Weekend Drop - 
Summary
Bottom line: World of Warcraft: Forever adds four new zones embedded into the classic world, with Riverglades serving as a core leveling zone around 35–45 and Mount Hyjal as the endgame hub at 60. Both exist for the same reason: to give players an alternative when the classic leveling curve stalls—around the mid-30s and again near max level—so you're not stuck grinding mobs. According to official information, Riverglades is roughly the size of Stranglethorn Vale with close to 200 quests; Hyjal hosts the 10-player Barrow Deeps raid and the 20-player Hyjal Summit. If you'd rather buy WoW Forever Gold to skip the grind, knowing these zones first shows where it pays off most.
1. Riverglades: A Frontline Leveling Zone for 35–45
Location and How to Get There
Riverglades sits in the Eastern Kingdoms, adjacent to Redridge Mountains. If you know the road from Redridge toward the Burning Steppes, you'll find a new fork leading into Riverglades. Alliance players start at Farhold Keep; Horde players start at Rogmar.
Factions and Story
The zone's narrative revolves around two factions, both deeply tied to Warcraft history:
Alliance side — the Brotherhood of the Horse: The remnant of Stormwind's most elite knights. After the Second War, they disobeyed orders to follow Turalyon to Draenor, choosing instead to stay and hunt down the scattered Horde remnants—breaking with Stormwind and the Alliance forever. For twenty years they've held Farhold Keep, fighting the old Horde, the Twilight's Hammer, and the Boulderock ogre clan. For them, the Second War never truly ended.
Horde side — the Boulderock ogre clan: Former members of the Twilight's Hammer who witnessed their kin fall into madness after the Second War and chose to break away. Surrounded by enemies and living in the shadow of their former masters, they've been hardened into a strong, independent, formidable clan—while competing with the humans of Farhold for the plains' resources.
Both sides clash with the Twilight's Hammer, which has seized the old Horde's westernmost stronghold (now called Twilight's Shroud) and the fortress of Krol'dok Stronghold. That foothold bodes ill not just for Riverglades but for the entire Eastern Kingdoms.
Quests and Activities
Riverglades holds close to 200 quests across both factions. Content includes wrecking a pirate operation, rescuing a horse, and a side quest called "Jam Jam." Deep in ogre territory lies the Bloodmaul Ring, a fighting ring where players prove their strength against the ogres' best brawlers.
The zone also features a major outdoor dungeon: Krol'dok Stronghold, described as a "massive outdoor ogre dungeon" designed to give players "another option besides their 25th Scarlet Monastery run."
Additionally, Riverglades adds the neutral goblin port Powderfuse Port, extending Eastern Kingdoms trade routes, with a direct ship line from the Steamwheedle port in Tanaris.
Leveling Strategy
Riverglades is positioned as an alternative to Stranglethorn Vale. If you're around level 35 and finding STV's quests repetitive or its PvP too intense, you can pivot straight to Riverglades. With close to 200 quests, the density is high enough to gain substantial XP without constantly switching zones.
2. Mount Hyjal: The Level 60 Endgame Hub
Unlock Background
Mount Hyjal has been sealed by Malfurion Stormrage and the druids for five years. Now, for the first time since the Third War, the road is open. Players work alongside the Talon druids and members of the Cenarion Circle to heal the land and rebuild after the Battle of Mount Hyjal.
Core Conflict
For years, Horde and Alliance members have been forced to coexist under an uneasy agreement. With Hyjal's gates open, long-simmering tensions heat up again. Meanwhile, a "curious crow"—who may look like just a crow—has uncovered sinister warlock activity involving the Wild King and needs your help to stop it.
Raid Content
Hyjal is the gateway to endgame PvE:
Barrow Deeps (10-player raid): Deep within Mount Hyjal lies an ancient prison that once held Azeroth's most infamous betrayer—Illidan Stormrage. This is the first time players can explore its depths.
Hyjal Summit (20-player raid): The largest raid in Forever, centered on a story about something draining the land's energy, with ties to a legendary questline.
Leveling Strategy
Hyjal is the first stop after hitting 60. According to official interviews, it's the solution for "when you approach 60 and leveling slows further." It offers max-level quests, world events, and Cenarion Circle reputation, while serving as the entrance to both raids. If your goal is to get into raid content quickly, prioritize Hyjal's introductory questline at max level to unlock access to Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit.
3. Practical Leveling Advice
The XP Curve Is Unchanged—But There Are More Routes
Blizzard has confirmed the XP curve is not adjusted. Riverglades and Hyjal provide alternative routes, not an easier grind. If you're tired of a particular classic zone, these new areas let you change course without sacrificing efficiency.
Dungeon XP Adjusted
In Forever, enemy XP in dungeons is reduced, but dungeon quest XP rewards are significantly increased. That means the "pick up all quests → run the dungeon once → turn in" loop beats repeatedly farming the same instance. Riverglades' Krol'dok Stronghold, as an outdoor dungeon, likely offers a similar quest-dense experience.
Use the New Transit Routes
New ship lines can meaningfully cut travel time:
Stormwind Harbor → Auberdine: Easier low-level cross-continent travel for Alliance.
Menethil Harbor → Southshore → Auberdine: A three-stop loop connecting Wetlands, Hillsbrad, and Darkshore.
Tanaris → Powderfuse Port: Direct from southern Kalimdor to Riverglades.
If you plan to head from Kalimdor to the Eastern Kingdoms around level 35 to try Riverglades, the Tanaris-to-Powderfuse route is faster than the traditional path.
Camp System and XP Buffs
Forever's new camp system lets players pitch tents for buffs. Cooking food now provides a percentage XP bonus in addition to stat buffs. And the Legacy system's Well Rested talent increases rested XP gain and cap. Before entering Riverglades or Hyjal, make sure you have food buffs and rested XP—it noticeably improves leveling efficiency.
Summary: Riverglades is a strong new route for the 35–45 stretch, with extremely high quest density and a story tightly woven into classic Warcraft history; Mount Hyjal is the mandatory gateway to raid content after 60. Neither changes the XP curve, but both give the classic leveling journey genuine alternative paths. Use the new transit routes and camp buffs wisely, and your Forever journey will have less repetition and more exploration. If WoW Forever Gold for sale options appeal to you, MMOEXP is a well-known marketplace worth checking—just review their delivery and refund terms first.
