If you’re diving into World of Warcraft Classic: Mists of Pandaria not just for the levels, but for the full narrative experience, this guide is built for you. Here we balance solid XP gains with story immersion, reputation building, and completion of major questlines that define Pandaria’s lore. You will hit level 90 with key factions unlocked and ready for endgame content.
This guide is ideal for:

  •  Those aiming to unlock early daily quests and faction rewards:
  •  Players new to Pandaria’s storyline
  •  Completionists
  •  Content creators and streamers exploring lore-rich gameplay

What You’ll Gain

  •  Level 85 to 90 with full zone completions
  •  Major lore storylines completed in order
  •  Ready for daily quests, dungeons and gear progression
  •  Reputations unlocked:
  •  The Klaxxi
  •  Golden Lotus
  •  Shado-Pan
  •  The August Celestials
  •  The Tillers (optional)

Recommended Setup

Before you begin:

  •  Disable cutscenes skips (Leatrix Plus users)
  •  Use addons like Question or Immersion for quest flow
  •  Prepare 20-30 bag slots for quest items and loot
  •  Turn on music and ambient sounds as they add depth to the story

Zone-by-Zone Leveling with Lore & Reputations (85 to 90)

The Jade Forest (Level 85-86)

Your journey starts in Jade Forest, where you arrive through The Art of War and land near either the Pearlfin Village (Alliance) or Grookin Hill (Horde). Progress through Dawn's Blossom and assist the Pandaren as they deal with the Jade Serpent's trials. The storyline ends at the Serpent's Heart, where the Sha of Doubt is released, unlocking access to Valley of the Four Winds.
Key Lore Arcs:

  •  Horde vs. Alliance arrival in Pandaria
  •  Introduction to the Pandaren
  •  Lorewalker Cho and the Jade Serpent

Do not skip the Temple of the Jade Serpent storyline or any Lorewalker Cho sequences - these establish the emotional and mythological tone of Pandaria. Complete every hub including:

  •  Sri-La Village
  •  Pearlfin Village (Alliance) / Grookin Hill (Horde)
  •  Temple of the Jade Serpent
  •  Tian Monastery

Valley of the Four Winds (Level 86-87)

This peaceful farming zone begins in Pang's Stead and moves through Halfhill, where you begin gaining reputation with the Tillers. The story leads you into Stoneplow to defend against the Mantid. Completing this arc is important for both lore continuity and unlocking daily content later on.
Key Lore Arcs:

  •  Chen Stormstout’s return home
  •  The corruption of the Mantid
  •  Farming life and the heart of Pandaria’s culture

Reputation unlocked: The Tillers (starts in Halfhill)
Blazing tip: Follow Chen’s entire questline from Stoneplow to Stormstout Brewery. This connects directly to Krasarang Wilds, where his journey continues. Complete all farming-related content if you’re interested in the Tillers farm progression.

Krasarang Wilds (Level 86-87, continues from Valley)

From Stoneplow, move into Krasarang Wilds through Zhu's Watch. You'll aid locals dealing with despair and Saurok attacks. While not tied to all major reputations, this zone fills in narrative gaps and sets up the transition to Kun-Lai Summit via the Waterspreaker's Staff quest.
Key Lore Arcs:

  •  The Pandaren’s relationship with nature and mogu
  •  Rising conflict with the Sha
  •  The continuation of Chen’s story

Reputation unlocked: Essential Lore continuation
Blazing tip: Do not skip the Anglers Wharf hub or the Temple of the Red Crane arc, both contain early setup for the August Celestials. 
Complete every questline leading to the Southern Wilds and the Ruins of Dojan.

Kun-Lai Summit (Level 87-88.5)

Arriving at Binan Village, you'll assist in fending off the Yaungol, help Grummles through One Keg and Kota Basecamp, and participate in trials at the Temple of the White Tiger. The Shado-Pan Monastery arc here is key to unlocking the Shado-Pan faction later on.
Key Lore Arcs:

  •  Shado-Pan monks and the threat of the Sha
  •  The Yangol and their migration
  •  The climb to the Temple of the White Tiger

Reputation unlocked: Shado-Pan (unlocked after Kun-Lai completion)
Blazing tip: Do not skip Binan Village, the Burlap Trail, and the Temple of the White Tiger. The meeting between Anduin, Taran Zhu, and the Celestials ties into both story and gameplay. Finish Zouchin Village for a full understanding of Mogu Incursions.

Townlong Steppes (Level 88.5-89.5)

In Townlong, join the Shado-Pan at Longying Outpost to battle the mantid and assist with quests like "The Point of No Return". This zone expands on Pandaria's military storyline and sets you up for Shado-Pan reputation dailies at level 90.
Key Lore Arcs:

  •  The war against the Mantid
  •  Final initiation with the Shado-Pan
  •  The push into the Dread Wastes

Reputation unlocked: Shado-Pan (main dailies unlocked here).
Blazing tip: Follow the Shado-Pan storyline across the Gao-Ran Battlefront and Fire Camp Osul. Townlong’s narrative is heavily tied to Mantid corruption and the growing threat in the Dread Wastes.

Dread Wastes (Level 89.5-90)

This final zone, Dread Wastes, introduces the Klaxxi. You'll awaken Paragons on quests like "Amber is Life" and "The Wakening". Completing this zone unlocks Klaxxi daily quests and offers a deep dive into Pandaria's darker themes.
Key Lore Arcs:

  •  Klaxxi society and the Paragons
  •  The heart of Mantid corruption
  •  Old God whispers and the darker side of Pandaria

Reputation unlocked: The Klaxxi
Blazing tip: This zone is critical for unlocking The Klaxxi daily quests and gear rewards. Complete the full Paragon arc, including all 7 Paragon awakenings. Do not skip any of the amber-themed quest hubs or site stories, they are rich in Old God lore.

Bonus: Lore Zones (Post-90 or Side Progress)

 The Golden Lotus (Vale of Eternal Blossoms): Unlocked at level 90; central to daily hub content.
 The August Celestials: Dailies tied to each Celestial’s Temple.
 The Order of the Cloud Serpent: Starts in Jade Forest, good for flying mount collectors.

Tips for Maximizing Lore & Reputations While Leveling

  •  Prioritize full zone completion for reputation unlocks
  •  Follow character arcs like Chen Stormstout and Lorewalker Cho across zones
  •  Use the in-game Lorewalker scrolls for achievement progress
  •  Avoid skipping story dungeons, they are often quest-linked

Conclusion

This leveling guide is for players who want more than just fast XP, it’s for those who want to truly explore Pandaria. By following this route, you’ll finish leveling at 90 with key reputations unlocked, major storylines complete and the world of Pandaria fully revealed. You’ll also be better prepared for endgame content, both narratively and mechanically.

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