Content:
Leveling in Midnight at a Glance
This page reflects patch 12.1 as of 12 October 2026, ahead of patch 12.1.5 on 13 October. XP numbers are from Icy Veins’ leveling guide unless stated.
The level cap is now 90, not 80, so “70 to 80” is only the middle of the trip. Midnight changed how the early levels are cut up: Chromie Time covers 10 to 70, an expedited War Within story takes over at 70, and the Midnight intro needs level 78. The shortest path depends on which of these stretches you are in.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Level cap | 90 (Midnight) |
| Chromie Time | Levels 10 to 70, with Dragonflight as the default option |
| At level 70 | An expedited story mode for The War Within catches you up before Midnight |
| Level to start the Midnight intro | 78 |
| XP for levels 80 to 90 | 4,963,065 in total |
| Fast alt route (80 to 90) | 4 to 5 hours with Delver’s Call quests and War Mode (Wowhead, March 2026). A first character’s campaign takes 8 hours or more |
| Speedrun for 80 to 90 | 1 hour 38 minutes, by the speedrunner Harldan on patch 12.0.7 with XP buffs (reported by Icy Veins) |
How the Level Ranges Are Split
| Levels | Content | What to do | Biggest time saver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 | Starting zones | Normal quest line | Nothing worth optimizing; the stretch is short |
| 10 to 70 | Chromie Time | Pick an expansion in Chromie Time. Dragonflight is the default | Warband XP bonus, if other characters of yours have reached the cap (see the XP section) |
| 70 to 78 | The War Within (expedited story) | Follow the TWW campaign. It catches you up on the story that leads into Midnight | First-time quests in Delves |
| 78 to 80 | Midnight intro questline | Starts at level 78. Eversong Woods is the first zone | Skyriding, which works from the first day of Midnight |
| 80 to 90 | Midnight campaign | 17 chapters, close to 90 on campaign quests alone | The alt route on a second character, or the XP buffs below |
Skyriding is available from the start of Midnight, with no limits, so you can fly in every zone as soon as you reach it.
Why Leveling to 80 Got Much Faster
Midnight rebalanced how much XP each level needs. Icy Veins compared the Midnight beta (November 2025) with live War Within numbers:
| Measure | War Within (live) | Midnight (beta) |
|---|---|---|
| Total XP, levels 1 to 80 | 5,614,930 | 3,209,225 (43% less) |
| Levels 70 to 79, per level | – | 74% to 83% less than before |
Treat these as beta figures. The same beta table gave 302,795 XP for level 80, but the live Midnight value is 403,725, about a third more, so the live XP for levels 70 to 79 may also differ. What stays true is the direction: the old 70 to 80 grind was cut sharply, which is why most of this guide is about 80 to 90. We have not timed the 70 to 78 stretch ourselves after launch.
Levels 70 to 78: The War Within Content
This stretch is the War Within campaign. Blizzard’s launch preview, as summarized by Warcraft Tavern, puts the zones in this order: Isle of Dorn, The Ringing Deeps, Hallowfall and Azj-Kahet. We do not list level ranges per zone, because we have not checked them after Midnight’s changes.
- Stay on the campaign. The expedited story mode is built to get you to Midnight’s door. The goal is level 78, not the end of the War Within.
- Take first-time quests in Delves. In Midnight, Icy Veins says every Delves location gives a one-time quest with a solid XP reward, while repeat runs give little. Pick up the quest at the entrance.
- Use speed items. The list is in the buffs section below.
Levels 80 to 90: First Character or Alt
The Midnight story starts at level 78, and from there the zone order, the level-up dungeons, the step-by-step alt route and the XP needed for every level are the same for all classes. They are written out once, in our Rogue leveling guide. This page only compares the two ways of getting through the stretch.
| First character | Alt, after any character finished the campaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Path | Eversong Woods first, then a choice between Zul’Aman, Harandar and the Arator questline across the Eastern Kingdoms, and Voidstorm as the last zone | Adventure Mode: start in the Sanctum of Light in Silvermoon, pick your own order, and replay the campaign or use world quests and events |
| Time | 8 hours or more (Wowhead, March 2026) | 4 to 5 hours with the Delver’s Call plan (Wowhead, March 2026) |
| Where the XP comes from | The 17 campaign chapters, which bring you close to 90; world quests open after that | Quests in a zone you choose (the Wowhead plan uses Eversong Woods and Zul’Aman), plus eight Delver’s Call turn-ins held back until the end |
| Delves | Shadow Enclave is required by the campaign | All eight Tier 1 Delves, entered once each for the bounty |
Level 80 asks for 403,725 XP and level 89 for 592,980, and every level in between costs roughly 20,000 to 22,000 more than the one before it. Each Delver’s Call quest pays over 100,000 XP, and Wowhead counts eight of them, with War Mode on, as enough to carry a character well into level 89.
Where players lose time on this stretch
- Re-running Delves for XP. Icy Veins says repeat runs without the first-time quest give minimal base XP.
- Turning in Delver’s Call quests as you collect them. The Wowhead plan holds all eight until you have quested to about the end of level 87 or 88.
- Turning in with War Mode off. Wowhead’s count includes the 15% bonus, so switch it on before the hand-ins.
XP Buffs and Speed Items
| Buff | Effect |
|---|---|
| Warband Mentors | 25% XP (counted in Harldan’s run) |
| War Mode | 15% XP |
| Darkmoon Faire | 10% XP |
| Turbulent Timeways: Mastery of Timeways | 30% XP while the event is active (it was not counted in Harldan’s run) |
These figures come from the Icy Veins report on Harldan’s 12.0.7 route (1 hour 38 minutes for 80 to 90). Check the buff tooltips on your own character, since events end and numbers can change.
The Warband Mentors line is the one most players already hold without knowing. Icy Veins’ Warbands guide describes it as a 5% bonus for each character that reached level 80, up to 25% with five characters, tracked through achievements. That description dates from The War Within, so we cannot say whether Midnight added tiers for level 90.
| Speed item | What Icy Veins says |
|---|---|
| Charged Phial of Alacrity | 30 minutes of extra speed that survives death |
| Exquisitely Eviscerated Muscle | Movement speed for an hour; level 75 |
| Thunderous Drums | Level 75 |
| Gunshoes | A large speed boost that also works where mounts do not |
| Goblin Glider Kit | Lets you glide off ledges and cover distance quickly |
Leveling Alts and Classes
Once your first character finishes the campaign, Adventure Mode opens for all your alts, as the table above shows.
- Class guides. Our Rogue and Warlock leveling guides cover specs, talent order and abilities by level for Midnight.
- Not sure what to play? The Midnight beginner guide explains the first steps.
- Skipping levels. A character boost puts you at level 80 (or 70 with an older boost), as explained in our character boost guide. If you would rather not play the levels at all, our Midnight leveling page lists the ranges the service covers.
Fast Leveling FAQ
What is the level cap in Midnight?
90.
At what level do I start the Midnight story?
Level 78.
How long does it take to go from 80 to 90?
Wowhead put a fast alt route at 4 to 5 hours and a first character at 8 hours or more (March 2026). A speedrunner’s route on patch 12.0.7 took 1 hour 38 minutes with XP buffs.
How much XP do I need for level 90?
4,963,065 XP from level 80, according to Icy Veins.
Does Chromie Time work for Midnight levels?
No. Chromie Time covers levels 10 to 70. After 70, the War Within story and then Midnight take over.
Are repeat runs of Delves good for leveling?
No. The first-time quest at each Delves location is worth the visit; repeat runs give little base XP.
Do my other characters speed up a new one?
Yes: Icy Veins describes a Warband XP bonus of 5% per character that reached level 80, up to 25%. Check the achievement list in game for the Midnight version.