Lunar Festival is a 2-week event based on the 60-year Chinese zodiac cycle that blends the five elements (earth, wood, fire, water and metal) with one of the twelve animal signs. 2026 marks the year of the Fire Horse.
Soar the skies of Azeroth in style with this Skyriding mount!
The Scorching Valor is shared across all present and future WoW® Modern characters, and automatically scales to the fastest riding skill known by each character. If they aren’t high enough level to use a flying mount, the Scorching Valor is also a ground mount.
New in 2026
There are five new transmog items and an ensemble to collect. Mostly a recoloured version of the Trading Post items. To collect them all, you will need to farm 200 Coins of Ancestry using two characters since you can only hold 100 coins per toon.
- Ensemble: Ornate Violet Lunar Festival Attire – 75 coins
- Sunny Pack of Lunar Explosives – 25
- Obsidian Lunar Blade – 25
- Violet Lunar Lantern – 25
- Violet Lunar Firewhacker – 25
- Steel Lunar Polearm – 25
You can also purchase the Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor for 50,000 gold from Valadar Starsong in Moonglade or a Lunar Festival Vendor.
For some easy Coins of Ancestry, you can follow the Lunar Preservation Guide.
Toys
These fireworks were first seen during the short pre-MoP Theramore’s Fall scenario and cost 25x Coins of Ancestry. Thankfully, learning one automatically teaches you the toy for the opposing faction.
Pets
- Lunar Lantern  (Alliance) These magical lanterns are acquired at the Lunar Festival, which celebrates the defeat of the Burning Legion by the free races of Azeroth.
- Festival Lantern (Horde) The light from each lantern honors the soul of an ancestor spirit. During the Lunar Festival, these ghostly elders pass along their wisdom to the current generation.
These faction-specific pets cost 50x Coins of Ancestry each. The good news is, they are BoE meaning you’ll be able to trade them or purchase them from the AH.
In 2024, Hoplet was added to the Blizzard Shop. Check out my Twitter giveaway for a chance to win.
In 2025, the Timbered Air Snakelet was added as part of a 6 and 12-month Subscription bundle for Classic servers. However, the pet can be purchased as a retail version for A$13.50.
Wood you believe that this little Snake is actually alive? The Timbered Sky Snakelet is excited to join you on your adventures across Azeroth.
Perky Blaster
Give your Perky Pug some fireworks to play with for the cost of 1x Coins of Ancestry. Watch him run around in circles having the time of his life.
Mounts
These mounts can be collected with an active 6-month subscription. If you don’t want to purchase a subscription, you can buy them directly from the Battle.Net Shop.
Shu-Zen, the Divine Sentinel – Year of the Earth Dog (2018)
As the Golden Lotus worked tirelessly to repair the Vale of Eternal blossoms, a single statue came to life and wordlessly defended them from the Sha that assaulted them. Believed by some to be a sign of good fortune and others to be a gift from the Light, Shu-Zen provides faithful companionship to any that would defend Azeroth from the maddening whispers of the Old Gods.
Hogrus, Swine of Good Fortune – Year of the Earth Pig (2019)
Legends say that in his hour of deepest doubt, Emperor Shaohao, the last ruler of the Pandaren Empire, was visited by Hogrus, Swine of Good Fortune, as he meditated upon his people’s future. Today, pandaren across Azeroth consider Hogrus to be a sign of prosperity and great things to come. You would be wise to seek his blessing as you pursue your own fortune, wherever the four winds may take you.
Squeakers, the Trickster – Year of the Metal Rat (2020)
It’s not quite certain where Squeakers found his incredible wings of jade. Perhaps he outwitted the Jade Serpent herself. Now Azeroth’s first flying rat is ready to set out and spread mischief wherever he goes!
Lucky Yun – Year of the Metal Ox (2021)
Trying to turn fortune in your favour? You’re in luck! The pandaren elders claim that Lucky Yun will bestow prosperity upon anyone who touches its glittering hide. Take this ox by the horns and be prepared to meet your good fortune in Azeroth and beyond.
Wen Lo, the River’s Edge – Year of the Water Tiger (2022)
The rivers of Pandaria, like Wen Lo, are unpredictable in nature. They may remain calm, bringing water to the crops, or flood, bringing ruin. Wen Lo reminds us that we must adapt to the challenges of life.
Jade, Bright Foreseer –Â Year of the Water Rabbit (2023)
A hop-timistic friend for any trail ahead
The presence of this majestic Pandaren rabbit spirit brings joy and happiness and is heralded as a wonderful omen. Legend says that in its eyes, you can glimpse the greatest happiness of your life, even if it is yet to come.
Auspicious Arborwyrm – Year of the Wood Dragon (2024)
Sprouting to life only once every sixty years, this living wooden dragon combines the patience of a tree and the grace of a dragon in flight.
Timbered Sky Snake – Year of the Wood Snake (2025)
A living, breathing, flying work of art. The Timbered Sky Snake is simply pine-ing for your attention!
Retail players can purchase the mount (A$34) and a retail version of the pet (A$13.50) separately.
Scorching Valor – Year of the Fire Horse (2026)
Some cannot be held back or restrained. Scorching Valor will seek greatness and only serve those who can serve their pursuit.
The mount can be purchased for A$40 from the in-game shop. Players will be happy to know it’s the current 6 and 12-month subscription reward mount.
Fireworks
Three firework schematics cost 5x Coins of Ancestry each and an engineering skill of 500 to learn.
Elders of Cataclysm
If you managed to get the achievements done in previous years, there’s not a lot to do. Last year, there was only one new achievement that required you to honour the 9 new Elders introduced in Cataclysm (bringing the total number of Elders to 84).
Uldum
Elder Sekhemi in Uldum – (32, 63) Located at Ruins of Ammon
Elder Menkhaf in Uldum – (66, 19) Located at Khartut’s Tomb (north-east of the big statue)
Mount Hyal
Elder Windsong in Hyjal – (27, 62) Located at Sanctuary of Malorne
Elder Evershade in Nordrassil – (63, 23) Next to the Inn, Alliance side portal
Deepholm
Elder Stonebrand in the Temple of Earth – (50, 55) Located at the Entrance of the Temple
Elder Deepforge in Deepholm – (28, 69) Located at Stonehearth
Twilight Highlands
Elder Firebeard in Twilight Highlands – (51, 71) Located at Dunward Town Square of Dunward Ruins
Elder Darkfeather in Twilight Highlands – (52, 33) Located at Thundermar Ruins
Vashj’ir
Elder Moonlance in Vashj’ir – (57, 86) Located at Biel’aran Ridge, Shimmering Expanse
With so many Elders to visit, getting enough coins to buy the latest items will be easy. However, I found it faster to accumulate the coins from Northrend as they are more tightly packed and the new Cata ones for the achievement. All in all, you’ll be getting a lot of flying miles. What a shame there’s no frequent flyer program :P I highly recommend HandyNotes for the Lunar zone elder locations.
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Lunar Festival 2016 https://t.co/j4HD0DpPQ6 https://t.co/AbfvjRe3fN
Thank you for the reminder, I thought I didn’t need anything but I do need heirloom upgrades so looks like I’ll be collecting coins after all.
Happy to help :)
I love the banner graphic. Very nice.
Thanks for the reminder and summary. I too had forgotten the heirloom upgrades.
Isn’t it great? It’s always nice to have another way to get those heirlooms.