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Mists of Pandaria Classic brings back Pandaria, the Monk class, the Pandaren race, and pet battles. Like the other Classic expansions, it installs as a version switch inside the existing Classic client rather than a brand new download. Here’s the full setup.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
- A Battle.net account with an active WoW subscription or game time.
- Around 40-50GB of free drive space.
- The Battle.net app installed and up to date.
- A check of the official WoW system requirements page if it’s been a while since you last played.
Step 1: Set Up Battle.net
New players should register at the Battle.net account sign-up page and download the Battle.net app before anything else. Returning players can log straight into their existing account.
Step 2: Install the MoP Classic Client
- Open the Battle.net app and click the Games tab.
- Select WoW Classic from your game list.
- Use the version dropdown near the Play button to switch to Mists of Pandaria Classic.
- Click Install and let the client patch or download.
If you already have a previous Classic version installed, this patches your existing files forward instead of downloading a full new client.
Step 3: Try Pandaren and the Monk Class
MoP’s headline additions are the Pandaren race and the Monk class, both of which share a neutral starting zone on the Wandering Isle before you pick a faction partway through. It’s worth playing through even if you don’t plan to main either — the starting experience is one of the most self-contained in the game.
Step 4: First Launch Checklist
- Character carryover: Existing characters move forward automatically once you switch to the MoP client.
- Addons: MoP Classic uses its own separate AddOns folder, so anything from a previous Classic version needs to be reinstalled here.
- Pet battles: MoP introduces the pet battle system — check your minimap for the Pet Journal icon once you’ve unlocked it through the early Pandaria questline.
Playing on Mac or Linux?
The install flow above is the same across platforms, though the base Battle.net setup differs slightly:
Want a Different Version of WoW?
MoP is one stop on a much longer timeline. Here’s the rest of the lineup:
- How to Download & Install World of Warcraft (2026) — Retail
- How to Download & Install WoW Classic (2026 Guide)
- How to Download & Install WoW TBC Classic
- How to Download & Install WoW WotLK Classic
- How to Download & Install WoW Cataclysm Classic
- How to Download & Install WoW Season of Discovery
- How to Download & Install WoW Hardcore Classic
Or browse the full WoW Download & Install Guides hub to compare every version at once.
Troubleshooting Common Install Issues
The most common MoP Classic issue is the version dropdown reverting to an older Classic client after a patch. Double-check it before clicking Play each session. For login or patching problems beyond that, the official WoW support page covers known fixes, and the official WoW website has current server status.
