Lotro Leveling Guide

Elves

• Cellondim
• Duillond
• Gondoman

Dwarves

• Thorin's Gate
• Nogland
• Gondoman

Hobbits

• Michel Delving
• Hobbiton
• Overhill
• Brokenborings

Humans

• Archet
• Combe
• Staddle

Your best bet is to travel to one of the low level (10 – 13) cities and do all the quests there. Sign up for all the quests, do them in clumps, and turn them in clumps. They will be Blue and Green, easy to complete, and you will level in a hurry.

Humans/Hobbits: Swift travel to Cellondim and complete quests in Duillond/Gondoman.

Elves/Dwarves: Swift travel to Bree and complete quests in Staddle/Combe.

At this point move on to Breeland. Accept quests at both Bree and at Adso's Camp (29S, 56.8W), and at Buckland (33.3S, 62.4W), and at Falco's Folly (26S, 53.9W).

The quests you take at Adso's Camp will mostly be filled in the Southern Bree-fields. The quests you take in Buckland will have you spending a lot of time in Old Forest. Expect to be challenged in these areas if your level is under 20. But that’s why you play this game, to be tested. Falco's Folly will begin sending you into the North Bree-fields for a few quests.

Now you can either travel to the Forsaken Inn to do some solo quests (in the Lonelands), or you can begin the series of quests in the Barrow-Downs instance located in Breeland (where you’ll eventually need fellowships to complete quests in this area).

If you go to the Barrow-Downs, you’re not too far of from tackling the Greater Barrows. It’s a good idea to be at least level 22 when you tackle the Greater Barrows. And you'll want these quests in your log:

• Purging the Dead (from Watcher Grimbriar at the Town Hall in Bree)
• An Ancient Story of Evil (from Naerandir, found just outside the Prancing Pony)
• Heading West (from Aradia, who's lurking with her entourage off to one side of Adso's Camp)

If you haven’t already, you should also be able to complete Book 1 during these levels.

You hopefully started Greater Barrows runs already by this time. The quests in this instance will net you some good gear as well as great experience. You’ll need the gear for the challenges that lay ahead.

Spend some time in Ost Guruth in the Lonelands to continue working through your Lonelands quests. (Ost Guruth can be found around 31.3S, 29.6W.) Completing the Fellowship quests in Ost Guruth should see you ding to level 25.

If you want, you can skip over to Trestlebridge in the Northdowns (north out of Bree following the road) to take up some quests. However, it is a good idea to finish out Ost Guruth quests before you go.

You should finish out Book 2 in this area. A series of quests in the region of Agamaur will become available.

Now you’ll make the Northdowns your base of operations for a while. Work on the quests in Trestlebridge, Amon Raith (12.6S, 52.8W), Meluinin (13.7S, 44.9W), Othrikar (6.9S, 44.9W) and Esteldin (9.7S, 42.1W). The Northdowns have many quests available, and you should have the levels and gear and expertise by now to easily complete most of them.

A series of quests in Agamaur (29.7S, 27.3W) are your next target. These quests prepare you and lead you to the Garth Argawen instance, the second major instance in LOTRO. There are about nine quests to complete inside of this instance. You’ll want to be about level 32 for Garth Argawen. It's a tough instance, but the loot and experience you get there are invaluable to preparing your for what is to com.

Hopefully you have started Book 3 in the Northdowns during this time. Try to finish it here if you can.

Now you should travel to Esteldim located North of the Shire and West of Northdowns. Work on the quests offered in Oatbarton (23.4S, 67.4W). These quests will lead you up to Tinnundur (12.2S, 67.4W). You will continute to work through quests in Esteldim (which sends you primarily to Dol Dinen in Fellowship quests). Continue running Garth Argawen for loot and experience. (You’re going to need the loot to save up for your mount.)

At 34 you can also begin to make your way into the Trollshaws. Head to Ost Guruth in Lonelands and follow the road East across The Last Bridge. You can stop by a camp at 34S, 20.2W for a few easy quests or make your way to Thorenhad at 31.7S, 15W for a few quests. Eventually continue along the road and make your way to Rivendell (the most beautiful city in the game)! This trek to Rivendell can be tough, but it is possible. You can grind a bit on the easier mobs near the Last Bridge if you are just looking for experience.

You should finish Book 3 somewhere around here. Make sure you’re saving up for our mount.

Complete the quests at Tinnundur in Evendim. When done, make your way north to Ost Forod for even more quests. Complete the quests in Esteldim (some lead you into the Ram Duath in south Angmar). The Trollshaws will have some quests in Thorenhad and Rivendell for you as well.

You should now be working on Book 4.

Now you’ll start running Fornost, an instance located north of Amon Raith in Northdowns. In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the Battle of Fornost was the battle that ended in defeat for the evil Witch Kingdom of Angmar. In LOTRO, Fornost is a very large instance. Fornost is a tough instance, but the loot and experience make it worthwhile. There are about seven quests completed inside of Fornost.

If you need experience, you can grind the easier mobs just outside of Rivendell. The XP is decent, and the drops can only help if you’re still working on your mount, or need money to put into a profession.

If you’ve reached this point, you’re becoming Über! Until Turbine raises the level cap with an expansion, you’re at the top of the heap.

Well, not so fast, Skippy; you still have to earn level 50. And, until patches and expansions come along, you’ve only got two real options; Angmar and the Misty Mountains.

And who doesn’t want to see the Misty Mountains? Fans of the lore (heck, even Led Zeppelin fans) can’t wait to get here.

Misty Mountain quests are mostly found in Rivendell or Gloin's Camp (24.9S, 3.8W). Travel to the Ettenmores to take part in PvMP as part of the Free Peoples. There are a number of instances that are available as well.

There are always extra places and other options that become available to you as you make your way through Eriador.

You should be working on Books four through nine now.