Mage Grinding Spots for a Horde player
From level 1 to 15 as a mage, your ability to level up is not much different from other players. You’ll start out in the Valley of Trials, running around Mulgore as a Tauren, or in the Laerdan Ruins as an undead. Do as many quests as you can at this level as they are plentiful and raise your rank faster.
At level 15 you will notice that your climbing ability slows down. The focus now is to go for quick kills that die with magic attacks, pay cash, and give you good points. In the Barrens it would be the Harpies to the northwest. You’ll find them by taking the Barrens path north and then turning 90 degrees west into the forest and mountains. They flutter in the valley between the trees. They also have nice loot chests here and there.
From levels 15 to 20 you are still in the Barrens and now your focus is on the Bristleback tribe. There are 2 or 3 missions that you can combine with this grind. You will find the tribe behind the mountain northeast of Crossroads and hanging around in 3 specific locations. Most spawns are specific to their areas, however Bristleback hunters with their pet wolves roam the area and can surprise you if you’re not paying attention to their location. At this level, it’s easy to get killed in a mob when they surprise you. Most spawn are fighters, but water seekers can cast spells on you.
Now, moving on to level 20 to 25, it’s time to start traveling. You must go to the continent of the Eastern Kingdom and reach the land of the undead. The fastest way is to return to Ogrimmar and take the airship to Tirisfal Valley. Then travel south to Hillsbrad. In Hillsbrad you will get a couple of quests to take down the local human farms. With all the spawn and critters in the way, you should be able to grind just fine. If you’re on a PvP server, watch out for Alliance rogues. They tend to aim as the area for low level Horde players. Just to the west of the area is a Yeti dungeon that offers good challenges and points to earn.
Alternatively, if you want to stay in Durotar, you need to head south of the Barrens to the Thousand Needles and take on the Galak Scouts and tribes. These are area specific centaurs and give a combination of fighters and mages. They are plentiful and easy to kill if you drop them one at a time. Watch out for wandering critters and a pack of 5 hyenas that roam the paths between the tribes.
Back in Hillsbrad, you can also add to your grind points by going after Mud Gnolls.
Grim Totems are your targets in Durotar for levels 25-30. They are a group of Tuaren who rebelled against the local order and set up their own camp atop one of the Thousand Needles plateaus. You’ll find your way to their camp near the big elevator in the Barrens. Grimtotem Tauren are easy at first being primarily fighters. You don’t get into the nitty-gritty of the matter until you raid their central camp. Pull each zone one at a time or you will be harassed from all sides. You can also add a quest or two associated with this area by making a stop at the local Horde camp.
In the same area to the east you can also explore Shimmering Flats. This zone has a large amount of critters to grind up to level 38. First you have basilisks and scorpions. Then there are also some wind demons wandering around. To the south is the larger grinding challenge. You find the Slithid bug infestation around a nest they have built in the sand. They are swarms, so they will gather quickly and attack fast. Don’t make the mistake of going into the trenches around the next one until you’ve cleared the surrounding area. Once inside the next one, your pulls will be easier, but you can die quickly if you don’t pay attention to the attacking insects around the nest.
When you’re in sight of level 38, it’s time to travel a bit north to Dustwallow Village. Establish base here and resupply. Then go to the far north eastern islands and you will find Murlock Warriors/Oracles. They are easy to throw, give money per kill, and give good points. Grinding these frogmen will bring you up to level 40 and prepare you for the rest of Dustwallow Swamp and its offerings.
