Top 6 Ways to Level 85–90 in MoP Classic – Fastest Routes & Farming

Leveling from 85 to 90 in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria Classic (Patch 5.0) is the final push to the level cap, unlocking the full splendor of Pandaria’s zones, raids, and PvP. With approximately 65 million XP required in the first patch (pre-5.3 XP reduction), efficiency is key to hitting max level quickly. This MoP Classic Leveling Guide outlines the top 6 ways to level from 85 to 90, covering optimized quest routes, dungeon grinding, island farming, group quests, premades, and alternative methods like pet battles. Designed for solo players, casuals, and min-maxers, this guide includes addons, tips, and strategies to maximize XP per hour in Patch 5.0. For those looking to skip the grind entirely, ExpCarry’s MoP Classic Leveling Boost is the fastest and safest way to reach level 90, letting you dive straight into endgame content.

1. Buy a Professional Leveling Boost from ExpCarry

Optimal Level Range: 85–90
Estimated Time: 8–20 hours
Why It’s Top: The fastest and most hassle-free way to hit level 90 in MoP Classic is to purchase a professional leveling boost from ExpCarry. Their expert boosters use optimized routes, dungeon runs, and XP tricks to power-level your character in as little as 16 hours, tailored to your class and playstyle. With options for self-play or piloted modes, full account security via VPNs, and 24/7 support, ExpCarry ensures a seamless experience. This method eliminates the grind, letting you focus on raids, PvP, or professions. Get your Leveling Boost now. 

How It Works:

• Choose your preferred boost type (self-play or piloted).
• Boosters follow the most efficient WoW Pandaria leveling routes, combining quests, dungeons, and bonus objectives.
• Your character reaches level 90 with gear upgrades and flight paths unlocked, ready for endgame.

Pros:

• Saves 20–40 hours of grinding.
• Customizable to your schedule and class.
• Secure and professional service.

Cons:

• Requires payment.

Tip: Combine with ExpCarry’s gold or gear boosts to jumpstart your endgame progression.

2. Optimized Questing in Pandaria Zones

Optimal Level Range: 85–90
Estimated Time: 25–35 hours
Why It’s Great: Questing is the backbone of leveling in MoP Classic Patch 5.0, offering ~15,000–20,000 XP per quest and immersive storylines. The key is to follow an optimized zone order to minimize travel time and maximize XP. In the first patch, XP requirements are higher (~65M total), so sticking to high-density quest hubs is critical.

Best Zone Route:

• Jade Forest (85–86): Start at Honeydew Village (Horde) or Pearlfin Village (Alliance). Focus on the “Serpent’s Heart” questline (~15,000 XP per quest, ~60 quests total). Avoid slow quests like “The Wayward Dead” (escort) or “The Seal is Broken” (long cutscenes). Time: ~5 hours.
• Valley of the Four Winds (86–87): Head to Halfhill for ~40 quests, including “Chen Stormstout” (~16,000 XP). Pick up “Stormstout Brewery” dungeon quests for bonus XP. Time: ~3 hours.
• Krasarang Wilds (87–88): Focus on Zhu’s Watch for ~30 quests like “Pandaren Prisoners” (~17,000 XP). Avoid southern side quests due to long travel distances. Time: ~2.5 hours.
• Kun-Lai Summit (88–89): Start at Westwind Rest (Horde) or Eastwind Rest (Alliance) for ~35 quests, including “Trials of the White Tiger” (~18,000 XP). Unlock Shado-Pan Monastery quests. Time: ~2.5 hours.
• Townlong Steppes (89–90): Shado-Pan Garrison offers ~35 quests like the “Shado-Pan” chain (~19,000 XP). Finish with Dread Wastes’ Klaxxi quests (~20,000 XP) to hit 90. Time: ~2 hours.

Addons:

• Questie: Tracks quests and objectives, highlighting efficient routes.
• WoW-Pro: Provides step-by-step quest guidance for fastest completion.
• Speedy AutoLoot: Speeds up looting to reduce downtime.

Tips:

• Log out in inns (e.g., Halfhill) for 150% rested XP (~1,000 XP per mob).
• Prioritize main story quests over side quests for higher XP rewards.
• Stack XP buffs like Darkmoon Faire’s 10% XP boost (available biweekly via Mystic Mage teleport).
• Monks can use Zen Pilgrimage at level 20+ to access Peak of Serenity for a daily 50% XP buff (Enlightenment).

3. Dungeon Grinding with Premade Groups

Optimal Level Range: 85–90
Estimated Time: 15–20 hours (with premade group)
Why It’s Great: Dungeon grinding is one of the fastest ways to level 85–90 in MoP Classic for tanks and healers due to instant queue times. In Patch 5.0, dungeons like Temple of the Jade Serpent offer ~25,000–30,000 XP per run (15–20 minutes) plus quest XP (~10,000–15,000 per dungeon). Premade groups with friends or guildmates eliminate queue times for DPS and ensure faster clears.

Best Dungeons:

• Temple of the Jade Serpent (85–87): ~25,000 XP per run, quests like “Return of the Jade Serpent” (~10,000 XP).
• Stormstout Brewery (86–88): ~27,000 XP per run, quests like “Stormstout’s Brew” (~12,000 XP).
• Shado-Pan Monastery (87–90): ~30,000 XP per run, quests like “Blade of the Shado-Pan” (~15,000 XP).
• Mogu’shan Palace (87–90): ~30,000 XP per run, quests like “Mogu’s Power” (~15,000 XP).

Addons:

• Dungeon Finder Helper: Tracks dungeon quests and rewards.
• Deadly Boss Mods (DBM): Simplifies boss mechanics for faster clears.
• Pawn: Identifies gear upgrades from dungeon drops.

Tips:

• Tanks/healers should spam dungeons for 30–50% faster XP/hour than questing.
• DPS players should form premade groups to avoid 10–20 minute queue times.
• Always pick up dungeon quests at the entrance for bonus XP.
• Use city tabards (e.g., Stormwind, Orgrimmar) for reputation gains, unlocking cheap bags at revered.
• Stack rested XP in inns for ~1,000 XP per elite mob kill.

4. Island Farming (Mob Grinding in High-Density Areas)

Optimal Level Range: 87–90
Estimated Time: 20–30 hours
Why It’s Great: Farming mobs in high-density areas is a solid supplement to questing, especially when quests are contested or during dungeon queue wait times. In Patch 5.0, Pandaria’s zones have dense mob spawns ideal for grinding, offering ~500–1,000 XP per kill with rested XP. Island-like areas with fast respawns are particularly efficient.

Best Farming Spots:

• Jade Forest (85–86): Hozen in Bamboo Wilds near Dawn’s Blossom (~500 XP per kill, high respawn rate).
• Valley of the Four Winds (86–87): Virmen in fields near Halfhill (~600 XP per kill).
• Krasarang Wilds (87–88): Saurok near Anglers Wharf (~700 XP per kill).
• Kun-Lai Summit (88–89): Yaungol at Fire Camp Ordo (~800 XP per kill).
• Townlong Steppes (89–90): Mantid swarms near Gao-Ran Battlefront (~900 XP per kill).

Addons:

• RareScanner: Alerts you to rare mobs for ~5,000 XP per kill and loot.
• NPCScan: Tracks rare spawn locations for quick farming.
• Tidy Plates: Helps manage multiple mob pulls for AoE grinding.

Tips:

• Best for AoE classes like Hunters, Warlocks, or Windwalker Monks due to high mob density.
• Combine with gathering professions (Herbalism, Mining) for ~200 XP per node.
• Kill rare mobs (e.g., Kordrosch in Jade Forest) for ~5,000 XP and gear.
• Use Elixir of Ancient Knowledge (dropped by Krol the Blade in Dread Wastes with a high-level friend) for a 300% XP boost for 15 minutes (level 84+).

5. Group Questing with Premades

Optimal Level Range: 85–90
Estimated Time: 18–22 hours
Why It’s Great: Group questing with a premade team of 2–5 players speeds up quest completion by splitting tasks and handling elite mobs or group quests. In Patch 5.0, many Pandaria quests (e.g., “Challenge at the Temple of the Red Crane” in Krasarang) are designed for groups, offering ~20,000 XP. Premades also make contested quest areas less competitive.

Best Group Quest Areas:

• Jade Forest (85–86): Group quests like “The Sha of Doubt” (~15,000 XP) near Serpent’s Heart.
• Krasarang Wilds (87–88): “Challenge at the Temple of the Red Crane” (~20,000 XP) unlocks Vale of Eternal Blossoms access.
• Kun-Lai Summit (88–89): “Trials of the White Tiger” (~18,000 XP) involves group-friendly elites.
• Townlong Steppes (89–90): Shado-Pan quests like “The Mantid Threat” (~19,000 XP) feature group objectives.

Addons:

• Questie: Coordinates group quest objectives for faster completion.
• Details!: Tracks group DPS/healing to optimize pulls.
• WeakAuras: Customizes alerts for group quest progress.

Tips:

• Form a group with a tank or healer for faster elite kills.
• Split collection quests (e.g., “Collect 10 Hozen Spears”) among party members for efficiency.
• Use guild or friend groups to avoid random player conflicts.
• Stack with Darkmoon Faire’s 10% XP buff or Joyous Journeys (50% XP, if active in pre-patch).

6. Pet Battle Farming

Optimal Level Range: 85–90
Estimated Time: 25–30 hours
Why It’s Great: Pet battles are an underrated but viable leveling method in MoP Classic Patch 5.0. Trainer battles in Pandaria (e.g., Aki the Chosen in Jade Forest) reward ~5,000 XP per fight, with daily lockouts. This method is ideal for downtime or as a change of pace from questing/dungeons. A strong pet team can make this surprisingly efficient.

Best Pet Battle Trainers:

• Jade Forest (85–86): Aki the Chosen (~5,000 XP, near Dawn’s Blossom).
• Valley of the Four Winds (86–87): Hyuna of the Shrines (~5,500 XP, near Halfhill).
• Krasarang Wilds (87–88): Mo’ruk (~6,000 XP, near Zhu’s Watch).
• Kun-Lai Summit (88–89): Yon the Courageous (~6,500 XP, near One Keg).
• Townlong Steppes (89–90): Seeker Zusshi (~7,000 XP, near Shado-Pan Garrison).

Addons:

• Rematch: Manages pet teams for quick swaps.
• PetTracker: Tracks trainer locations and battle status.
• Battle Pet BreedID: Optimizes pet selection for faster wins.

Tips:

• Build a team with level 25 rare-quality pets (e.g., Anubisath Idol, Mechanical Pandaren Dragonling).
• Chain daily trainer battles for ~50,000 XP/hour with a strong setup.
• Combine with questing during travel to maximize efficiency.
• Visit Darkmoon Faire for pet battle XP buffs (if active).

General Tips and Recommendations

• Class Choice: Hunters, Warlocks, and Monks (especially Windwalker) level fastest due to AoE damage, pets, or mobility. Monks can access the daily 50% XP buff via Zen Pilgrimage.
• Heirlooms: Equip heirlooms (shoulders, chest, weapon) for 10–20% XP boosts. Purchase with gold or Justice Points from guild vendors.
• Rested XP: Always log out in inns (e.g., Dawn’s Blossom, Halfhill) for 150% XP on mob kills, stacking up to 15 bubbles.
• Avoid Inefficient Zones: Skip Isle of Thunder or Vale of Eternal Blossoms (pre-87) due to low XP returns and high travel times.
• Flight Paths: Unlock all flight paths (e.g., Dawn’s Blossom, Shado-Pan Garrison) to reduce travel time, as flying mounts are locked until level 90.
• Professions: Herbalism and Mining provide ~200 XP per node, ideal during questing or farming.
• XP Buffs: Stack Darkmoon Faire’s 10% XP buff, Joyous Journeys (50% XP, if active), and Elixir of Ancient Knowledge for maximum gains.

Conclusion

Leveling from 85 to 90 in Mists of Pandaria Classic Patch 5.0 is a thrilling journey through Pandaria’s lush zones, but the high XP requirements demand efficiency. This Top 6 Ways to Level 85–90 guide provides a roadmap for all playstyles, from optimized questing and dungeon grinding to island farming, group quests, and pet battles. For the ultimate shortcut, ExpCarry’s MoP Classic Leveling Boost delivers level 90 in as little as 16 hours, saving you from the grind. Whether you’re a solo quester, dungeon spammer, or pet battle enthusiast, these strategies, paired with the right addons and buffs, will get you to max level fast. Dive into Pandaria, conquer the grind, and prepare for epic endgame adventures!