WoW Forever New Zones Guide: Riverglades, Hyjal & More
Where WoW Forever's four new zones are, what level they are for and what is in them, plus the new ship routes and the Classic zones that got new quests.
WoW Forever adds four new zones: Zephras Isle (levels 1-12, the Skyborne start), the Riverglades (mid-30s to mid-40s), Shen'dralas (a hidden region between Mulgore and Desolace) and Mount Hyjal (the aftermath of Archimonde's defeat). They sit alongside more than 1,000 new quests across the 1-60 journey, new ship routes and new content in several Classic zones.
WoW Forever new zones at a glance
WoW Forever is set in a Year 1 time bubble after the Warcraft III Forsaken Kingdom campaign and before Molten Core, so the new zones fill gaps in the original map instead of opening a new continent. There is no flying and no level scaling, so zone levels work as they did in Classic.
The four new WoW Forever zones
| Zone | Where | Levels | Who can go | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zephras Isle | In Skywall, the elemental plane of air | 1-12 | New Skyborne characters | Failing pylons, missing air spirits, Windshaper vs High Order story |
| Riverglades | Eastern Kingdoms, bordering Burning Steppes, Redridge, Swamp of Sorrows and Badlands | Mid-30s to mid-40s | Both factions | Powderfuse Port, 150+ quests, Krol'dok Stronghold dungeon |
| Shen'dralas | Kalimdor, between Mulgore and Desolace, south through the Valley of Bones | Not announced | Both factions | Ties to the Shen'dralar, Eldre'Thalas, Dire Maul and the centaur tribes |
| Mount Hyjal | Kalimdor, the site of the Battle for Mount Hyjal | Not announced | Both factions | Darkwhisper Gorge, emerging factions, Hyjal Summit raid |
Zephras Isle (levels 1-12)
Zephras Isle is the starting zone for the new Skyborne race and nobody else. It blends classic Warcraft style with Skywall architecture. The air spirits that protected the island have vanished, the pylons holding it together are failing and parts of the isle are falling into ruin, while the Windshapers, the High Order and a third group, the Al'Aketh, compete over its future.
The beta named areas such as Nightclaw Cavern and the Shen'dar Highlands. After level 12 Skyborne head to Horde or Alliance lands depending on their choice at character creation. Our Skyborne coverage and the WoW Forever leveling guide pick up from there.
Riverglades (mid-30s to mid-40s)
The Riverglades is the largest new leveling zone. Blizzard describes a frontier of rivers, grasslands, trade routes and struggling communities, built from a part of the Classic world players could never reach, roughly the size of Stranglethorn Vale. It borders the Burning Steppes, Redridge Mountains, Swamp of Sorrows and Badlands.
- Levels: mid-30s to mid-40s in the launch post, roughly 35-45 in the What's Next panel.
- Quests: 150+ in the launch post and What's Next panel; the Found Photos panel said nearly 200 for Horde and Alliance.
- Port and travel: the zone has its own harbor, Powderfuse Port, and Blizzard says the last of the new travel routes, the one to the Riverglades, starts with the Steamwheedle Cartel in Tanaris.
- Who you meet: the Powderfuse goblins, the Twilight's Hammer, the Brotherhood of the Horse, gnoll camps and ogre threats.
- Dungeon: Krol'dok Stronghold (40-45), an ogre fortress. Ogres have been kidnapping travelers and raiding communities, and you find the dungeon by following the trail of ogre outrunners.
For leveling, the Riverglades gives both factions a fresh alternative to Dustwallow Marsh and the Badlands in the 35-45 range. Our leveling guide places it in the 35-45 bracket for exactly that reason.
Shen'dralas
Shen'dralas is a long-hidden region between Mulgore and Desolace, reached south of Desolace through the Valley of Bones. Its story connects to the Shen'dralar, the Highborne of Eldre'Thalas (the city players know as Dire Maul) and the centaur tribes of the region.
That link to Eldre'Thalas also matters for the Skyborne: the High Order descends from its scholars. Desolace itself gets extra content and faction rewards for the centaur faction quests, so expect the two areas to be played together.
Blizzard has not published a level range for Shen'dralas. Desolace is a 30s zone in Classic and Dire Maul is endgame, so the range could sit anywhere between, and we will add it once the zone is live.
Mount Hyjal
Mount Hyjal explores the aftermath of Archimonde's defeat in the Battle for Mount Hyjal. You travel through Darkwhisper Gorge, help restore the land and meet emerging factions you can ally with.
It is also where the Hyjal Summit raid lives: a 20-player raid with new tier sets and a legendary reward Blizzard will reveal later, opening with Phase 1 on December 9. Blizzard has not given the zone a level range; our leveling guide puts it at the end of the 50s, next to the classic 50-60 zones. Raid details are in the Phase 1 raids guide.
Classic zones that changed
The new zones are only part of the 1,000+ new quests. Blizzard has called out these changes to the old map:
Changes to existing zones and routes
| Area | What is new |
|---|---|
| Valley of Trials and Shadowglen | New NPCs, quests, profession hooks and recipes in the starting areas |
| Ship routes | Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine early on, and a second route linking Menethil, Southshore and Auberdine |
| Wetlands | New quests and the Excavation Site dungeon above Whelgar's Excavation (24-29 in Blizzard's dungeon article, 26-31 in the beta notes) |
| Desolace | Extra content and faction rewards for the centaur faction quests |
| Duskwood | Mor'ladim's quest still gives a two-handed sword and now also the Ladimore Heirloom Ring for casters |
| Stranglethorn Vale | Hemet Nesingwary's quests add a new choice, the Master Hunter's Spellsword |
| Tirisfal Glades | Bandarion Keep in the Whispering Wood, where the Forsaken Paladin story begins |
| Dustwallow Marsh | Alcaz Prison dungeon on Alcaz Island (48-53); the Darkspear Islands battleground lies off its coast |
Six more new dungeons sit inside Classic zones, from Hall of Thanes under Ironforge to Shaper's Terrace in Un'Goro Crater. Our dungeons guide lists all nine with locations.
Fitting the new zones into your leveling route
- 1-12: Skyborne do Zephras Isle; everyone else starts in their racial zone, where Valley of Trials and Shadowglen have new content.
- 13-33: the new dungeons Hall of Thanes, Ruins of Lordaeron, Excavation Site and City of Dalaran break up the Classic zones.
- 35-45: move to the Riverglades and finish with Krol'dok Stronghold.
- 45-60: Alcaz Prison, Blackmaw Hold and Shaper's Terrace, then Mount Hyjal at the top end. Check Shen'dralas when its level range is known.
Riding at 40 makes the Riverglades and the long Kalimdor trips much faster; see the riding and mounts guide.
WoW Forever services
WoW Forever Powerleveling
- Any Range 1-60
- Launch-Day Start
- Riding & Gear Add-ons
WoW Forever Leveling Bundles
- 4 Bundle Tiers
- Cheaper Than Separate
- Endgame Ready
WoW Forever Hourly Driving
- Pay Per Hour
- You Pick the Focus
- Solo or Group
WoW Forever Dungeon Bundle
- 36 Dungeons
- Self-play or Piloted
- Loot Is Yours
WoW Forever new zones FAQ
How many new zones are in WoW Forever?
Four: Zephras Isle, the Riverglades, Shen'dralas and Mount Hyjal. Several Classic zones also got new quests and dungeons.
What level is the Riverglades in WoW Forever?
Blizzard says mid-30s to mid-40s, roughly levels 35 to 45. The Krol'dok Stronghold dungeon inside it is for levels 40 to 45.
Where is Shen'dralas?
In Kalimdor, between Mulgore and Desolace. Blizzard says you reach it south of Desolace through the Valley of Bones.
Can non-Skyborne characters visit Zephras Isle?
Blizzard describes Zephras Isle only as the Skyborne starting zone for levels 1 to 12 and has not said other races can travel there.
Is there flying in the new zones?
No. Blizzard confirmed WoW Forever has no flying mounts and no level scaling.
Related guides
Plan the full route with the WoW Forever leveling guide, see all nine instances in the dungeons guide and prepare for Hyjal Summit with the Phase 1 raids guide. The launch guide has the November 4 dates. Short on time for 1-60? See WoW Forever powerleveling.