LOTRO Zones by Level Guide and Tool

From Level 1 at Archet, there are quests in that area, Combe Lumber Yard and Combe itself. These can take you out East into the Chetwood, as well as visiting some villages of the Bree-land Hobbits.

The land of the Hobbits and protected by the Bounders, the Shire is full of quests and deeds. For an alternative levelling experience, you could also pick up the Bingo Boffin storyline from his house in Michel Delving.

The beautiful LOTRO zone of Swanfleet is full of history, rugged peaks and Stoor Hobbits. Just don't mention the Uruks that threaten their peaceful way of life - you may not be believed.

🔒 Requires: Before the Shadow Expansion.

Whether you wish to or not, the Epic will bring you into the northern part of the Old Forest. This is a key location in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Meet Tom Bombadil, Goldberry and...Old Man Willow. Just don't let him sing you to sleep. Quests are at Adso's Camp.

I think the more deadly portion of the Old Forest is largely optional, except for clearing The Old Forest Deed and Flowers of the Old Forest. It also leads to/from the Southern Barrow-downs. There are plenty of Huorns, destructive roots and spiders to make your trip here... eventful.

Nen Harn, tucked away in the North-East of Bree-land is under-visited and under-appreciated. It has a beautiful lake, an island with no enemies on it and has some repeatable quests from the nearby Hunters.

In case the LOTRO zones of the Shire, East Bree-land, Enedwaith and Swanfleet did not give you enough Hobbits, then head to Yondershire. More rugged than the Shire itself, it features ruins of Elves and Men. Inhabited - but not by Elves or Men (obviously).

🔒 Requires: VIP status, or a Purchase of Yondershire in the LOTRO Store.

The dry lands of the Lone-lands follow from quests in Bree-land. As well as normal quests and deeds, there are multiple repeatable quests at the Forsaken Inn if you're looking for an extra XP boost.

North of Trestlebridge is where most people will start adventures in the North Downs. The shadow of Fornost hangs over much of the earlier portion of this zone. But where there is darkness...there is deeper darkness.

The hideaway camp-come-fortress of Esteldín stands at the centre of the North Downs. From there you can find quests against Angmarim and enemy Jorthkin. Just don't approach Dol Dinen until you're nearly level 30 and/or take friends with you.

In case you thought the Barrow-downs was the worst that wights could get, welcome to Harloeg, a ruin in a swamp. You can aid a man with his research and a friendly spirit (no, really) in uncovering its truths. Just don't eat the Sicklefly Pudding. I'm not joking about that either.

I don't know how best to describe a flooded wasteland whose water may be red because of blood, or may not be red for that reason. A dark and twisted area of wights, spirits and huorns. It's good hunting for the Bog-lurker Slayer, though.

The stronghold of the Créoth, who serve the being known as the Red Maid, Naruhel. Yes, the same name as belongs to the Naruhel's Vine Dress. Don't you feel so much better about your fashion choices now?

In a region cornered by Agamaur to the West and Haragmar to the South, Garth Agarwen is not a fortress of light, let's say.

More Hobbits! And to roughly quote an NPC, "they'll put you to work if you're not careful". Get ready for the Oatbarton Farmer's Market with largely combat-free quests, before heading to the Glass-blowers' camp. You're at the start of the first region of LOTRO I fell in love with.

Giantkind and Gauradain are your main foes here, though a certain Ent needs help with calming the actions of Wood Trolls. Be glad for the boat travel too, apparently this LOTRO zone was nicknamed "Everswim" before boats were introduced!

While the Trollshaws are not so-called without reason, they're not the majority of this region! The autumnal forests eventually climb towards the refuge of Rivendell. Plenty of Elves have their tasks and stories, so take your time as you quest through the area.

🔒 Requires: Angle of Mitheithel Unlock

The Angle is one of the newer LOTRO zones to be added to the earlier levels. It a beautiful extension to your Trollshaws experience, and I'm overdue another visit there. Teeming with wildlife, Elves and (wo)men work together to understand why the enemy is taking an interest in the Angle's ruins.

North of idyllic Rivendell are the snowy peaks of the aptly-named Misty Mountains. The Epic's involvement here is pretty short, really, but you'll find quests at Gloín's Camps (both of them), north of Giants' Table and...Goblin Town.

I've heard some unkind things said about Forochel, but I absolutely love it here and it's still one of my favourite LOTRO zones. The scenery is magnificent and I enjoy the fact that no one trusts or likes you when you first arrive. Work with the Lossoth from Outsider status and, well, enjoy!

The Wildwood of Bree-land is an optional side-quest area that you need to unlock. Deceptively simple in its concept, can you work to unite two reputation factions with very different ideas on how the woods should be used?

🔒 Requires: The Wildwood of Bree-land Unlock

Includes Dailies and Missions.

It's dark, it's evil and filled with dead, dying or warped creatures. But it is here that hope is most needed and the Epic questline here is...emotive.

Known for its Ring-lore, it is Eregion where the Elves were deceived and eventually destroyed by the Enemy. There are plenty of ruins, including an ancient library. This LOTRO region may not look like much, until you scratch past the surface.

One screenshot cannot capture how epic the Mines of Moria are. From crystals and Dwarf-statues, to the depths of the Waterworks and the evil stenches of the Nameless in its darkest corners, each area offers you something different.

You could mix up your travels with the skirmishes in Moria, assuming you have completed the Epics to unlock them, of course.

Ease into your Moria experience with some fairly laid-back quests in and around the entrance to the Mines.

Help with bedbugs, forge some swords and help get the Dwarves settled in.

A long, downward spiralling track awaits at the Silvertine Lodes in Moria. While inhabited by Orcs and goblins, you can also enjoy the beautiful crystal formations here.

The main quests here are based - or are vectors from - Deep Descent. You can find a task board there too.

But don't drop too far too quickly. The Dwarves did that before the whole Balrog Incident™.

It's time to taste triangles and smell the colour magenta! Well, the "Shiny, Happy World" is definitely in your head, because the the only shiny things in the Waterworks are glass spiders. Yay.

But the scale of this LOTRO zone (which it may as well be) is immense. Take time to look up even while you're swimming with the critters.

Your quests are found at the delightfully-named camp of The Rotting Cellar. Not all Dwarves are right next to each other though, so potter around a bit.

The Redhorn Lodes basically looks like a mining village. There are tracks and carts, but also dwelling-places. But the presence of Orcs serves to remind the Dwarves of who actually controls this area now.

You can find quests here at the rather aptly-named Orc-Watch camp.

It's also connected to other key zones like the Foundations of Stone and the Flaming Deeps.

The Second Hall of Nud-melek is one of my favourite places in the whole of Moria. The huge, stone trees, the wide open spaces and fewer enemies make it calmer than much of what you've endured so far.

But, always, there is trouble to be dealt with. Some of your quests here are NPC-given, but a large number are auto-bestowed. Those ones are labelled "landscape" on the Wiki.

You finally emerge from the darkness of Moria, and squinting you are met with the stunning Mirrormere lake. In the distance you can make out the tops of the trees of Lothlórien.

But your path to the Golden Wood is not easy, as Orcs have set up several camps as they seek to intrude on Lórien itself.

The shadow of the Necromancer hangs over the Mirkwood, formerly Greenwood the Great. From the outset, your focus is drawn towards Dol Guldur, a stronghold of the Enemy. Join with the Elves in their siege of Dol Guldur, or fight the spiders of the Scuttledells, or delve into the history of the region. Mirkwood is steeped in rich Lord of the Rings lore.

There are many side quests in Mirkwood, along with repeatable ones - which you may need if you want max reputation.

Enedwaith is hugely varied region, making it a good choice to add to your adventures in zones by level. It has Dunlending villages, animal spirits, a village of Stoor Hobbits, haunted barrows and dragon-inhabited snow-capped mountains.

While the Epic focuses on how to get the Grey Company through to Dunland, if you're making your own adventure, different experiences await you in all the compass directions in Enedwaith!

Despite its name - and appearance - the Gloomglens is a varied location for questing. The Stoor Village of Maur Tulhau offers distinctly Hobbity quests, until you're faced with a Bugan threat, that is.

It is here you may also meet with some unusual and possibly unnatural creatures of nature. I love this part of the questing in Enedwaith.

In the snowy, eastern portion of the Enedwaith zone lies Thrór's Coomb, an area inhabited by dragons and giants.

The quests here at Level 65, with enemies being that or a little under it. You can pick them up at Harndirion (a place) or by speaking to Gronu (a Dunlending man).

Unravel some ancient mysteries of the land of Enedwaith with the side-quests in the Mournshaws. I 100% believe you should include these in your levelling journey as they are worth the time investment in story-telling.

While technically starting at L64, the quests are L65. You can do them under that level if you want to, of course!

Welcome to the land of the clans. Dunland is a wild country and its people revere and/or fear spirits. Here you can explore tombs, the wilds, woods and marshes. In terms of exploring LOTRO's zones by level, you can do worse than include Dunland.

Its side-quests offer some of the best quest-given outfit cosmetics that I, and others in-game still use. It's also the place where you learn the reference "Isengard Bids Five" that occasionally enters World Chat!

Note: for the areas of Dunland, I've marked those with quests starting at L66 as starting at L65.

This is one of two routes you can bring the Grey Company from Enedwaith. Trum Dreg introduces you to the wilder, craggy feel of this LOTRO zone earlier than the Bonevales route. Plus, you know, it's decidedly more pleasant than fighting dead things.

The issues between the various clans come to light quicker here, too - especially in terms of the Stag and the Dragon Clans. After all, it's not just the landscape that's wild.

Pren Gwydh is like the central part of Dunland. At its heart is Galtrev, a former player hub with all the facilities you'd expect of a sizeable town.

When you first arrive, Galtrev is under enemy control but you can change that through the questlines available. You can still access the town services whether you've freed Galtrev or not. But you really should.

Avardin in Starkmoor plays host to a critical turning-point for your character if you're running the Epic questline here. But there are plenty of side-quests too.

In the very least, do them up to and including The Auction. It'll clear up the quote of "Isengard Bids Five"!

Leaving Lórien behind you, you step into a forest more akin to Mirkwood. But this is Thinglad, the gateway protected by the Elves against trespassers.

Pick up the excellently-crafted story of Wynmar and Lóriel. If you regret it, it will be for the right reasons.

The Gap of Rohan is historically very important in Lord of the Rings lore, and LOTRO brings it alive really well here.

Join the Rohirrim forces and key figures like Théodred and Grimbold in their battles against Dunlendings and Orcs. The Gap of Rohan is a beautiful region, but the Enemy cares little for that when conquest is all that matters.

After leaving Lórien, your path leads you to Rohan. The Great River region has some amazing storytelling and variation in your part too. The ones in/around Stangard in particular are excellent.

But your first task is to help protect the entrance to Lórien against those who purposefully, or even unwittingly encroach upon it. The narratives here are really powerful in my humble opinion, so, regardless of your level, don't storm through here, but go slow and enjoy them.

In Dunland, we're used to settlements being friendly - where the locals don't immediately fight you - or hostile, where they do.

At Barnavon in Carreglyn, the situation is more...complicated. Help those Dunlendings who need it, whether your aid is genuinely welcome or not. There are loads of L71 quests meaning you should have little problem hitting L72 even without Rested XP.

When so far from the seat of power in Rohan, whose word do you believe on who is friend and who is foe? Could a long-term ally be deemed an enemy?

With such conversations unsettling people's minds, it's unsurprising that Orcs have the opportunity of making life harder for the Rohirrim.

A key moment arises when an Uruk is finally captured and taken to Stangard for judgement, but it is truth that really stands trial.

Parth Celebrant, once a great battlefield, is now largely wild, ruinous and haunted by Oathbreakers.

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This area, and the ruins, are actually really pretty. So take time to enjoy them! While the quests here are largely L73-74, I think hitting L75 is feasible even if you start at L73.

Between the areas of the Fields of Celebrant to the West and the Brown Lands to the East lies the Rushgore. It's murky and boggy, but marks an important ford over the Anduin.

Start at Aculf's Camp and aid them against the brigands and other foes, who appear more emboldened than the Rohirrim expected.

Long after you've escaped from Isengard Depths, you can start quests for the Rangers in the Ring of Isengard. It is much later that you'll return with the Ents (and it's worth it when you get to that point!).

Work to undermine Saruman's efforts, starting at Dagoras' Camp. You can also find one Ent within the walls of Isengard who also has quests: visit Quickbeam's Grove once you have completed the quest Seeds of Hope.

The Limlight Gorge is a sort-of mini endgame for Level 75-ers. It has its own Reputation faction, daily repeatable quests, deeds and group content.

The quests are largely for Small Fellowships and above, but I managed some of them on my Guardian. However they were quite a slog! I took my Skirmish Soldier along, I believe. You will do better with a kinmate or other friend!

Limlight Gorge also hosts the group instance Roots of Fangorn.