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The Exodar is the Draenei capital city, nestled on Azuremyst Isle off the western coast of Kalimdor. Introduced in The Burning Crusade, it remains the home of Prophet Velen and the only place in the game where Alliance players can train Jewelcrafting from its original trainer, Farii. Whether you’re Alliance or Horde, a veteran or a fresh character, this guide covers every route to reach The Exodar across all versions of the game.
Quick Overview – All Routes at a Glance
| Route | Faction | Available In | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stormwind Portal Room → Portal to Exodar | Alliance | Retail | ⚡ Fastest |
| Shattrath City portal | Alliance | TBC / TBC Classic | ⚡ Fastest |
| Mage Portal: Exodar | Alliance | Classic & Retail | ⚡ Fast |
| Boat: Rut’theran Village → Valaar’s Berth | Alliance & Horde | Retail (post-Cata) | 🐢 Slower |
| Boat: Auberdine → Valaar’s Berth | Alliance & Horde | TBC / TBC Classic | 🐢 Slower |
| Draenei Starting Zone (on foot) | Draenei only | Classic & Retail | 🐢 Beginner |
How to Get to The Exodar in WoW Retail
In retail WoW (Shadowlands, Dragonflight, The War Within), the fastest and most common methods to reach The Exodar are the Stormwind Portal Room and a Mage portal. The old boat route still exists but is rarely used.
From Stormwind (Alliance – Retail)
This is the go-to method for most retail players. In Stormwind, head to the Mage Quarter and enter the Portal Room inside the tower. Look for the Portal to Exodar — it will take you directly to The Exodar instantly. No boat, no flight path required.
From Darnassus / Rut’theran Village (Alliance – Retail)
If you’re in Darnassus, use the tree portal near the bank to reach Rut’theran Village. From there, board the boat at the dock heading west — this is Elune’s Blessing, which sails to Azuremyst Isle and docks at Valaar’s Berth, right outside The Exodar’s rear entrance.
🎯 Tip: The boat departs roughly every 3 minutes. If you just miss it, the wait is short.
Via Mage Portal (Alliance – All Versions)
Any Alliance Mage who has learned Portal: Exodar (available at level 40) can open a direct portal to the city. Ask in Trade Chat — most capital cities have Mages offering portal services for a small tip. This is the fastest option when no portal room is nearby.
As Horde in Retail
Horde players cannot use the Stormwind Portal Room to get to The Exodar. Your best options are:
- Fly to Darkshore → Rut’theran Village: From any Horde flight path on Kalimdor, fly to Darkshore (Lor’danel). From there, fly across the water to Rut’theran Village (Teldrassil). Board the boat at the dock — sit on the mast or stay clear of guards to avoid aggro. The boat will take you to Valaar’s Berth on Azuremyst Isle, just outside The Exodar.
- Chromie Time / Timewalking: If you’re leveling through a TBC-era timeline, Shattrath City has an easy Alliance portal (see below).
🎯 Horde Warning: The docks at Rut’theran Village have high-level Alliance guards. Stay on the boat or the mast to avoid being flagged for PvP or killed by NPCs.
How to Get to The Exodar in TBC Classic / Classic WoW
In The Burning Crusade Classic (including the TBC Classic Anniversary servers), The Exodar is a brand-new city with fewer travel shortcuts. The main routes are the boat, the Shattrath portal, and Mage portals.
From Shattrath City (TBC Classic)
This is the most convenient method for anyone already in Outland. In Shattrath City, head to the center ring and find the Alliance portal hub at /way 59, 47. The Portal to Exodar is located there alongside portals to Stormwind, Ironforge, and Darnassus.
🎯 Tip: Binding your Hearthstone in Shattrath gives you instant access to all four Alliance capitals, including The Exodar — making it an excellent travel hub for TBC.
From Auberdine, Darkshore (TBC Classic)
In TBC Classic, Auberdine (which was later destroyed in Cataclysm) is the main boat hub on Kalimdor’s northwest coast. To reach The Exodar by boat:
- Travel to Auberdine, Darkshore — by flight path, or by boat from Darnassus (Rut’theran Village).
- At the Auberdine docks, take the western (middle) boat. It sails directly to Valaar’s Berth on Azuremyst Isle (/way 20.4, 54.2).
- Walk a short distance east from Valaar’s Berth to reach The Exodar’s rear entrance.
From Stormwind (TBC Classic – Alliance)
- Travel to Stormwind Harbor.
- Take the boat to Rut’theran Village (Teldrassil).
- From Rut’theran, take the flight path or another boat to Auberdine, Darkshore.
- At Auberdine docks, board the middle boat to Valaar’s Berth → The Exodar.
From Ironforge (TBC Classic – Alliance)
- Take the Deeprun Tram from Ironforge to Stormwind.
- From Stormwind Harbor, take the boat to Rut’theran Village.
- Continue to Auberdine by boat, then board the Exodar boat at the western dock.
From Menethil Harbor, Wetlands (TBC Classic)
This is the classic overland route for players on the Eastern Kingdoms side:
- Travel to Menethil Harbor in the Wetlands (fly or run from Ironforge/Loch Modan).
- At Menethil docks, take the boat heading west to Auberdine, Darkshore.
- At Auberdine, board the middle (western) boat to Valaar’s Berth → The Exodar.
As Horde in TBC Classic
Horde players have no neutral route to The Exodar in TBC Classic. The only viable method is sneaking onto the boat from Auberdine:
- Reach Auberdine, Darkshore by flying or riding through Kalimdor.
- Carefully approach the docks — the Alliance guards are high-level and aggressive.
- Board the middle dock boat to Valaar’s Berth. The boat itself has no crew or guards.
- Once at Valaar’s Berth, move carefully — the area near The Exodar has Alliance guards.
⚔️ PvP Servers: This is high-risk. Use stealth, line of sight, or distraction if possible. Non-PvP servers are far more manageable.
How to Get to The Exodar From Dalaran
There is no direct portal from Dalaran (WotLK or Legion version) to The Exodar. The best route from Dalaran is:
- Retail: Use your Hearthstone to get to Stormwind, then use the Stormwind Portal Room to reach The Exodar.
- TBC Classic: Port back to Shattrath via Hearthstone, then use the Exodar portal in the Shattrath portal hub.
How to Get to The Exodar as a Draenei (Starting Zone)
If you’re a freshly created Draenei character, you begin in Ammen Vale on Azuremyst Isle. Simply follow the main road west through Azure Watch and continue toward the glowing city to the west. The Exodar’s main entrance is unmissable — it’s the enormous crashed spaceship-turned-city that dominates the western part of the island.
Draenei players following the starting zone questline will also receive quest breadcrumbs directing them toward The Exodar naturally as part of the story progression.
Why Visit The Exodar?
The Exodar isn’t just a travel destination — it’s one of the four main Alliance capital cities introduced in TBC. Here’s why players make the trip:
- ✅ Jewelcrafting: The only Alliance Jewelcrafting trainer in the original Azeroth is located here — essential for TBC Classic players.
- ✅ Two Auction Houses and two banks for all your trade and storage needs.
- ✅ Prophet Velen, the Draenei faction leader, resides in the Vault of Lights.
- ✅ Home to Draenei racial quests and key TBC storyline quests.
- ✅ Hunters can find unique tameable beasts like Enraged Ravager on nearby Bloodmyst Isle during TBC prepatch.
Can You Fly to The Exodar?
No — and this surprises many new players. The Azuremyst Isles are surrounded by wide fatigue zones. Flying mounts cannot cross the open water fast enough to avoid fatigue death, even at top flying speed in TBC Classic (150%). Water walking abilities also cannot bridge the gap. You must use a boat or portal every time.
