| Zones | ||
|---|---|---|
| Classified by | ||
| Level | Location | Faction |
| See also | ||
| Instance | Maps | Closed zones |
Zones are areas of the map with designated themes, mobs, and scenery. These areas have borders much like a state or country, and though invisible, they define areas. They may contain subzones, cities, towns, villages, or instances. For example, the zone of Dun Morogh contains the subzone of Coldridge Valley, the city Ironforge, the town Kharanos, and the instance Gnomeregan.
World of Warcraft currently consists of two continents, Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor, which are sometimes divided into other sections which are also called continents, and further divided into smaller sections in-game known as zones.
In lore and the old Official web site (now defunct), a zone is usually referred to as a "region" (however, the community has basically forced Blizzard to start using zone instead). Furthermore, lore regions and in-game zones do not always match up (what may be a region in lore may be reduced to a subzone in-game, or some subregions may become their own zones).
For a graphical list, see Zones by level.
Eastern Kingdoms
| Region | Level | PvP Status | Key Towns | Notes | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elwynn Forest | 1-10 | Alliance |  Goldshire, (Stormwind City)
|
Human starting, The Stockade instance, Darkmoon Faire site | WW |
| Dun Morogh | 1-12 | Alliance | Kharanos, (Ironforge)
|
Dwarf and gnome starting, Gnomeregan instance | WW |
| Tirisfal Glades | 1-10 | Horde |  Brill, (Undercity)
|
Undead starting, Scarlet Monastery instance | WW |
| Loch Modan | 10-20 | Alliance | Thelsamar
|
Dwarf and Gnome favored | WW |
| Silverpine Forest | 10-20 | Horde | The Sepulcher
|
Undead favored, Shadowfang Keep instance | WW |
| Westfall | 10-20 | Alliance | Sentinel Hill
|
Human favored, Deadmines instance | WW |
| Redridge Mountains | 15-25 | Contested | Lakeshire
|
Alliance favored | WW |
| Duskwood | 18-30 | Contested | Darkshire
|
Alliance favored, Twilight Grove - Emerald Dream portal | WW |
| Hillsbrad Foothills | 20-30 | Contested | Southshore, Tarren Mill
|
WW | |
| Wetlands | 20-30 | Contested | Menethil Harbor
|
Alliance favored, location of Grim Batol | WW |
| Alterac Mountains | 30-40 | Contested | Alterac Valley battleground | WW | |
| Arathi Highlands | 30-40 | Contested | Refuge Point, Hammerfall
|
Arathi Basin battleground | WW |
| Stranglethorn Vale | 31-45 | Contested |  Booty Bay, Grom'gol Base Camp, Rebel Camp
|
Zul'Gurub instance | WW |
| Badlands | 35-45 | Contested | Kargath
|
Uldaman instance | WW |
| Swamp of Sorrows | 35-45 | Contested | Stonard
|
Horde favored, Temple of Atal'Hakkar instance | WW |
| The Hinterlands | 40-50 | Contested | Aerie Peak, Revantusk Village
|
Seradane - Emerald Dream portal | WW |
| Searing Gorge | 45-50 | Contested | Thorium Point
|
Several instances (in Blackrock Mountain) | WW |
| The Blasted Lands | 45-55 | Contested | Nethergarde Keep
|
WW | |
| Burning Steppes | 50-58 | Contested | Morgan's Vigil, Flame Crest
|
Several instances (in Blackrock Mountain) | WW |
| Western Plaguelands | 50-58 | Contested | Chillwind Camp
|
Scholomance instance | WW |
| Eastern Plaguelands | 53-60 | Contested | Light's Hope Chapel
|
Stratholme instance, Naxxramas instance | WW |
| Blackrock Mountain | 49-60 | Contested | Blackrock Depths, Lower Blackrock Spire, Upper Blackrock Spire, Molten Core, Blackwing Lair instances | - | |
| Deadwind Pass | 55-60 | Contested | WW |
Kalimdor
| Region | Level | PvP Status | Key Towns | Notes | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durotar | 1-10 | Horde | Razor Hill, Sen'jin Village, (Orgrimmar)
|
Orc and troll starting, (Ragefire Chasm instance) | WW |
| Mulgore | 1-10 | Horde | Bloodhoof Village, (Thunder Bluff)
|
Tauren starting, Darkmoon Faire site | WW |
| Teldrassil | 1-10 | Alliance | Dolanaar, (Darnassus)
|
Night elf starting | WW |
| Darkshore | 10-20 | Alliance | Auberdine
|
Night elf favored | WW |
| The Barrens | 10-25 | Horde | Crossroads, Camp Taurajo, Ratchet
|
Wailing Caverns, Razorfen Kraul, and Razorfen Downs instances | WW |
| Stonetalon Mountains | 15-27 | Contested | Stonetalon Peak, Sun Rock Retreat
|
Horde favored | WW |
| Ashenvale | 18-30 | Contested | Astranaar, Forest Song, Splintertree Post, Zoram'gar Outpost
|
Alliance favored, Blackfathom Deeps instance, Warsong Gulch battleground, Bough Shadow - Emerald Dream portal |
WW |
| Thousand Needles | 25-35 | Contested | Freewind Post
|
Horde favored | WW |
| Desolace | 30-40 | Contested | Nijel's Point, Shadowprey Village
|
Horde favored, Maraudon instance | WW |
| Dustwallow Marsh | 35-45 | Contested | Theramore, Brackenwall Village
|
Onyxia's Lair instance | WW |
| Feralas | 40-50 | Contested | Feathermoon Stronghold, Thalanaar, Camp Mojache
|
Dire Maul instance, Dream Bough - Emerald Dream portal | WW |
| Tanaris | 40-50 | Contested | Gadgetzan
|
Zul'Farrak instance | WW |
| Azshara | 45-55 | Contested | Talrendis Point, Valormok
|
WW | |
| Felwood | 48-55 | Contested | Talonbranch Glade, Bloodvenom Post
|
WW | |
| Un'goro Crater | 48-55 | Contested | Marshal's Refuge
|
WW | |
| Winterspring | 53-60 | Contested | Everlook
|
WW | |
| Silithus | 55-60 | Contested | Cenarion Hold
|
Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj instances | WW |
| Moonglade | N/A | Contested | Nighthaven
|
Druid favored; almost mobless zone, except Eranikus (summoned, with mobs) and Omen (Lunar Festival only) |
WW |
