# Stranglethorn Vale & Swamp of Sorrows (levels 40–43) > A Polestar leveling guide for World of Warcraft: Forever, levels 40–43: 40 steps and 31 quests. Page: https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/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 > Horde 40–50 > Stranglethorn Vale & Swamp of Sorrows - Levels: 40–43 - For: Horde - Zones: The Barrens, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows - 40 steps, 31 quests - Sets the hearth at Grom'gol Base Camp, then Booty Bay - Flight paths: Stonard - Comes after: [Dustwallow Marsh & Desolace](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/30-40/04-dustwallow-marsh.md) (levels 39–41) - Next: [Feralas & Tanaris](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/40-50/02-feralas.md) (levels 42–44) - Last changed 2026-10-14, in Polestar 0.2.4 ## 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. Fly to Ratchet From Shadowprey Village fly to Ratchet. - Fly to **Ratchet** ### 2. Boat to Booty Bay The boat to Booty Bay docks at the end of Ratchet's pier. - Go to **Ratchet pier** The Barrens ### 3. Booty Bay Where: 27.6, 76.7 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The boat lands in Booty Bay's harbour. The quest givers stand on the boardwalks around the harbour and in the inn. - 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 - 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 Gadgetzan - Accept **Akiris by the Bundle** from Privateer Bloads - Sell and repair at a vendor ### 4. Bloodsail Correspondence Where: 27.3, 69.5 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Leave town by the tunnel; the note lies in the pirates' cove just north of Booty Bay. - Turn in **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** at Bloodsail Correspondence - Accept **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** from Bloodsail Correspondence ### 5. 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 - Turn in **Sunken Treasure** at Fleet Master Seahorn - Accept **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** from Fleet Master Seahorn - Accept **Up to Snuff** from Deeg - Accept **Keep An Eye Out** from Dizzy One-Eye ### 6. The Wild Shore Where: 32, 79.5 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. South of Booty Bay the Bloodsail swashbucklers camp on the Wild Shore; the charts and the orders lie in their tents. Any Bloodsail can carry snuff and Dizzy's eye, so keep killing until you have both. - Kill **Bloodsail Swashbuckler** ×10 for The Bloodsail Buccaneers - Collect **Bloodsail Charts** for The Bloodsail Buccaneers - Collect **Bloodsail Orders** for The Bloodsail Buccaneers - Collect **Snuff** ×15 for Up to Snuff - Collect **Dizzy's Eye** for Keep An Eye Out ### 7. 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 ### 8. The Bloodsail ships Where: 32.9, 88.2 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The three ships lie off the Wild Shore. The crews are 42–45, Stillwater 45, Keelhaul 46 and Fleet Master Firallon 48: at 41 this is a fight for a group, or for the end of the guide. If you go, swim out and pull the crew to the rail one at a time. A scroll, Cortello's Riddle, lies on the ships' decks: take it. - 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 a later stop in the Swamp of Sorrows ### 9. Booty Bay Where: 27.2, 77 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. - Turn in **The Bloodsail Buccaneers** at Fleet Master Seahorn (optional) ### 10. Witch Doctor Unbagwa Where: 35.3, 60.4 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Take the road north out of Booty Bay; Unbagwa sits on a hill in Mistvale Valley, east of the road. - Accept **Stranglethorn Fever** from Witch Doctor Unbagwa ### 11. Mistvale gorillas Where: 34.4, 62.5 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The gorillas roam the valley around Unbagwa. The elders drop the giblets; any of them can drop a fang. - Kill **Elder Mistvale Gorilla** for **Mistvale Giblets** ×5 for Scaring Shaky - Collect **Gorilla Fang** ×10 for Stranglethorn Fever ### 12. Mokk the Savage Where: 35.3, 60.4 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Hand Unbagwa the fangs and stay by him: he calls three waves of gorillas, then Mokk. Fight them one at a time. - Turn in **Stranglethorn Fever** at Witch Doctor Unbagwa - Kill **Mokk the Savage** for **Heart of Mokk** for Stranglethorn Fever ### 13. Zanzil's camps Where: 38.7, 59.8 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. North-east of Mistvale, Zanzil's followers camp in the jungle; every one of them can carry the mixture. - Collect **Zanzil's Mixture** ×12 for Zanzil's Secret ### 14. Venture Co. mine Where: 36.5, 57.1 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Further north, the goblins of the Venture Co. dig at the mine east of the road; miners, foremen, surveyors and tinkerers all drop the crystals. - Kill **Foreman Cozzle** or **Verifonix** for **Singing Blue Crystal** ×10 for Venture Company Mining ### 15. Grom'gol Base Camp Where: 31.5, 29.7 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride north-west to Grom'gol. - Set your home to **Grom'gol Base Camp** at Innkeeper Thulbek - Accept **Mok'thardin's Enchantment** from Far Seer Mok'thardin - Accept **Bloodscalp Clan Heads** from Nimboya - Accept **Grim Message** from Nimboya — for later: the Hinterlands, around level 48 - Accept **Split Bone Necklace** from Kin'weelay - Turn in **The Troll Witchdoctor** at Kin'weelay ### 16. Nesingwary's Expedition Where: 35.7, 10.8 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride north up the road; the hunters camp on the hill above the river. - Accept **Raptor Mastery** from Hemet Nesingwary ### 17. Zul'Kunda Where: 23.4, 8.1 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. West of the expedition, the Bloodscalp chiefs Gan'zulah and Nezzliok stand together in the ruins of Zul'Kunda. Clear their guards first, then pull them. - Kill **Gan'zulah** for **Gan'zulah's Head** for Bloodscalp Clan Heads - Kill **Nezzliok the Dire** for **Nezzliok's Head** for Bloodscalp Clan Heads ### 18. Hearth to Grom'gol Where: 32.2, 27.6 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. - Hearth to **Grom'gol Base Camp** - Turn in **Bloodscalp Clan Heads** at Bubbling Cauldron — the Bubbling Cauldron, beside Nimboya - Accept **Speaking with Gan'zulah** from Bubbling Cauldron - Accept **Speaking with Nezzliok** from Bubbling Cauldron ### 19. Jungle stalkers Where: 33, 36.5 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The stalker raptors hunt the jungle south of Grom'gol, out towards the west coast. - Kill **Jungle Stalker** ×10 for Raptor Mastery ### 20. Naga shore and the Holy Spring Where: 27.1, 59.7 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Follow the coast south. The naga explorers wade along the shore and carry the reed bundles; the Holy Spring bubbles in the hills just east of them. - Kill **Naga Explorer** ×10 for Mok'thardin's Enchantment - Collect **Akiris Reed** ×10 for Akiris by the Bundle - Collect **Holy Spring Water** from **Holy Spring** for Mok'thardin's Enchantment ### 21. Booty Bay Where: 27, 77.3 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride south to Booty Bay. Shaky Phillipe waits on the docks. - Set your home to **Booty Bay** at Innkeeper Skindle - Turn in **Akiris by the Bundle** at Privateer Bloads - 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 **Zanzil's Secret** at Crank Fizzlebub - Turn in **Venture Company Mining** at Crank Fizzlebub - Turn in **Stranglethorn Fever** at Fin Fizracket - Sell and repair at a vendor ### 22. Pirate ghosts Where: 35.3, 51.3 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The three ghostly pirates haunt the jungle north of Booty Bay, near Zanzil's camps: Maury and Jon-Jon stand together, Chucky further east. - Kill **Maury "Club Foot" Wilkins** - Kill **Maury "Club Foot" Wilkins** for **Maury's Clubbed Foot** for Voodoo Dues - Kill **Jon-Jon the Crow** - Kill **Jon-Jon the Crow** for **Jon-Jon's Golden Spyglass** for Voodoo Dues - Kill **Chucky "Ten Thumbs"** - Kill **Chucky "Ten Thumbs"** for **Chucky's Huge Ring** for Voodoo Dues ### 23. Zul'Mamwe Where: 45, 44.1 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride north to the Skullsplitter ruins east of the Venture Co. mine; pull the headhunters and berserkers one at a time. Ana'thek the Cruel guards the south-western ruins, and one pile of trophy skulls stands on the ruins' north side. Every Skullsplitter can drop a tusk or a necklace: the necklaces are the slow part, so keep killing in the warriors' camp north of the ruins until you have them all. - Kill **Skullsplitter Hunter** ×8 for Speaking with Gan'zulah - Kill **Skullsplitter Headhunter** ×6 for Speaking with Gan'zulah - Kill **Skullsplitter Berserker** ×4 for Speaking with Gan'zulah - Kill **Ana'thek the Cruel** for **Broken Armor of Ana'thek** for Speaking with Gan'zulah - Collect **Zul'Mamwe Trophy** from **Zul'Mamwe Trophy Skulls** for Speaking with Nezzliok - Go to **Skullsplitter warriors** Stranglethorn Vale - Collect **Skullsplitter Tusk** ×18 for Skullsplitter Tusks - Collect **Split Bone Necklace** ×25 for Split Bone Necklace ### 24. Balia'mah Ruins Where: 46.1, 32.3 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The next trophy skulls stand in the small ruins just north of the warriors' camp. - Collect **Balia'mah Trophy** from **Balia'mah Trophy Skulls** for Speaking with Nezzliok ### 25. Ziata'jai Ruins Where: 42.2, 36.1 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. The last skulls are in the ruins a short ride west, on the way back to Grom'gol. - Collect **Ziata'jai Trophy** from **Ziata'jai Trophy Skulls** for Speaking with Nezzliok ### 26. Grom'gol Base Camp Where: 32.1, 29.2 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride west to Grom'gol. - Turn in **Mok'thardin's Enchantment** at Far Seer Mok'thardin - Turn in **Speaking with Gan'zulah** at Bubbling Cauldron — the Bubbling Cauldron - Turn in **Speaking with Nezzliok** at Bubbling Cauldron - Turn in **Split Bone Necklace** at Kin'weelay ### 27. Hearth to Booty Bay Where: 27.8, 77.1 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. - Hearth to **Booty Bay** - Turn in **Voodoo Dues** at "Sea Wolf" MacKinley - Turn in **Skullsplitter Tusks** at Kebok ### 28. Fly to Grom'gol - Fly to **Grom'gol** ### 29. Nesingwary's Expedition Where: 35.7, 10.8 on the Stranglethorn Vale map. Ride north up the road to the hunters' camp. - Turn in **Raptor Mastery** at Hemet Nesingwary ### 30. Into the Swamp of Sorrows Keep riding north into Duskwood, then east along the road through Deadwind Pass into the swamp. Magtoor waits at the Harborage, the draenei camp near the way in from Deadwind Pass. - Accept **Draenethyst Crystals** from Magtoor ### 31. Stonard Ride east to Stonard, in the reeds south of the road. - Get the flight path at **Stonard** from Breyk - Turn in **Report to Helgrum** at Helgrum the Swift - Accept **Lack of Surplus** from Dar ### 32. Draenethyst crystals Ride north-east to the Fallow Sanctuary. The crystals stand along the way up to Galen Goodward's cage. - Collect **Draenethyst Crystal** from **Draenethyst Crystals** ×6 for Draenethyst Crystals ### 33. Galen's Escape Galen Goodward is held in the Fallow Sanctuary in the swamp's north-east. Free him and follow him out, fighting off the swamp creatures that chase him. - Accept **Galen's Escape** from Galen Goodward - Complete **Galen's Escape** ### 34. Noboru the Cudgel Noboru wanders the clearing south-west of the Fallow Sanctuary; his cudgel starts a quest. - Kill **Noboru the Cudgel** - Kill **Noboru the Cudgel** for **Noboru's Cudgel** - Accept **Noboru the Cudgel** from Noboru's Cudgel ### 35. Galen's Strongbox His strongbox waits at his old camp north of Stonard. - Turn in **Galen's Escape** at Galen's Strongbox ### 36. Sawtooth crocolisks The crocolisks wallow in the pools around Galen's camp and south towards Stonard; about one in four drops a flank. - Collect **Unprepared Sawtooth Flank** ×8 for Lack of Surplus ### 37. The Harborage Ride west along the road to the draenei camp at the Harborage, near the way in from Deadwind Pass. - Turn in **Noboru the Cudgel** at Magtoor - Turn in **Draenethyst Crystals** at Magtoor ### 38. Misty Reed Post Ride back east past Stonard and follow the road south-east to the small Horde post on the shore. - Turn in **Lack of Surplus** at Tok'Kar - Accept **Lack of Surplus** from Tok'Kar ### 39. Sawtooth snappers The snappers line the strand south of the post. - Kill **Sawtooth Snapper** for **Sawtooth Snapper Claw** ×6 for Lack of Surplus ### 40. Misty Reed Post The next guide starts here and takes you to Tanaris. - Turn in **Lack of Surplus** at Tok'Kar --- Index for language models: https://polestar.guide/llms.txt