WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Blood Elf Paladin Leveling Guide

With the WoW Classic 20th Anniversary TBC pre-patch arriving on January 13th, players finally get the chance to experience a major change from the original Burning Crusade release. This time around, Draenei and Blood Elf characters can be created and leveled before the Dark Portal opens, giving players a valuable head start. For Horde players, the Blood Elf Paladin is one of the most anticipated additions, combining strong solo leveling, dungeon flexibility, and long-term raid value.

This guide focuses on how to efficiently level a Blood Elf Paladin from 1–60 during the WoW Classic 20th Anniversary, covering preparation, talents, combat tips, and optimal leveling routes.

Early Preparation and Planning

Proper preparation can dramatically improve your leveling speed. Since Paladins rely heavily on weapon damage and consistent mana management, small advantages early on compound over time.

Choosing the Right Starting Area

Although Blood Elves begin in Eversong Woods near Silvermoon City, this starting zone is not ideal for Paladins. Silvermoon lacks convenient Paladin trainers early on, which can slow skill progression. A common strategy is to have a Mage or Warlock teleport you to Orgrimmar, where Paladin trainers are easily accessible.

Avoid Thunder Bluff and Undercity, as neither city has Paladin trainers. Missing key skills can significantly reduce leveling efficiency. If you've prepared consumables or gear in advance, grab them from the nearest mailbox, then Hearthstone back to your questing zone for a strong early advantage.

Weapon Enchantments and Consumables

In WoW Classic 20th Anniversary, early leveling still revolves around open-world mob farming. Weapon enchants can massively increase your kill speed:

Fiery Weapon: Deals up to 40 fire damage with a high proc rate, often allowing you to kill low-level enemies in one or two hits.

Crusader: Procs less often but grants 100 Strength and heals you, making it excellent from level 30 onward.

The recommended approach is Fiery Weapon before level 30, then switching to Crusader for mid-to-late leveling. Pair this with Frog Leg Stew, which is available from level 1 and provides excellent health regeneration, reducing downtime between fights.

Stick to one weapon type whenever possible. Constantly switching weapons forces you to level multiple weapon skills, slowing your overall progress. If your 20th Anniversary Gold is limited, always prioritize upgrading weapons over armor, higher damage means faster leveling.

Talent Choices for Efficient Leveling

Paladins have access to Holy, Protection, and Retribution talents, but not all are equal for leveling.

Retribution is the best choice for solo leveling up to at least level 16, offering higher damage and faster kills.

After level 16, Protection becomes useful if you plan to tank dungeons, though Retribution Paladins can still tank early instances using a one-handed weapon and shield.

Holy is not recommended for solo open-world leveling unless you plan to level exclusively in dungeon groups.

Importantly, Consecration is now a baseline Paladin skill in the pre-patch, meaning all specs can use it without investing in Holy talents.

Recommended Leveling Path (1–60)

Following a structured leveling route minimizes travel time and maximizes quest efficiency:

1–10: Eversong Woods, Durotar

10–20: Ghostlands, The Barrens, Eversong Woods

20–25: Stonetalon Mountains, Ashenvale, Hillsbrad Foothills

25–30: Thousand Needles, Ashenvale, The Barrens

30–35: Stranglethorn Vale, Desolace, Arathi Highlands

35–40: Badlands, Swamp of Sorrows, Alterac Mountains

40–45: Dustwallow Marsh, Stranglethorn Vale

45–50: Tanaris, Feralas, Searing Gorge

50–55: Felwood, Azshara, Un'Goro Crater

55–60: Western & Eastern Plaguelands, Winterspring, Silithus

At level 11–12, Ghostlands is highly recommended. Be sure to pick up the Paladin quest chain in Silvermoon City, which rewards Redemption, a vital group utility skill. Ghostlands offers dense quests, strong experience gains, and uncommon-quality gear, ending with a rare weapon reward.

Paladin Combat Techniques

Efficient combat is key to fast leveling:

Consecration is mana-intensive and best used against three or more enemies.

Use Devotion Aura for single targets and Retribution Aura when fighting multiple enemies.

Blessing of Wisdom helps maintain mana, while Blessing of Might boosts kill speed, especially when AoE farming.

Save Hammer of Justice to stop fleeing enemies from pulling additional mobs.

For Retribution Paladins, combining Hammer of Justice with Seal of Command results in strong burst damage. Before learning Seal of Command, use Seal of Righteousness for standard mobs and Seal of the Crusader against elites. If mana becomes an issue, switch to Seal of Wisdom.

Final Thoughts

Leveling a Blood Elf Paladin during the WoW Classic 20th Anniversary is both efficient and rewarding with the right preparation. Smart weapon choices, optimal talents, and disciplined combat techniques can drastically reduce leveling time. Whether you're fully self-funded or carefully managing your WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Gold, focusing on weapon upgrades, consumables, and quest efficiency will keep you ahead of the curve.

Reaching level 60 is just the beginning. Once TBC officially launches, new gear, mounts, and challenges await, so building a strong foundation now ensures your Blood Elf Paladin is ready to shine when Outland opens.

MMOexp WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Team