30-40

30-40 definately isn't the hardest for horde. I guess not as many alliance do SM, but it's amazingly easy for horde to get to 40 once they start SM. As for running instances from 12-40, it's true that all of our instances up until level 40 are in out territory, except for maybe BFD, but nobody runs that anyway. Point is, it isn't like we can just level up to 40 simply by running instances.

I personally found 30-34 and 40-45 the hardest. Especially 40-45. God. Fuck 40-45. 40-45 fucking sucks. My characters will never be 40-45 ever again. Ever. Not even my currently level 21 mage. He will skip over levels 40-45 because I named him ChuckNorris. As a matter of fact he roundhoused Onyxia in the face last night and got 10 levels.

Here's my usual spots 30-40:

Finish quests in Hillsbrad (Dalaran quests/etc)
Finish in Thousand Needles (if you still have anything)
Non-Elite quests in Arathi


Start in STV around 35, do all available quests that you can solo
Run SM for equipment upgrades as needed


Very beginning quests in Swamp of Sorrows



Probably forgetting a place or two, 30-39 is an annoying stretch, only second to 40-47. After that, you're doing good in Searing Gorge/Hinterlands/Maraudon until around 51-52.

Get yourself a high DPS friend to duo with and you'll shoot through levels. I got from 50 to 58 in a few days doing that.

I personally hate 50-55 you are too low to run high level instances so you are stuck with the questing.

Only fools overlook BFD. BFD has some awesome drops in it.

I personally hate 50-55 you are too low to run high level instances so you are stuck with the questing. Only fools overlook BFD. BFD has some awesome drops in it.

BFD is out of the way, and nothing in there worth really going for that you won't replace in RFK/SM/RFD.

BFD is definately worth running, I loved it, got my Staff of the Sleepwalker and Gravestone Sceptor there that I'm still using at level 32, Gravestone Sceptor is getting replaced with Earthen Wand at level 33 and Staff of the Sleepwalker is getting replaced with Illusionary Rod.

for 30-36 i grind in shimmering flats, for horde. Not as much gankage as in STV, and not really many people there in general. at 36 or so just run SM as everyone has previously stated, it works like a charm. But ofcourse if your not on a pvp server go to STV at 30 if you like, you can do a few quests