Alright Raiders and Mount Enthusiasts! Got some exciting news dropped into our laps regarding a cool, completely free promotion mount that is here now! It’s tied to the Mists of Pandaria Classic pre-patch and yes, you can use it in the retail version of the game right now! This article provides all the details.
This beauty is the Shaohao’s Sage Serpent. If it looks a little familiar, that’s because it’s a gorgeous green version of the iconic Astral Cloud Serpent from the original Mists of Pandaria expansion. It functions as a Skyriding mount in Retail WoW! Players also recently obtained a golden recolor through Plunderstorm, so this green version makes for the second time this awesome model has been re-released! It’s truly a legendary sight in Azeroth.
Getting Your Warcraft Mount (The How-To)
Getting your paws on this mount is actually pretty straightforward! The process is very similar to how players obtained the Frostbrood Proto-Drake during the Wrath of the Lich King Classic pre-patch – by completing the Death Knight starting experience.
Here’s the lowdown for the Sage Serpent:
- Install/Access MoP Classic: First things first, you need to have the Mists of Pandaria Classic pre-patch ready to go. If you’ve got an active World of Warcraft subscribetion, you’re already good to go! Just download and install the MoP Classic client if you haven’t already. No extra cost involved!
- Create a Pandaren Character: Log into MoP Classic now and create yourself a brand-spankin’-new Pandaren character. This type of mount is a fantastic addition.
- Complete the Starting Experience: This is the main task! You need to play through the entire Pandaren introductory questline, which takes you from the Wandering Isle all the way up to the point where you choose your faction – Alliance or Horde, officially joining the ongoing war for Azeroth. That faction choice is the sign you’ve completed the required campaign! It doesn’t matter which side you pick in the end, you finally reach your destination. You simply need to continue through the story. (This experience typically takes characters from level 1 to around level 10).
- Claim Your Mount: Once you’ve finished the questline and arrived in either Stormwind or Orgrimmar in MoP Classic, simply log out of the game. The next time you log into the live version of World of Warcraft, the Shaohao’s Sage Serpent should be waiting for you in your mount collection tab! Woohoo! This special reward is awarded automatically.
Why You Need This Retail Mount Now (Trading Post Unlikely?)
Listen up, because this is super important: This mount is currently available but only until July 30th! That’s right, you’ve got roughly the month of July to complete the Pandaren starting experience, which means only a few weeks remain.
And to be frank, there’s zero guarantee this mount will ever be available again after that date. It’s a bit of a mystery whether it will return. For example, that Frostbrood Proto-Drake… Still isn’t obtainable again through the Trading Post or other means. So, if you dig this mount’s look, and want these glorious reins, it’s highly recommended to make the time for it this month!
The Time Investment (Expectations)
So, how long does this little adventure take? While speedrunners might finish in around an hour and a half, a more realistic expectation for the average player, especially one new to the zone or without specific speed tactics, is closer to 2-3 hours, potentially more. Professionals, optimized for efficiency, even estimate around 5 hours for guaranteed completion.
Fair warning: this involves quite a bit of hoofing it (or pawing it?), as Pandaren start zones are expansive. You’ll also be treated to the full story experience – skipping cutscenes or roleplay elements isn’t really on the menu! One potentially frustrating point is that quest rewards aren’t exactly showering you in epic gear, so your freshly made Pandaren might feel a little… squishy and mobs can sometimes pose a challenge. Prepare for battle! Your level of skill will influence your speed in battle. It’s a real drive to get through quickly.
Tips for a Smoother Ride (Speedy Suggestions)
Want to shave some time off that estimate? Here are a few tips to potentially help speed things along:
- Heirloom Power: If you happen to have heirlooms and the heirloom mount available in MoP Classic, use them! They make a huge difference in speed and power. Having a fast ground mount is key.
- Choose Wisely (Class, That Is): While any class can do it, consider choosing one that has built-in speed boosts or is good at quickly killing multiple mobs. Classes often recommended for this task include Mage or Monk due to their mobility and solo capabilities. This type of character is ideal.
- Grab ALL the Quests: When you enter a new little quest hub or village, it’s often easiest to just pick up every quest available. Doing everything at once often feels more efficient, preventing backtracking for a potentially missed required quest later. Follow the quest order. You’ll need to continue the main line.
- Loot Those Mobs: Since quest gear is sparse, remember to loot the mobs you kill! They occasionally drop usable gear upgrades that can make you feel slightly less squishy.
Specific Quest Nudges (Helpful Hints)
A couple of quests in the Pandaren starting zone have been known to cause some head-scratching. Here are hints for a few:
- Items of Utmost Importance: For this quest, you need to kill the Emberleaf Scamps to get the Stone Training Supplies. These are mob drops, not items you pick up from the ground!
- Spirit of Air: You need to enter a specific building and locate the target inside. Entering the building can be tricky… a clever workaround some have discovered is to use your ghost form after dying to approach the target, which surprisingly validates the quest objective! (Hey, whatever works, right? You’ll match the objective criteria.) Note: This “ghost form” method is a player-discovered workaround and not the officially intended way to complete the quest. You just need to visit the correct spot.
- End of Shen-zin Su: For this quest, keep an eye on the golden points on your mini-map… This particular quest can feel a bit tedious and time-consuming, but stick with those golden points! That faction choice is the sign you’ve completed the required campaign!
The Final Countdown! (Get Your New Mount!)
Just a reminder: This mount is available right now! Don’t miss this opportunity, as it vanishes after July 30th. Don’t miss out on this potentially one-time-only chance to add a cool green serpent mount to your collection!
In Closing
Getting this mount might feel a little annoying if you weren’t planning on diving into MoP Classic anyway, but for a totally free mount that’s time-limited and looks awesome, it’s definitely worth an hour or two (or three-four-five!) of your time. Many players might be doing the Pandaren starting experience for the first time specifically for this mount, and that’s totally okay! This mount is awarded upon completion.
So polish up those virtual boots (or paws!), create your Pandaren (who start on the back of a giant turtle!), and get ready to complete that starting adventure. Good luck, and may your journey be swift and your mount collection ever-growing! Be proud of adding this. Consider it one of your achievements! It’s a journey filled with legends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the name of the mount?
The mount is officially named the Shaohao’s Sage Serpent. The guide describes it as a truly legendary sight in Azeroth and a gorgeous green version of the iconic Astral Cloud Serpent model from the original Mists of Pandaria expansion.
Is this mount for Retail World of Warcraft or Classic World of Warcraft?
This promotion mount is specifically for use in the retail version of World of Warcraft, also referred to as the “live version” or “modern WoW” in the guide. Although you earn it by completing content in Mists of Pandaria Classic, it is added to your mount collection in the current retail game. It also functions as a Skyriding mount in Retail.
Is the mount actually free? What do I need to get it?
Yes, the guide explicitly states it’s a “cool, completely free promotion mount.” The only requirement is an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, which grants you access to the Mists of Pandaria Classic client needed to earn it. There is no extra cost involved beyond having an active subscription.
Exactly how do I get the mount?
Getting the mount involves three main steps within Mists of Pandaria Classic:
- Install or access the MoP Classic client.
- Create a brand-spankin’-new Pandaren character.
- Play through and complete the entire Pandaren introductory questline on the Wandering Isle. This questline concludes when you reach the point where you choose your faction, either Alliance or Horde.
Once you’ve completed the questline and chosen your faction, simply log out of MoP Classic. The next time you log into the live version of World of Warcraft, the Shaohao’s Sage Serpent should automatically appear in your mount collection tab.
When does the promotion to get this mount end?
The guide makes it clear that this is a time-limited opportunity. The mount is available right now, but the chance to earn it vanishes after July 30th. This means you have roughly the month of July remaining to complete the required steps.
Do I need to create a brand new character, or can I use an existing one in MoP Classic?
You must create a brand-spankin’-new Pandaren character in MoP Classic to begin the specific starting experience required for the mount. Using an existing character will not work for this promotion.
How long does it take to complete the Pandaren starting experience?
The time investment can vary. While the guide notes that speedrunners might finish in around an hour and a half, a more realistic expectation for the average player, especially one new to the zone or without specific speed tactics like heirlooms, is closer to 2-3 hours, and potentially more. The guide also mentions that professional boosting services estimate around 5 hours for guaranteed completion, suggesting it can be a longer process for some. Factors include the expansive zone, limited early gear making mobs challenging, and the story elements that can’t be easily skipped.
Are there any specific quests that are known to be tricky or confusing?
Yes, the guide highlights a couple of quests that players sometimes find tricky in the Pandaren starting zone. It offers hints for “Items of Utmost Importance” (reminding you to kill specific mobs for drops, not find items on the ground), “Spirit of Air” (noting you need to find the target inside a specific building, and mentioning a player-discovered “ghost form” workaround if entry is difficult), and the final stage leading to “End of Shen-zin Su” (advising to follow golden mini-map points and noting that the preceding quests can feel tedious).
Will this mount ever be available again after the promotion ends on July 30th?
The guide emphasizes that this is a time-limited offer and is “potentially one-time-only.” To be frank, it states there is “zero guarantee this mount will ever be available again after that date” and uses the Frostbrood Proto-Drake from a previous pre-patch as an example of a time-limited mount that has not returned through the Trading Post or other means.
Does it matter which faction (Alliance or Horde) I choose at the end of the starting experience?
No, the guide explicitly states that it does not matter which faction you ultimately choose – Alliance or Horde. The act of making that choice is the key signal that you have completed the required starting campaign on the Wandering Isle to earn the mount.
