WRITTEN ARTICLE · RIVERGLADES AND HYJAL
WoW Forever leveling past 30: Riverglades, Hyjal and the Brotherhood of the Horse
Where WoW Forever leveling goes after level 30: the Riverglades factions for Alliance and Horde, the Twilight’s Hammer, Mount Hyjal and the Barrow Deeps raid, from Blizzard’s October 19 video.
Where does WoW Forever leveling go after 30?
Blizzard’s October 19 leveling video points to two new zones past level 30. The Riverglades is a new zone in the Eastern Kingdoms, and Blizzard’s What’s Next recap says it covers much of the mid-30s to mid-40s. Mount Hyjal comes after it, and the video calls Hyjal the climax of your leveling journey.
The beta stopped at level 30, so we have not played either zone. Everything below comes from Blizzard’s video and its two panel recaps.
In this article
Diagram: ForeverWisp Editorial. Not an in-game screenshot.
Where is the Riverglades?
Found Photos describes the Riverglades as a mid-level zone roughly the size of Stranglethorn Vale, built from a part of the Classic world players could not reach before. It borders the Burning Steppes, Redridge Mountains, the Swamp of Sorrows and the Badlands. The video presents it as the place your journey continues where roads such as Redridge’s used to end.
Its port, Powderfuse Port, is the end of a new Steamwheedle Cartel ship route from Tanaris. It is also where our Black Market guide places the goblin reagent vendors.
Blizzard has given two quest counts. What’s Next says more than 150 new quests, and Found Photos says nearly 200 for Horde and Alliance players. Blizzard has not explained the difference, so treat the exact number as unconfirmed.
Alliance: the Brotherhood of the Horse
Alliance players meet the Brotherhood of the Horse, a faction that goes back to Warcraft II. The video describes them as what remains of Stormwind’s most elite knights, who fought at the battle for Blackrock Mountain.
After that battle, Turalyon led the Alliance south to march on the Dark Portal. The Brotherhood disobeyed and stayed behind to hunt down what was left of the Horde, breaking with Stormwind and the Alliance for good. Twenty years later they hold Farholde Keep in the Riverglades, still fighting remnants of the Old Horde, the Twilight’s Hammer and the Bolder’ok ogres.
Horde: the Bolder’ok ogre clan
The video compares the Riverglades with Stranglethorn Vale: it is not just an Alliance zone. Horde players meet the Bolder’ok, an ogre clan that broke away from the Twilight’s Hammer after the Second War.
The Bolder’ok live in the shadow of Krol’dok Stronghold, which their former Twilight’s Hammer masters hold, and compete with the humans of Farholde for the open plains. The video does not name a Horde town in the zone.
Both factions: the Twilight’s Hammer and Krol’dok Stronghold
Both factions fight the Twilight’s Hammer. The video says the clan has taken the old Horde’s westernmost stronghold, now called Twilight’s Shroud, as well as Krol’dok Stronghold, and that its true aims are unknown.
What’s Next lists Krol’dok Stronghold among the nine new dungeons. Our new dungeons page lists it for levels 40 to 45.
Around that story, the video shows side quests such as wrecking a pirate operation, rescuing a horse and something it only names as Jom-Jom. Deeper in ogre territory is the Bloodmasters’ Ring, where players fight the ogres’ best brawlers. Found Photos adds gnoll camps and the new Powderfuse goblins.
Mount Hyjal after the Riverglades
The video places Mount Hyjal after the Riverglades. Malfurion Stormrage and the druids have kept Hyjal sealed for five years, and the road in is now open for the first time since the Third War. Players work with the Druids of the Talon and the wider Cenarion Circle to heal and rebuild the land after the Battle of Mount Hyjal. What’s Next adds a journey through Darkwhisper Gorge.
The video says Horde and Alliance members on the mountain have lived in an uneasy agreement, and that tensions are rising again now the gates are open. It also introduces the Curious Crow, a crow who has uncovered warlocks and activity involving the Wild King and needs players’ help.
Neither the video nor the recaps give Hyjal a level range. Found Photos says players meet emerging factions there, and our reputations page lists the Hyjal faction names found in the beta data.
Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair
The video places Barrow Deeps, a new 10-player raid, deep within Mount Hyjal. It describes the raid as a prison that once held Azeroth’s most infamous betrayer. Blizzard’s October 20 raid overview names that prisoner as Illidan Stormrage and lists eight bosses, with entrances from Mount Hyjal, Winterspring and Blackmaw Hold. What’s Next plans it as a maximum-level challenge.
Hyjal Summit is the other raid tied to the mountain, a 20-player raid near the World Tree Nordrassil with 13 bosses. Both open on December 9, alongside 40-player Onyxia’s Lair in Dustwallow Marsh. Of the three, only Onyxia’s Lair lists an attunement.
How to prepare for leveling past 30
This is our advice, based on what Blizzard has said so far.
- Plan to reach the Riverglades by ship. Found Photos names the Steamwheedle route from Tanaris to Powderfuse Port, and none of these sources says whether you can also walk in from the zones around it.
- Our class leveling guides stop at level 30, the highest level the beta allowed. We have not tested anything above it.
- If you want a dungeon on the way, Krol’dok Stronghold is in the Riverglades itself.
- Check Blizzard’s patch notes after launch, since zone and quest details can change before November 4.
Related reading and guides
Sources and review notes
- World of Warcraft on YouTube: Your Leveling Journey Past 30, October 19
- Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever What’s Next panel recap
- Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Found Photos panel recap
- Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Raid Overview, October 20
Written October 20 from Blizzard’s October 19 leveling video and its What’s Next and Found Photos panel recaps. The beta was capped at level 30, so ForeverWisp has not played the Riverglades or Mount Hyjal. Updated October 21 with Blizzard’s October 20 raid overview.
