The Order of the Cloud Serpent in Mists of Pandaria Classic offers one of the most vibrant and rewarding reputation experiences in the game. It lets players raise their very own mystical cloud serpent from egg to sky-born combat partner, and hitting Exalted with this faction teaches the unique riding skill Cloud Serpent Riding, which enables players to mount and ride these majestic creatures. As a bonus, players receive a free flying mount tailored to their original egg choice: Azure, Golden, or Jade. This reputation track is a must for flying mount collectors, jewelcrafters, and completionists alike.

Discovering the Order: Who Are the Cloud Serpent Masters?

The Order of the Cloud Serpent is a deeply respected faction located in The Jade Forest, specifically within the tranquil training grounds of the Arboretum. The Order’s traditions revolve around nurturing baby cloud serpents into adulthood, forming a strong bond between rider and beast that echoes through Pandaria’s flowing skies.

  • Faction Hub: The Arboretum, Jade Forest (~57.6, 44.8)
  • Main NPC: Elder Anli
  • Starting Quest: “Wild Things”
  • Required Level: 90
  • Flying Skill: Cloud Serpent Riding (learned during faction progression)

Getting Started: First Steps on Your Cloud Serpent Journey

Your cloud serpent adventure starts on Windward Isle (~65.4, 31.6), where Instructor Tong introduces you to your egg choices:

  • Azure Egg – Grants a blue-styled Cloud Serpent
  • Jade Egg – Grants a green-themed Cloud Serpent
  • Golden Egg – Grants a radiant golden Cloud Serpent

Your egg choice not only influences your future mount’s appearance but also accompanies you throughout your reputation grind as a companion.

The Heart of the Grind: Reputation Path and Daily Quest System

Initial Story Quests

After you select your egg, you progress through a narrative-driven questline that explores feeding, fighting, bonding, and training your hatchling. These quests help establish your bond and introduce the core dailies that follow.

Daily Quest Categories

  • Combat-Oriented Tasks – Defeat wild beasts or enemy NPCs to protect your serpent
  • Profession-Based Quests – Use Cooking, Fishing, and First Aid to assist the Order
  • Training Exercises – Feed and race your hatchling to improve its growth

Reputation Gained Per Day

  • Standard Daily Quests: ~500–600 rep each
  • Profession Quests (Cooking, etc.): ~125 rep per task

Efficiency First: How to Maximize Rep Gains

Onyx Egg Farming

The most efficient technique to quickly boost your standing with the Order is through collecting Onyx Eggs. Each egg provides a substantial 500 reputation and can be found scattered around Windward Isle. Their indefinite turn-in rewards allow players to grind Exalted in a single day under the right conditions.

Key Tips for Efficient Egg Farming

  • Use minimal graphics settings to better spot eggs (disable ground clutter)
  • Search cliff edges, ruins, and tree-root areas
  • Swap between War Mode ON/OFF to access different phases
  • Farm during off-peak hours to reduce competition

Grand Commendation Benefit

Once you reach Revered, purchase the Grand Commendation of the Order of the Cloud Serpent for 43 gold. This item doubles rep gains across all your account’s characters, making future grinds significantly faster.

Sky Racing Challenges

At Revered, you unlock daily sky races, an engaging series of airborne agility tests.

  • Collect up to 10 boost stacks for 100% increased speed
  • Time-based Aerial Obstacle Challenges
  • Racer progress is cosmetic, not required for progression

Speedrun to the Skies: Is One-Day Exaltation Possible?

Yes, Exalted can be reached in under 24 hours with Preparation, focus, and dedication.

Optimal Plan

  • Map all Onyx Egg spawn points
  • Cycle War Mode settings to phase-hop
  • Stack dailies, fishing/cooking/first aid tasks, and use full bag space
  • Use reputation-increasing buffs like WHEE! from Darkmoon Faire

Exclusive Rewards: Honored to Exalted Tier Unlocked

Reputation Tier Benefits

Honored

  • Mount Milestone: Hatchling visibly grows
  • Patterns: Jade and Sunstone Panther (Jewelcrafting)

Revered

  • Unlock: Sky Racing and new dailies
  • Patterns: Ruby and Sapphire Panther (Jewelcrafting)
  • Boost: Buy the Grand Commendation

Exalted

  • Mounts: Azure, Golden, or Jade Cloud Serpent (free based on egg choice)
  • Purchased Mounts: Other two serpents available for 2,550g each
  • Extra Patterns: Jeweled Onyx Panther recipe (requires other mounts)
  • Tabard: Order of the Cloud Serpent Tabard

Essential Skill: Unlocking Cloud Serpent Riding

Cloud Serpent Riding is a faction-specific ability. To ride a cloud serpent, complete “Riding the Skies” after achieving Exalted status. Without that quest, your serpent remains grounded.

Important: This is not included in regular Azeroth flying skills. It must be earned through the Order alone.

Why Jewelcrafters Should Prioritize This Faction

This faction grants all four panther mount recipes, plus the final Onyx fusion mount, exclusively to Jewelcrafters. Each recipe costs around 170 gold.

  • Materials: Living Steel, Orb of Mystery (20,000g), and high-level gems
  • Panther Mounts: Sunstone, Jade, Ruby, Sapphire → merge into Jeweled Onyx Panther

The Cloud Serpent Experience: Visuals and Prestige

Cloud Serpents are not just mounts. They are a spectacle. With wisps of clouds trailing behind their movements and large, undulating bodies, these creatures define elegance and status in Pandaria.

Available Mount Appearance Options

  • Free: Azure, Golden, or Jade (based on egg)
  • Paid (2,550g each): The two you do not hatch

Frequently Asked Questions: Order of the Cloud Serpent

Where is the Order of the Cloud Serpent located?

They are based at the Arboretum in the Jade Forest at approximately 57.6, 44.8.

What level do I need to interact with the Order?

You must be level 90, which is the maximum level in Mists of Pandaria Classic.

How do I start the Order of the Cloud Serpent questline?

Visit Elder Anli and accept the quest “Wild Things.” Then choose your egg from Instructor Tong on Windward Isle.

Do I need flying to raise a Cloud Serpent?

No flying is required initially. However, Cloud Serpent Riding (a unique skill) must eventually be learned to ride your mount.

What’s the fastest way to gain reputation?

Farming Onyx Eggs on Windward Isle and turning them in repeatedly provides the fastest rep gain.

Can I get all three Cloud Serpent mounts?

Yes. You get one free at Exalted, and the others can be purchased for 2,550 gold each.

What professions help speed up reputation gain?

Cooking, Fishing, and First Aid offer profession-based daily quests that grant bonus reputation.

Is the Cloud Serpent Riding skill account-wide?

No, it must be learned independently per character. However, the Grand Commendation doubles rep gains account-wide.

What do Sky Races reward?

Sky races are primarily for fun and do not provide additional reputation, but they offer bragging rights and add to the immersive experience.

Can I reach Exalted in one day?

Yes, but it requires thorough Onyx Egg farming, efficient questing, and sometimes phase-switching via War Mode.