How Long Does it Take to Get to Level 20 in World of Warcraft?
The burning question for many new and returning players to World of Warcraft (WoW) is: How long does it actually take to reach level 20? The answer, like many things in Azeroth, isn’t a simple number. It depends on various factors, including your experience, chosen class, and playstyle. However, a reasonable estimate for the average player is between 2 to 8 hours of gameplay. This can be significantly faster or slower depending on the strategies you employ. Let’s break down why that range exists and how you can influence your leveling time.
Factors Influencing Leveling Speed
Class Choice
Your class plays a substantial role in how quickly you’ll level. Classes with strong self-healing and ranged abilities tend to breeze through early content. For example, Hunters are consistently cited as one of the easiest and fastest classes to level. Their pets allow them to handle multiple enemies, and their ranged attacks mean less downtime between fights. Similarly, Mages, Druids, and Priests offer solid leveling experiences due to their versatility and ability to kill mobs efficiently. On the other hand, classes that rely on melee combat or have weaker self-healing may find the early levels slightly more challenging.
Race and Starting Area
The starting area also impacts leveling speed. Some areas are more streamlined and compact than others. Humans, for instance, have a particularly short and efficient starting zone, allowing for quicker progression to level 20. Other races might require more travel time or have less densely populated quest hubs, which can slow things down. Choosing a race with a straightforward starting area can save valuable minutes.
Gear and Experience
If you’re a returning player with heirloom gear (often referred to as “boa” or Bind on Account gear), your leveling speed will drastically increase. Heirloom gear scales with your level and provides significant stat boosts, making combat much faster and easier. Additionally, if you’re in a guild that provides experience bonuses, that will further accelerate your journey to level 20. New players without these advantages will naturally take longer to level, but this is part of the learning curve.
Playstyle and Efficiency
Your personal playstyle and how efficiently you approach the game are key factors. Players who understand the basics of questing, loot management, and efficient mob grinding will level faster than those who are still figuring out the mechanics. Staying focused on questing, avoiding unnecessary distractions, and knowing when to hand in quests can make a big difference. Additionally, understanding your class rotations and utilizing abilities properly from the start will contribute to quicker mob kills.
Experience with WoW
First-time players will likely take longer to reach level 20. This is because they will need to familiarize themselves with the game mechanics, user interface, quest systems, and basic combat. Experienced players, however, already possess this foundational knowledge and can navigate these aspects much more quickly. They are more adept at knowing where to go, what quests to prioritize, and how to optimize their character’s performance.
Strategies for Faster Leveling
Prioritize Quests
Focusing on completing quests is the most consistent way to earn experience early on. Rather than aimlessly wandering and grinding, concentrate on following the quest lines. Look for quests with a high reward and prioritize those that are close together. This maximizes your experience per hour.
Efficient Combat
Learn your class rotation early and practice using abilities efficiently. Don’t simply spam your primary attack; understanding how to combine abilities will drastically reduce your kill time. Additionally, if possible, pull multiple mobs at once if you can handle it and take them out using effective area-of-effect abilities.
Explore But Don’t Linger
While it’s tempting to explore every nook and cranny of the game, try to resist the urge to stray too far from quest objectives until you are at a higher level. A bit of exploration is fine, but aim to balance this with your leveling progress. Once you’re at max level, you have unlimited time to venture around Azeroth.
Rested Experience
Take advantage of rested experience. Logging off in an inn or city grants you rested experience, which boosts your experience gain when you return to playing. This provides a little extra bonus for playing consistently.
Utilizing Dungeons
Although at low levels it can be less time efficient, grouping with others for dungeons can be an alternative way to gain experience. Dungeons provide a lump sum of experience and loot, but queuing might slow down the process at very low levels. Dungeons are generally considered a better strategy once past level 20.
Reaching Level 20: A Stepping Stone
Ultimately, reaching level 20 in World of Warcraft is a significant milestone. It provides an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the game’s core mechanics, explore your character’s abilities, and decide if you want to commit to continuing the adventure. While it’s an entry point, it is also where the free trial ends. If you enjoy the game and want to progress further, you will need to purchase a subscription, allowing you to level up to 70 and access all of the high-level content.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is World of Warcraft free to play up to level 20?
Yes, World of Warcraft offers a free trial that allows you to play any class up to level 20 without needing a subscription.
2. What happens when you reach level 20?
When you hit level 20 on the free trial, your experience gains stop. To continue leveling, you need to purchase a subscription. All your progress is saved, and you can start right where you left off.
3. Can you play past level 20 without paying?
No, to progress past level 20, you will need an active World of Warcraft subscription or game time. You will not be able to continue without subscribing.
4. What is the fastest way to level to 20?
The fastest way involves playing a Hunter, choosing a Human, using heirloom gear, being in a guild, and efficiently completing quests. If you manage your time well, you can achieve level 20 very quickly.
5. Does heirloom gear speed up leveling to 20?
Yes, heirloom gear provides significant stat boosts and increases experience gained, which speeds up the leveling process substantially. This is one of the best methods for experienced players.
6. Does guild experience bonus affect leveling to 20?
Yes, a guild perk that grants an experience bonus will speed up your journey to level 20. If you are a returning player, joining a guild is highly advised.
7. Which classes are the easiest to level to 20?
Hunters, Mages, Druids, and Priests are generally considered the easiest and fastest classes to level in the early stages due to their versatile toolkits and efficient damage output.
8. Are there any in-game tips for leveling?
Yes, follow the quest prompts, explore your class abilities and learn how to combine them, stay rested and do not linger too much in one location. Try to optimize your playtime.
9. Can I access dungeons before level 20?
Yes, you can access dungeons starting at level 15, though they may not always be the fastest leveling method at lower levels.
10. How many hours do I need for my first character?
If it is your first character and you are not utilizing any of the methods listed above, it may take up to 12 hours of gameplay to reach level 20.
11. Does leveling to level 20 in World of Warcraft vary based on expansion?
The core leveling process up to level 20 remains relatively consistent across different World of Warcraft expansions. There may be some minor changes or added content, but the fundamentals of questing and combat remain the same.
12. How does rested experience work?
Rested experience is a bonus experience boost applied when logging off in an inn or city. When you return, you will gain bonus experience from killing mobs until the rested bonus is depleted.
13. Can I boost to level 20?
No, Blizzard does not offer boosts to level 20. Character boosts start at much higher levels.
14. Is it worth playing the free trial up to level 20?
Absolutely, the free trial to level 20 is an excellent way for new players to experience the core mechanics of World of Warcraft without any financial commitment. It allows players to assess the game’s playability.
15. Can I transfer my free trial character once I buy a subscription?
Yes, once you subscribe, you can continue playing your free trial character and level them past 20. You will not lose your character progress.