# Stranglethorn Vale, Dustwallow Marsh & Swamp of Sorrows (levels 40–43) > A Polestar leveling guide for World of Warcraft: Forever, levels 40–43: 52 steps and 53 quests. Page: https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/40-50/01-stranglethorn-vale Polestar is a free, open-source (GPL-3.0) leveling guide addon for World of Warcraft: Forever. Every guide here ships inside the addon: in game, `/polestar guides` opens the guide menu, and the guide window shows the steps with a waypoint arrow. ## At a glance - Category: Leveling; in game: Leveling > Alliance 40–50 > Stranglethorn Vale, Dustwallow Marsh & Swamp of Sorrows - Levels: 40–43 - For: Alliance - Zones: Dustwallow Marsh, The Barrens, Stranglethorn Vale, Stormwind City, Elwynn Forest, Darnassus, Swamp of Sorrows, Ironforge, Dun Morogh - 52 steps, 53 quests - Sets the hearth at Theramore Isle, then Booty Bay, then Stormwind - Flight paths: Ratchet - Comes after: [Badlands & Desolace](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/30-40/06-badlands.md) (levels 39–41) - Next: [Badlands & The Hinterlands](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/40-50/02-badlands.md) (levels 43–44) - Last changed 2026-10-16, in Polestar 0.2.5 ## Steps The steps as the guide window shows them, in order. Goals marked with a race or class are only for that race or class. ### 1. Theramore Morgan Stern stands near the inn; Helenia Olden, a trade supplier a few steps south, sells the spices Jarl wants. - Set your home to **Theramore Isle** at Innkeeper Janene - Turn in **Morgan Stern** at Morgan Stern - Accept **Mudrock Soup and Bugs** from Morgan Stern - Buy **Soothing Spices** ×3 from Helenia Olden — Soothing Spices, for "Swamp Eye" Jarl ### 2. Sentry Point Follow the road north-west out of Theramore to the watchtower at Sentry Point. Mudrock Burrowers roam the marsh around it. - Complete **The Missing Diplomat** - Collect **Forked Mudrock Tongue** ×8 for Mudrock Soup and Bugs ### 3. Archmage Tervosh Back in Theramore: Tervosh waits with Lady Jaina in the tower of Foothold Citadel. - Turn in **The Missing Diplomat** at Archmage Tervosh - Accept **The Missing Diplomat** from Archmage Tervosh ### 4. Swamplight Manor Take the road north to the ruined manor; Jarl lives in the shack beside it and the loose dirt is at the corner of the house. - Accept **Soothing Spices** from "Swamp Eye" Jarl - Turn in **Soothing Spices** at "Swamp Eye" Jarl — with the spices from Theramore - Accept **Jarl Needs Eyes** from "Swamp Eye" Jarl - Accept **The Orc Report** from Loose Dirt ### 5. Mudrock tortoises The Mudrock Tortoises and Spikeshells sun themselves on the shore north-east of the manor. - Collect **Forked Mudrock Tongue** ×8 for Mudrock Soup and Bugs ### 6. "Stinky" Ignatz Stinky waits west of the manor, in the marsh below North Point Tower. Lead him to his Bogbean leaves and keep the swamp creatures off him. - Accept **Stinky's Escape** from "Stinky" Ignatz - Complete **Stinky's Escape** ### 7. North Point Tower Private Hendel holds the tower with a few deserters. He turns on you: beat him until he yields. - Turn in **The Missing Diplomat** at Private Hendel - Accept **The Missing Diplomat** from Private Hendel - Complete **The Missing Diplomat** ### 8. Darkmist Cavern The Darkmist spiders nest around the cavern in the north-west of the marsh; every spider drops eyes. - Kill **Darkmist Spider** or **Darkmist Lurker** for **Unpopped Darkmist Eye** ×40 for Jarl Needs Eyes ### 9. Mudcrush Durtfeet Ride south to the giant's hut in the middle of the marsh. - Accept **Hungry!** from Mudcrush Durtfeet ### 10. The Shady Rest Inn The burned inn stands on the road west, toward the Barrens; the guard's badge lies in the ashes and the hoofprints are in the mud beside the inn. - Accept **Lieutenant Paval Reethe** from Theramore Guard Badge - Accept **Suspicious Hoofprints** from Hoofprints ### 11. Theramore Follow the road east back to Theramore. Tervosh, Lady Jaina and the officers are in the tower and Foothold Citadel. - Turn in **The Missing Diplomat** at Archmage Tervosh - Accept **The Missing Diplomat** from Lady Jaina Proudmoore - Turn in **The Missing Diplomat** at Lady Jaina Proudmoore - Turn in **The Orc Report** at Theramore Lieutenant - Accept **Captain Vimes** from Theramore Lieutenant - Turn in **Captain Vimes** at Captain Garran Vimes - Turn in **Lieutenant Paval Reethe** at Captain Garran Vimes - Turn in **Suspicious Hoofprints** at Captain Garran Vimes - Accept **Lieutenant Paval Reethe** from Captain Garran Vimes - Turn in **Lieutenant Paval Reethe** at Adjutant Tesoran - Accept **Daelin's Men** from Adjutant Tesoran - Turn in **Daelin's Men** at Captain Garran Vimes - Accept **The Deserters** from Captain Garran Vimes - Turn in **Stinky's Escape** at Morgan Stern ### 12. Mirefin murlocs The Mirefin murlocs crowd the north coast past Swamplight Manor; finish the tongues on the tortoises beside them. - Collect **Mirefin Head** ×12 for Hungry! - Collect **Forked Mudrock Tongue** ×8 for Mudrock Soup and Bugs ### 13. Swamplight Manor - Turn in **Jarl Needs Eyes** at "Swamp Eye" Jarl - Accept **Jarl Needs a Blade** from "Swamp Eye" Jarl (optional) — only if you carry a Moonsteel Broadsword (a blacksmith's craft) - Turn in **Jarl Needs a Blade** at "Swamp Eye" Jarl (optional) ### 14. Mudcrush Durtfeet - Turn in **Hungry!** at Mudcrush Durtfeet ### 15. Balos Jacken The deserters camp south of the road, west of Mudcrush's hut. - Turn in **The Deserters** at Balos Jacken - Accept **The Deserters** from Balos Jacken ### 16. Theramore - Hearth to **Theramore Isle** - Turn in **The Deserters** at Captain Garran Vimes - Accept **Vimes's Report** from Captain Garran Vimes - Turn in **Vimes's Report** at Lady Jaina Proudmoore - Turn in **Mudrock Soup and Bugs** at Morgan Stern ### 17. The Affray (Warrior only) On the ride north to Ratchet, Fray Island lies off the Merchant Coast south of the town: wade over the sand bar shallows. Klannoc Macleod sends four challengers and then Big Will (level 33) at you, one at a time. - Turn in **The Islander** at Klannoc Macleod - Accept **The Affray** from Klannoc Macleod - Complete **The Affray** — Defeat the challengers and Big Will - Turn in **The Affray** at Klannoc Macleod — Klannoc Macleod: Berserker Stance - Klannoc offers The Windwatcher next (1791): the Whirlwind weapon chain, with an elite at the end, is in the Warrior class guide Whirlwind Weapon. ### 18. Ratchet Ride from Theramore west along the Dustwallow road into the Barrens and north to Ratchet on the coast. Learn the flight path from Bragok, then take the boat to Booty Bay from the dock. - Get the flight path at **Ratchet** from Bragok - Go to **Boat to Booty Bay** The Barrens ### 19. Booty Bay Where: 27, 77.3 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The Salty Sailor Tavern is the tall building over the harbour; most of the quest givers are on its floors or the docks below. - Set your home to **Booty Bay** at Innkeeper Skindle - Accept **Stranglethorn Fever** from Fin Fizracket - Accept **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** from First Mate Crazz - Accept **Scaring Shaky** from "Sea Wolf" MacKinley - Accept **Stoley's Debt** from "Sea Wolf" MacKinley — for Stoley in Tanaris: keep it - Accept **Venture Company Mining** from Crank Fizzlebub - Accept **Zanzil's Secret** from Crank Fizzlebub - Accept **Skullsplitter Tusks** from Kebok - Accept **Tran'rek** from Krazek — Krazek: for Tran'rek in Tanaris, keep it - Turn in **Favor for Krazek** at Krazek - Accept **Return to Corporal Kaleb** from Krazek — for Corporal Kaleb at the Rebel Camp, on the northern loop - Accept **Akiris by the Bundle** from Privateer Bloads - Turn in **Sunken Treasure** at Fleet Master Seahorn — Fleet Master Seahorn, top floor - Seahorn's next errand goes back to Arathi: skip it. - Turn in **Ansirem's Key** at Catelyn the Blade - Accept **"Pretty Boy" Duncan** from Catelyn the Blade ### 20. Bloodsail camp Where: 27.3, 69.5 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Leave town by the tunnel and follow the coast north; the letter lies in the Bloodsail camp on the beach, where "Pretty Boy" Duncan walks. - Turn in **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** at Bloodsail Correspondence - Accept **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** from Bloodsail Correspondence - Kill **"Pretty Boy" Duncan** for **Catelyn's Blade** for "Pretty Boy" Duncan ### 21. Booty Bay Where: 28.1, 76.2 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. - Turn in **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** at First Mate Crazz - Accept **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** from First Mate Crazz - Turn in **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** at Fleet Master Seahorn - Accept **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** from Fleet Master Seahorn - Accept **Keep An Eye Out** from Dizzy One-Eye - Accept **Up to Snuff** from Deeg - Turn in **"Pretty Boy" Duncan** at Catelyn the Blade - Accept **The Curse of the Tides** from Catelyn the Blade — Gazban swims off the north-west coast, on the northern loop ### 22. Bloodsail pirates Where: 28.2, 82.4 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Every Bloodsail drops Snuff and one of them carries Dizzy's eye; the Swashbucklers walk the shore just north of town. The charts and orders lie in the pirate camp on the Wild Shore, south of Booty Bay. - Kill **Bloodsail Swashbuckler** ×10 for The Bloodsail Buccaneers - Collect **Snuff** ×15 for Up to Snuff - Collect **Dizzy's Eye** for Keep An Eye Out - Collect **Bloodsail Charts** for The Bloodsail Buccaneers - Collect **Bloodsail Orders** for The Bloodsail Buccaneers ### 23. Booty Bay Where: 27.2, 77 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. - Turn in **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** at Fleet Master Seahorn - Accept **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** from Fleet Master Seahorn - Turn in **Up to Snuff** at Deeg - Turn in **Keep An Eye Out** at Dizzy One-Eye ### 24. The Bloodsail captains Where: 32.9, 88.2 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The captains stand on the ships anchored off the Wild Shore, each with a crew of 42–45 pirates: Stillwater (45) and Keelhaul (46) on the nearer decks, Fleet Master Firallon (48) on the flagship. At 42 this is a fight for a group or for the end of the guide; clear each deck first if you go. Cortello's scroll lies on the wreck by the shore. - Kill **Captain Stillwater** for The Bloodsail Buccaneers (optional) - Kill **Captain Keelhaul** for The Bloodsail Buccaneers (optional) - Kill **Fleet Master Firallon** for The Bloodsail Buccaneers (optional) - Collect **Cortello's Riddle** - Accept **Cortello's Riddle** from Cortello's Riddle — for the Swamp of Sorrows later ### 25. Booty Bay Where: 27.2, 77 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. - Turn in **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** at Fleet Master Seahorn (optional) ### 26. Naga Explorers Where: 28.2, 64.4 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The naga comb the beaches north of the Bloodsail camp; they drop the reeds. - Collect **Akiris Reed** ×10 for Akiris by the Bundle ### 27. Gorilla hills Where: 30.9, 66.7 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride inland to the Mistvale gorilla hills. Elder Mistvale Gorillas drop the giblets; Witch Doctor Unbagwa sits among them. - Kill **Elder Mistvale Gorilla** for **Mistvale Giblets** ×5 for Scaring Shaky - Accept **Stranglethorn Fever** from Witch Doctor Unbagwa - Collect **Gorilla Fang** ×10 for Stranglethorn Fever ### 28. Unbagwa's ritual Where: 35.3, 60.4 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Hand in the fangs and stay: three waves of gorillas come, Mokk the Savage last. Fight at full health. - Turn in **Stranglethorn Fever** at Witch Doctor Unbagwa - Kill **Mokk the Savage** for **Heart of Mokk** for Stranglethorn Fever ### 29. Booty Bay Where: 26.9, 73.6 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride back down to town; Shaky stands at the tunnel mouth. - Turn in **Scaring Shaky** at "Shaky" Phillipe - Accept **Return to MacKinley** from "Shaky" Phillipe - Turn in **Return to MacKinley** at "Sea Wolf" MacKinley - Accept **Voodoo Dues** from "Sea Wolf" MacKinley - Turn in **Stranglethorn Fever** at Fin Fizracket - Turn in **Akiris by the Bundle** at Privateer Bloads - Accept **Akiris by the Bundle** from Privateer Bloads — for Privateer Groy in Theramore: keep it ### 30. Maury and Jon-Jon Where: 35.3, 51.3 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride north to the hills west of the road. Maury "Club Foot" Wilkins and Jon-Jon the Crow stand together just north of Zanzil's village. - Kill **Maury "Club Foot" Wilkins** for **Maury's Clubbed Foot** for Voodoo Dues - Kill **Jon-Jon the Crow** for **Jon-Jon's Golden Spyglass** for Voodoo Dues ### 31. Zanzil's village Where: 34.9, 51.8 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Every Zanzil follower can drop the mixture; Chucky "Ten Thumbs" walks the south of the camp. - Collect **Zanzil's Mixture** ×12 for Zanzil's Secret - Kill **Chucky "Ten Thumbs"** for **Chucky's Huge Ring** for Voodoo Dues ### 32. Crystalvein Mine Where: 36.5, 57.1 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Follow the road north-east to the Venture Co. camp at the Crystalvein Mine; the miners, surveyors and foremen drop the crystals. - Kill **Foreman Cozzle** or **Verifonix** for **Singing Blue Crystal** ×10 for Venture Company Mining ### 33. Skullsplitter ruins Where: 45.6, 41.6 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The Skullsplitter trolls hold the ruins just east of the mine; any of them can drop tusks, their panthers always do. - Collect **Skullsplitter Tusk** ×18 for Skullsplitter Tusks ### 34. Cold Eye Basilisks Where: 38.2, 40.4 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The Cold Eye Basilisks lie on the rocks west of the mine. - Kill **Cold Eye Basilisk** for **Chilled Basilisk Haunch** for A Meal Served Cold ### 35. The north-west coast Where: 27.6, 29.2 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride north-west from the mine to the bay on the north-west coast. The Giant Clams lie on its floor and hold the pearls; Gazban swims among them and drops the Stone of the Tides. - Collect **Blue Pearl** from **Giant Clam** ×9 for Pearl Diving - Kill **Gazban** for **Stone of the Tides** for The Curse of the Tides ### 36. Rebel Camp Where: 43.1, 16.7 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride north-east past Nesingwary's camp and follow the road north to the camp at the top of the vale. On the way, an Arbor Tarantula crawls in the jungle south-east of Nesingwary's camp: catch one with the Entomology Starter Kit, then tick it off. - Kill **Arbor Tarantula** — Arbor Tarantula: catch it, for My Little Friends - Turn in **Return to Corporal Kaleb** at Corporal Kaleb ### 37. Booty Bay Where: 27.2, 76.9 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. - Hearth to **Booty Bay** - Turn in **The Curse of the Tides** at Baron Revilgaz - Turn in **Voodoo Dues** at "Sea Wolf" MacKinley - MacKinley's next task sends you after elite ogres: skip it. - Turn in **Venture Company Mining** at Crank Fizzlebub - Turn in **Zanzil's Secret** at Crank Fizzlebub - Crank's next Zanzil errand starts in Thousand Needles: skip it. - Turn in **Skullsplitter Tusks** at Kebok ### 38. Stormwind Angus Stern cooks in the Blue Recluse; Brohann Caskbelly is in the Dwarven District. - Fly to **Stormwind** - Set your home to **Stormwind** at Innkeeper Allison - Turn in **A Meal Served Cold** at Angus Stern - Accept **Feast at the Blue Recluse** from Angus Stern - Turn in **Feast at the Blue Recluse** at Angus Stern - Accept **Vital Supplies** from High Sorcerer Andromath — High Sorcerer Andromath: for Nethergarde Keep, keep it - Accept **Mazen's Behest** from Mazen Mac'Nadir - Turn in **Mazen's Behest** at Acolyte Dellis - Accept **Mazen's Behest** from Acolyte Dellis - Accept **In Search of The Temple** from Brohann Caskbelly - Turn in **Return to Milton** at Milton Sheaf — Milton Sheaf, the Royal Library in Stormwind Keep - Train at your trainer (Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Mage, Warlock, Druid only) ### 39. Riding at 40 (Human only) At 40 with 100 gold you can learn to ride, and learning it gives you a mount. Randal Hunter teaches Humans at Eastvale Logging Camp in eastern Elwynn Forest, beside Katie Hunter's horses. Forever may let any race learn from any riding trainer (unconfirmed). Collectibles, Mounts · Level 40 lists every colour. - Train at **Randal Hunter** (optional) - Sell and repair at **Katie Hunter** (optional) — Katie Hunter: other colours, 20g ### 40. Riding at 40 (Skyborne only) At 40 with 100 gold you can learn to ride, and learning it gives you a mount. No Skyborne riding trainer is known; the Forever client files Galestrider Riding under the one Riding skill, so Randal Hunter at Eastvale Logging Camp in eastern Elwynn Forest, the nearest trainer to Stormwind, should teach it (unconfirmed). The Galestriders are sold by Genn Fairweather in Valanaar on Zephras Isle; Collectibles, Mounts · Level 40 lists them. - Train at **Randal Hunter** (optional) - Galestriders: Genn Fairweather, in Valanaar on Zephras Isle. ### 41. Riding at 40 (Night Elf only) At 40 with 100 gold you can learn to ride, and learning it gives you a mount. Jartsam teaches Night Elves in Darnassus, beside Lelanai's sabers: the boat from Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine, then the flight to Rut'theran Village. Forever may let any race learn from any riding trainer (unconfirmed), such as Randal Hunter at Eastvale Logging Camp in Elwynn Forest. Collectibles, Mounts · Level 40 lists every colour. - Train at **Jartsam** (optional) - Sell and repair at **Lelanai** (optional) — Lelanai: other colours, 20g ### 42. Paladin: The Tome of Nobility (Paladin only) - Accept **The Tome of Nobility** from Duthorian Rall — Duthorian Rall, in the Cathedral of Light - Turn in **The Tome of Nobility** at Duthorian Rall ### 43. Warlock: Summon Felsteed (Warlock only) - Accept **Summon Felsteed** from Demisette Cloyce — Demisette Cloyce, in the Slaughtered Lamb: Strahad Farsan in Ratchet takes it at the end of the next guide ### 44. Watcher Biggs Fly to Darkshire and ride east through Deadwind Pass into the Swamp of Sorrows; Watcher Biggs stands by the road just past the border. - Fly to **Darkshire** - Accept **Driftwood** from Watcher Biggs ### 45. A Soggy Scroll The scroll lies in the marsh north of Biggs. The Swampwalkers north of it can drop Khadgar's essays. - Turn in **Cortello's Riddle** at A Soggy Scroll - The riddle's next scroll lies in western Dustwallow: skip it. - Collect **Khadgar's Essays on Dimensional Convergence** for Mazen's Behest ### 46. The sunken temple Ride east; the Tangled Horrors along the way also drop the essays. Search the edge of the Pool of Tears, where the temple's ruins break the water. - Collect **Khadgar's Essays on Dimensional Convergence** for Mazen's Behest - Complete **In Search of The Temple** ### 47. Misty Reed Strand The driftwood washes up along the eastern shore. - Collect **Sundried Driftwood** ×8 for Driftwood ### 48. Watcher Biggs Ride back west along the road; Amaryllis Webb stands a short way north of Biggs. - Turn in **Driftwood** at Watcher Biggs - Accept **Deliver the Shipment** from Watcher Biggs — for Nethergarde Keep: keep it - Turn in **My Little Friends** at Amaryllis Webb — Amaryllis Webb: My Little Friends, from 30–40/05-arathi-highlands ### 49. Stormwind - Hearth to **Stormwind** - Turn in **In Search of The Temple** at Brohann Caskbelly - Accept **To The Hinterlands** from Brohann Caskbelly — for Falstad Wildhammer at Aerie Peak: keep it ### 50. Ironforge Take the Deeprun Tram from the Dwarven District. Roetten is in the Reclaimers' hall by the Hall of Explorers, Prospector Stormpike in the hall itself, Gerrig Bonegrip in the Forlorn Cavern. The next guide flies on to Thelsamar. - Turn in **Reagents for Reclaimers Inc.** at Roetten Stonehammer - Accept **Ironband Wants You!** from Prospector Stormpike — Prospector Stormpike: for Prospector Ironband in Loch Modan, keep it - Turn in **To Ironforge for Yagyin's Digest** at Gerrig Bonegrip - Train at your trainer (Shaman only) — Stormwind has no shaman trainer ### 51. Riding at 40 (Dwarf only) At 40 with 100 gold you can learn to ride, and learning it gives you a mount. Ultham Ironhorn teaches Dwarves at Amberstill Ranch, east of Kharanos on the road to Loch Modan, beside Veron Amberstill's rams. Forever may let any race learn from any riding trainer (unconfirmed). Collectibles, Mounts · Level 40 lists every colour. - Train at **Ultham Ironhorn** (optional) - Sell and repair at **Veron Amberstill** (optional) — Veron Amberstill: other colours, 20g ### 52. Riding at 40 (Gnome only) At 40 with 100 gold you can learn to ride, and learning it gives you a mount. Binjy Featherwhistle teaches Gnomes at Steelgrill's Depot, just east of Kharanos, beside Milli Featherwhistle's mechanostriders. Forever may let any race learn from any riding trainer (unconfirmed). Collectibles, Mounts · Level 40 lists every colour. - Train at **Binjy Featherwhistle** (optional) - Sell and repair at **Milli Featherwhistle** (optional) — Milli Featherwhistle: other colours, 20g --- Index for language models: https://polestar.guide/llms.txt