Leveling Battle Pets through Trainer Quests in Pandaria, A Curated Collection of Strategies

By acaciajones Last Updated: 2020/12/29 Changelog Patch: 9.0.2

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Introductioncurrent strategyfirst twoTime commitment
50 minutesBattle Pet XPFabled Pandaren Pet Supplies

With a pet treat (50% bonus) plus Safari Hat (10% bonus), the pet XP ranges from 5800 to 6160 for trainers, and gives 7480 for Pandaren Spirit matches (except Thundering, which gave 5800 for a level 1 pet). With this bonus, a pet can go from level 1 to 25 in four matches.

With Lesser Pet Treat (25% bonus) and Safari Hat, a level 1 pet goes to level 25 in five matches.

During "Sign of the Critter" week, and with the safari hat and Lesser Pet Treat buffs, a level 1 pet will get to level 18 in one fight; a level 16 pet will be one segment short of level 25 in one fight.

Pet LineupJump to top

Anubisath Idol

Emerald Proto-Whelp (P/P)

Rapana Whelk (H/B)

Darkmoon Zeppelin

Darkmoon Tonk

Emperor Crab (P/P)

Notes on Anubisath IdolHelpful ResourcesBattle RotationBattle StrategiesThundering Pandaren Spirit/way Kun-Lai Summit 64.8 93.6thulsadoom

Trainer/Spirit

Approx Damage Carry Might Receive

Carry Pet

Your Team

Rapana Whelk (211) H/B
Darkmoon Zeppelin (122)
Level Pet/Elekk (level 1 okay. It should take no damage)

Notes:

There is no need to swap the leveling pet into the fight. Using this strategy, the last spell the Zeppelin will cast is Explode, killing the last enemy pet, and leaving the leveling pet victorious.

Pandaren Earth Spirit

Dive

Acidic Goo

Absorb x 3 (until Dive is off cool-down.)

Dive (Earth Spirit should die after second Dive.)

Sludgy

Acidic Goo

Absorb x 2

Acidic Goo (the rest of the fight goes easier if this is cast.)

You might get one more Absorb off, but usually the Whelk dies here.

Bring out Zeppelin, cast Missile till Sludgy is dead.

Darnak the Tunneler

Missile

Decoy

Missile x3

Explode.

Courageous Yon/way Kun-Lai Summit 35.8 73.6KisoMinamoto

Your Team

Notes:

The Emerald Proto-Whelp (EPW) should die against Bleat. If RNG is favorable, you can actually kill all three pets with the EPW. Don't. It's important to let EPW die so you can bring in your carry pet, then swap out immediately with the Idol. This way the carry pet takes zero damage.

Piqua

Emerald Bite

Emerald Presence

Emerald Bite x 2-3
until Piqua dies

Lapin

Emerald Presence

Proto-Strike

Emerald Bite x 2-3
until Lapin dies

vs. Bleat

Emerald Bite until the Emerald Proto-Whelp dies (see above note).
Bring in carry pet
Swap for Anubisath Idol and follow priority

Spell Priority for the Idol against Bleat

Deflection when Bleat has the Chew buff.
Sandstorm when off cooldown (recently (20201130), Bleat will die on the first cast of Sandstorm).
Crush as filler.

Burning Pandaren Spirit/way Townlong Steppes 57.0 42.2KisoMinamotoothers

Your Team

Anubisath Idol (111)
Level Pet/Elekk (low level okay, but not level 1. It will take 200-500 damage, depending on RNG)
Emerald Proto-Whelp (P/P) (221)

Notes:

Use Deflection when Crimson uses Takeoff
Using Sandstorm will provide additional damage and mitigate damage against the backline pets.
Use Deflection when the Pandaren Fire Spirit has Conflagrate off cooldown.

Crimson

Sandstorm

Pass. (Crimson will be out of range)

Deflection (See above notes)

Crush x 3

Repeat above sequence until Crimson is dead

Pandaren Fire Spirit

Deflection (See above notes)

Crush/Sandstorm x 4

Recast Sandstorm the first time after the Immolate DOT has been applied, but you don't want it active by the time the Emerald Proto-Whelp attacks Glowy.

Repeat until Pandaren Fire Spirit dies

Glowy

Crush until Idol dies

Bring in carry pet

Swap for Emerald Proto-Whelp

Emerald Presence

Emerald Bite x 2-4, until Glowy dies.

Seeker Zusshi/way Townlong Steppes 36.2 52.2KisoMinamoto

Your Team

Anubisath Idol (111)
Level Pet/Elekk (llevel 1 okay)
Emerald Proto-Whelp (P/P) (221)

Notes:

Use Deflection the round after Diamond casts Frost Nova, when Howling Blast is off cooldown.
Don't kill Skimmer with your Emerald Proto-Whelp.

vs. Diamond

Sandstorm
Deflection (See above notes)
Crush x 3
Follow priority until Diamond is dead

Spell Priority

Deflection when off cooldown
Sandstorm when available
Fill with Crush

vs. Mollus
There are two possibilities, depending on if the Idol is rooted.

I. If Diamond dies and the Idol is still rooted with frost nova

Crush until Mollus dives
Deflection
Switch to Emerald Proto-Whelp
Emerald Presence
Emerald Bite x 2
Proto-Strike
Follow Emerald Proto-Whelp vs. Mollus priority

II. If Diamond dies and the Idol is not rooted

Switch to Emerald Proto-Whelp
Proto-Strike
Emerald Presence
Follow Emerald Proto-Whelp vs. Mollus priority

Spell Priority, Emerald Proto-Whelp vs. Mollus

Proto-Strike when off cooldown
Emerald Presence when one-turn left on buff
Emerald Bite as filler
until Mollus is dead.

Skimmer

Emerald Bite until Emerald Proto-Whelp dies. (See above notes)

Bring in carry pet

Swap for Anubisath Idol

Remaining Priority
Deflection when Skimmer has the Pump buff
Sandstorm
Crush as filler
until Skimmer dies.

Wastewalker Shu/way Dread Wastes 55.0 37.6mzBKworm

Your Team

Anubisath Idol (111)
Emperor Crab (P/P) (222)
Level Pet/Elekk (not level 1, should be high enough to hit for ~200-400, in case RNG is not favorable)

Notes:

Sandstorm was buffed going into Shadowlands, which makes this fight both good and bad.
Use Deflection when whirlpool countdown is 1, unless you're about to kill Crusher, then soak whirlpool to save Deflection for the first round of Pounder when it casts Sandstorm.
And, if RNG is with you, the last whirlpool can be deflected on the first round against Pounder.
Surge really shines in this fight, since it always goes first.
Don't kill Mutilator with your Emperor Crab.

vs. Crusher

Crush
Sandstorm
Crush
Deflection (See above notes)
Crush x 2-3
if Crusher is still alive, follow priority until Crusher is dead

Spell Priority

Use deflection to avoid whirlpools (except, see above notes)
Cast sandstorm when off cooldown
Fill with Crush

Pounder

Deflection

Soak last whirlpool, if needed

Switch to Emperor Crab

Whirlpool

Surge

Healing Wave

Surge x 2-3
until Pounder dies

Mutilator

Whirlpool when off cooldown

Surge until Emperor Crab dies (see above notes)

Bring in carry pet

Swap for Anubisath Idol

Sandstorm

Crush
until Mutilator is dies.

If you have really bad RNG, the carry pet will need to cast one or two spells to kill Mutilator

Flowing Pandaren Spirit/way Dread Wastes 61.2 87.6KisoMinamoto

Your Team

Level Pet/Elekk (needs at least 700HP to survive)
Anubisath Idol (111)
Emerald Proto-Whelp (P/P) (211)

Notes:

Since this fight starts with the carry pet, it doesn't matter if the Idol kills all three opponents
Use Deflection when whirlpool countdown is 1, except ...
when having to choose to dodge whirlpools or geysers, geysers hit harder.
If Tiptoe only casts Tidal Waves, the Idol should make it to the Water Spirit, but the backline pets might take significant damage, even with mitigation from Sandstorm.
If Tipetoe casts Water Jet, the Idol will quickly lose health

vs. Marley

Attack with Carry pet
Switch to Anubisath Idol
Deflection (See above notes)
Sandstorm
Crush x 1-2
Follow priority until Marley is dead

Spell Priority

Deflection when there is 1-turn left on Whirlpool debuff
Sandstorm when available
Fill with Crush

Tiptoe

Sandstorm when available

Deflection if needed to avoid whirlpools.

Fill with Crush

If the Idol dies, switch to Emerald Proto-Whelp

Ancient Blessing as needed

Emerald Bite
until Tiptoe dies.

Pandaren Water Spirit

Sandstorm when available

Deflection if needed to avoid geysers (see above note).

fill with Crush

If the Idol dies, switch to Emerald Proto-Whelp

Ancient Blessing as needed

Proto-Strike when there is one turn left on Geyser (see above note).

fill with Emerald Bite
until Water Spirit dies.

Mo'ruk/way Krasarang Wilds 62.2 45.8KisoMinamoto

Your Team

Emerald Proto-Whelp (P/P) (222)
Level Pet/Elekk (llevel 1 okay)
Anubisath Idol (111)

Notes:

The fight against Woodcarver is exact. Any deviation is an unwise choice.
If RNG is favorable, you might be able to kill Needleback with your EPW. Don't.

vs. Woodcarver

Emerald Bite

Then repeat this exact sequence:

until Woodcarver dies.

Spell Priority

The overall fight is far easier if you follow that exact sequence.

vs. Lightstalker

Emerald Presence
Emerald Bite
until Lightstalker dies

Notes, Emerald Proto-Whelp vs. Lightstalker:

You want the EPW to make it to Needleback, so depending on how the previous fight went, you might want to use one Emerald Dream toward the beginning of this fight.
Make sure Emerald Presence is refreshed when 1 round is left, unless you're going to kill it w/o dying.

vs. Needleback

Emerald Bite until your Emerald Proto-Whelp dies.
If you aren't using PetTracker, start counting the cooldown of Needleback's Headbutt, which is 4 rounds.
Switch to Carry pet
switch to Anubisath Idol
Follow Anubisath Idol priority until Needleback is dead.

Spell Priority, Anubisath Idol vs Needleback

Deflection when Needleback has Headbutt off cooldown.
Sandstorm when off cooldown
Crush as a filler

Farmer Nishi/way Valley of the Four Winds 46.0 43.6tale

Your Team

Anubisath Idol (111)
Level Pet/Elekk (need ~250 - 500HP)
Darkmoon Tonk (111)

Notes:

If RNG is favorable, Siren will only cast one Sunlight, which causes the greatest damage to the backline pets. However, if you're getting a lot of misses on that fight, your Carry pet will need to survive at least two casts of Sunlight.

vs. Siren

restart from step 1 until Siren is dead.

Fight Notes:

If you're about to kill Siren and you have a choice between Sandstorm and Crush (i.e. both will kill it), use Sandstorm so (1) it is up at the beginning of the next fight, and (2) the battle ends faster.

vs. Toothbreaker

If Sandstorm isn't up, cast it. Otherwise, skip to step 2.
Switch to Carry pet
Swap back to Idol
Pass until Toothbreaker emerges
When Toothbreaker emerges, cast Deflection
Crush x 4
Sandstorm
Go back to step #4
until Toothbreaker dies.

Fight Notes:

Sandstorm is cast after Crush and right before Toothbreaker submerges to allow full damage from Crush, and also apply damage from Sandstorm.
If you're about to kill Toothbreaker and you have a choice between Sandstorm and Crush (i.e. both will kill it), use Crush so you don't have to worry about reduce hit chance in the next fight.

vs. Brood of Mothallus

Crush
Pass
Deflection
Switch to Tonk
If Sandstorm is still up, cast Missile, otherwise
Shock and Awe
If Brood of Mothallus is <1000 HP,
Ion Cannon
Otherwise, cast Missile until it's below 1k HP

Fight Notes:

If all goes well, sandstorm will be gone by the time your Tonk enters the fight. If not and things go awry, know that Brood of Mothallus heals when Consume is cast, so time your Ion Cannon appropriately.

Aki the Chosen/way Vale of Eternal Blossoms 31.2 74.2KisoMinamoto

Your Team

Level Pet/Elekk (need ~250 - 500HP)
Anubisath Idol (111)
Emerald Proto-Whelp (P/P) (211)

Notes:

If RNG is poor, Chirrup will crit and kill a level 1 pet on the first round. Other poor RNG can cause both the Idol and EPW to die, but these adaptions can help reduce that chance.
If RNG is good, the Idol can kill all three pets in this battle.

vs. Chirrup

Attack with your Carry pet
Bring in the Idol
Sandstorm
Crush until Chirrup dies.

Fight Notes:

If you're about to kill Chirrup and you have a choice between Sandstorm and Crush (i.e. both will kill it), use Crush so Sandstorm is available next fight.

vs. Stormlash

Deflection
Sandstorm
Crush until Stormlash dies.

Fight Notes:

Stormlash will cast Call Lightning on their first round. Deflect Call Lightning, then cast Sandstorm to change the weather.

vs. Whiskers

Idol Priority

Deflection on second round, and anytime after that when Whiskers Dives
Sandstorm when off cooldown
Crush until Whiskers or the Idol dies.

Emerald Proto-Whelp priority

Proto-Strike when Dive is off cooldown, or first round of fight.
Ancient Blessing as needed
fill with Emerald Bite until Whiskers is dead.

Fight Notes:

Whiskers will always dive on the first round.
Whiskers also likes to cast Survival the round before it dives, that's usually a good time to heal up if the EPW is out.
Fun fact, when the Idol hits, it still gets the Humanoid heal, even if Whiskers has the survival buff.

Whispering Pandaren Spirit/way The Jade Forest 28.8 36.0KisoMinamoto

Your Team

Anubisath Idol (111)
Level Pet/Elekk (Level 1 okay)
Emerald Proto-Whelp (P/P) (222)

vs. Dusty
Idol Priority

Deflection when off cooldown.
Sandstorm when off colldown
Crush as filler.

vs. Whispertail

Crush until Idol dies.
Bring in Carry pet
Switch to Emerald Proto-Whelp
Emerald Presence
Emerald Bite until Whispertail dies
if Whispertail has <300hp left, rebuff Emerald Presence and if needed, heal with Emerald Dream

vs. Pandaren Air Spirit
Emerald Proto-Whelp priority

Emerald Presence when there is one turn left on buff
Emerald Dream if they have less than half their HP
Emerald Bite as filler

Hyuna of the Shrines /way The Jade Forest 48.0 54.0KisoMinamoto

Your Team

Emerald Proto-Whelp (P/P) (221)
Level Pet/Elekk (level 1 okay. It should take no damage)
Anubisath Idol (111)

Notes:

This battle is pretty straight-forward, except Dor.

Skyshaper

Emerald Presence

Emerald Bite x 2-3
until Skyshaper dies

Fangor

Emerald Bite

Proto-Strike

Emerald Bite x 2-3
until Fangor or your Emerald Proto Whelp dies

Switch to Anubisath Idol

Sandstorm

Crush
until Fangor dies

vs. Dor the Wall

Fight Notes: Dor the Wall has one attack on a four-round cooldown: Headbutt. It has a 25% stun, so it should always be blocked.

Round 1

Dor will always cast Headbutt on the first around.
If your Emerald Proto-Whelp is still alive, let Dor hit with Headbutt.
If your Idol is in the fight, cast Deflection

Round 2

Bring/swap in Level pet

Round 3

Bring in Anubisath Idol and follow priority

Priority

If Headbut and Healing Wave come off cooldown at the same time, cast Crush
Deflection when Headbutt comes off cooldown by itself
Sandstorm if Dor is < 700 HP
Crush as filler

Acknowledgementsguide layout

Comments

Comment by PrincessZion

Very nice guide and put together well. Thank-you for pulling all the information together into an easy to follow format. It must have taken some time. I also like your recognition of others by mentioning and providing links to them. Five stars!

Comment by Phaelien

Just going to add the entire list of trainers in one place for anyone that wants to paste them in as a group:
/way #379 64.8 93.6 Thundering Pandaren Spirit
/way #379 35.8 73.6 Courageous Yon
/way #388 57.0 42.2 Burning Pandaren Spirit
/way #388 36.2 52.2 Seeker Zusshi
/way #422 55.0 37.6 Wastewalker Shu
/way #422 61.2 87.6 Flowing Pandaren Spirit
/way #418 62.2 45.8 Mo'ruk
/way #376 46.0 43.6 Farmer Nishi
/way #390 31.2 74.2 Aki the Chosen
/way #371 28.8 36.0 Whispering Pandaren Spirit
/way #371 48.0 54.0 Hyuna of the Shrines

Comment by Phaelien

On Farmer Nishi, the Darkmoon Tonk can be replaced with a Menagerie Custodian (1, 1, 2) which is easier and quicker to obtain (since it's not dependent on the DMF being up, and you can do runs on alts every week). You're looking to get a H/P breed if you want to match the Darkmoon Tonk, but in my experience, it shouldn't matter too much.

Comment by free2bmenow

Thundering Pandered Spirit Fight: I have done this daily twice on consecutive days. In both cases, with the hatchling summoned and on the team in slot 3. It received no level experience. Is it possible that it did not occur because it wasn't used in the battle strategy?

Leveling Battle Pets through Trainer Quests in Pandaria, A Curated Collection of Strategies

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