How to Begin Your Northrend Adventure in Howling Fjord
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Starting your journey in Northrend can be an exciting prospect, and for many players, Howling Fjord offers an immersive and visually stunning introduction to this frozen continent. The process differs slightly depending on your faction, but this guide will break down everything you need to know to begin questing in Howling Fjord.
The direct answer to the question, “How do I start Northrend in Howling Fjord?”, is that as a Horde player, you must take the zeppelin located just outside of Undercity. This zeppelin will take you directly to Vengeance Landing in Howling Fjord, where you’ll find your first quest hubs and begin your adventure into the icy north. This requires no initial quest, just a ride on the zeppelin. The rest of this article will dive deep into the intricacies of accessing Howling Fjord, including travel methods, ideal starting levels, and a comprehensive FAQ to ensure you’re fully prepared.
Getting to Howling Fjord as Horde
Locating the Zeppelin
For Horde players, the gateway to Howling Fjord is located outside of Undercity. Look for the zeppelin tower just beyond the city gates. You’ll see an airship docked at the platform. This is your transport to Northrend. Click on the Zeppelin, and it will carry you to the docks of Vengeance Landing in Howling Fjord.
Arriving at Vengeance Landing
Once you disembark in Vengeance Landing, you’ll find several key NPCs waiting to assign you your first quests. High Executor Anselm is a pivotal quest giver. He and his associates will provide you with the starting quests needed to begin your leveling journey in Northrend. These quests generally involve exploring the immediate vicinity of Vengeance Landing, making it an ideal starting point.
Recommended Level and Starting Zones
Minimum Level
While you can physically travel to Northrend at almost any level, the minimum level to effectively start questing is level 68. This is when the quests will become available and provide appropriate experience gains. Therefore, it’s recommended that you are at least level 68 before heading to Howling Fjord or you will experience difficulty and minimal to no leveling gains.
Howling Fjord vs Borean Tundra
The two starting zones in Northrend are Howling Fjord and Borean Tundra. While Borean Tundra is often cited as being a faster route for leveling initially, Howling Fjord boasts a richer lore experience and more immersive scenery. A common approach is to begin in Howling Fjord, leveling to around 70, before venturing into Borean Tundra for faster leveling up to about 73. This ensures you experience the best of both zones.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To ensure that you’re completely prepared for your journey, here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding traveling to and playing through Howling Fjord.
1. Is there a quest to take me to Northrend?
Yes, there is a quest called “Wrath of the Lich King: To Northrend!” that you can get from Chromie in capital cities. However, this quest is not mandatory. You can travel to Northrend directly by taking the zeppelin outside of Undercity.
2. How do I access Northrend as Alliance?
Alliance players need to head to Stormwind City harbor and find the northernmost dock. There is a boat that will take you to Borean Tundra. Alternatively, you can go to Menethil Harbor for a boat to Howling Fjord.
3. Where is the Horde starting zone in Howling Fjord?
The Horde starting zone in Howling Fjord is Vengeance Landing.
4. What if I am coming from Outland?
If you are in Outland, head back to the portal and fly to Grom’gol, then take the zeppelin to Orgrimmar/Undercity. From there, take the corresponding zeppelin to Northrend. Alternatively, you can ask a mage for a portal.
5. Should I start in Howling Fjord or Borean Tundra?
Both zones are excellent for starting in Northrend. Howling Fjord offers a more engaging story and beautiful environment, while Borean Tundra tends to be faster for leveling. A good strategy is to start in Howling Fjord and then move to Borean Tundra, especially if you prefer a slower-paced experience initially.
6. Where is the dungeon in Howling Fjord?
The dungeon in Howling Fjord is Utgarde Keep, located on the shores of Lake Cauldros. It actually consists of two instances.
7. Where do I learn cold weather flying?
You must be level 77 and have Expert Riding or Flight Form (Druids). Hira Snowdawn, located in Krasus’ Landing in Dalaran, is one of the trainers. You can also learn this skill automatically at level 80.
8. Can I travel to Howling Fjord from Borean Tundra?
Yes, there are turtle taxis that travel between Unu’pe in Borean Tundra and Moa’ki Harbor in Dragonblight. From Moa’ki Harbor, another turtle taxi can take you to Kamagua in Howling Fjord. Remember to grab the flight paths whenever possible.
9. Can I go to Northrend before level 70?
While you can travel there at any level, level 68 is the minimum recommended level to start quests. The content is designed for level 68+ characters.
10. How do I unlock flying in Northrend?
You will learn Cold Weather Flying at level 77 with Expert Riding (or Druid Flight Form). At level 80, it is automatically unlocked.
11. How do I get to the Howling Fjord from Orgrimmar in Dragonflight?
In Dragonflight, you can still access Howling Fjord through a portal located atop one of the zeppelin towers outside of old Undercity. There’s a zeppelin that goes to Borean Tundra in the center of Orgrimmar as well.
12. How do I get to Storm Peaks from Howling Fjord?
There is a path into Storm Peaks at the northeast of Crystalsong Forest. You can access Crystalsong Forest from Dragonblight using the northern path in The Crystal Vice.
13. How do I get to Sholazar Basin from Howling Fjord?
One of the quickest methods is to be level 76 and speak with Archmage Pentarus in Dalaran. He will give you a quest that will transport you to Sholazar Basin for free.
14. How many zones are in Northrend?
There are ten zones in Northrend, providing a large area to explore and level in.
15. Is it better to do Howling Fjord or Borean Tundra first for Horde?
It’s a matter of preference. Howling Fjord provides a richer experience and is more beautiful, while Borean Tundra is faster for leveling. Many players will begin in Howling Fjord to level to 70, and then move to Borean Tundra for levels 70-73.
Final Thoughts
Starting your journey into Northrend via Howling Fjord is a fantastic way to experience this epic expansion. By using the information above, and checking out the FAQs, you should be well-equipped to make the transition and take your first steps onto the frozen tundra. Remember to use the zeppelin outside Undercity and be at least level 68 to maximize your experience. Happy adventuring!