Explore the new and reimagined regions in World of Warcraft: Forever. This guide connects the zone overview to focused pages for Zephras Isle, Mount Hyjal, the Riverglades, and Shen’dralas, with clear notes on what Blizzard has announced and what still needs checking in the current beta build.
Updated October 4, 2026. Blizzard’s published previews describe these regions as part of a level 1–60 journey through familiar Azeroth and new stories. The beta is an evolving test, so an announced area, planned level range, or storyline is not automatically playable in every build. Check the client and the latest official beta development notes before planning a trip.
Choose a zone guide
- Zephras Isle: Skyborne origin, elemental crisis, and the level 1–12 starting journey.
- Mount Hyjal: a recovering land shaped by the aftermath of Archimonde’s defeat.
- Riverglades: a frontier of rivers, grasslands, trade routes, and new communities.
- Shen’dralas: a hidden region between Mulgore and Desolace tied to Eldre’Thalas and the Shen’dralar.
How to use this zone directory
Start with your character’s level, faction, and current objective. A starting-zone guide is useful when you are making a new character; a region overview helps when you are comparing future destinations or following a longer quest story. Use the linked pages for location-specific context, then check your map, quest log, and the current patch notes for practical details such as entry routes, quest availability, and level recommendations.
For a first character, pair the WoW Forever new player guide with the leveling guide. The former explains the core habits that make an unfamiliar world easier to navigate; the latter helps organize travel and questing into flexible level bands. If you are still choosing a character, compare the race hub and class hub before following a race-specific opening.
New regions, grounded in Azeroth’s history
Blizzard’s What’s Next panel recap frames the new places as an extension of the original world: players help restore Hyjal, uncover a story in Shen’dralas, build a future in the Riverglades, and begin on Zephras Isle. Each region offers a different kind of journey rather than one shared leveling route. Zephras is a defined Skyborne start; Riverglades is described as a mid-level frontier; the other two regions build on older mysteries and historical locations.
These summaries are useful for choosing what to read next, not substitutes for in-game navigation. Beta quest chains and access can change between builds, and official descriptions may discuss content before it opens. Treat exact routes, enemy levels, rewards, and travel methods as provisional unless confirmed in the client or a current Blizzard note. We’ll revise the individual zone guides as new builds provide verifiable details.
Plan your next step
Follow the zone that matches your character’s story, and return to this directory for the other regions. For current general play, continue to the WoW Forever leveling guide or review dungeon information before joining a group. Browse the WoW Forever hub for broader coverage and the guides hub for preparation resources.
