Zephras Isle Leveling Guide (WoW: Forever): Skyborne Quest Order 1–12

Zephras Isle is the brand-new starting zone of the Skyborne, the race added in World of Warcraft: Forever. Unlike the classic starting zones, it's built as one long story in chapters – a cult called the Al'Aketh is stirring up trouble, and you work your way from a quiet sky-village to a final battle. Skyborne of both factions start here, and the zone takes you from level 1 to roughly level 12. This guide gives you the route, hub by hub, so you don't miss the quests that matter.

This guide is up to date for World of Warcraft: Forever as live since November 4, 2026.

Zephras Isle at a glance

Alliance vs Horde: what's different

Most of the zone is shared. Your faction decides a few things:

• Class options: Horde Skyborne (Windshapers) can be Shamans; Alliance Skyborne (High Order) can be Mages.
• Faction chains: at several points the story splits into a Windshaper or a High Order version – for example The Gift of Skysight (Horde) vs Reading the Leylines (Alliance) in the first village, and later The Broken Construct (Windshapers) vs The Missing Scholar (High Order).
• Racials: Horde gets a run-speed blessing, Alliance a health and mana regeneration ability.

Chapter 1: Coming of Age – Thendal Village

You wake up in Thendal Village, with your class trainer close by.

1. Coming of Age gets you started, then Harmony in Balance leads into your level 2 class quest (A Student of Nature, The Way of the Hunter, A Student of the Arcane, At Home in the Shadows, Embracing the Elements or The Warrior's Path).
2. Around the village: Infestation Investigation (followed by The Cirrusfly Queen), Falling With Style – your introduction to gliding – and The Anchors of Zephras.
3. Harvesting Windstones, then your faction quest: Reading the Leylines or The Gift of Skysight.
4. Elemental Unrest and Agitators, then Return to Rorian (Rorian the Dayseeker in Thendal Grove, around 42.1, 23.5).
5. Aetheen of the Gales, Aggressive Encroachment and Foul Matriarch round out the area.

Shamans also get Call of Earth here, the start of their totem quests.

Chapter 2: The Next Step – to Shen'dar Village

The Next Step moves you on. Hanaa Nightwind sends you after Al'Aketh Thugs, and The Adventurer introduces Raan Wildwind, whose quest The Great Outdoors teaches camping (around 41.7, 44.7). It's one of the quests players get stuck on – our Great Outdoors guide has the fix.

Welcome to Shen'dar Village brings you to your second hub in the Shen'dar Highlands. Set your hearthstone at the inn (Coriella Calmbreeze, around 43.1, 43.3), pick up everything with a "!" and start your faction chain.

Chapter 3: Secret Agent – Falaath Village

The cult storyline proper:

1. Infiltrating the Cult from Constable Aonda (around 45.6, 45.5).
2. Falaath Village from Sania Silverstream next door – she gives you the disguise that keeps the cultists friendly.
3. Among the Faithful from Missionary Jasaan at the arch into Falaath. This is the eavesdropping quest with the famous missing-wardrobe bug – see our Among the Faithful guide.
4. Havoc in the Highlands, The Western Watch and Stolen Supplies – your cover is blown and Falaath turns hostile.
5. A Last Request from Peacekeeper Vaaniel (around 42.4, 62.0).

Tip: to get back from Falaath quickly, climb the hill around 46.5, 51.4 and glide over the river with Walk on Air.

Chapter 4: Valanaar Awaits

To Valanaar and Deliver the Signet take you to the Skyborne capital, where you meet Valennia Stormfist and Talanis Shadowsong (around 66.2, 76.6). Valanaar has a bank and a skyship dock, and your faction leader has quests for you here.

Chapter 5: Stormapples and the Lowlands

West of Valanaar, the Gustberry Lowlands and Windfield Orchard hold a batch of farm quests – Crab Season, Blood Tithe and the orchard chain – plus the faction chains The Broken Construct (Windshapers) or The Missing Scholar (High Order).

Chapters 6–7: The Dark Woods and the Final Confrontation

The story moves northeast into Shadowgale Forest (you'll also find the Engineering trainer here) and ends with a tower defense and the final battle against the Al'Aketh, with the East Pylon Watchtower (around 69.6, 67.1) as a key location.

Quests to prioritize and skip

• Don't skip the cult chain. It carries the whole zone; missing it leaves you short of experience.
• Do your class and faction quests. They're quick and unlock key abilities.
• Side quests in the Lowlands are optional if you're already ahead on level, but they're fast and close to Valanaar.

Where to go after Zephras Isle

You leave from Valanaar by skyship. The route reported so far: Alliance Skyborne head for Dalaran, while Horde Skyborne arrive at Skywatcher Plateau in Mulgore. From there, follow your faction's normal 10–20 path – the Barrens and Silverpine for the Horde, Westfall, Loch Modan or Darkshore for the Alliance.

More help: all our WoW: Forever quest guides and the class overview for what the Skyborne can play.