In this MoP Classic Challenge Mode Guide, we will give you tips on how to handle this mode and get all the available rewards. Challenge Modes in Mists of Pandaria Classic are a timed, skill-based alternative to standard heroic dungeons, akin to Mythic+ from future expansions. They are repeatable, demanding, and can’t be outgeared. Every dungeon run is a test of coordination, preparation, and execution, not raw gear level.
4.9What is Challenge Mode in MoP Classic
Challenge Mode in Mists of Pandaria Classic is a time trial where you and your group complete the dungeon as quickly as you can. Each dungeon has different time requirements, and depending on how fast you manage to clear the dungeon, you will receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal.
The goal is to finish each dungeon within the time limit and earn the Gold medal that grants the best rewards. These dungeons can be repeated at any time and can be reset as many times as you want. This is great, as it allows players to repeatedly improve their time, earn achievements, or aim for leaderboard rankings! Getting Challenge Mode medals will be much easier if you gear up to ilvl 463 (going past this won’t yield any benefits as the gear will be normalized). Want to gear up to 463 quickly, but don’t want to grind? Our Pandaria Classic Gearing is here to help!
Challenge Mode Rules in MoP Classic
Here is the breakdown of all the rules in Challenge Mode of Mists of Pandaria Classic:
- All gear is scaled down to ilvl 463; gear at ilvl 463 or lower is not scaled;
- Trinkets at ilvl 463+ are valid and recommended due to strong unique procs;
- Tier set bonuses are disabled during Challenge Mode runs;
- Sha-Touched Gems do not work in Challenge Mode runs;
- Hit-capped specs remain hit-capped after gear scaling;
- Consumables, enchants, regular gems, and profession bonuses are unaffected by scaling;
- Each Challenge Mode is a timed heroic run, designed to remain difficult regardless of gear;
- Pulls are harder than Heroic, and mobs deal more damage;
- Minimum trash kill requirement must be met to complete the run—trash cannot be fully skipped.
As you can see, there are various additional rules that Challenge Mode dungeons follow in comparison to regular ones. For example, unlike regular heroics, all of your gear is automatically scaled down to item level 463. This ensures the content stays difficult regardless of your gear. The scaling affects all your gear, including trinkets, weapons, set bonuses, and even Sha-touched gems. That said, you will still remain hitcapped even if the stats required for reaching the hit cap are downgraded.
Stats from consumables and enchants are not reduced, making them mandatory if you want to achieve gold medal times.
Another limitation is the fact that the Mass Resurrection spell cannot be used. All of these rules make it so you cannot just brute-force your way through Challenge Mode dungeons.
Mechanics must be handled properly, and each pull requires planning, especially considering the time-limited nature of the mode.
Mists of Pandaria Classic Challenge Mode Times
Here you can take a look at Challenge Mode times for different medals:
| Challenge Mode Dungeon | Gold Medal | Silver Medal | Bronze Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate of the Setting Sun | 13:00 | 22:00 | 45:00 |
| Mogu’shan Palace | 12:00 | 24:00 | 45:00 |
| Scarlet Halls | 13:00 | 22:00 | 45:00 |
| Scarlet Monastery | 13:00 | 22:00 | 45:00 |
| Scholomance | 19:00 | 33:00 | 55:00 |
| Shado-Pan Monastery | 21:00 | 35:00 | 1:00:00 |
| Siege of Niuzao Temple | 17:30 | 30:00 | 50:00 |
| Stormstout Brewery | 12:00 | 21:00 | 45:00 |
| Temple of the Jade Serpent | 15:00 | 25:00 | 45:00 |
If you want to receive the rewards but don’t want to spend your time learning the dungeons, our Challenge Mode services are always here to help!
Mists of Pandaria Classic Challenge Mode Rewards
Each medal tier comes with different rewards. Bronze is generally easy to obtain with a coordinated group. Silver requires better routing and execution. Gold demands near-perfect execution and strong group synergy.
Challenge Mode Gold Medal Rewards
Completing all nine Challenge Mode dungeons with a Gold medal rewards:
- A full transmog armor set unique to each class. These sets are cosmetic only, with no stats. Each set features elaborate visuals and animations. For example, warlocks gain demon wings, and warriors burst into flames.
- Dungeon teleport spells for each instance where you earned a Gold medal. These teleports are convenient for daily activities, world content, or farming.
- Feats of Strength, such as Challenge Conqueror: Gold, and Realm First! Challenge Conqueror: Gold if you’re the first on your realm to complete all Gold runs.
- Thundering Serpent Hatchling pet, unlocked by completing Challenge Conquerors: Gold – Guild Edition with a guild group.
Challenge mode Gold Medals transmog rewards are:
| Class | Gold Medal Transmog |
|---|---|
| Death Knight | Lich Lord Plate Set |
| Druid | Cycle Armor |
| Hunter | Howling Beast Set |
| Mage | Elemental Triad Regalia |
| Monk | Regal Lord Armor |
| Paladin | Holy Warrior Plate |
| Priest | Light Regalia |
| Rogue | Silent Assassin Armor |
| Shaman | Windfury Set |
| Warlock | Betrayer Regalia |
| Warrior | Golden King Plate |
Challenge Mode Teleports
Here we have also prepared a list with each teleport and the corresponding golden medal challenge.
Challenge Mode Silver Medal Rewards
Completing all challenges with at least a silver medal rewards an Ancestral Phoenix Egg, which can be exchanged for one of the following mounts:
- Reins of the Ashen Pandaren Phoenix;
- Reins of the Emerald Pandaren Phoenix;
- Reins of the Violet Pandaren Phoenix;
- Reins of the Crimson Pandaren Phoenix.
Challenge Mode Bronze Medal Rewards
And, lastly, completing all of the Challenge Mode dungeons with at least a Bronze medal awards you the title of The Undaunted.
On top of these rewards, all times are logged to the leaderboard. Separate boards exist for your realm and your guild. Beating your best time or placing among the top groups on your realm adds long-term competitive value to the mode. This makes it so that even after obtaining rewards, there is still an incentive to run Challenge Modes repeatedly to improve times or farm Valor Points!
Challenge Mode Tips in MoP Classic
Clearing Challenge Modes with gold medals requires tons of preparation. Here we have prepared some tips that might help you obtain these medals:
- Your gear should be fully gemmed, enchanted, and reforged, as stats from the gems and enchants do not get reduced in the Challenge Mode. Each player should bring consumables and utility items. In this mode, practice and coordination matter way more than your item-level.
- DPS players should prioritize AOE damage, burst cooldowns, and mobility.
- Healers need to think about mana management, as the runs are fast-paced and often involve sustained AOE damage with no breaks to drink.
- Tanks must be able to survive large pulls while controlling mobs and keeping them grouped for cleave.
- Classes with access to crowd control, movement speed boosts, AoE stuns, and burst damage are particularly valuable. That said, flexibility and communication are more important than class stacking. Groups that work together and learn from each attempt will outperform groups with better gear but no plan.
Want to get your gear enchanted but don’t want to pay gold or level enchanting yourself? Our Enchanting Leveling services here at Overgear have got you covered!
Consumables for Challenge Mode in MoP Classic
One of the most important parts of Challenge Mode preparation is making sure you’ve got the right consumables for the job. Having the correct items can make or break a gold medal run in MoP Challenge Mode. Here we have prepared a list of consumables you should have when you attempt a gold medal:
| Type of Utility | Items |
|---|---|
| Invisibility | Invisibility Potion, Invisibility Field |
| Buffs | Drums of Forgotten Kings, Runescroll of Fortitude III |
| Healing | Restorative Amber, Golden Carp Consomme |
| Movement | Goblin Glider, Nitro Boosts, Drums of Speed |
| Crowd Control | Emberlisk Net, Rod of Ambershaping |
| Damage | G91 Landshark, Nearly Full Vial of Polyformic Acid, Battle Horn |
As you probably have noticed, most of these useful items are made by Engineers, and this is one of the most difficult professions to level up.
4.9Challenge Mode in Mists of Pandaria Classic is the first iteration of what later will become M+ – a time-based dungeon competition with additional rules. By scaling gear and removing loot incentives, Challenge Mode focuses entirely on execution, planning, and teamwork. With no lockouts, minimal costs, and strong rewards, they’re a core piece of endgame content in MoP Classic. If your group is prepared and willing to push, Gold medals are achievable and worth the effort!
