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Scaling

Hogger, as viewed by two characters of different levels.

Zone scaling, also known as level scaling,[1] causes mobs, quests, and loot to scale with the player character's level over a range. This allows the player more freedom to choose where they level. It was first introduced in Legion for zones in the Broken Isles, but was later expanded to include the entire game. However, scaling usually excludes content that was meant to be part of its expansion's end game: raids, heroic mode dungeons, and end-game zones such as Suramar or Mechagon.

As of patch 9.0.1, all starting zones scale from levels 1 - 10, including those for hero classes; zones from Battle for Azeroth scale to level 50; and all previous expansions scale to anywhere from level 30 to level 45. New characters can also enable Timewalking Campaigns, which causes all content to scale up to level 50.[2] This means that players can spend almost the entirety of a character's leveling journey in the same expansion, allowing them to experience stories more fully than with the previous system.

The below list shows zones' default level ranges. Timewalking Campaigns increase these ranges' upper limits to 50.

Expansion summary[]

Generally speaking, zones have a maximum level they scale to based on which expansion they are set in, and a minimum level they scale to based on how far into the expansion characters are expected to reach that zone. Dungeons follow this trend as well. All of the maximums instead go to 50 when in a Timewalking Campaigns. Some starting zones are exceptions to this rule.

Expansion Maximum level Note
World of Warcraft 30 Zones were updated in Cataclysm but have the lower max level matching other earliest expansions
The Burning Crusade 30
Wrath of the Lich King 30 Death Knight starting area scales to 10
Cataclysm 35 Worgen and Goblin starting areas scale to 20
Mists of Pandaria 35 Pandaren starting zone The Wandering Isle scales to 10
Warlords of Draenor 40
Legion 45
Battle for Azeroth 50
Shadowlands 60 New player starting experience in Exile's Reach scales to 10
Dragonflight 70

The minimum scaling level, or "level requirement", varies within each expansion. For most expansions, the zone encountered first has a minimum level of 10, while the final leveling zone typically has a minimum 5 levels below the maximum for the expansion, with intermediate zones' minimums distributed in between, often in increments of 5. Dungeons follow a similar pattern, while some end-of-expansion content has a level equal to the maximum for the expansion and does not scale. Exceptions include:

  • The primary five new Cataclysm zones and their associated dungeons - those introduced as completely new content rather than revised versions of the original zones - all have minimums of 30 rather than a distribution starting at 10.
  • Non-endgame Legion content all scales starting with level 10.
  • The "starting zones" for each race, composed of the first two to three zones they would encounter, usually have 1, 5, and possibly 7 as minimums.
  • Death Knight and Demon Hunter starting areas both scale starting at 8, the starting level for those classes.
  • The Exile's Reach starting zone for new players in Shadowlands naturally starts at 1.

WoW Icon update World of Warcraft[]

Eastern Kingdoms[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 8.2.5 9.0.1
Dun Morogh 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 60 1 - 30
26 - 29 24 - 60 10 - 30
Elwynn Forest 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 60 1 - 30
22 - 30 20 - 60 10 - 30
Tirisfal Glades 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 60 1 - 30
Min. 21 26 - 60 10 - 30
28 - 33 28 - 60 10 - 30
Loch Modan 10 - 20 10 - 60 5 - 30
Silverpine Forest 10 - 20 10 - 60 5 - 30
16 - 26 17 - 60 8 - 30
Westfall 10 - 15 10 - 60 5 - 30
15 - 21 15 - 60 7 - 30
Redridge Mountains 15 - 20 15 - 60 7 - 30
Hillsbrad Foothills 20 - 25 15 - 60 7 - 30
Duskwood 20 - 25 20 - 60 10 - 30
Wetlands 20 - 25 15 - 60 10 - 30
Arathi Highlands 25 - 30 25 - 60 10 - 30
Northern Stranglethorn 25 - 30 25 - 60 10 - 30
Cape of Stranglethorn 30 - 35 30 - 60 10 - 30
Hinterlands 30 - 35 30 - 60 10 - 30
Western Plaguelands 35 - 40 35 - 60 15 - 30
Min. 33 38 - 60 15 - 30
Eastern Plaguelands 40 - 45 40 - 60 15 - 30
42 - 52 42 - 60 15 - 30
46 - 56 46 - 60 20 - 30
Badlands 44 - 48 40 - 60 15 - 30
37 - 40 40 - 60 15 - 30
Burning Steppes 49 - 52 40 - 60 15 - 30
47 - 57 47 - 60 20 - 30
  • Blackrock Depths - Upper City
51 - 60 51 - 60 20 - 30
52 - 60 55 - 60 20 - 30
Searing Gorge 47 - 51 40 - 60 15 - 30
Swamp of Sorrows 52 - 64 40 - 60 15 - 30
50 - 60 50 - 60 20 - 30
Blasted Lands 54 - 60 40 - 60 15 - 30
Deadwind Pass 55 - 56 10 - 30

Kalimdor[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 8.2.5 9.0.1
Durotar 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 60 1 - 30
15 - 21 15 - 60 7 - 30
Mulgore 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 60 1 - 30
Teldrassil 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 60 1 - 30
Azshara 10 - 20 10 - 60 5 - 30
Darkshore 10 - 20 10 - 60 5 - 30
Northern Barrens 10 - 20 10 - 60 5 - 30
15 - 25 17 - 60 8 - 30
Ashenvale 20 - 25 15 - 60 7 - 30
20 - 27 20 - 60 10 - 30
Stonetalon Mountains 25 - 30 20 - 60 10 - 30
Southern Barrens 30 - 35 25 - 60 10 - 30
32 - 35 30 - 60 10 - 30
42 - 45 35 - 60 15 - 30
Desolace 30 - 35 30 - 60 10 - 30
Min. 25 30 - 60 10 - 30
Min. 25 32 - 60 10 - 30
Min. 25 34 - 60 10 - 30
Feralas 35 - 40 35 - 60 15 - 30
36 - 46 36 - 60 15 - 30
39 - 49 39 - 60 15 - 30
42 - 52 42 - 60 15 - 30
Dustwallow Marsh 35 - 40 35 - 60 15 - 30
Winterspring 50 - 55 40 - 60 15 - 30
Felwood 45 - 50 40 - 60 15 - 30
Thousand Needles 40 - 45 40 - 60 15 - 30
Tanaris 45 - 50 40 - 60 15 - 30
44 - 54 44 - 60 15 - 30
Un'Goro Crater 50 - 55 40 - 60 15 - 30
Silithus 55 - 60 40 - 60 15 - 30

Bc icon The Burning Crusade[]

Eastern Kingdoms[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 8.2.5 9.0.1
Eversong Woods 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 60 1 - 30
Ghostlands 10 - 20 10 - 60 1 - 30
Isle of Quel'Danas 70 67 - 80 25 - 30
68 - 70 68 - 80 25 - 30

Kalimdor[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 8.2.5 9.0.1
Azuremyst Isle 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 60 1 - 30
Bloodmyst Isle 10 - 20 10 - 60 1 - 30
66 - 68 64 - 80 15 - 30
68 - 70 68 - 80 15 - 30

Outland[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
Hellfire Peninsula 58 - 63 58 - 80 10 - 30
57 - 67 58 - 80 10 - 30
59 - 68 59 - 80 10 - 30
59 - 68 67 - 80 20 - 30
Zangarmarsh 60 - 64 60 - 80 10 - 30
62 - 64 60 - 80 10 - 30
63 - 65 61 - 80 10 - 30
70 67 - 80 20 - 30
Terokkar Forest 62 - 65 62 - 80 15 - 30
64 - 66 62 - 80 15 - 30
65 - 67 63 - 80 15 - 30
67 - 69 65 - 80 15 - 30
69 - 70 67 - 80 20 - 30
Nagrand 64 - 67 64 - 80 15 - 30
Blade's Edge Mountains 65 - 68 65 - 80 20 - 30
Netherstorm 67 - 70 67 - 80 25 - 30
67 - 69 65 - 80 20 - 30
70 67 - 80 20 - 30
70 68 - 80 25 - 30
Shadowmoon Valley 67 - 70 67 - 80 25 - 30

Wrath-Logo-Small Wrath of the Lich King[]

Eastern Kingdoms[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
55 - 58 8 - 30

Kalimdor[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
80 68 - 80 25 - 30

Northrend[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
Borean Tundra 68 - 72 58 - 80 10 - 30
71 - 73 59 - 80 10 - 30
80 67 - 80 20 - 30
Howling Fjord 68 - 72 58 - 80 10 - 30
70 - 72 58 - 80 10 - 30
80 67 - 80 20 - 30
Dragonblight 71 - 75 61 - 80 15 - 30
72 - 74 60 - 80 15 - 30
73 - 75 61 - 80 15 - 30
Grizzly Hills 73 - 75 63 - 80 15 - 30
Zul'Drak 74 - 76 64 - 80 25 - 30
74 - 76 62 - 80 15 - 30
76 - 78 64 - 80 20 - 30
Sholazar Basin 76 - 78 66 - 80 25 - 30
Crystalsong Forest 77 - 80 67 - 80 25 - 30
75 - 77 63 - 80 15 - 30
Storm Peaks 77 - 80 67 - 80 25 - 30
77 - 79 65 - 80 20 - 30
79 - 80 67 - 80 20 - 30
Icecrown 77 - 80 67 - 80 25 - 30
80 68 - 80 25 - 30
80 70 - 80 25 - 30
80 70 - 80 25 - 30
80 70 - 80 25 - 30
Hrothgar's Landing 77 - 80 67 - 80 25 - 30
Wintergrasp 77 - 80 67 - 80 25 - 30

Cataclysm Cataclysm[]

Eastern Kingdoms[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
81 - 83 80 - 90 30 - 35
Gilneas 1 - 12 1 - 20
Ruins of Gilneas 14 - 20 10 - 60 5 - 30
Tol Barad 84 - 85 30 - 35
Tol Barad Peninsula 85 30 - 35
Vashj'ir 80 - 82 80 - 90 30 - 35
80 - 81 80 - 90 30 - 35
Twilight Highlands 84 - 85 84 - 90 30 - 35
85 85 - 90 30 - 35

Kalimdor[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
85 35
Mount Hyjal 80 - 82 80 - 90 30 - 35
Uldum 83 - 84 83 - 90 30 - 35
82 - 84 81 - 90 30 - 35
84 - 85 84 - 90 30 - 35
84 - 85 84 - 90 30 - 35
Molten Front 85 32 - 35

The Maelstrom[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 8.2.5 9.0.1
Kezan 1 - 5 1 - 20
Lost Isles 5 - 12 1 - 20
Deepholm 82 - 83 82 - 90 30 - 35
82 - 84 81 - 90 30 - 35

Mists of Pandaria Mists of Pandaria[]

Pandaria[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
Jade Forest 85 - 86 80 - 90 10 - 35
85 - 85 80 - 90 10 - 35
Valley of the Four Winds 86 - 87 81 - 90 15 - 35
86 - 87 80 - 90 15 - 35
Krasarang Wilds 86 - 87 81 - 90 15 - 35
Kun-Lai Summit 87 - 88 82 - 90 20 - 35
87 - 90 82 - 90 20 - 35
Townlong Steppes 88 - 89 83 - 90 25 - 35
88 - 90 83 - 90 25 - 35
Dread Wastes 89 - 90 84 - 90 30 - 35
88 - 90 83 - 90 25 - 35
Veiled Stair 87 30 - 35
Vale of Eternal Blossoms 90 85 - 90 35
87 - 90 82 - 90 20 - 35
Isle of Thunder 90 85 - 90 35
Isle of Giants 90 85 - 90 35
Timeless Isle 90 85 - 90 35

Unknown sea[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
Wandering Isle 1 - 10 1 - 20 1 - 10

Warlords of Draenor Warlords of Draenor[]

Alternate Draenor[]

Zone Pre-7.3.5 7.3.5 9.0.1
Assault on the Dark Portal 90 10 - 40
Frostfire Ridge 90 - 93 90 - 100 10 - 40
90 - 93 90 - 100 10 - 40
Shadowmoon Valley 90 - 93 90 - 100 10 - 40
100 10 - 40
Gorgrond 92 - 94 92 - 100 15 - 40
93 - 95 92 - 100 15 - 40
100 35 - 40
100 35 - 40
Talador 94 - 96 94 - 100 20 - 40
95 - 98 94 - 100 20 - 40
Spires of Arak 96 - 98 96 - 100 30 - 40
97 - 100 30 - 40
Nagrand 98 - 100 35 - 40
Tanaan Jungle 100 40
Ashran 100 40

Eastern Kingdoms[]

Zone Pre-9.0.1 9.0.1
100 35 - 40

Legion Legion[]

Twisting Nether[]

Zone Pre-9.0.1 9.0.1
Mardum, the Shattered Abyss 98 - 99 8 - 45

Broken Isles[]

Zone Pre-9.0.1 9.0.1
105 - 110 10 - 45
The Battle for Broken Shore 98 - 100 10 - 45
Val'sharah 98 - 110 10 - 45
98 - 110 10 - 45
110 10 - 45
Stormheim 98 - 110 10 - 45
98 - 110 10 - 45
110 10 - 45
Azsuna 98 - 110 10 - 45
110 10 - 45
Highmountain 98 - 110 10 - 45
98 - 110 10 - 45
Suramar 110 45
110 45
110 45
Broken Shore 110 45
Eye of Azshara 110 10 - 45
98 - 110 10 - 45

Argus[]

Zone Pre-9.0.1 9.0.1
Krokuun 110 45
Eredath 110 45
Antoran Wastes 110 45

Battle for Azeroth Battle for Azeroth[]

Kul Tiras[]

Zone Pre-9.0.1 9.0.1
Tiragarde Sound Alliance 110 - 120 / Horde 120 10 - 50
Alliance 110 - 120 / Horde 120 16 - 50
Alliance 115 - 120 / Horde 120 30 - 50
120 50
Stormsong Valley Alliance 110 - 120 / Horde 120 25 - 50
Alliance 110 - 120 / Horde 120 35 - 50
Drustvar Alliance 110 - 120 / Horde 120 35 - 50
Alliance 110 - 120 / Horde 120 25 - 50

Zandalar[]

Zone Pre-9.0.1 9.0.1
Zuldazar Horde 110 - 120 / Alliance 120 10 - 50
Horde 110 - 120 / Alliance 120 10 - 50
Horde 115 - 120 / Alliance 120 30 - 50
120 50
Nazmir Horde 110 - 120 / Alliance 120 25 - 50
Horde 110 - 120 / Alliance 120 25 - 50
Vol'dun Horde 110 - 120 / Alliance 120 35 - 50
Horde 110 - 120 / Alliance 120 35 - 50

Zone level not changing[]

Zone Pre-9.0.1 9.0.1
Mechagon Island 120 50
120 50
Nazjatar 120 50

Shadowlands Shadowlands[]

North Sea[]

Zone 9.0.1
Exile's Reach 1 - 10

Shadowlands[]

9.0.2
Zone Storyline Threads of Fate
Bastion 51 - 53 50 - 60
51 50 - 60
60 60
Maldraxxus 53 - 55 50 - 60
53 50 - 60
60 60
Ardenweald 55 - 58 50 - 60
55 50 - 60
60 60
Revendreth 58 - 60 50 - 60
57 50 - 60
60 60
The Maw 60 60

Notes and trivia[]

  • Scaling only applies to equipment at the moment it is obtained. Completing a quest at level 40 will reward level 40-appropriate equipment, but leveling up after completing the quest will not cause that equipment to scale to 41 or beyond.
  • When scaling was added to old world zones, a number of items that had been made unobtainable by level changes in Cataclysm became obtainable again.[3][4]

Previous versions[]

As of patch 8.2.5, most content was scaled based on the following level bands:

Between patch 7.3.5 and patch 8.2.5, starting zones had their own band, which spanned levels 1 - 20. Only a few instanced starting zones (such as Gilneas) retained this level band after 8.2.5.

Patch changes[]

See also[]

  • Timewalking - scales the player down to the content's level.
  • Party Sync - scales the player down to another player's level.

References[]

 
  1. ^ Patch 7.3.5#A Scaling World
  2. ^ Shadowlands: Leveling Changes Spotlight (2019-11-02). Retrieved on 2019-11-02.
  3. ^ WoW Economy Weekly Wrap-Up: Patch 7.3.5 (2018-01-20). Retrieved on 2019-11-02.
  4. ^ More Unobtainable items, Let's find even more! (2018-01-21). Retrieved on 2019-11-02.
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