To get to Darnassus from Stormwind in World of Warcraft: Forever, take the ship from Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine in Darkshore, then the boat from Auberdine to Rut’theran Village on Teldrassil, and walk into the glowing portal at the foot of the great tree. It drops you inside Darnassus.
That first ship is new. In the original game, Stormwind had no harbor, and the trip meant the Deeprun Tram to Ironforge and a long ride to Menethil Harbor in the Wetlands. Below we cover the new route step by step, the older one through Menethil (which still runs), what to do if a boat goes missing, faster trips once you have been there, and the way back. Routes are checked against Blizzard’s own posts as of November 7, three days after launch.
The Ship WoW Forever Added
Blizzard’s Found Photos panel recap from BlizzCon lists three new ship routes, and the first is the one Alliance players need: “Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine opens an early path between the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor.” A second route links Menethil, Southshore and Auberdine, and a third runs from the Steamwheedle Cartel in Tanaris to the new Riverglades zone.
Auberdine is the hub that matters here. Every Alliance sea route to Kalimdor in the north passes through it, and the boat to Teldrassil leaves from the same docks.
Stormwind to Darnassus, Step by Step
- Go to Stormwind Harbor. If you do not know the way, ask a city guard for the harbor or the ship to Auberdine. Blizzard’s new player’s starter guide says guards give directions and mark the spot on your map.
- Board the ship to Auberdine. Ships are free; wait on the dock until it arrives and step on.
- Stay aboard to Auberdine in Darkshore. The crossing brings up a loading screen partway through.
- Find the boat to Rut’theran Village. Auberdine has more than one pier, with ships to Stormwind, Menethil and Teldrassil, so check where each one goes before you board.
- Ride to Rut’theran Village, the small night elf village at the base of Teldrassil.
- Walk into the glowing portal at the foot of the great tree. It teleports you up into Darnassus.
- Learn the flight path in Rut’theran Village. Teldrassil’s hippogryph master is in the village, not in Darnassus, so talk to them before or after your visit.
The whole trip takes two boat rides, so expect it to take a while. It is still far shorter than the old road.
The Old Route Through Menethil Harbor
If you are in Ironforge or the Wetlands already, the older way still works:
- Take the Deeprun Tram from Stormwind to Ironforge, if you are starting in Stormwind.
- Head to Menethil Harbor in the Wetlands, through Dun Morogh and Loch Modan.
- Take the ship from Menethil. Blizzard says “Menethil, Southshore, and Auberdine add another route with more flexibility for leveling,” so the ship also calls at Southshore in Hillsbrad Foothills.
- Change at Auberdine for Rut’theran Village, then take the portal to Darnassus as above.
For a Stormwind character, this is the long way. The Wetlands road runs through zones above the level of a fresh character, and the Stormwind ship skips all of it.
If a Boat Does Not Come
On November 5, Blizzard game developer Aggrend wrote on the official forums that “boats and zeppelins” were “becoming lost in the maelstrom for extended periods of time.” Blizzard “spawned portals near most transport docks” as a stopgap and said it would remove them once its proper fix was verified.
- Look for a portal near the dock. If Blizzard’s temporary one is still there, it takes you across, but do not count on it staying.
- Wait one more crossing before giving up on a ship.
- Try the other route. If the Stormwind ship is stuck, the Menethil ship also reaches Auberdine.
Faster Trips After the First
| Option | What you need | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stormwind Harbor ship | Nothing | Every trip from Stormwind |
| Hearthstone | Hearthstone bound at an inn in Darnassus | Getting back to Darnassus from anywhere |
| Rut’theran flight path | Talk to the hippogryph master once | Flying to Auberdine and the rest of northern Kalimdor |
| Mage portal | An Alliance Mage who has the spell | Moving a whole group at once |
Hearthstone. Blizzard’s starter guide says innkeepers “can bind your Hearthstone to their inn so you can return there later.” Night elves start on Teldrassil, so a night elf’s Hearthstone often already points home.
Flights. Gryphons from Stormwind cannot cross the sea, so the ships are the only way between continents without a Mage. Once you have Rut’theran’s flight path, you can fly between it and other Kalimdor flight points. The Frequent Flier Legacy perk makes flights cheaper and faster; our Legacy Points guide shows how to earn the points.
Mage portals. In the original game, Alliance Mages could teleport to Darnassus and open portals there for a group. Blizzard has not published WoW Forever’s Mage spell levels, so ask your trainer when they unlock.
Going Back: Darnassus to Stormwind
- Take the portal in Darnassus back down to Rut’theran Village.
- Board the boat to Auberdine.
- At Auberdine, take the ship to Stormwind. Check the pier first: the Menethil ship leaves from the same docks.
Night elves heading to Stormwind for the first time should pick up the Auberdine flight path on the way through.
Why Alliance Players Make This Trip
- Bows. Darnassus has the only Alliance weapon master who teaches bows, as our guide to where to train weapon skills explains.
- The barbershop. Blizzard’s beta notes added barbershops to Darnassus; our guide to changing your appearance covers what they can change.
- Night elf friends. Grouping only works on the same ruleset and faction, as our ruleset guide explains, so meeting a friend who started on Teldrassil means making this trip.
For the Horde’s version of a long city trip, see our guide to getting to Thunder Bluff. Every WoW Forever guide we have is on our World of Warcraft hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a boat from Stormwind in WoW Forever? Yes. WoW Forever adds a ship from Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine in Darkshore, which the original game did not have.
Is there a portal from Stormwind to Darnassus? There is no permanent city portal. The only portal on the route is the one in Rut’theran Village that takes you up into Darnassus.
Where is the Darnassus flight path? In Rut’theran Village at the base of Teldrassil, not in Darnassus itself.
Can I still go through Menethil Harbor? Yes. A ship links Menethil, Southshore and Auberdine, and you change at Auberdine for Teldrassil.
How do I get from Rut’theran Village to Darnassus? Walk into the glowing portal at the foot of the great tree. It teleports you into the city.