Mists of Pandaria Classic Leveling Guide

To understand how to level up fast in MoP Classic, you need to know optimized quest routes, XP-packed zones, and the most efficient dungeons to grind. In this Leveling Guide, we break down all the top-tier strategies for leveling in WoW Mists of Pandaria Classic. With our tips and tricks, you will be able to hit max level without wasting time.

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MoP Classic The Best Way of Leveling

MoP Classic fastest way to level 90 comes down to several core methods and principles supported and proven by dozens of hours of tests:

1. Questing in optimized zone order depending on your level range
2. Dungeon leveling with quest turn-ins
3. Following MoP leveling dungeons rotation
4. Mob grinding in high-density areas
5. Using XP buffs like Elixir of Ancient Knowledge
6. Faction-specific leveling routes (Alliance & Horde)
7. Pet battles for pet and character XP
8. Bonus XP events (e.g., Pet Battle Week)

Depending on your initial level, you will follow this or that strategy. Also, keep in mind that there are two WoW MoP Classic leveling paths: one for newbies starting from level 1, and another for experienced players already sitting at level 85.

Each path has its own shortcuts, tips, and tricks, so it’s convenient to have them at hand both at the start of the leveling and once you hit level 85. You can also apply these methods to leveling a pack of your alts. Alternatively, you can do this with our Multiple Character Bundle — the most convenient way to receive up to 7 high-level alts, fully prepared for MoP adventures.

MoP Classic Estimated Leveling Time

Mists of Pandaria Classic leveling from 1 to 90 takes around 25 hours for prepared, experienced players, and up to 40 hours for casual players. Depending on the chosen method of leveling, your XP gain can be pretty fast. Below we provide a table that outlines preferable farming methods for each level (85–90) and approximate XP gain per hour:

📌 Note: If you are level 85, you need to have a pre-made party to enter the dungeons. LFG is available at level 90.

Additionally, we’ve completed some calculations and prepared this table that estimates the approximate time for 85–90 leveling in Mists of Pandaria Classic, depending on the leveling methods mentioned above:

Level 90 XP Requirements in MoP Classic

In MoP Classic, the total experience required to level from 85 to 90 was reduced by 33% per level. According to the latest data, in Mists of Pandaria, you will need to gain a total amount of ~52 million XP to reach level 90. Patch 5.3 nerfed XP balance, and now it looks like this:

📌 Note: The latest PTR testing shows that XP gains were reverted back to 33%, so the information in the table is subject to change.

Everything You Need to Know About MoP Classic Leveling

In WoW Mists of Pandaria Classic, the level cap is set at level 90. Leveling in Mists of Pandaria Classic starts at the very moment you log in. Depending on your character, there are a couple of different starting points:

• You create a new character at level 1 (or level 55 if it’s a Death Knight)
• You already have a high-level character from a previous expansion (like lvl 85 from Cataclysm)

Here’s a “What to do before MoP Classic leveling” checklist for you:

• If you have several characters, relog on each of them to accumulate the rested buff.
• At level 85, learn new professions on each of your alts. After that, craft all 24h CD items.

New players will have to grind their way up to 85 before they even set foot in Pandaria. It’s a longer journey, but totally doable. On the other hand, if you’re bringing in a seasoned veteran, you’re in a much better spot. Still, you can speed up the process with our Power Leveling and skip the grind completely.

How to Increase XP Gains in MoP Classic

If you want to speed up your leveling in Mists of Pandaria Classic, there are multiple ways to boost your experience gains. Some of these buffs stack, while others are situational or time-limited:

• Elixir of Ancient Knowledge — +300% XP (rare item)
• Pandaren Monk’s daily quest Enlightenment buff — +50%
• “Recruit-A-Friend” + Heart of the Nightwing Mount — +300%
• Guild XP Bonus — +10%
• Heirloom Bonuses:
  ○ Helmet — +10%
  ○ Shoulders — +10%
  ○ Chest — +10%
  ○ Legs — +10%
  ○ Cloak — +5%
  ○ Ring (if available) — +5%
  ○ Fishing Tournament Ring — +5%
• Festival Buffs — up to +10%
• WoW Anniversary Celebration Scroll — +8%
• Darkmoon Faire Buff or Darkmoon Top Hat — +10%

Total potential XP boost with the right combination is over 700%. It is ideal for leveling alts fast in Mists of Pandaria Classic. If you want to know which Heirlooms to use for your character, check our dedicated class guides, where we share these details. If you don’t know where to start, check our MoP Classic Priest Guide first!

MoP Classic 1-85 Leveling

You’ve just rolled your character and stepped into the world of MoP Classic leveling for new players. Your main goal? Stack up that XP fast by focusing on the XP-efficient quest chains and running dungeons that give huge experience boosts. Here’s your go-to plan for MoP Classic 1-85 Leveling:

• Classic Zones (1-10)
• Cataclysm Area (15+)
• WotLK & Cataclysm (69-80)
• Pre‑Pandaria (80-85)

✏️ Tip: Every time you unlock a new dungeon, pick up all the available quests for it, complete them in one or two runs, and move on to the next.

Classic Zones (1-10)

You start in the starter areas by race (e.g., Elwynn Forest, Durotar).

• Push to level 10 via local quest chains, just pick them all up and turn in a full pack once you are done.
• Levels 10-60: Outland, Northrend & Cataclysm.

Cataclysm Area (15+)

An additional option to implement in your leveling route once you reach level 15.

• Quest until level ~15, then run dungeons concurrently.
• Continues with questlines through zones like Westfall, Redridge, Duskwood, Stranglethorn, Felwood, Burning Steppes, etc.

WotLK & Cataclysm (69-80)

• Move through Outland → Northrend → Cataclysm zones and complete available quest chains.

Pre‑Pandaria (80-85)

• Final prep done in high‑end Cataclysm zones. At this point, complete the available quest chains.
• Queue for dungeons while completing quests. It might be easier if you are in a Tank or Healer spec, but queuing takes longer for DPS.

✏️ Tip: Using Elixir of Ancient Knowledge can help you to speed up the process, as it increases your experience gain. It also works only for players above level 84. To get the elixir, stuck with a high-level friend and kill Krol the Blade in Dread Wastes.

MoP Classic 85-90 Leveling

Once you hit MoP Classic Level 85, a whole new chapter of leveling begins. You finally unlock access to Pandaria — and that’s where the real XP grind kicks into high gear. To make the most of your time, it’s best to follow the optimal zone order for smooth progression through Pandaria’s leveling content:

• The Jade Forest (85-86)
• Valley of the Four Winds (86-87)
• Krasarang Wilds (86-87)
• Kun-Lai Summit (87-88)
• Townlong Steppes (88-89)
• Dread Wastes (89-90)

There’s also an alternative — “Monkey Leveling” in MoP Classic, which allows you to level up from 85 to 90 without jumping from one zone to another. Further in this guide, we share all the details about this easy method.

Monkey Runs (85-90)

One of the most reliable leveling methods in Mists of Pandaria Classic is known as the “Monkey Run”. This method involves running Stormstout Brewery dungeon over and over again, though, only to the first boss, and then resetting. Each run provides around a maximum of 1 million XP and takes approximately 6-7 minutes if optimized. 

How to level up through a Monkey Run in MoP Classic:

1. Create a 5-player group, preferably with a tank and high AoE DPS.
2. Go into Stormstout Brewery and pull the initial few monkey packs.
   • Be cautious with the first 5 monkeys; they deal a lot of damage;
   • Avoid using barrel traps because they decrease XP from enemy mobs stuck in them.
3. Push the large monkey pack near the first boss away from the barrel area so that no XP is lost.
4. Optional: Kill Ook-Ook, the first boss, by using the rolling barrels.
   • Each successful barrel increases damage taken by 10%;
   • The boss by itself gives over 300,000 XP.
5. After you clear the zone (and the boss, if you choose to), exit and reset the dungeon.
6. Do as many as five runs an hour (dungeon lockout limit).

✏️ Tip: This method is best with a pre-grouped group. Tanking it solo is possible for well-equipped tanks, but group runs are faster, safer, and more consistent for farming XP.

Our team has already tested this method, so we can easily level you up through Monkey Runs. It’s a very fast method, when an experienced group is at hand, so you will enjoy MoP Classic endgame almost instantly.

The Jade Forest (85-86)

This is basically a “Welcome to Pandaria” zone. In the Jade Forest you’ll get to know the Pandaren lore and the clash between Horde and Alliance forces. Here’s what to focus on right now:

• Main Questlines: The Serpent’s Heart, Sha of Doubt (Alliance and Horde versions), Temple of the Jade Serpent
• Alliance Hub: Pearlfin Village
• Horde Hub: Grookin Hill
• Shared Hub: Dawn’s Blossom (related to Welcome to Dawn’s Blossom)

✏️ Tip: Stick to the main campaign quests, especially the Temple storyline, for fast XP and smooth gear progression.

Valley of the Four Winds (86-87)

After the Jade Forest, we switch to the Valley of the Four Winds packed with story and XP.

• Main Questlines: Family brewery search, farm defense, Serpent’s Spine defense
• Key Locations: Pang’s Stead, Halfhill Market, Stormstout Brewery
• Key NPCs: Chen Stormstout and Li Li

✏️ Tip: Make sure to pick a quest in Stormstout Brewery dungeon to unlock quick runs and bonus XP.

By the way, with the Re-roll Bundle you can get a fully prepared character who will be capable of PvE, PvP, or any other challenging activity. You can claim it even for a level 1 character and transform it into a mighty lvl 90 warrior.

Krasarang Wilds (86-87)

Once you are done with breweries and farms, it’s time to move to dense jungles, hidden temples, and a darker Krasarang Wilds zone. It overlaps well with Valley of the Four Winds in both story and level range.

• Main Questlines: Sha of Despair, Chi-Ji’s defeat
• Key Locations: Zhu’s Watch, Temple of the Red Crane, Thunder Cleft

✏️ Tip: Temple of the Red Crane offers Challenge At The Temple of the Red Crane (A) / Challenge At The Temple of the Red Crane (H). This questline leads you back to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms, and is rich in XP and gear.

Kun-Lai Summit (87-88)

Our next stop is located in the Kun-Lai Summit zone, where we will meet the Shado-Pan faction and the well-known Shado-Pan Monastery dungeon.

• Main Questlines: Proving yourself to Xuen, Shado-Pan vs Yaungol
• Key Locations: Binan Village, Westwind Rest (Alliance), Eastwind Rest (Horde)

✏️ Tip: Don’t miss the Arena of Annihilation scenario — it gives huge XP payout and reliable gear for level 87+.

Townlong Steppes (88-89)

Then, we visit the Townlong Steppes. This is almost the last step, and here you will focus on the quests telling you the story of western borders protection by Shado-Pan.

• Main Questlines: Shado-Pan, Sha of Hatred
• Key Locations: Shado-Pan Garrison, Gao-Ran Forward Post, Deadtalker’s Plateau

✏️ Tip: The main area storyline is your go-to solution. Just follow the quests, doing some dungeon runs in between.

Dread Wastes (89-90)

Dread Wastes is where you help the Klaxxi faction overthrow the corrupted Mantid empire from within.

• Main Questlines: Klaxxi Paragons, Empress battle
• Key Locations: Klaxxi’vess, Terrace of Gurthan, Kypari Zar

✏️ Tip: Do not miss Paragon buffs that will boost your XP gain and survivability.

MoP Classic Alliance Leveling

Leveling routes in Mists of Pandaria Classic depend not only on the starting level, but also on your faction. While some of the questlines and zones can be shared by players from both factions, Alliance and Horde have some major differences that we are going to outline.

Alliance players starting at level 1 will be brought to the starting zone in Elwynn Forest. Your first task will be to deal with the classic grinding questline. But if you plan to play an Alliance Pandaren, the leveling will be much more exciting. The grind will remain, though, and if you want to skip it, ask our team to level up your Pandaren.

MoP Classic Alliance Leveling Zones

This table highlights the best questing zones for Alliance players from level 1 to 90 in Mists of Pandaria Classic.

MoP Classic Horde Leveling

If you are playing a Horde character, your leveling route will start in a different zone. Also, you will encounter various Horde-specific questlines and enemies. Your starting zone in WoW Mists of Pandaria Classic depends on your Horde race. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you get to level 10 fast:

• Tauren: Begin in Mulgore. Complete the quest chain and head to Thunder Bluff to unlock your flight path, then fly to the Barrens.
• Orc & Troll: Start in Durotar. Focus on early quests and move into the Barrens by level 10. Avoid the Crossroads until level 12-13.
• Undead: Quest in Tirisfal Glades until level 10 or grind nearby mobs. Use the portal in Undercity to get to Orgrimmar.
• Blood Elf: Level in Eversong Woods, then take the orb in Silvermoon to the port to Undercity. Head to Orgrimmar from there via the Zeppelin Towers.

Do not forget that from now on, you can also choose Monk as a playable class. Leveling your first Monk can be a challenge, but not with our team. Just ask our pro players, and they will deal with leveling from level 1 to 90 with ease.

MoP Classic Horde Leveling Zones

Here’s a detailed breakdown of MoP Classic Horde 1-90 leveling:

MoP Classic Dungeon Leveling

As we mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to level up in MoP Classic, especially from 85 to 90, is dungeon grinding. Running dungeons gives you a solid chunk of XP in one go and also drops decent gear to boost your performance in the next zones.

Dungeon leveling is recommended for premade 5-man groups, and it takes around 10 hours to level up using this method. Around levels 88–89, running dungeons becomes tougher, and you can switch to questing, or combine both options.

It’s a win-win: faster leveling and better loot to keep you rolling through Pandaria.

You can also complete the 1-90 level track via Dungeon Leveling if you want to collect some gear (do not forget about transmog!). However, dungeons can be rather tiring and boring. That’s why we recommend asking our pro players to do it for you. Here’s a list of MoP Classic dungeons rotation for leveling:

Mists of Pandaria Classic Best Dungeon for Leveling

In MoP Classic, there’s a dungeon that proved to be the most effective for leveling — Stormstout Brewery. This dungeon is the shortest one, as it features only 3 bosses. Completing it is easy, and the process of leveling is very straightforward: just push the dungeon nonstop till you hit level 90.

✏️ Tip: It is recommended to push Stormstout Brewery in a premade group, as it will save you hours of queuing.

MoP Classic Leveling With Battle Pets

Battle pets in Mists of Pandaria Classic are easily one of the weirdest and most underrated ways to level your character. Every pet battle grants XP, and trainer fights in Pandaria reward even more. With a solid pet team and a smart route, you can farm experience steadily without ever swinging a sword.

The key is building a squad of level 25 battle pets, preferably rare quality, and focusing on Pandaria’s pet trainers. These fights are on a daily lockout and are easily linked by flight paths. Our team is already prepared to assist you with Battle Pets Leveling and can help you reach level 25 for any number of pets.

✏️ Tip: Add-ons like Rematch and PetTracker can make managing your team a breeze. Read about other useful add-ons in our Mists of Pandaria Classic Top Addons guide.

How to Level Up With Pet Battles in MoP Classic

• Level 3 battle pets to 25 (ideally rare quality)
• Download Rematch and PetTracker for team management
• Unlock all Pandaria flight paths to reach trainers faster
• Fight pet trainers (not just wild pets) for big XP gains
• Add a low-level pet to each team to soak XP
• Log in during Pet Battle Bonus Weeks for extra XP

MoP Classic Pet Trainer Locations

• Bill Buckler — Cape of Stranglethorn (near Booty Bay)
• Old MacDonald — Westfall (east of Jansen Stead)
• Lindsay — Redridge Mountains (south of Lake Everstill bridge)
• Eric Davidson — Duskwood (Raven Hill Cemetery)
• Dagra the Fierce — Northern Barrens (Thorn Hill)

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Now you know how to level up fast in MoP Classic. Leveling in MoP Classic may seem overwhelming at first, but with the right routes and leveling methods from our guide, hitting level 90 becomes a smooth and rewarding grind. We covered the fastest ways to level: from optimized quest paths and dungeon runs to alternative methods like pet battles and mob grinding. Use these tips to save time, stay efficient, and enjoy the journey through Pandaria.