When WotLK launches, you will be able to earn experience points doing battlegrounds. The original patch 3.2 notes stated, “Players will now be awarded experience for completing objectives and actions that yield honor in Battlegrounds (honorable kills not included).” In other words, you are incentivized to play the objectives, and not farm kills, if you want to level efficiently.
Here are a few tips on how to approach BG levelling:
GEAR
You can easily accumulate competitive gear with little to no cost.
1. Heirloom gear
Get a character to Level 80 and run heroic dungeons/Wintergrasp to acquire currency for Heirloom gear. This is really going to be BiS for your BG gear (chest, shoulder, weapon, trinket) that you can send to an alt. You will also get a 20% XP buff for using the chest and shoulder. This is highly recommended initial step.
2. BG gear
Warsong Gulch, Arathi Basin and Alterac Valley gear will be available for just honor. The honor required is very low, which you can earn while you level in BGs. Refresh every 10 levels.
Gear includes: necklace, rings, capes, boots, belt, trinkets, epic wrists (starting at 40], weapons (though, I would use Heirlooms for weapons).
WSG Gear: https://www.wowhead.com/wotlk/npc=14753/illiyana-moonblaze#sells
AB Gear: https://www.wowhead.com/wotlk/npc=15127/samuel-hawke#sells
AV Gear: https://www.wowhead.com/wotlk/npc=13217/thanthaldis-snowgleam#sells
You can also acquire some full PvP gear sets/weapons in Stormwind/Ogrimmar (e.g., level 60 PvP sets).
Battleground gear largely has a low honor cost up to an including level 48 gear. Higher level gear starts to have a much higher honor cost. If you want to rock some sweet looking epic PvP sets, one thing you can do is farm Wintergrasp to acquire Wintergrasp Commendation that you can send to your alts: https://www.wowhead.com/wotlk/item=44115/wintergrasp-commendation
3. Dungeons
I like running levelling dungeons once for the quest completions. Ideally, you do this at levels X0 to X4 since you’re more competitive in a BG bracket at level X5 to X9. You should be getting blue gear via quests and/or boss drops.
4. Profession/AH supplements
While the first three gearing methods will provide a lot of great gear, crafting gear from professions or looking at AH levelling gear to update slots that are dragging behind is pretty cheap.
5. Enchanting
You do not need end game enchanting. Levelling enchants can be acquired for a fraction of the cost. If you have an enchanter, you can put the enchant on scrolls (via inscription) and sent to alts, or just buy cheap enchants off AH. For BoA’s, it is well worth enchanting these with the best possible Classic Era enchant since you will be using these items for a long time.
WHEN TO QUEUE
Battleground Holidays will give extra reputation, honor and thus experience. Queuing a random BG will also give you additional rewards. The first match of the day (if I recall correctly) gives you the biggest xp boost. If you have a few alts, you may wish to rotate them into matches each day to min/max xp gains.
SHOULD I TURN OFF XP?
If you want to game at X9 for awhile, go ahead and turn off your XP (NPC in Stormwind/Ogrimmar). If you do this, you may want to hunt down BiS gear. This is a great opportunity to start farming Battleground Achievements/Reputation.
My suggestion is that 79 BGs will be a great time to farm these achievements. You can earn Battlemaster title and have a very active bracket. Unless Blizzard changes it, characters level 75+ will also be able to queue Wintergrasp.
DEALING WITH TWINKS
Given that twinks will be allowed into BGs with levelers, there has been a lot of concern that they will dramatically impact your experience.
If you follow this guide, you will have very competitive gear.
Remember… these are team-based matches focused on objectives (which is how you actually earn experience). If you’re trying to solo a twink, you’re playing the BG incorrectly. Some tips:
- Stay with other players
- Go around/avoid players not focused on the objectives
- If you run into a bad situation (e.g., twinks), use your CC and take them out of the play and move on
Activity is already picking up in leveling BGs. Hope to see some new faces out there! Just remember… get the easy gear available to you AND focus on game objectives. Do these simple things and you will accelerate your fun and leveling experience.