Oct 15, 2026 (Blizzard). In Elwynn Forest the Jasperlode and Fargodeep mines lost their candles for being "a little more deadly than intended for solo players", and "The Attack!" in Stormwind became shareable. In Teldrassil "Bounty: Gnarlpine Furbolg" needs 15 kills (was 20). Durotar's "Lazy Peons" got lazier, with a marker for "the super secret northern peons". Mulgore's Novice Warriors no longer flag players for PvP in "Sparring Match". Zephras Isle's "Catching Wind" was redesigned.

What is not known yet

As of Oct 31, 2026, Blizzard has not published a list of new quests per zone, or confirmed Gnome and Troll starts in text. The launch-day pass will fill them in.

Frequently asked questions

Do all races have new starting zone content in WoW Forever? Yes. Blizzard says dozens of new quests, characters and stories in each.

Are the original quests still there? Yes. Blizzard says Forever contains all of the original quest content and builds on it.

Can a Human and a Night Elf level together? Yes, more easily now: a new ship runs from Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine.

What level is the Skyborne starting zone? Levels 1 to 12, on Zephras Isle.

What should I do first? See Beginners Guide and Alliance vs Horde.

Sources

• World of Warcraft: Forever - Found Photographs | BlizzCon 2026, World of Warcraft, Sep 15, 2026 (video)
• WoW Forever Beta Development Notes, Blizzard Entertainment (Kaivax), World of Warcraft forums, Sep 24 to Oct 15, 2026
• World of Warcraft: Forever - Your Adventure Begins, World of Warcraft, Oct 9, 2026 (video)
• Unpacking Beta Launch ft. @Xaryu | Episode 1 - The WoW: Forever Podcast, World of Warcraft, Sep 24, 2026 (video)