Booty Bay sits at the southern tip of Stranglethorn Vale in World of Warcraft: Forever, and the first trip depends on your faction. Alliance players ride from Stormwind through Elwynn Forest and Duskwood, then south down the whole length of Stranglethorn; Horde players take the zeppelin to Grom’gol Base Camp and ride south from there. Either faction can also sail in on the neutral goblin boat from Ratchet in the Barrens.
After that first visit, talk to Booty Bay’s flight master and every later trip is a single flight. Below we cover each route step by step, the dangers on the way for a low-level character, and the reasons most players make the trip, checked against Blizzard’s own posts as of November 12, eight days after launch.
What Booty Bay Is
Booty Bay is a neutral goblin port built into a cove at the bottom of Stranglethorn Vale. You enter on foot through a tunnel in the cliffs, and the town’s guards, the Booty Bay Bruisers, keep order for both factions. (Blizzard’s October 8 beta notes even took the knockback off “Booty Bay Bruiser’s Buckshot.”) Alliance and Horde each have a flight master in town, so it is a safe place to rest whichever side you play.
Most players come for one of these:
| Reason | Who is there |
|---|---|
| Fishing past 150 | Old Man Heming sells the Expert Fishing book; see our Fishing guide |
| Artisan Blacksmithing | Brikk Keencraft, the only Artisan trainer; see our Blacksmithing guide |
| Tailoring | Grarnik Goodstitch trains both factions; see our Tailoring guide |
| The boat to Kalimdor | The neutral ship to Ratchet docks in the bay |
| Stranglethorn questing | The town’s quest givers serve both factions |
Alliance: Stormwind to Booty Bay
There is no ship from Stormwind to Booty Bay. Blizzard’s Found Photos panel recap lists Forever’s new ship routes (Stormwind Harbor to Auberdine, a Menethil, Southshore and Auberdine route, and one from Tanaris to the Riverglades), and none of them stops here. So the first trip is the road:
- Leave Stormwind into Elwynn Forest and follow the road toward Duskwood. Signposts at the crossroads point the way.
- Cross into Duskwood. Darkshire, on the zone’s east side, has a gryphon master; it is a detour, but worth learning if you will quest in Duskwood.
- Take the road south out of Duskwood into Stranglethorn Vale. It enters the north of the jungle near the Rebel Camp.
- Stay on the main road south through the middle of the zone. Skip the branch west to Grom’gol Base Camp: it is a Horde camp, and its guards attack Alliance characters.
- Follow it to the end at the tunnel into Booty Bay.
- Talk to Gyll, the Alliance gryphon master, as soon as you are in town.
Once Gyll knows you, Stormwind’s gryphon master can fly you straight to Booty Bay. Our guide to how flight paths work explains learning and fares.
Horde: Orgrimmar or Undercity to Booty Bay
- Take the zeppelin to Grom’gol Base Camp. It leaves from the towers just outside Orgrimmar’s main gate, and there is also a zeppelin to Grom’gol from Tirisfal Glades near Undercity. Our guide to getting to Undercity from Orgrimmar shows where the towers are and how to pick the right platform.
- Learn Grom’gol’s flight path at the wind rider master in the camp.
- Ride east out of Grom’gol to the main road and turn south.
- Follow the road to the bottom of the zone and through the tunnel into Booty Bay.
- Talk to Gringer, the Horde flight master, to learn Booty Bay.
Either Faction: The Boat From Ratchet
The neutral goblin boat between Ratchet on the Barrens coast and Booty Bay carries both factions, and it is the easy way across for anyone already in Kalimdor. Ratchet’s flight master also serves both factions, so learn that point while you wait. Horde players reach Ratchet by the road east from the Crossroads. Our guide to getting to Wailing Caverns uses the same boat in the other direction.
Staying Alive on the Way
- Stranglethorn Vale starts at level 30, and there is no level scaling, as our zone level ranges explain. A character in their 20s should stay on the road, keep moving and not stop to fight. Raptors, tigers and trolls sit close to the road in places.
- Mind the ruleset. On the PvP rulesets, Stranglethorn is contested ground with a Horde camp near the road, so Alliance and Horde players meet here often. Our ruleset guide explains what each one means for world PvP.
- If a boat or zeppelin does not come. On November 5 Blizzard said boats and zeppelins were “becoming lost in the maelstrom” and added temporary portals near most docks while it worked on a fix. Look for one by the dock, wait one more crossing, then switch to another route.
- Heading for the Drowned City? It is off the coast west of Grom’gol, not near Booty Bay; our guide to where the Drowned City is has the route.
If you plan to spend a while training or fishing there, bind your Hearthstone at the Booty Bay inn; our Hearthstone guide explains how. Every WoW Forever guide we have is on our World of Warcraft hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Booty Bay from Stormwind in WoW Forever? Ride through Elwynn Forest and Duskwood, then take the road south through Stranglethorn Vale to its southern tip. Learn the flight path there and fly from Stormwind next time.
Is there a boat from Stormwind to Booty Bay? No. Stormwind Harbor’s ship goes to Auberdine. The only boat into Booty Bay is the neutral one from Ratchet.
Can Alliance players fly to Booty Bay? Yes, once you have talked to Gyll, the Alliance gryphon master in Booty Bay. You have to make the first trip on foot or mount.
How do Horde players get to Booty Bay? Take the zeppelin to Grom’gol Base Camp from Orgrimmar or Tirisfal Glades, then ride south down the Stranglethorn road.
Is Booty Bay neutral in WoW Forever? Yes. It is a goblin town with flight masters for both factions and its own guards, the Booty Bay Bruisers.