Starting areas are where players begin the game in World of Warcraft as level one characters, based on their selection of race. Players are more or less free to travel wherever they want from the starting location, but it is generally recommended that one complete the character — and race-specific — quests in and around the character's starting location.
All starting areas have one small village, outpost, or town with trainers for all classes and are available to the race(s) that controls the area. There are no profession trainers or inns in starting areas; however, when a starting player first uses his Hearthstone, he is teleported back to the main settlement in the area. Once the player changes where his hearthstone is set, he cannot change it back to the starting area. The second expansion features a new zone where death knights start in. The zone is considered a sanctuary and players of both factions and all races begin in this zone at level 55.
See Starting areas category for a list of player starting areas.
| Starting areas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race | Zone | Area | Settlement |
| Alliance | |||
| Dwarf, gnome | Dun Morogh | Coldridge Valley | Anvilmar |
| Human | Elwynn Forest | Northshire Valley | Northshire Abbey |
| Night elf | Teldrassil | Shadowglen | Aldrassil |
Draenei  |
Azuremyst Isle | Ammen Vale | Crash Site |
| Horde | |||
| Forsaken | Tirisfal Glades | Deathknell | Deathknell |
| Orc, troll | Durotar | Valley of Trials | The Den |
| Tauren | Mulgore | Red Cloud Mesa | Camp Narache |
| Blood elf |
Eversong Woods | Sunstrider Isle | The Sunspire |
| Both | |||
Death knight  |
Scarlet Enclave | Acherus: The Ebon Hold | Acherus: The Ebon Hold |