In this article, we are going to be covering the WotLK starting zones, and when you are starting with WotLK, which one to pick: Howling Fjord or Borean Tundra?
Anyone who has leveled a World of Warcraft character has definitely visited Northrend at some point. The frigid northern continent was initially added in 2008, at the release of the expansion Wrath of the Lich King. Northrend will once again be at the forefront of the WoW leveling process with the release of the WoW: Classic edition of Wrath.
You’ve swept through Azeroth and Outland. The troops of the Lich King now await you in the cold continent of Northrend. Take on the undead Scourge and the Lich King himself atop Icecrown Citadel. After its original release in 2008, the Lich King returns with Wrath of the Lich King on World of Warcraft Classic and you can check it out and try it for yourself by visiting its official site. Also, you can check out the most useful add-ons for the WotLK from our article. You can also check out our WotLK DPS ranking and tier list to learn the best damage-dealing class in the game.
WotLK starting zones
When players first arrive in Northrend, they are given the option of visiting one of the continent’s two beginning zones, the Howling Fjord or the Borean Tundra. While the visuals and tales of each zone are vastly different, the leveling experience acquired in each zone is roughly equivalent, which means your character will not be at a disadvantage if they select one over the other.
Howling Fjord or Borean Tundra?
Blizzard Entertainment released the first expansion for World of Warcraft, The Burning Crusade, with only one beginning zone, Hellfire Peninsula. Because there was just one zone to begin the expansion’s questing experience, the region was inundated and overpopulated on launch day. Future expansions have given players numerous locales to begin their leveling experience, with Wrath providing them the option of the Howling Fjord or Borean Tundra.
Why go to the Howling Fjord?
Howling Fjord is a peninsula on Northrend’s southeastern coast. Players will meet various new races here, including the Vrykul and the Taunka. Much of the zone’s plot revolves around the locals, notably the Vrykul, and their hostile reaction to the entrance of the Alliance and Horde.
In its northernmost reaches, Howling Fjord is characterized by mountains, ridged woods, and snowy cliff tops. Furthermore, its opening sequence contains a leisurely boat voyage up to Daggercap Bay, which has a burning Vrykul ship trapped between two mountains, making it one of the most memorable and famous cinematic moments in all of WoW. Those initial few seconds in the zone are worth the trek in and of themselves.
Check out how to get to Howling Fjord?
Why go to Borean Tundra?
Borean Tundra is located on the southwestern point of Northrend, and its tale focuses on the Alliance-Horde battle. Valiance Keep and Warsong Hold, the two factions’ strongholds in the tundra, are within walking distance of each other. This zone has huge landscapes, such as the Scourge-ridden wastelands to the south and the resource-depleted Geyser Fields to the north.
Our verdict
Both the Borean Tundra and the Howling Fjord offer advantages, and your decision will have little effect on your relative experience gains. Borean Tundra has garnered significantly more criticism than Howling Fjord since the game’s first release, mostly due to its inferiority as a beginning zone. Due to its weak plot and grind-heavy task chains, players have called the zone the “boring tundra.” However, there are still missions to do and locations to explore throughout the zone.
We anticipate that the majority of the player community will flock to the Howling Fjord following the release of Wrath Classic, leaving Borean Tundra underpopulated in contrast. If you want to learn how you can get to Howling Fjord, make sure to check out How to get to Howling Fjord: Alliance and Horde. If you want to level quickly, a less-popular zone like Borean Tundra is a preferable option. If you want to enjoy the World of Warcraft Classic expansion with a more cinematic and story-driven atmosphere, Howling Fjord is probably for you.
We hope that you enjoyed this article on WotLK starting zones: Howling Fjord or Borean Tundra. If you did, we are sure that you will also enjoy reading some of our other articles, such as best WotLK Tailoring guide (2022), or best WotLK Engineering guide (2022).
