Fans love World of Warcraft mostly for its endgame content. The phenomenal raids and dungeons such as Ulduar and the Nightwell left lasting impressions on the player base. In Battle for Azeroth, level 120 content constitutes the majority of available options. Leveling feels like just another tedious time-gate. The real game begins at the end.

Not everyone enjoys treating leveling this way. Over the years, players have created multitudes of interesting rules to make the journey more challenging or more fun. Here is a list of 10 unique player-imposed leveling challenges to make your next character’s expedition epic!

10 Ironman

The Ironman Challenge is a staple amongst the variety of player-imposed trials. In World of Warcraft, becoming an Ironman is a right of passage. Many players complain that Blizzard made leveling too easy. This challenge rectifies that.

There are 13 important rules to follow. All of them revolve around the player not obtaining any assistance. Leveling/combat add-ons are not permitted. You are not allowed to get any consumable buffs or help from friends. Your main cannot send the character any items. You can only wear white or grey quality gear. Most importantly, you cannot die.

9 Nomadic Leveling

Nomadic levelers want to bring the role-play element back into the MMORPG genre. The challenge slows the pace of leveling down by forcing the player to be more self-sufficient. Some of the rules include no buying materials from the Auction House, no flightpaths, portals, no hearthstone, and no quest helpers.

By turning these features away, the player creates a Classic WoW style of leveling in Retail. Trips across the world are journeys that need to be properly planned. Players need to read the quest text. Engaging with the world is a necessity for becoming a true Nomad.

8 Only Boars

Inspired by South Park, Classic WoW players wanted to determine if it was possible to level 1-60 by killing only boars. YouTuber Classic Winds outlined which mobs to grind at every level to complete the challenge.

Unbelievably, the math suggests that by killing 18,058 boars, players can reach level 60. There are some caveats. Some of the boars are technically classified as Undead or Demons. The Withered Battle Boars required to level from 34-42 are one example of that.

7 Pacificist

Leveling as a pacifist may take much longer than any other challenge on the list. World of Warcraft’s quests notoriously require the devastation of local wildlife. However, the killing can be avoided via professions, exploration, and other quests. If you want to join the WoW Challenges community, other restrictions include no selecting talents, no consumables buffs, no armor above white quality, and no grouping.

It’s best to avoid dying as well. The most famous WoW Pacifist is Doubleagent, the Pandaren who never left the Wandering Isle. Imagine leveling up only picking Peacebloom and mining Copper. At least other pacificists can move to higher-level materials!

6 Greenman

Blizzard first introduced level-scaling in the Legion expansion for the Broken Isles. It was further expanded in patch 7.3.5 to include older zones. In modern-day World of Warcraft, every old-world zone scales from 1-60. The pattern continues with content from every expansion up to Battle for Azeroth. This change to leveling made it near impossible for some classes to complete the Ironman challenge.

Certain classes, like the Shaman, were only ever able to level to the max in Legion. The Greenman Challenge is a more forgiving version of Ironman. The only difference between the two is that Greenman allows players to equip uncommon (green) quality items.  It allows for those more unforgiving classes to finally reach 120 without dying.

5 Blood Thirsty

This route is for those who want to take their killing to the next level. No pacifists welcome here. Blood Thirsty levelers are required to have a Killing Blow to Total Kills percentage above 50%. To progress to the next level, a kill threshold must also be met.

Like the Ironman Challenge, players are not allowed to take talents, enchant their gear, use consumable buffs, or take professions. Most importantly, you are not allowed to die. However, the Blood Thirsty Challenge limits the number of quests you can complete. Past level 11, you are only allowed to complete 3 per level. This requires going into the world and slaying as many monsters as possible.

4 Tinman

The Tinman Challenge isn’t just about the process of leveling up. Although it does include a set of restrictions as to how players are intended to level, it’s distinct in that the challenge is not meant to be solo content. Once a group of 20 players reaches level 60, all questing must stop. They are then required to complete every available Vanilla raid with those 20 players before moving on to Burning Crusade content.

Some of the actual restrictions include: not being allowed to equip green items unless they are crafted, no heirlooms or auction house gear, and only equipping blues that were won from bosses. You are only allowed to run dungeons with other Tinmen (no dungeon finder).

3 Workingman

Yet another variant of the Ironman Challenge, the Working Man is allowed to take any professions. Players who attempt to complete the challenge are allowed to use First Aid. However, this does not mean you can equip crafted armor. The requirements of White quality or lower armor still apply.

Just like many of the previous entries, death is an automatic loss. You are still not allowed to choose talents, use consumables, or ask any other players for help. Keep in mind that the Legion artifact weapons and the Heart of Azeroth are NOT white or grey quality items. They may not be equipped.

2 Naked And Afraid

Thought Ironman and Blood Thirsty were too easy? Unequip all of your armor and level naked instead. White and grey quality weapons are still allowed. However, your character needs to get used to being cold.

The Naked and Afraid challenge usually goes hand in hand with Ironman, but the rules can be modified however you like. There are no official challenge websites for this one.

1 RTS

Finally, another interesting leveling challenge with no official support or rules. Suggested by user Markluzz on MMO Champion, we love the idea of playing World of Warcraft like its RTS predecessor. The interface option “click to move” must be enabled.

This will be the only way you can control your character. Using WASD or space bar disqualifies you. Furthermore, your character can only use four abilities and the backpack is the only bag you may equip. Sounds pretty interesting!

NEXT: Classic WoW: 10 Tips For Leveling Alts Insanely Fast