People who haven’t playedWorld of Warcraftmight think that the Classic and retail versions are basically the same, but transportation is one of the features that set the old and new games apart. In the retail version, it’s much easier to get around, and it’s also possible to carry more than one hearthstone, like the extra one you have for your Garrison.
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For the one hearthstone that’s possible to change, some choices are better than others. Anytime there’s an innkeeper, there’s an option to set your hearthstone. Everyone has their own customized way of playingWoW, and the choices are different for characters that are leveling or those that are already maxed out.
7Orgrimmar, Durotar
For Horde players only, as this is their capital city in Azeroth. It has all the trainers and supplies that every character needs and is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the whole game. The zeppelins in the center of town go virtually everywhere: Northrend, Undercity, Thunder Bluff, and Stranglethorn Vale.
Portals are available here that go everywhere the zeppelins don’t, and these are conveniently located near the southern entrance to town. The dock with the boat that goes to Vashj’ir is also here but be advised that’s a one-way trip.
6Ironforge, Dun Murogh
Stormwind is great, too, but the design of Ironforge on an organized hub is much easier to navigate, plus the Alliance capital is an easy tram ride to the south. Yet another advantage is Menethil Harbour, only a short flight to the north and still retaining a working harbor despite being flooded.
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For Alliance players, the northern reaches of the Eastern Kingdoms are quiet and don’t offer much in the way of settlements, and Ironforge is the closest big city to this region. Ride from Menethil for easy access to the Arathi Highlands and the Hinterlands.
5Kelp’thar Forest, Vashj’ir
Options for travel are one reason to set a hearthstone, and the lack of transportation is yet another reason. Vashj’ir is an isolated area, to begin with, and the only way to get there is via a shipwreck. If you’re planning on questing here, set your hearth with the innkeeper on the ruined boat as soon as you arrive.
That being said, this is Azeroth’s underwater level.Be prepared to spend some time herebefore discovering a flight path that can take you back to the nearest mainland, in this case, the Eastern Kingdoms.
4Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale
A location from Classic that’s part of a busy transportation, trade, and training hub, this goblin city took a tidal wave in theCataclysmexpansion, but it’s still here. This is better for Horde players who have a zeppelin landing nearby in Grom Gol to the north, but neutral cities always have vendors and transport hubs that anyone can use.
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Horde and Alliance have separate flight paths here, both located in the southern corner of town, and the boat that goes to Ratchet in Kalimdor, another neutral city and one of the few fight paths Alliance players can access on that part of the continent.
3Dalaran, Northrend
There’s more than one Dalaran in World of Warcraft, depending on what storylines you’ve completed, and they both have their perks. The one that hovers above the Broken Isles after the Legion questline is finished, which is close to areas like Highmountain and Azsuna, also has portals to the Maelstrom and comes with a separate hearthstone to avoid confusing the two.
Using Dalaran in Northrend as your hearth is obvious for players questing in the shadow of the Frozen Throne. The Cooking and Fishing dailies can be found here along with profession trainers, the portals to battlegrounds and capital cities, and direct transportation to points in Shalozar Basin and Icecrown.
2Valdrakken, Dragon Isles
This option is limited to players that have characters level 55 and higher since only ‘toons of these levels can visit the Dragon Isles. If you’ve rolled a Dracthy Evoker, which starts at an advanced level, and you’re playing through the storyline, setting your hearth to the first major city you encounter is a good choice.
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For those who are venturing to the Dragon Isles from the mainland and are hoping to spend some time learning their many ancient and mysterious ways, this is also a place to find profession trainers along with quests. The new expansion has its own Cooking and Fishing category, and you have to train in them separately before you’re able to level them.
1Nordrassil, Mount Hyjal
Another far-flung location and also a very scenic one, there’s a cozy little inn that’s located in the roots of Nordrassil that makes a handy hearth. You can’t fly there directly but have to accept the quest from the bulletin board to defend Mount Hyjal, which initially sends you to the Druid city of Nighthaven. From there, you’ll ride a friendly dragon to Nordrassil.
Rather than do that over again next time, set your hearth to this location and port directly back whenever you want. It’s also convenient for vendors and repairs, and you play through the storyline of this region, and the lore is some of the oldest and most interesting in the World of Warcraft.
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