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Bringing you a special guide in celebration of the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft Classic. Having conquered Zul'Farrak (ZF) from level 40 to 54, stacked around 500 gold, and avoided any untimely deaths along the way. Whether you’re currently 52 or 54, this guide is all about taking your character to level 60 as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Unlocking Mana Biscuits (and Other Essential Items)

Before diving into the actual leveling grind, your first and most crucial goal is to unlock Mana Biscuits. If you didn’t already know, there’s no level 55 water, and these biscuits are a great substitute. They’re the best water you can get before reaching level 60, and they’ll significantly boost your leveling efficiency. To get them, head over to the Western Plaguelands and complete the quest that unlocks Scourge Stones. As you do this, you’ll farm reputation, allowing you to eventually purchase these super mana biscuits.

This will give you a big advantage over other casters who may not know about this handy item. Once you hit level 55 and complete this quest chain, you’ll already be well ahead in the race to 60.

Speed vs. Efficiency

Now, let’s talk about leveling strategies: speed versus efficiency. If you’re all about getting to level 60 as fast as possible, there’s one route for you, but if you’re after the best experience (and gear) along the way, I recommend going the efficient route. Yes, this means slower progress, but the rewards are well worth it.

The key here is farming dungeons while completing achievements, questlines, and gearing up with pre-raid best-in-slot (BIS) items. Sure, your XP per hour may be slightly lower, but the gear and quest rewards will set you up for success when you hit level 60, ready to tackle high-level raids and dungeons.

Start with the Sunken Temple

By the time you hit level 56, you should be ready to enter the Sunken Temple (aka the Temple of Atal'Hakkar). This dungeon has six quests in total, including the crucial Mage class quest chain. Start this quest chain as soon as possible—it leads you to the Sunken Temple and rewards you with the Priest's Neck, a valuable item for healing priests.

The Green Dragon mini-bosses in the temple also drop the Drake Stone of Frozen Wrath, an essential off-hand item that should be part of your pre-raid gear setup. This dungeon is challenging but doable at level 56, and completing it will yield some of the best gearing options before moving on to tougher content.

Blackrock Depths

Next, you’ll want to tackle Blackrock Depths (BRD), a dungeon that houses around 10 quests, including some important achievement quests. For both Horde and Alliance players, make sure to start the Fate of the Kingdom questline (Horde’s Royal Rescue is another option), as this will reward you with the Priestly Ring.

Some of the essential loot you’ll want to grab in BRD includes the Boreal Mantle, Flameweave Cuffs, and Omnicast Boots, all of which are excellent pre-raid items. With so many BIS items dropping in BRD, it’s well worth doing this dungeon as part of your leveling journey, as it will significantly improve your gear while also offering excellent XP.

Lower Blackrock Spire

When you hit level 58, you’re ready for Lower Blackrock Spire (LBRS), another dungeon that comes with multiple quests. Two key BIS items to look out for in this dungeon are the Hands of Power (dropped by Warlord Zigris) and the Skyshroud Leggings (dropped by High Lord Omokk). You’ll also begin your progression toward Upper Blackrock Spire as you unlock keys here.

AOE Farming for Speed

If you’re in a rush to reach level 60 as quickly as possible, consider AOE farming in the Western Plaguelands, where you can earn over 100,000 XP per hour, depending on your class and abilities. This method is fast but lacks the gear rewards from dungeons. If you’re Alliance, you can also venture into the Hidden Troll Village at level 57, which is packed with mobs to farm for XP and WoW Classic 20th Anniversary gold.

However, if you’re Horde, your best options for AOE farming are limited to places like Dawson’s Tears or the Hein zones, though you’ll need to watch out for elite mobs in these areas. AOE farming might not drop any coveted pre-raid gear, but it will get you to 60 quickly.

Scholomance and Stratholme

For players who’ve chosen the more efficient route, Scholomance and Stratholme are your next dungeons at level 58. These two dungeons contain about 16 quests combined and offer some of the best pre-raid items in the game, including the Crimson Felt Hat from Magistrate Barthilas and the Archist Cape of Frozen Wrath from Archmage Arugal. Additionally, Freezing Lich Robes from Ras Frostwhisper, Witchblade from Darkmaster Gandling, and the Bonekeeper Stylus from Gandling are all excellent upgrades for your gear set.

Both of these dungeons are packed with valuable loot that will make your time in Molten Core much smoother once you hit level 60.

Wrapping Up: Speed or Efficiency?

So, which path should you choose? If you’re focused on reaching level 60 quickly, AOE farming is the way to go. However, if you want to gear up properly for high-level raids and dungeons while also completing achievement quests, I strongly recommend following the efficient route outlined above.

At the end of the day, the goal is to have fun while leveling and preparing for the challenges ahead. With the 20th anniversary of World of Warcraft Classic in full swing, this is the perfect time to revisit the game and experience the nostalgia while leveling up to 60 with purpose.