Anyone else finding it difficult to find a starting point in the guide?

[edlazor]

There really isn't a fastest way anymore since Blizzard started making the zones scale to your level. Blizzard is also still messing with leveling times for Shadowlands so if one expansion is a little faster than another right now that might change again in another month or two. As it is any time differences with leveling in one expansion vs. another expansion is minimal. Blizzard has turned the game into one where you experience the game content you want and the leveling speed will still be roughly the same no matter where you are. So yes, the game has become one where you "just do what you want."

Could you explain more about how zones scale to your level? Do I need to go to specific zones to take advantage of it?

I am in the Swamp of Sorrows, for example, because the guide recommended it (https://zygorguides.com/webguides/) for a level 41 human mage. The quests in this area are all showing the title of the quest followed by the words "low level" in parenthesis. Monsters in the area are dying in one shot and no experience is being rewarded. It seems like the area is too low for me, but I'm also not sure where I should go instead or if I need to do something to enable zone scaling.

-Ed

[ZG Support 1]

For all of the EK and Kalimdor zones to scale to level 50 you need to talk to Chromie and set yourself to the Cataclysm time line. If you are not in the Cataclysm time line then those zones will only scale up to level 30.

[edlazor]

For all of the EK and Kalimdor zones to scale to level 50 you need to talk to Chromie and set yourself to the Cataclysm time line. If you are not in the Cataclysm time line then those zones will only scale up to level 30.

Perfect -thank you!