PvP For Beginners: Leveling through Battlegrounds

We’ve debated doing some PvP stuff on the show for quite some time, but in truth neither Jesse or I or Greg were strong PvP players. Sure, we’d done them, but it was usually things like Wintergrasp or the occasional BG to pass the time. 

However, recently I have been leveling a FROST MAGE, and I have been spending a considerable amount of time in the BG’s and using them to level experience. I had always debated doing this since XP was granted for Battlegrounds during Wrath of the Lich King, but I could not bring myself to do it, but leveling this Mage presented the right opportunity. 

Perhaps like you, I’m not a huge fan of Questing. I don’t mind dailies for Reputation, but questing in WoW has never been my strong suit. I typically leveled my high capped toons through endless LFR runs. This was great initially, because I had not seen a lot of these early dungeons. However, now that I’ve seen them all 25 times, it’s a little boring. I usually tank or heal my way through this for faster Q ups, but in the end I would get to the DPS classes and my ability to do that would dwindle.

Enter my Mage, who I’ve had since Wrath. He quested through the first 1-20 levels, then LFR’d like a mad man to level 56. At this point, I needed a change. So, on a whim I decided to jump in and do some PvP. I ended up enjoying it, and I’ve spent the next 10 levels strictly in BG’s, choosing that over and another BC Dungeon Grind. I now think, I’ll carry this methodology all the way to at least 80.

Why? Well, the XP is pretty good. If you win, you get really huge XP numbers. You string 3 victories together and you pretty much leveled your toon. Also, what is nice about grinding via PvP instead of PvE Dungeons is that despite the Battlegrounds being the same, the battle is always different. Every Dungeon is pretty much a tank and spank at this point until level 80. I think LFR leveling is quicker and effective, but it can be a little dull.

Lastly, you get to know your class in a different way. You dip into a lot of defensive abilities you would not necessarily go to in say a Dungeon, because unless you’re a healer, you don’t really worry about staying alive. You just bang on target or Pew Pew. This will help you in Cataclysm End Game, because many fights require you to understand your damage mitigation.

So, for those of you who are tired of leveling via quest or LFR, try some PvP Battle Grounds. To do so, hit the ‘H’ key or the little icon on your menu that looks like the HORDE or ALLIANCE emblem (depending on what faction you play). From there simply click the RANDOM selection or a specific battleground and then click JOIN BATTLE. BTW, you can do this as a group as well. Bring some friends and pwn some fools together!