Ashes of Creation Best Starting Region Area
Choosing where to start in Ashes of Creation can shape your early experience more than you think. Both zones have their strengths, but they offer very different openings depending on how you like to play.
Which Zone Is Best (The Anvils vs Riverlands)
If you want the most complete and polished start, Riverlands is still the best choice right now. It has more solo quests, smoother quest chains, and balanced monster density for quick leveling to 10.
The Anvils, on the other hand, gives a quieter experience with less competition for mobs and resources. It’s great for players who hate crowded hubs or want to explore at their own pace. However, it still has fewer quests and more group-heavy moments early on.
Riverlands Overview
Riverlands was the first starting zone built for early access, so it feels more finished. You’ll find plenty of quest hubs that lead naturally through early levels, and it’s tuned for solo play.
Enemies drop food more often now, and you can reach level 10 much faster than during earlier tests. The quests reward you with early armor upgrades, meaning you spend less time grinding mobs or crafting junk gear.
This zone’s biggest weakness is its popularity. Queues and lag are common during peak hours, especially around launch weekends. Still, if you can get in, Riverlands offers the smoothest route for anyone new to the game.
The Anvils Overview
The Anvils sits in the mountain heart of Vandagar and serves as the homeland of the Dünzenkell dwarves. It’s newer than Riverlands, and that shows in both good and bad ways.
You’ll start inside Mount Dün, move through caverns, and eventually reach open mountain passes. The quests are more compact, and the area design pushes you toward exploration instead of long quest chains. The pace is faster, but you’ll hit moments where solo players may need help finishing tougher objectives.
On the bright side, there’s almost no queue pressure here. Resource nodes and mobs aren’t overfarmed, so it’s a great zone for early gathering and artisan leveling.
How to Choose the Right Start
Pick Riverlands if you want stability, clear quests, and less confusion about where to go next.
Pick The Anvils if you want to avoid crowded servers, gather resources freely, or group up early.
Both zones share the same level cap of 10 before you branch out into the larger world.
Final Blurb
Riverlands is still the top pick for beginners who want a clean, solo-friendly start. The Anvils is ideal for players who value quiet progress and resource freedom. No matter where you land, both zones are polished enough to get you off the ground fast and ready for your first big adventure.
FAQ
Which starting zone is better for solo players
Riverlands is better suited for solo players due to its smoother quest lines and lower group requirements.
Are there big differences in rewards
Not really, though Riverlands tends to give more structured equipment upgrades early on.
Can you switch zones later
Yes, once you reach level 10 and leave your starting area, you can travel between regions freely.
Which zone has fewer queues
The Anvils usually has shorter queues and less lag, especially right after early access launch.
Will more starting areas be added
Yes, future updates will add more Divine Gateways and regions as development continues.
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