Challenge Modes in Mists of Pandaria Classic are time-based heroic-level dungeon runs with gear scaled to item level 463. They’re designed to test skill and coordination, rewarding players with Gold, Silver or Bronze medals depending on completion time.
Securing Gold offers exclusive transmog sets, teleports, titles and mounts, making them highly desirable for competitive and completionist players alike.
Why Go for Gold?
- Exclusive Class Transmogs Sets with visual effects
- Dungeon Teleports for each Gold-completed instance
- Titles & Mounts: The undaunted Pandaren Phoenix mounts and more
- Realm/Guild Prestige: Realm-first achievements and guild rewards
- Valor Points and Progression: Useful for gearing and rep grinds.
Time Targets for Gold
To earn a Gold medal, each dungeon must be completed under a specific time. Here’s the full list of Gold medal requirements:
- Gate of the Setting Sun - 13:00
- Stormstout Brewery - 12:00
- Temple of the Jade Serpent - 15:00
- Shado-Pan Monastery 21:00
- Siege of Niuzao Temple 17:30
- Mogu’shan Palace 12:30
- Scarlet Halls 13:00
- Scarlet Monastery 13:00
- Scholomance 13:00
You must also kill a required percentage of enemy mobs. Skipping too much trash even with a fast time can invalidate the run.
Optimal Strategy for Gold Runs
Gear & Stats
All gear scales to ilvl 463. Socketed pieces outperform flat stats so focus on gear with multiple sockets; avoid wasted secondary stats like Spirit or Dodge (if not needed).
Professions & Consumables
Engineering (Nitro Boosts, Synapse Springs) and Alchemy (Alchemist’s Stone, extra flasks) are top-tier.
Bring: DPS and invis potions, drums (if no BloodLust/Hero) flasks, buff food.
Group Composition
- Tank: Brewmaster Monk > Blood DK > Protection Warrior
- Healer: Discipline Priest > Restoration Druid
- DPS: Survival Hunter, Frost Mage, Elemental Shaman, Destruction Warlock
Pull Strategy
Combine trash packs for AoE, but don’t overpull into wipes. Plan cooldowns use defensives around boss mechanic and use stuns, interrupts, and crowd control intelligently.
Preparation
Before the Run
- Watch Challenge Mode routes (look for 9/9 Gold runs).
- Practice each dungeon in Heroic mode to memorize pulls and mob mechanics.
- Use addons like:
- DBM or BigWigs (timers)
- GTFO (avoid AoE damage)
- Leatrix Plus (skip cutscenes)
- WeakAuras (cooldown management)
During the Run
Start timer only when fully buffed and ready, use movement tools (Nitro Boosts, Blink, Roll) between pulls.
Track time remaining vs. boss checkpoints.
Stick to practiced route, improvising mid-run usually causes wipes and don’t skip trash unless the route is specifically designed for it and still hits the mob count quota.
Post-Run: Collect & Capitalize
Upon earning Gold medal, you unlock:
- Class-specific transmog set
- Instant Teleport to that dungeon
- Access to Pandaren Phoenix mounts
- Achievement titles: “Challenge Conqueror: Gold” and “The Undaunted”.
- Valor Points from daily Challenge Mode quests
Your teleports and transmog unlocks are character-specific, but can be reclaimed if lost.
Quick Reference Table
- Gear - Prioritize socketed ilv 463 pieces
- Professions - Engineering + alchemy
- Group Composition - BrM + Disc + Ele/FrostMage/Surv/Destro
- Addons - DBM, GTFO, Leatrix Plus, WeakAuras
- Route Planning - Prewatch runs and practice each pull
- Rewards - Transmogs, Teleports, Mounts, Valor, Prestige
Conclusion
Earning Gold in MoP Classic Challenge Modes is the ultimate test of PvE coordination and mechanical mastery. With the correct setup, planning and execution, you’ll unlock timeless rewards and cement your place in Classic history.