RestedXP and Joana's guide compared
RestedXP and Joana’s guide both give a fixed order of quests and zones to level quickly. The difference is how you follow it. RestedXP is an addon that shows each step inside the game, with an arrow. Joana’s guide became famous as a written guide that you read and follow yourself.
Where they come from
Joana’s guide is one of the best-known leveling guides of original World of Warcraft. It was written by the speedrunner Joana, who became known for leveling a Horde character to 60 very quickly and turned that route into a guide. For many players it was the first time a leveling route was written down step by step.
RestedXP was started much later by speedrunners of WoW Classic. It puts the route inside the game as an addon and covers the versions of WoW Classic as well as modern World of Warcraft.
An addon or a guide you read
- RestedXP shows the current step in a window, points an arrow to the objective and can accept and hand in quests. You look at the game, not at a second screen.
- A written guide gives the same kind of steps as text. You check the next step, find the place on the map and keep track of where you are. That costs attention, but it works without any addon.
Side by side
| RestedXP | Joana’s guide | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Addon inside the game | Written guide |
| Following the route | Arrow and current step on screen | Reading and finding the way yourself |
| Origin | Speedrunners of WoW Classic | Speedrunner of original World of Warcraft |
| Hardcore | Separate Hardcore routes | No separate routes known |
| Versions | WoW Classic versions and modern WoW | Check the current version of the guide |
Neither guide publishes independent measurements of its speed. How fast a character levels depends as much on the player as on the route.
Which one fits whom
- Players who want to look at the game, not at a text, get more out of RestedXP.
- Players who like to plan and learn the world can enjoy a written route, and it works without addons.
- Players on Hardcore realms have separate routes in RestedXP that avoid risky areas.
- Players who want to compare paid and free help find more in the comparison of free and paid help.
Frequently asked questions
Is Joana's guide still useful in WoW Classic?
The zones and quests of Classic Era are the same as in original World of Warcraft, so the order of Joana's route still works. What has changed is how much help players expect: many now prefer an addon that shows every step in the game.
Can Joana's guide be used by the Alliance?
Joana became known for a route for the Horde. Check the current version of the guide for what it covers before buying or following it.
Can I switch to RestedXP halfway?
Yes. RestedXP reads your quest log and continues from where your character stands, so switching at any level works.
Which one teaches more about the game?
A guide you read makes you look at the map and plan each step yourself, which teaches the world faster. An addon takes that work away, which is faster but teaches less.