How this route works. Skyborne start on Zephras Isle (levels 1–13), then join the Horde path, where dungeon quests carry the XP. Herbs you pick on the way feed Alchemy directly. Levels and hubs are Reported unless marked.
Dungeon quests are the XP. Confirmed
Blizzard cut the XP from dungeon mobs and raised dungeon quest XP sharply (Kris Zierhut, principal designer). Run each dungeon once with its quests; don't farm trash.
Zones follow the next dungeon. Reported
Quest where that bracket's dungeon quests start, collect them all, run the dungeon, turn in, and move on.
Eat before you pull. Confirmed
Crafted food gives Well Fed +5% kill XP (8% with the Cozy Sleeping Bag at camp). That makes Cooking a leveling profession, so start it on day one.
Trainer gates set your profession pace. Classic-baseline
Journeyman needs character level 10, Expert level 20 and Artisan level 35. Keep each profession near its cap before you outlevel the materials in your current zone.
Level1–3
Thendal Village
Zephras Isle
Do
Main chain opener: Coming of Age, Harmony in Balance, Elemental Unrest (quest names from one source) Reported.
Druid trainer here: Xyton Silverwind Reported.
Professions on the way
All: Every profession has a trainer on the isle (Herbalism, Alchemy, Cooking, Fishing and First Aid confirmed; most teach Apprentice, some Journeyman). Learn Herbalism and Alchemy right away and start everything here Confirmed.
Herbalism: Pick every herb. Beta players report their bags filling with herbs and Alchemy materials by level 9.
Level3–5
The Standing Stones
Zephras Isle
Do
Yala Windwatcher's elemental cultist quests; Infestation Investigation leads to The Cirrusfly Queen; Reading the Ley Lines and The Anchors of Zephras set up the isle's main plot Reported.
Professions on the way
Alchemy: Elixir of Minor Defense and Minor Arcane-type elixirs from the herbs you pick.
Fishing: Learn Fishing and fish the shoreline: beta testers report meat is scarce on the isle, so fish are your cooking material Confirmed.
Level5–8
Shen'dar Village
Zephras Isle: Shen'dar Village, Shadowgale (also spelled Shadowgate) Forest
Do
Camping: The Great Outdoors and Camping 101 here teach Cooking and the Basic Campfire Reported. Camp and cook from now on: crafted food gives +5% kill XP.
The Problem With Prideclaws (level 4+) and Constable Aonda's bandit and cult chain Reported.
The finale at the Shrine of Akir (The Inner Sanctum, Confront Lorthuna) Reported. Ruins of Ban'aethal is a new subzone at the isle's northeast edge.
Leave on the skyboat from the dock in Valanaar (about 57.9, 80.9). It lands in Mulgore near Skywatcher Plateau, so Thunder Bluff is your first city Confirmed. The boat to Dalaran and a portal is the Alliance route.
Professions on the way
All: Sell or bank spare herbs and potions in Valanaar before you leave.
Level13–18
Thunder Bluff to the Barrens, Ragefire Chasm
Mulgore (Thunder Bluff, Bloodhoof Village), the Barrens (Crossroads), Orgrimmar
Arrive in Mulgore and set your hearthstone in Thunder Bluff; train Journeyman professions there.
Road east into the Barrens; Durotar Supply and Logistics just west of the Crossroads (Dokimi) takes your Waylaid Crates for Merchant's Favor, and sells the new Alchemy recipes.
Cozy Sleeping Bag chain from level 14: Burned-Out Remains in the Field of Giants (southern Barrens) → Stonetalon → Thoradin's Wall in Hillsbrad (~20). Rest in the bag for +3% XP for 2 hours Reported.
Meet Thrall in Grommash Hold; collect the Ragefire Chasm quests and run it once.
Professions on the way
Herbalism: Peacebloom, Silverleaf, Earthroot, Mageroyal in Mulgore and the Barrens → ~100.
Alchemy: Elixir of Minor Defense → 65, Minor Mana Potions → 90.
Cooking: Plainstrider and kodo meat → ~90; Journeyman Campfire kit.
Pick every herb on your route; turn low herbs into potions and Lesser Mageblood / Cleric’s Elixirs as you unlock them.
Level 10+
Talents: Feral Cat
Follow the point order on the Talents tab. Classic milestones (unconfirmed for Forever): Bear Form quest ~10, Aquatic Form ~16, Cat Form 20, Travel Form 30.
Levels 15–25
Wailing Caverns
Farm the five Embrace of the Viper pieces for Serpent Form. Bear can tank Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20).
Levels 35–40
The Drowned City
A good Bear tanking dungeon.
Levels 55–60
Respec to Restoration
Raids open Dec 9: Barrow Deeps (10), Hyjal Summit (20), Onyxia (40).
Spec notes
Feral Cat
Tiger’s Fury is +15% physical damage every 30 sec at no energy cost; King of the Jungle adds 60 energy; bleeds can crit; Berserk capstone. Powershifting is gone.
Feral Bear
Primal Bite (formerly Mangle) on a 6-sec cooldown, Lacerate, and Berserk makes Primal Bite hit 3 targets: real AoE threat.
Restoration
Wild Growth capstone; Swiftmend no longer eats your HoT; HoTs can crit. No Lifebloom or Tree of Life.
Balance
Eclipse loop and the Moonkin crit aura. Wrath got +~50% base damage on Sept 24, which helps early Balance.
Feral
Restoration
Alchemy
Cooking
Fishing
Zephras Isle
