Top 10 Mounts to Farm Before MoP Classic Launch

With Mists of Pandaria Classic just around the corner, it’s prime time to knock out some of those mount farms you’ve been putting off. Whether you’re a collector, a mount speed freak, or just want to show off in Stormwind or Orgrimmar, pre-patch is the perfect window to grind out those iconic rides. Some of these are about to get a whole lot harder—or even unobtainable—once Pandaria officially launches.

Here are the top 10 mounts to farm before Mists of Pandaria Classic goes live, with tips on where to get them, why they matter, and what’s changing soon.

1. Rivendare’s Deathcharger (Baron’s Mount)

Location: Stratholme - Baron Rivendare
Drop Rate: ~1%

You’re not a real Classic player until you’ve done 50 runs of Strat chasing this ghostly undead horse. The Deathcharger is iconic—one of the OG rare mounts. It’s got that clean undead warhorse model, and unlike retail, mounts aren’t a dime a dozen in Classic.

With new content on the horizon, Stratholme runs are going to get pushed aside. Now’s the time to farm it while it’s still relevant and relatively empty.

Why farm it now: Short instance, high nostalgia, and fewer people in old-world dungeons post-MoP.

2. Swift Zulian Panther

Location: Zul'Gurub (Zul'Gurub raid, level 85)
Drop Rate: ~1% (High Priestess Kilnara)

The panther is sleek, fast, and a real flex. It drops from the updated version of Zul’Gurub introduced in Cataclysm-era Classic. Once MoP launches, the ZG meta is going to fade fast, and many players will be moving on to Pandaria zones.

Plus, it’s one of the few mounts that looks good on literally every class and race.

Why farm it now: Fast resets, small instance, and the panther model is just badass.

3. Amani Battle Bear

Location: Zul’Aman (Timed Run Reward)
Drop Rate: Guaranteed if you beat the timer

This one’s a bit more involved. To get the Amani Battle Bear, you have to save all four prisoners in a timed run of Zul’Aman. This means knowing the pulls, having a group, and probably wiping once or twice until you figure out the rhythm.

But the reward? A big, bulky bear mount with drums and armor. It screams old-school prestige. And let’s be real—this one might get nerfed or altered with the MoP dungeon shakeup.

Why farm it now: Guaranteed if done right, but not soloable. Get your crew together before pre-patch is over.

4. Vitreous Stone Drake

Location: The Stonecore (Slabhide)
Drop Rate: ~1%

One of the better-looking drakes from the Cataclysm dungeon set. Slabhide has a beautiful crystalline model that still holds up, even next to MoP’s upcoming Cloud Serpents.

You can solo this on most characters now, and it only takes a few minutes per run. Once people start leveling in Pandaria, Cataclysm dungeons will be ghost towns.

Why farm it now: Easy solo runs, and the drake model still turns heads.

5. Drake of the North Wind

Location: The Vortex Pinnacle (Altairus)
Drop Rate: ~1%

Another sleek Cataclysm dungeon mount, this one’s pure style. The Drake of the North Wind has a blue icy aesthetic and shares animations with other dragon mounts—but fewer people have it.

Vortex Pinnacle has one of the better dungeon layouts for speed runs, and if you’re after multiple mounts, you can pair this with the Vitreous Stone Drake for a quick double-daily route.

Why farm it now: Looks great, fast to farm, and almost nobody remembers it exists.

6. Razzashi Raptor

Location: Zul’Gurub (Bloodlord Mandokir)
Drop Rate: ~1%

The raptor is a classic—vibrant red and fast-feeling. It’s a carryover from the original ZG raid in vanilla, brought back during Cataclysm. If you’re a fan of troll themes or just want something different from the endless wolf/hawkstrider grind, this is for you.

It might not be available forever depending on future dungeon reworks or changes in ZG loot tables.

Why farm it now: Looks unique, and ZG runs are simple once you learn the layout.

7. Onyxian Drake

Location: Onyxia’s Lair (Onyxia)
Drop Rate: ~1%

This is one of the most prestige-feeling mounts in the game—Onyxia’s own model, wings, and color scheme, as a full-size drake you can ride.

It drops from the level 80 version of Onyxia’s Lair, which is soloable by most geared level 85s now. Once MoP lands, players will move on, and raid groups will vanish. It’s also a nice nod to the history of WoW, especially for long-time players.

Why farm it now: Massive cool factor and soloable. Great blend of nostalgia and style.

8. Ashes of Al’ar

Location: Tempest Keep (Kael'thas Sunstrider)
Drop Rate: ~1-2%

You already know this one. The Ashes of Al’ar is probably the most chased mount in all of Classic-era WoW. It’s flashy, iconic, and bright enough to be seen across a zone.

While Tempest Keep is an older raid, it’s still a pain to farm due to Kael’thas’s RP and multi-phase fight. But trust us—it’s 100% worth it.

Why farm it now: MoP has tons of mounts, but none of them are Al’ar. Secure your phoenix.

9. Blue Proto-Drake

Location: Utgarde Pinnacle (Skadi the Ruthless)
Drop Rate: ~1%

Wrath content is old, but this one’s still a stunner. The Blue Proto-Drake has that rugged, savage look that fits perfectly with warrior or death knight aesthetics.

Utgarde Pinnacle is fast and soloable, but Skadi can be annoying due to the harpoon mechanic. That said, it’s still one of the cleanest drake models in the game.

Why farm it now: Great looks, simple run, and no competition before MoP drops.

10. Time-Lost Proto-Drake

Location: Storm Peaks (Rare spawn)
Drop Rate: 100% if you find it

Let’s end with a real grind: the infamous Time-Lost Proto-Drake. This one doesn’t drop from a dungeon or raid—it’s a rare spawn that flies around Storm Peaks with a random path and long respawn timer.

You might need luck, a tracker addon, or a second monitor to pull this off. But if you’re chilling during pre-patch downtime or watching Netflix, camping TLPD is a weirdly relaxing challenge.

Why farm it now: Fewer people in Northrend, and you’ll never find this much downtime once MoP launches.

Honorable Mentions

• Reins of the Raven Lord (Sethekk Halls): Still one of the best ground mounts in the game.

• Fiery Warhorse’s Reins (Karazhan): A rare but beautiful drop with real old-school flavor.

• Sea Turtle (Fishing): Ultra chill, but extremely low drop rate from pools.

Final Thoughts: Why Pre-Patch is Mount Season

Pre-patch is that perfect window where players are in-between metas. Gear doesn't matter as much, raid logs slow down, and folks are looking for fun goals before the grind of leveling in Pandaria begins.

Mount farming scratches that collector itch and gives you something cool to ride into MoP Classic launch. Best of all, a lot of these are still soloable and will become way more annoying or time-consuming when the whole population shifts to Jade Forest and beyond.

So pick your targets, grab some coffee (or Red Bull), and start knocking these out. Trust me—when you’re soaring into the Vale of Eternal Blossoms on Ashes of Al’ar, you’ll be glad you did.