Alliance:You start out as a dwarf of gnome in Coldridge Valley and once you reach level 5 or 6 can venture out into Dun Morogh proper. The natural progression is to complete the quests in the starting area in and around Anvilmar, proceed northeast to Kharanos and knock out the quests there, some of which will take you westward to Brewnall Village . After you finish just about all the quests in Brewnall, explore the principal dwarven-gnomish city of Ironforge (north center of the map), then wrap-up the quests in eastern Dun Morogh and Gol'Bolar Quarry.
If you plan to pick up the primary professions of skinning, mining, or herbalism, the sooner you can shell out the 10 silver to the trainers in the central "Great Forge" area of Ironforge, the better. Dun Morogh is rich in resources of every type, and the sooner you get started, the less backtracking through easier areas to progress your skill you'll have to do. The snowy climes of Dun Morogh provide a perfect mountain home for the dwarves of Azeroth, not to mention an isolated place for their gnomish cousins to ply their gadgeteering trade. After the fall of Gnomeregan to an invasion of knee high furry hostiles known as troggs and a subsequent experiment in military tech gone very bad, both gnomes and dwarves call the city of Ironforge (in north central Dun Morogh) their capital. The trogg overflow extends well into western Dun Morogh, but though Gnomeregan is suited to adventurers in their high 20s-lower 30s, all mobs in Dun Morogh proper are a match for adventurers levels 1-10.
Teldrassilhe Starting Area for Night Elf
Night Elves start in Teldrassil and will spend the initial few levels (up to about 9-11) there. There are a lot of quests on the island and the whole capital city of Darnassus to explore. The Night Elves attempt to live in tune with nature and many of the early quests are tied to this attunement with their surroundings. The zone itself is a lush forest island and it really is a shame that only the Night Elves really get to experience the zone. Almost no other race takes the time to come to the island until way later in their level progression.
To get off of the island to the secondary zone you go through the red portal in Darnassus and teleport to the fishing town at the edge of the island and then either fly or take a boat to Auberdine on the main continent of Kalimdor. Having to go through the city, you should know more about it, to help we have made a Darnassus City Guide as well.
There are several different quest chains in the zone, the most prominent revolve around either killing undead that are under the control of the Scourge, killing members of the Scarlet Crusade, or collecting ingredients for alchemists to make new types of poison to kill of the enemies of the Undead.
Once your character has enough coin to learn professions you should head to Darnassus and pick them so that you can start leveling your skill in them early. In Teldrassil (as with all starting zones) you can find high concentrations of peacebloom, silverleaf and moderate concentrations of earthroot for herbalism there. You can also find a high density of copper there for miners. Lastly for skinning there is a high concentration of beasts that can be skinned.
Elwynn Forest he Starting Zone for Human
Elwynn Forest is a vast sprawling woodland inhibited by the bulk of the Human population. The forest itself is home to many wild creatures ranging from boards and wolves to the strange kobolds and murlocs. Elwynn Forest enjoys the security of the Stormwind guard, but that security is only reserved for the roads and towns. Many places are overrun by the Defias staging camps or one of the many strange creatures that have taken up residence in this land. The majestic city of Stormwind lies in the northwest of the forest, looking over the last remaining cities of the Human empire.
When you play as a human you will start in the Northshire Abbey to begin your adventures. There are several quests there to help you reach at least level 6. Once you are done there you can head out into the bigger forest zone. There are several main quest areas in Elywnn Forest including the Gnolls south of Goldshire, Murlocks around Crystal Lake and the logging camp to the east.
Having just started a character you should head to Stormwind and pick your professions and start leveling your skill in them early. In the forest you can find high concentrations of peacebloom, silverleaf and moderate concentrations of earthroot for herbalism there. You can also find a high density of copper there for miners. Lastly for skinning there is a high concentration of beasts that can be skinned.
Azurmyst Islehe Starting Zone for Draenei
Draenei female
The starting area of the draenei is the mystic Azuremyst Isle, located in the Veiled Sea to the Southwest of Teldrassil. Shipwrecked, the Draenei are busy studying the region they have found themselves in and tending to the survivors of the crash. As an able-bodied survivor, you are expected to help in the relief efforts. The crash has had a devestating effect on the islands and their inhabitants. Wreckage, crystals, mutated animals are present in every direction. Your first quests involve healing survivors (using the racial ability Gift of the Naaru which is a healing spell that gains strength as you gain levels), killing giant mutated flowers and moths and gathering materials to heal survivors. All the quests are geared toward recovering from the crash.
Draenei Mount
All of the beginning quests are centered around the Crash Site. This is where you're beginning trainers are located. Draenei can be warriors, paladins, hunters, priests, shamans, and mages.
In Azurmyst Isle you can find high concentrations of peacebloom, silverleaf and moderate concentrations of earthroot for herbalism. You can also find a a fairly high density of copper for miners and a high concentration of beasts that can be skinned for leather and hides.
There are many quests in the zone, including several low level class specific ones.
Horde:Sen'Jin Village
When you first start in the zone you will start in the Valley of Trials , which is a sub zone made to start you in and teach you the basics. You can probably reach level 5 or 6 in the zone and then need to explore further. From there your next stop is the Troll settlement of Sen'jin Village until about level 8 and then north further to Razor Hill where you will spend the rest of your time in the zone.
Durotar also houses the Orc Capital ciry of Orgrimmar and you should head there early to pick up the flight point and learn your professions early. When you do head there you should check out our guide to Orgimmar.
In Durotar you can find high concentrations of peacebloom, silverleaf and moderate concentrations of earthroot for herbalism. You can also find a a fairly high density of copper for miners and a high concentration of beasts that can be skinned for leather and hides.
There are many quests in the zone, including several low level class specific ones.
Mulgorhe Starting Zone for Tauren
Camp Mojache
The Tauren claimed the verdant valley of Mulgore as their own after their new allies and brothers, the orcs, swept back the troublesome centaur. Under the enlightened leadership of Cairne Bloodhoof, Thunder Bluff was built as an impregnable central city for the Tauren atop Mulgore's mesas. New Tauren start their lives far to the south, in a protective enclosure known as Camp Narache in the Red Cloud Mesa. Here you'll meet several of the Tauren racial enemies, the most prevalent of which is the boar-like humanoids known as bristlebacks. Bloodhoof Village is located in about the center of the region. It's actually at the foot of Stonebull Lake , a great place to fish if you have any interest. Around this area you'll come across Venture Company humanoids and Bael'Dun miners; those who the Tauren say seek to defile the land for the sake of greed. Far to the northeast, you'll find the Tauren sacred burial grounds of Red Rocks, defiled by bristlebacks. Harpies control the fringe lands of this region, and everywhere you go, you'll find savage prowlers and prairie wolves.
Thunder Bluff
Mulgor is the perfect place for the Tauren starting and leveling with its large package of quests. You can easily level up to 8-10 before you leveling in this zone.
The natural progression is to complete the quests in the starting area in Red Cloud Mesa move onto Bloodhoof Village and then Thunder Bluff, the capital of the Tauren.
Upon the completion of all the quests in the zone, you can go ahead to the Barrens for your teen levels. When you do check out our guide to the Barrens. Don't forget to make your way to Thunder Bluff as early as possible too. While there grab the flight point and your professions.
Eversong Woodshe Starting Zone for Blood Elf
Eversong Woods is the home of the Blood Elves and all new Blood Elf player characters start here.
Having just started a character you should head to Silvermoon City and pick your professions and start leveling your skill in them early. In the zone you can find high concentrations of peacebloom, silverleaf and moderate concentrations of earthroot for herbalism there.
All Forsaken begin their un-lives in Tirisfal Glades. No race is more isolated than the Forsaken. Fighting not only against the Alliance forces but also the Undead Scourge held in ghastly thrall by the Lich King, few among even their allies in the Horde ranks would deem them trustworthy. Their presence is an aberration against nature, and their core motivations under the demon lord Verimathras are cloudy at best.
You can start your adventure initially in the town of Deathknell in the southern area of Tirisfal Glades, a small sub-area of the larger area. Once you have completed all the quests in the zone, and you are high enough level to leave Deathknell you head out and to the east to the town of Brill . Most of the quests you will receive for the next several levels are from Brill. Once you get close to level 10 you will start to receive quests that have you travel out of this zone to other areas, namely Silverpine Forest and the Undercity.
Brill
There are several different quest chains in the zone, the most prominent revolve around either killing undead that are under the control of the Scourge, killing members of the Scarlet Crusade, or collecting ingredients for alchemists to make new types of poison to kill of the enemies of the Undead.
Having just started a character you really should head to the nearby Undercity and pick your professions and start leveling your skill in them early. In Tirisfal Glades you can find high concentrations of peacebloom, silverleaf and moderate concentrations of earthroot for herbalism. You can also find a high density of copper there for miners. Lastly for skinning there is a high concentration of beasts that can be skinned.
Durotarhe Starting Zone for Orc and Troll
Skull Rock
Thrall settled his orcish tribes in Durotar after a ravenous plague and undead aggression forced all the civilized races away from the continent of Azeroth and onto the distants shores of Kalimdor. When the burning legions were defeated and Azeroth was resettled, the orcish capital of Orgrimmar was cut from the stony cliffs and barren red desert plains of Durotar. It's here that the Horde find solace from the treacherous humans and the Grand Alliance following the Proudmoore debacle that left the Horde-Alliance peace in tatters. The orcs protected and resettled the Darkspear trolls after a darker evil overtook their ancestral home of Stranglethorn Vale during the last age, a favor the trolls hope to repay with their unwavering allegiance.