Congratulations, adventurer! You’ve conquered the grind, battled your way out of the Jade Forest (your Pandaren starting zone), and finally hit max level in one of WoW’s most beloved expansions. The world of MoP Classic has just cracked wide open, revealing a dazzling landscape of treasure, danger, and opportunity. It’s a lot to take in, so you might be standing there, blinking in the Pandarian sun, asking, “So… Wow, where to level at 90 now?” Well, the leveling part itself is over, but the adventure is just beginning!
Don’t panic! This isn’t a stressful checklist of chores. Think of it as a grand, all-you-can-eat buffet of max-level activities. Pick what looks tasty, go back for seconds, and feel free to skip the stuff you don’t like. Your real questing experience starts now!
Chapter 1: The Grand Opening – First Steps in a New World
Before you charge headfirst into glory, there are a few essential housekeeping items to tick off. Getting these done will make everything else you do in this new zone significantly easier and more fun.
Unlocking Your New Hangout
First things first: every hero, whether Horde or Alliance, must complete quests to unlock their faction’s capital city in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. This questline becomes available at lvl 87 but is surprisingly easy to miss if your leveling was just grinding mobs or doing Monkey Runs. Without it, the city gates remain closed, and you’ll be locked out of a major faction, the Golden Lotus. Think of this as getting the keys to your new command center; it’s packed with portals that drastically cut down on travel time.
Taking to the Skies
Once you’re in the city, make a beeline for the flying trainer. For a one-time fee, the skies of Pandaria are yours to command. While you’re there, you can also purchase the account-bound Tome of the Four Winds. Sending this to your alts allows them to fly in Pandaria from level 85, a massive boost to their experience gains.
A Quick Talent Check-Up
With the ding of level 90 comes your final, powerful talent point. This is the perfect time to give your entire talent tree and glyph setup a once-over. A quick tune-up on your spec ensures you’re ready for whatever mayhem you plan to cause, whether you’re a stealthy Night Elf Rogue or a mighty Tauren Warrior.
Chapter 2: The Art of Gearing Up – From Rags to Riches
You’ve hit max level, but your gear is likely a motley collection of quest rewards. Let’s fix that and get you ready for some real combat.
The Starter Kit: Your Ticket to the Big Leagues
To enter Heroic dungeons using the Dungeon Finder, you’ll need an average item level of at least 435. If you’re a bit short, a quick shopping spree at the Auction House can solve the problem. Normal dungeons are also a great option; they often contain valuable dungeon quests with fantastic rewards, often better than standard quests of the same level. Unlike some frustrating Cata content, the gearing path in MoP Classic is quite fluid.
Dungeon Delving 101
Once you hit that magic 435 lvl, it’s time to become a professional dungeon-crasher. Finding a good group is key to success. Heroic dungeons are your primary source for excellent 463-item-level blue gear. Spamming heroics via the Dungeon Finder is the fastest way to get a solid foundation of gear. You can even target specific dungeons, like the Shado-Pan Monastery, if your group wants to kill a specific boss for a piece of loot. Plus, the first run of the day gives bonus Valor points!
The Currency Conundrum: Justice & Valor
As you conquer dungeons, your bags will start overflowing with two key currencies:
- Justice Points: Use these to buy a full set of 458-item-level gear from vendors.
- Valor Points: This is the premium stuff. Save these for epic 489-item-level pieces, though they often require reputation to purchase.
Chapter 3: The Great Reputation Debate – Two Paths to Power
Upon arriving at max level, you’ll see a map glittering with daily quest markers. The way reputation works in this expansion is very focused on daily activities. There are two main philosophies:
The Sprinter’s Path (Maximum Gain, Minimum Pain)
This is the path for those with limited time or an aversion to daily quests.
- Level Your Professions: A crafted 476 item is a massive, immediate power boost.
- Complete the Dread Wastes Questline: Finishing the main story in this zone will automatically get you to Honored with the Klaxxi faction. No dailies required!
- Befriend the Shado-Pan: The main questline in Townlong Steppes (right next to Kun Lai Summit) will get you very close to Honored. A few days of dailies will finish your progress, unlocking powerful gear.
- Conquer Heroics: Focus the rest of your time on getting a full set of 463 gear from Heroic dungeons.
The Marathon Runner’s Path (The Completionist)
This path is for those who relish the journey and want the absolute best gear, doing all the main quests and even the side quests for every scrap of reputation (our guide to MoP reps right here!). To get ahead, you’ll need to start questing with these factions daily, sometimes even forming a group to speed things up.
- Golden Lotus: This is your natural “gateway” reputation. While MoP Classic likely removes the old requirement to grind Golden Lotus rep to unlock other factions, it’s still the best place to start for its great story and powerful rewards.
- The August Celestials: This faction offers epic boots and other powerful gear at Revered.
- The Black Prince: Don’t skip this one! The legendary questline begins at the Tavern in the Mists (in the Veiled Stair, after a starter quest from Halfhill in the Valley of the Four Winds). Start this as soon as you hit 90! Check your log to track this important chain.
Your Gearing Roadmap at Level 90
| Gear Source | Item Level (ilvl) | How to Get It | Good For |
| Normal Dungeons & Quests | 435-442 | Queue in Dungeon Finder, complete quests. | Reaching the ilvl 435 requirement for Heroics. |
| Crafted Gear (Professions) | 450-476 | Buy from the Auction House or have a crafter make it. | A quick power boost, especially weapons and trinkets. |
| Heroic Dungeons | 463 (Rare) | Queue in Dungeon Finder once you hit ilvl 435. | Your primary goal. Forms your baseline gear for raids. |
| Justice Point Vendor | 458 (Rare) | Spend Justice Points earned from dungeons. | Filling in any missing slots your group can’t get to drop. |
| World Bosses (Sha/Galleon) | 476 (Epic) | Join a large group to kill them once per week. | A free weekly chance at high-end raid-level gear. |
| Reputation Vendors | 489 (Epic) | Spend Valor Points after reaching Honored/Revered. | The best gear outside of raids. Your long-term goal. |
Chapter 4: Beyond the Gear Score – Pandaria’s Hidden Treasures
There’s more to life after you hit max level than just your gear score. Pandaria questing is over, but the world is your oyster!
Weekly Rituals for Fun and Profit
- World Boss Wrangling: Each week, form up with a raid group to take down the two world bosses. The Sha of Anger patrols Kun Lai Summit, while the colossal mushan Galleon stomps through the Valley of the Four Winds. You’ll need a huge group to kill them before they wipe everyone, and these encounters often turn the entire zone into a massive PvP battleground.
- A Legendary Undertaking: As mentioned, beginning the legendary quest chain with Wrathion is crucial. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and starting early ensures that every raid boss you kill counts towards your progress.
- Bonus Rolls for Big Wins: You’ll collect Lesser Charms of Good Fortune. Exchange them for Elder Charms, which grant you a bonus roll for loot from bosses.
The Pandaria Gold Rush
The economy is booming, and it’s time to get your slice of the pie. Gold making is a major part of MoP Classic.
- The Professional: Max out your crafting professions. The demand for flasks, potions, gems, and enchants is insatiable.
- The Gatherer: The real gold making magic is in gathering professions. A Druid is king here, and a Night Elf Druid, for example, can instantly fly between nodes, making thousands of gold per hour. There’s no faster way to get rich than with gathering professions.
- Your Own Farm: Complete the quests for Farmer Yoon in the Valley of the Four Winds to unlock Sunsong Ranch. This is your personal farm where you can grow crafting materials every day. A farming group can use clever positioning to rapidly kill and loot mobs. To make even more gold, you can kill specific humanoids while under the effect of a Potion of Luck for extra treasure chests.
For the Collectors and Glory-Seekers
- The Water Strider: Reaching Exalted with The Anglers rewards you with a mount that can walk on water.
- Challenge Modes: For the ultimate bragging rights, a coordinated group can tackle Challenge Mode dungeons. Completing them rewards a unique transmog set for Gold, and the epic Ancestral Phoenix mount for Silver!
- Pet Battles: It’s a whole game within the game!
Chapter 5: For the Glory! – A PvP Primer
If your heart beats for the thrill of combat, you can forge your own path. PvP gearing is a separate track. Head to the Great Wall to find the Honor vendor and start farming battlegrounds. The open world is also your playground; from Stranglethorn to the shores of Krasarang Wilds, World PvP is a constant, thrilling battle against other players, whether you’re solo or with your own group. There’s nothing like forming a warband to hunt down and wipe out an enemy raid group in zones like Kun Lai Summit.
Chapter 6: It’s Raining Alts!
Now that you have a max-level character, it’s the perfect time to start another. You unlock several benefits that help your alts level quickly.
- The Tome of the Four Winds for flying at 85 provides way more XP per hour by increasing travel speed.
- Bind on Account gear you find while adventuring.
- The gold and resources to fund their journey. Joining a guild can also provide a huge boost with heirlooms and a ready group for dungeons.
Want to level quickly? Send your alt the Flying Tome, some gold, and watch their experience gains skyrocket. A Night Elf Druid alt with flying can level through gathering professions alone, reaching a higher level while making you a fortune. It’s a far cry from the leveling pace of vanilla or Cata!
Ultimately, your first weeks at lvl 90 are an open book. There is no right or wrong way to play MoP Classic. Gear up for raids, hunt for legendary treasures, master your professions, or become a terror in World PvP. Pick the adventure that sounds most exciting to you, and go for it. Pandaria is waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
On the absolute first thing a new level 90 should do…
The most critical task you should tackle immediately upon hitting level 90 is completing the questline to unlock your faction’s capital city in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. This isn’t just a minor convenience; it’s the central command center for your endgame experience. Without it, you are cut off from essential vendors, a network of portals that drastically reduces travel time, and, most importantly, the ability to start earning reputation with the Golden Lotus faction, which is a key part of the endgame progression.
On learning to fly in Pandaria…
You can learn to fly across the continent by visiting the flight trainer located in your faction’s newly unlocked capital city in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. This skill, called Wisdom of the Four Winds, requires you to be level 90 and has a one-time fee of 2,500 gold. This investment is one of the best you can make, as it transforms your ability to travel, quest, and explore Pandaria with incredible speed and freedom.
On how to gear up for Heroic dungeons…
To reach the required average item level of 435 for the Dungeon Finder, you have several effective strategies. The most straightforward path is to run Normal difficulty dungeons, as they drop gear around the 435 level and offer valuable dungeon quests with excellent rewards. To speed this process up, you can also head to the Auction House and purchase crafted gear, such as item level 450+ rings or weapons, to replace your weakest pieces and give your average ilvl a significant boost.
On the main method for gearing up initially…
Once you are able to enter Heroics, your primary and most efficient method for gearing up is to run them repeatedly. This is the core of the initial endgame gearing process. Heroic dungeons drop a full set of excellent 463-item-level rare (blue) gear, which will form the solid foundation you need to feel powerful and prepare for entry-level raiding. Since there’s no daily lockout, you can farm these dungeons as much as you like.
On the difference between Justice Points and Valor Points…
These are the two main PvE currencies you’ll earn. Justice Points are your “catch-up” currency, primarily earned from running dungeons. You can spend them at vendors for a full set of 458-item-level gear with no reputation required, making it perfect for filling in stubborn gear slots. Valor Points are the premium currency, earned in smaller amounts from daily quests and your first Heroic of the day. They are used to purchase the best-in-slot 489-item-level epic gear, but these powerful items are typically locked behind high reputation standings with Pandaria’s major factions.
On the necessity of doing daily quests…
Absolutely not! The guide makes it clear that you do not have to chain yourself to daily quests if you don’t have the time or desire. It outlines a highly effective “Sprinter’s Path” designed for efficiency. This approach has you focus on leveling your professions for powerful crafted gear, completing the main story questlines in the Dread Wastes and Townlong Steppes to gain “free” reputation, and then dedicating the rest of your time to gearing up through Heroic dungeons. This allows you to become raid-ready without the pressure of a daily grind.
On the fastest way to gain reputation…
The most time-efficient way to gain a large amount of reputation is to focus on one-time questlines rather than repeatable dailies. By completing the entire main story questline in the Dread Wastes, you will automatically reach Honored with The Klaxxi. Similarly, finishing the main quests in Townlong Steppes will get you very close to Honored with the Shado-Pan. This strategy provides a massive head start on your reputation goals without the need for daily grinding.
On the World Bosses of Pandaria…
There are two primary world bosses you should aim to defeat once per week. The first is the Sha of Anger, a terrifying entity that patrols multiple spawn points in Kun-Lai Summit. The second is Galleon, a colossal mushan ridden by a Saurok warband, who stomps through the Valley of the Four Winds. Both bosses drop high-level, 476-item-level epic gear and offer a chance at a rare mount, making them a high-value weekly objective.
On the importance of the legendary questline…
It is crucial to start the legendary questline as soon as possible because it is a “marathon, not a sprint” that progresses throughout the entire Mists of Pandaria expansion. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can start collecting the necessary items from raid bosses. Every week you delay is a week of missed progress on collecting Sigils and other items, which will ultimately unlock powerful legendary gems, meta-gems, and the iconic legendary cloak later in the expansion.
On where the legendary questline begins…
The journey begins not in a high-level zone, but at the inn in Halfhill, located in the Valley of the Four Winds. An NPC there will give you a starter quest that sends you to meet the mysterious Wrathion at the Tavern in the Mists, which is nestled high up in the mountains of the Veiled Stair zone. This is where the true questline begins.
On Elder Charms and their purpose…
Elder Charms of Good Fortune are special tokens that give you a “bonus roll,” which is an extra, personal chance at loot after you defeat a world boss or a raid boss. You can obtain three of these valuable charms per week by turning in 90 Lesser Charms of Good Fortune (which you earn from daily quests and killing mobs) at the vendor located at Niuzao Temple in Townlong Steppes.
On the best methods for gold making…
The guide highlights three primary avenues for building your fortune at level 90. First, max out your crafting professions to sell highly sought-after consumables like flasks, potions, and gems. Second, leverage gathering professions like Mining and Herbalism to sell raw materials, which are always in high demand. Finally, unlock your personal Sunsong Ranch farm to passively grow valuable crafting materials every single day with minimal effort.
On how to acquire a personal farm…
You can unlock your very own 16-plot farm, the idyllic Sunsong Ranch, by finding and completing the introductory questline for Farmer Yoon in the Valley of the Four Winds. As you progress with the Tillers faction, your farm will grow and become an even more powerful resource generator.
On the importance of professions at max level…
Professions are more important than ever at level 90. Crafting professions like Blacksmithing, Leatherworking, and Tailoring can create powerful 476-item-level epic gear, providing a massive early advantage. Alchemists, Jewelcrafters, and Enchanters are the backbone of the raiding economy, as every serious player will need a steady supply of their consumables and enhancements.
On the location of PvP vendors…
Uniquely in this expansion, the main vendors for Honor Point gear are not in the capital cities. You will find them stationed outdoors on the Great Wall (also known as the Serpent’s Spine) that separates the Valley of the Four Winds from the Dread Wastes. Flying up to the top of the wall is the easiest way to find them.
On the nature of Challenge Modes…
Challenge Modes are a form of high-difficulty, prestige PvE content. They are timed runs of Heroic dungeons where all players’ gear is scaled down to a fixed item level to ensure a level playing field. Success is based on skill, coordination, and strategy. The rewards are purely cosmetic but highly coveted: achieving a Gold medal time in all dungeons unlocks a unique, class-specific armor set for transmog, while completing them all on Silver rewards the magnificent Ancestral Phoenix mount.
On how to get a mount that walks on water…
The highly useful Azure Water Strider mount can be purchased once you reach Exalted reputation with The Anglers. This faction of dedicated fishermen offers their daily quests from their small village in the Krasarang Wilds. While it’s a bit of a grind, the convenience of a water-walking mount is well worth the effort.
On the best ways to level alts quickly…
Once you have a level 90 main, leveling alts becomes significantly faster. You can purchase and mail your alts the Tome of the Four Winds, which grants them the ability to fly in Pandaria starting at level 85. This, combined with funding them with gold for riding skills and bags, and equipping them with any Bind on Account gear you’ve found, will dramatically accelerate their journey to max level.
On the so-called “Druid’s Advantage”…
This refers to the unparalleled efficiency a Druid brings to gathering professions like Herbalism and Mining. Their key ability is Instant Flight Form, which means they don’t have a cast time to mount up; they can instantly transform and take to the skies. Furthermore, they can gather herbs without even leaving their Flight Form. This dramatically cuts down on downtime between nodes, allowing a Druid to clear a zone of resources at incredible speed.
On the main focus for a player wanting to raid ASAP…
Your primary focus should be a two-pronged attack. First, get your average item level to 435 through any means necessary (Normal dungeons, AH gear). Second, spam Heroic dungeons relentlessly until you have a full set of 463-item-level gear. While you do this, simultaneously work on the “Sprinter’s Path” for reputation—completing the questlines in Dread Wastes and Townlong Steppes—to unlock one or two key pieces of 489 Valor gear to complete your set. This balanced approach is the fastest way to become raid-ready.
