This guide focused for semi-hardcore players , but it also will be usefull for casual players.

So what we aiming at leveling on main character:

1.) About Covenants

When you enter the Shadowlands on your first character for the first time, you will be required to follow the entire storyline. You'll start in Bastion and progress through Maldraxxus, Ardenweald, and finally Revendreth. When you have completed this story arc and have reached level 60 (the new max level in Shadowlands), you will be given the choice to align yourself with one of the four Covenants. You must align with one of them for the expansion's storylines to progress further.

Covenants and Alts

Once you have completed this journey of taking one character from 50-60, progressing through the story and choosing a Covenant, all subsequent characters you take into the Shadowlands will have the option of choosing a Covenant right from level 50. You aren't required to go through the entire storyline again for every character. You may choose to do so, but you can just jump right into a Covenant from the beginning, start working on world quests and jump right into end-game progression. If you do decide to go back and do quests, you will not be required to follow the zone order you had to follow the first time though.

2). Some analytics from BETA

When you are done with all storyline , you will get ~9.5 levels with Warmode ON , remaining 0.5 levels you can get on side-quests , or clear some normal dungeons. If you plan to start leveling after servers will be up ( 24 November at 12am CET ) , try to be ahead of the bulk of the players. Speed potions and sprint shoes will help with it. Leveling in Shadowlands takes not much time as previous addons, 50-60 takes about 5-6 hours, and 4 hours if you are speedrunning.

3.) Phases on leveling:

Step 1 (50 lvl ~25 minutes)

We start with the quest in Orgrimmar, we do the quest chain in the Maw. Use boots, gliders, speed potions (works at 50 lvl) and experience infusion (+ 10%). It is advisable to break away from the bulk as quickly as possible. In the last quest with Jaina and Inviz, you cannot being far away from Jaina - the quest will be reset.

Step 2(50.9 lvl ~8 minutes)

We get to Oribos, we immediately run to do story quests, they are rather slow, there will be nowhere to get ahead. At this stage, it is important to take upgrades for both profes, make a stone for returning to the Oribos tavern (it will be needed many times later) and take a flight. IMPORTANT: refresh the experience flask before getting lvl 51.

Step 3(51lvl lvl ~67 minutes)

The first location will be the Bastion. Here we do strictly only story quests and 1 extra quest with "swords", trying to break away from the main crowd. Upon receiving the quest to return to Oribos, use the stone of return. IMPORTANT: in the Peak of Purity you need to pick up the "Kirian Bell" treasure and then use it per CD up to lvl 60 (healing while you run between quests)

Step 4(53.6 lvl ~85 minutes)

The second location is Maldraxus. Here we also do strictly only story quests and still try to break away from the crowd. There will be a slow storyline in the Maw at the end.

Step 5(55.9 lvl ~65 minutes)

The third location is Ardenweald. Here we also do strictly only story quests and 1 extra quest with "swords". Additionally, you can take a dungeon quest at the very end (but not do it), if you suddenly do not have enough experience in Revendreth - do it.

Step 6(57.9 lvl ~75 minutes)

The fourth location is Revendreth. In this location we do not only the plot, but also all the extras quests that will be on the way, in total you need to do about 10 extra quests and 2x add with "swords". Upon arrival at Sinfall with Teotar and taking the quest "take the elevator" you must have 59 lvl and 80% (4 empty bars), otherwise you will have to return.

Step 7(57.9 lvl ~75 minutes)

If for some reason you didn’t have enough experience to get 60 lvl and the main plot ended, then you need to farm experience in random normal dungeons, because quests in old zones will be gray (or grind mobs near Sinfall).

Step 8(60 lvl ~8 minutes)

After receiving 60 lvl, we start the quest with Prince Renatal in Fall of the Fall (Revendreth) for the final scenario. After the end of the scenario, we fly on Draven and press the stone of return to Oribos.

Step 9(60 lvl ~32 minutes)

In Oribos, we make a quest to select a covenant and immediately fly to the stronghold of the selected covenant. There we do only storyline quests of the stronghold, including 3 local quests and quests in the Maw. We put the upgrade on the Commander's table and bind the return stone to the Covenant Stronghold (this step can be skipped on alts, a skip button appears).

Step 10(60 lvl ~25 minutes)

BONUS: if you were swinging on the first day (at night), then before the reset (8-00 CET) you can make an expiring dayli of the covenant and recapture the Stygian cap in the Maw . Quests on Torghast , Ve'nari weekly and m0 will be unavailable until Thursday.

Step 11(60 lvl)

You can proceed to leveling alts.