Moria – A Whole Different Ballgame

Unlike the carefree, easy lands of Eriador, the legendary underground dwarf city/mine of Moria (Khazad-Dum in the dwarf language) can be a powerleveler’s nightmare. Hell, Gandalf and company spent nearly two full days wandering around the place. The dark, cramped tunnels, labyrinthine halls and corridors, and scores of hard-hitting mobs at every corner make it difficult for one to reach the end cap quickly. Furthermore, unlike the outdoor regions you’ve grown accustomed to in Eriador, Moria is multi-leveled, which means that most of the time there’s no direct line from point A to B. Don’t fret! It is still possible to swiftly make your way through this mother of all dungeons.

Level 50-54: Enjoy Eregion (Eregion)

Eregion is your last chance at sunshine, grass, and quick leveling before you enter the gloomy and depressing abyss that is Moria. I highly recommend delaying entering Moria for as long as you can if you easily get lost (like me *ahem*). Hang out in Eregion and complete as many quests and deeds there as possible. However, with that in mind, get your legendary weapon and item (i.e. complete Vol. 2, Book 1) before starting any of those quests so you can start leveling them.

When you get to level 53, do the library and school quests in Mirobel while they’re orange to you. Not only does each instance have several quests, but they also contain several deeds worth about 7000 XP apiece. You can easily go up half a level if you spend two hours doing these instances. They only require three people so it’s not difficult to get a group together.

If you have an infused garnet you can also do the 3-man instance “A Flight of Drakes” at Echad Dunann to obtain damage bonuses for your legendaries. There are two other instances available at higher levels and require an infused sapphire and infused adamant. There are similar but solo-only instances in Moria, so you don’t have to return outside for these quests unless you want the Beleriand damage bonus, only available from the 3-man instance “Midnight Raid”.

Level 54-60: We Cannot Get Out (Moria)

Say goodbye to the sun for now and step into darkness. Breathe the aroma of thousands of stinky orcs and goblins who have made Moria home. When you first enter, do the small handful of quests in Durin’s Threshold (the entrance), then head for the Dolven-View. Turn in an infused garnet or two to access the first-tier solo instances for some juicy XP/item XP and damage bonuses for your legendaries. If you have infused sapphires and infused adamants, return to the Dolven-View at higher levels to do the more advanced instances.

From the Dolven-View, it’s player’s choice between the Chamber of the Crossroads and the Deep Descent. Go with Deep Descent first since it’s closest to the Dolven-View. Pick up the riddle quest chain (for the nice reward choices and fun riddles), but since it takes you to various places throughout Moria, only complete each part of the chain when you’re actually in that particular area. If you can, do the 6-man Forgotten Treasury quests as well. They’re very doable around 55-56, though the twin bosses at the end are a real pain.

When you’ve finished with these areas, venture towards Jazargund or the Water-Works. If you’re in the Chamber of the Crossroads, head for Jazargund since both are in Durin’s Way. However, I prefer the Water-Works because it’s one of the few places in Moria that aren’t confusing and multi-leveled. It’s also nice and bright for a change! For kicks, peek in the Vile Maw and witness your entire morale bar turn completely orange from 14 dread. Get to the Water-Works via the Silvertine Lodes, though I like the jumping-down-the-well shortcut in the Chamber of the Crossroads. Yes you may die from the fall, but it saves you a long trip through the Silvertine Lodes. After the Water-Works go to Jazargund or the Orc-Watch.

By the time you hit 57-58 you can start doing the 6-man instances, at least the smaller ones. Might as well start collecting pieces of your Radiance Set, right? If you’re a Minstrel or Rune-Keeper, you can sneak in at 55. The Grand Stair is the easiest and smallest instance, and you can gain a level and a half for doing a full clear. Pick up the GS quests at the Orc-Watch, win some uber loot, and level away!

Ideally you’d want to spend the last one or two levels living in the instances, but if you have trouble finding a fellowship with your kinmates or even *gasp* PuGs, then finish up the rest of Moria. Mosey over to Anazarmekhem and quest away there, and if you still have a few bars left there’s the Shadowed Refuge. However, I suggest skipping the Shadowed Refuge and instead take the long trip to the First Hall. Why? Because outside its doors is the Dimril Dale with sunshine and most importantly, a small area with a bunch of quests waiting for you.

Whew, you made it! Congrats on getting to 60! Now roll a new toon and do it all over again!