If you’re brand-new to WoW right before Midnight, the internet is going to try to bury you in “mandatory” guides.
You don’t need any of that. You need a plan that keeps you moving, gets you into groups, and doesn’t make the game feel like homework.
TL;DR (the path)
- Pick one character and stick with it.
- Do the core story/leveling path.
- Start doing dungeons/world content for basic gear.
- Find a guild/community before you hit the “what now?” wall.
Step 1: Pick a class that matches how you actually play
Ignore tier lists. For a new player, the best class is the one you’ll log in and play.
Two questions:
- Do you want fast invites to group content? Pick a class that can tank or heal.
- Do you want a chill solo experience? Pick something that feels good in open world.
If you’re unsure, pick a flexible class (Druid/Paladin/Monk) so you can pivot later without rerolling.
If you want the safest “one character does everything” pick, start here: If You Can Only Level One Character for Midnight, Make It a Druid.
Step 2: Don’t “catch up” on 20 years of lore
You’ll be fine. Seriously.
- Watch a short recap if you like story.
- Otherwise, play the current path and let the game drip-feed you context.
Step 3: Fix your UI just enough to not grief yourself
You do not need a streamer UI. You need:
- enemy cast bars you can see
- keybinds that make sense
- nameplates you can read
If you install addons, start minimal. Broken addons are a new player’s final boss.
Step 4: Learn dungeons the smart way (without anxiety)
Dungeons are the fastest way to learn “real WoW,” but they can be intimidating.
My advice:
- Tell the group you’re new at the start. Most people chill out instantly.
- Focus on two skills: don’t stand in bad and interrupt the scary casts.
- Don’t over-apologize for mistakes. Everyone messes up.
Step 5: Gearing basics (what matters, what doesn’t)
You do not need perfect gear before an expansion. You need:
- gear that isn’t wildly underleveled
- a basic understanding of your stats
- a couple of trinkets/slots that aren’t ancient
Don’t farm one piece for 30 hours because a guide said it’s “BiS.” Launch week will replace most of it anyway.
Step 6: Find your people (this is the real catch-up)
The fastest way to “catch up” is having other humans to play with.
- Join a guild that matches your vibe (casual, mythic+, PvP, roleplay, whatever).
- If you don’t know what you like yet, join a friendly beginner guild and learn in public.
Step 7: The “before Midnight” checklist
By the time Midnight hits, aim for:
- one max-level character (or at least close)
- a UI you can play on comfortably
- a couple dungeon runs under your belt
- one or two friends/guildmates you can message
That’s it. That’s the whole game.
If you want, tell me what kind of player you are (solo, dungeons, raids, PvP, “I just want story”), and I’ll point you at the easiest class + content path for your goals.