Goru'kar Mesa Leveling Guide
***Notice*** Everyone reading this guide in 2018 or later should note that this guide was written in 2009 or so when Underfoot was the current expansion pack. As you can imagine a lot has changed in the game since that time and some of what you read in this guide may be inaccurate or misleading. This page *does* still have some useful info which is why my newer leveling guides link here - but you should understand that most of the information here is outdated, I've taken what's correct and incorporated it into my newer leveling guides.
If you're here from one of my older links then head over to my new Everquest Leveling Guides Index page as you'll find guides for each expansion for you to choose from. I strongly urge you to use these newer leveling guides instead.
Once you arrive in Goru'kar Mesa you will want to head west to the area where we will be leveling next. I have a picture of the exact area on the map above this paragraph, use it as a guide on where to go, just look for the arrow on the map near where the blue box is to see my location. You will actually see two Drakkin NPCs right to the south of this camp nearby all of the animals. That's how you know you are in the right spot.
These NPCs have quests for the animals but none of them are worth doing. They give crappy XP and reward you with even crappier armor pieces. Just kill the bears, wolves and snakes in the area and loot all of the goodies that they drop. If your inventory starts to get full there is a Minhoten vendor area just northwest of the camp, you can sell your loot here. You will want to kill the wolves, snakes and bears here until you reach level 35 at which point it is time to switch camps.
Items of Interest
The next location we are going to will be to the northeast of our previous camp and just north of the Blightfire Moors zoneline. Take a look at the map below to get an idea of where we will be going. Over here we will be killing snakes. Which brings me to say "Snakes, why'd it have to be snakes...."
We will be killing the snakes in this area until level 41. Unlike the previous area there are just snakes here to kill. They're the only mobs in this area that are sufficient enough level to give you good XP. There are wolves and bears to the south a bit but they are lower level and will give craptastic XP compared to these snakes. One thing you probably won't be expecting from this camp is how much damage these snakes do. Their normal attacks deal a decent amount of damage but the main thing they have that deals a ton of damage is their poison DoT.
This DoT deals a crap ton of damage for this level and id applied quickly at the start of the fight. Usually things like that don't matter but assuming you're taking a hit or two before your merc completely takes over for you, you're going to get the DoT applied to you. If you can't cleanse it you'll be taking about 30% of your total HP before it expires. It's not too shabby but considering to fights will leave you at 40% without even fighting a mob yourself... you're going to be medding a bit is what I am trying to say.
If you have decent gear this DoT won't be a problem at all but I am assuming you're a completely new player and have maybe one or two pieces of Defiant Gear and the rest of your slots are completely empty. If you're fully twinked out then you have nothing to worry about!
Items of Interest:
After you reach level 41 it's time to leave the snakes and head northwest to the next camp, Spiders. I don't know about you but I really hate spiders. Ugh, even in games these things wig me out! For an exact location of where we're going to set up camp next take a look at the map below. Follow the blue line and where you see the arrow of where my character is, that's where we make camp next.
There are about a dozen spiders in this area to kill which could work out well in the sense that you won't have to wait for respawns depending on how fast you kill. If you need more Spiders to kill than what are on the "ground" area where I show you on my map you could also check the mountains a little bit further west just south of the giants area. There are another half a dozen spiders that are scattered across this mountain. If there is another player here it could get to be slim pickings but the chances of someone else being here is generally very low.
If you do get low on spiders though feel free to kill the snakes back at the area we just left from or the snakes that line the river, so to speak, heading north. As with before, if your inventory starts getting full there is a large Minhoten camp to the southwest where you can sell your vendor trash. As for what to hold on to, I recommend you keep the Spider and Spiderling Silk to sell in The Bazaar if you're able to set up a Trader (Gold Membership only). If not hold onto both of them until you buy a membership. Also hang onto any Defiant Gear you find. Defiant always sells extremely well as it is some of the best gear you can level up with.
Items of Interest:
- Save this and sell it in The Bazaar for good money!
- If you kill the small spiders that spawn when the big ones die you'll have a chance to get Spiderling Silk which sells for a lot in The Bazaar. Hold onto this!
- You can destroy this if you get low on room.
- Destroy this if you get low on room.
When you're level 43 follow the river north towards The Steppes. Stop up here and kill the Highland Snakes until level 44. When you run out of Highland Snakes to kill you can kill the Ring Snakes that are along side the river heading north or return to the spiders and clear that camp. OR if you are a healer you can kill the Dromreks early, it will be easy to keep your merc alive as a healer.
Once you reach level 43 you will want to follow the river north towards the zoneline to The Steppes. You will want to stop up north where it shows my character on the map and kill the Highlands Snakes here until you reach level 44.
Items of Interest:
- Hold onto these they're worth 24pp each at a vendor!
- Hold onto these they're worth 40pp each at a vendor!
- Destroy this if you get low on room.
- Destroy this if you get low on room.
At around level 44 if you're not a healer even with your tank merc Dromrek's will start to be easy to solo. Switch over to the Dromrek's who will take you all the way to level 48.
Items of Interest:
The Giants really don't drop any items that aren't worth anything. Everything can be sold from them at a vendor. At level 48, or level 46 whichever you prefer you can leave the Dromrek's and head to Plane of Justice. Plane of Justice is just off of Plane of Tranquility which is off Plane of Knowledge.