Why Grind Shado-Pan Rep?
The Shado-Pan are Pandaria's elite protectors, fighting against Sha corruption from their base in Townlong Steppes. You'll start at Neutral reputation with them, but the grind is worth it for some seriously good rewards.
This faction gives you access to the best weapon enchanting formulas in the game, three different tiger mounts, and some slick transmog gear. Plus, if you're going for achievements, you'll need them for the "Shado-Master" title.
Who Needs This Rep
Three tiger mounts await at Exalted, each with different colors and costs. The red one will set you back 2,500 gold.
The Replica Shado-Pan Helmets look great across all armor types. Clean, distinctive designs that stand out.
The "Shado-Master" meta-achievement requires doing dailies in very specific ways. It's challenging but rewarding.
Rep Breakdown
Here's what you're looking at:
| Reputation Level | Rep Required | Total Rep |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral to Friendly | 3,000 rep | 3,000 |
| Friendly to Honored | 6,000 rep | 9,000 |
| Honored to Revered | 12,000 rep | 21,000 |
| Revered to Exalted | 21,000 rep | 42,000 |
The quest chain gets you to Honored. After that, it's daily quests all the way to Exalted. You'll earn about 1,350 rep per day from dailies.
Getting Started
Finding the Hub
The Shado-Pan Garrison in Townlong Steppes is your home base. Everything happens here: dailies, quartermaster, companion NPCs. It's in the southwestern part of the zone.
Requirements
You can start at level 87 with "The Defense of Shado-Pan Fallback" in Kun-Lai Summit. But first you need to finish "Call Out Their Leader" in Binan Village. Most of the good stuff opens up at level 88 when you can access Townlong Steppes properly.
The Complete Quest Chain
Kun-Lai Summit Intro (Level 87+)
Your first taste of Shado-Pan action starts in Kun-Lai Summit:
Early Missions:
- "The Defense of Shado-Pan Fallback" (75 rep): Kill 15 Sha-Infested Yaungol
- "Turnabout" (75 rep): Grab 5 Blind Rage Essences from Firebough Nook
- "Unmasking the Yaungol" (100 rep): Lure Kobai into a trap, steal his mask, then fight the resulting boss
Winter's Blossom Arc:
- "To Winter's Blossom" (25 rep): Meet Lin Silentstrike
- "A Line Unbroken" (75 rep): Pay respects to fallen Shado-Pan masters
- "Honor, Even in Death" (75 rep): Clear out 12 Kun-Lai Scavengers
Ox Gate Defense:
- "To the Wall!" (25 rep): Take a kite up to the Ox Gate
- "Off the Wall!" (75 rep): Kill 12 Osul archers or warriors
- "A Terrible Sacrifice" (75 rep): Collect 6 Barrels of Yaungol Fire Oil
Big Finish:
- "Lao-Chin's Gambit" (25 rep): Team up with Lao-Chin
- "Do a Barrel Roll!" (75 rep): Roll explosive kegs downhill to destroy siege weapons and 50 invaders
- "Finish This!" (100 rep): Complete the battle for the Ox Gate
Monastery Access (Level 88+)
Three quick quests get you into the Shado-Pan Monastery:
- "Where are My Reinforcements?" (25 rep): Find Ban Bearheart
- "Unbelievable!" (100 rep): Get past the monastery guards
- "Into the Monastery" (25 rep): Meet Ban inside
Daily Quest Deep Dive
How the Rotation Works
Only one quest giver is active each day, rotating between three different campaigns. Each day gives you 5 quests worth 270 rep each (1,350 total). You can also pick one companion to help speed things up.
Ban Bearheart - Fighting Mogu (Shan'ze Dao)
When Ban's active, you're heading north to deal with Mogu threats. The quests follow three different storylines that rotate:
Cloud Serpent Operations:
Focus on protecting cloud serpent eggs and dealing with sprite problems. Five quests including "Egg Rescue!" and "Little Hatchlings."
Artifact Recovery:
More combat-heavy, dealing with Mogu magic and recovering ancient items like onyx hearts.
Archaeological Cleanup:
Handling undead complications from Mogu grave robbing, including "When The Dead Speak."
Ling of the Six Pools - Mantid Campaign (Sra'vess)
Head west to fight mantid with stealth tactics. You get Wu Kao Camouflage buff for these missions.
Mission Types:
- "A Morale Victory" or "Fumigation": Disrupt mantid operations
- "Destroy the Siege Weapons!" or "Friends, Not Food!": Equipment destruction or rescue missions
- "Sra'vess Wetwork": Stealth elimination work
- "The Bigger They Come...": Take down large targets
- High-value elimination: Either "Target of Opportunity: Sra'thik Hivelord" or "Sra'thik Swarmlord"
Master Snowdrift - Yaungol Campaign (Eastern Areas)
Direct combat against yaungol forces with Blackguard Protection buff for survivability.
Standard Missions:
- "The Deadtalker Cipher": Intelligence gathering
- "Assault Deadtalker's Plateau": Direct assault mission
- "Assault Fire Camp Gai-Cho": Camp destruction
- "The Enemy of My Enemy... Is Still My Enemy!": Complex politics
- "Spirit Dust": Collect mystical components
- "Uruk!" or "Cheng Bo!": Elite target elimination
Unlocking Companions
You start with one companion per quest giver. At Honored, you get the second. At Revered, the third unlocks. Getting all 9 companions gives you the "Proven Strength" achievement.
Before companions help with dailies, you need to beat them in the Challenger's Ring. Think of it as a job interview.
Other Ways to Get Rep
One-Time Sources
Your first kill drops "Claw of Anger," which starts a quest worth 500 rep. You also get to pick from several ilvl 476 boots.
Rare drop from Scritch in Kun-Lai Summit. Gives 1,000 rep to multiple factions including Shado-Pan. Single use with a 7-day cooldown before you can use another one.
The Game-Changer: Grand Commendation
Rewards Worth Getting
Where to Shop
Rushi the Fox is your quartermaster at (48.9, 70.6) in the Shado-Pan Garrison. Look for the fire in the main camp.
Honored Rewards
Fun Stuff:
- Stack of Wooden Boards (10g): Destroyable for martial arts display
- Stack of Bamboo (25g): Same concept, different material
- Stack of Stone Blocks (50g): Show off your strength
Various cloaks and trinkets are also available, though costs vary depending on your source.
Revered Rewards (The Big Ones)
These become available with the weekly reset after Mogu'shan Vaults opens, not immediately at Revered.
Multiple helmet options across all armor types are also available at this level.
Exalted Rewards (The Crown Jewels)
Tiger Mount Collection
Cosmetics:
- Shado-Pan Tabard (10g): Show your faction pride
- Replica Shado-Pan Helmet collection: Distinctive looks for every armor type
The Shado-Master Achievement
This meta-achievement requires mastering every aspect of Shado-Pan dailies. Completing it gives you the "Shado-Master" title.
What You Need
Core Requirements:
- "Defender of Gods": Finish the "Surprise Attack!" finale
- "Shado-Pan": Hit Exalted reputation
Daily Mastery Challenges:
- "Know Your Role": Complete Blackguard dailies without taking any damage
- "Getting Around with the Shado-Pan": Do 15 dailies with each of the 9 companions (135 total)
- "Loner and a Rebel": Complete each daily set solo without leaving Townlong Steppes
Combat Feats:
- "Dog Pile": Kill 10 Shado-Pan Trainees in 10 seconds
- "Proven Strength": Unlock all 9 companions
- "Silent Assassin": Complete Wu Kao dailies killing only required mantid (no extras)
Additional Stuff:
- "Shado-Pan Monastery: Gold": Complete Challenge Mode with Gold rating
- "Settle Down, Bro": Kill Sha of Anger
Pro Tips for Achievements
- "Know Your Role": Use ranged DPS for safer positioning
- "Getting Around": Plan for about 45 days of dailies
- "Silent Assassin": Count every kill carefully
- Track progress with addon or spreadsheet
- Not tracking companion usage properly
- Taking unnecessary damage on role challenges
- Killing extra mantid during stealth missions
- Forgetting about RNG rotation delays
Timeline and Efficiency
Phase-by-Phase Approach
Blast through the storyline for easy Honored rep. Start dailies as soon as you reach the garrison. Begin unlocking companions through the Challenger's Ring.
Daily grind time. About 9 days without rep bonuses. Buy that Grand Commendation the moment you hit Revered.
With the commendation doubling your gains, you're looking at about 8 more days. Start planning which mounts you want based on your gold situation.
Time Investment
Daily Commitment
Total Timeline:
About 17 days of dailies without bonuses, or 14 days total if you use the Grand Commendation from Revered onward.
Achievement hunting adds significant time for the specific requirements, especially "Getting Around with the Shado-Pan."
Cost Analysis
| Category | Item | Cost | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | Grand Commendation | Varies | High |
| Essential | Enchanting formulas (3) | 120g total | High |
| Mounts | All three tiger mounts | 4,500g combined | Medium |
| Cosmetic | Transmog gear | Various costs | Low |
| Fun | Utility items | Minimal cost | Low |
Advanced Strategies
Companion Optimization
Optimal Companion Usage by Role
Tanks should prioritize DPS companions for faster clears, while DPS classes can choose based on survival needs.
Efficiency Tips
- Learn the patrol patterns for stealth missions
- Use movement abilities between quest objectives
- Group up enemies for AoE whenever possible
- Pre-position for daily boss spawns
- Keep repair costs low with proper gear maintenance
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Some achievements like "Getting Around with the Shado-Pan" require specific companion usage tracking. Use an addon like Overachiever or manually track your progress. Server transfers can sometimes reset progress, so screenshot your achievements regularly.
Check your reputation level - you need at least Friendly to access dailies. Also verify you've completed the prerequisite storyline in Kun-Lai Summit. Daily quests reset at server time, not your local time.
You must defeat each companion in the Challenger's Ring before they'll assist you. Check if the right quest giver is active for your desired companion type. Some companions are only available at higher reputation levels.
Alternative Reputation Methods
Weekly Events
Bonus Reputation Opportunities
Mists of Pandaria Timewalking events provide bonus reputation tokens • Check for reputation vendor during event weeks
10% reputation bonus buff from carousel ride • Stacks with other bonuses • Available first week of each month
Guild Bonuses
Final Recommendations
That covers everything you need to know about Shado-Pan reputation. The daily rotation keeps things from getting stale, and the rewards are actually worth the time investment. Just remember to grab that Grand Commendation at Revered to cut your grind time in half.
- Essential enchanting formulas for endgame
- Unique tiger mount collection
- Prestigious "Shado-Master" title
- Varied daily quest content
- Strong transmog options
- Long reputation grind to Exalted
- Complex achievement requirements
- High gold cost for all mounts
- Daily commitment required
- RNG-dependent quest rotations
"The way of the Shado-Pan is not for those who seek glory, but for those who would protect what others cannot."
The Shado-Pan reputation grind represents one of MoP Classic's most rewarding faction experiences. With careful planning, efficient daily completion, and strategic use of reputation bonuses, you'll join the ranks of Pandaria's elite protectors while earning some of the expansion's most coveted rewards. Whether you're after the practical benefits of enchanting formulas or the prestige of tiger mounts, the journey to Exalted status offers both challenge and substantial payoff for dedicated players.