Unlocking Exalted with Alliance Vanguard: Your Comprehensive Guide to Heroic Reputation!
Hey there, fellow adventurer! Are you ready to dive deep into the icy reaches of Northrend and earn the respect of the brave Alliance Vanguard? Achieving Exalted reputation with this faction isn't just about unlocking powerful gear and unique items; it's about proving your dedication to the Alliance cause and becoming a true hero. This guide will walk you through every step of the journey, ensuring you conquer the frozen wastes and emerge victorious!
Step 1: Embarking on Your Northrend Adventure – Where Do You Begin?
So, you've decided to tackle the Alliance Vanguard reputation grind. Excellent choice! But before we delve into specific quests and dungeons, where exactly do you begin your journey? The Alliance Vanguard is a coalition of several key Alliance forces in Northrend, primarily based in the Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord.
Your initial forays into Northrend will naturally lead you to quest hubs that offer quests for the various sub-factions that contribute to Alliance Vanguard reputation. These include:
Valiance Expedition: Based primarily in the Borean Tundra, these are your initial contacts in Northrend.
Explorer's League: Found in Howling Fjord and other excavation sites, focusing on ancient mysteries.
Silver Covenant: A high elf faction, important for those pursuing specific questlines in Dalaran and Icecrown.
Argent Crusade: While a separate faction, many of their early quests in Northrend will also grant Alliance Vanguard reputation.
The key is to start questing in Northrend as soon as you arrive! Every quest you complete for these sub-factions will slowly but surely contribute to your overall Alliance Vanguard reputation. Don't skip any!
Step 2: The Questing Grind – Your Foundation for Reputation
The backbone of your Alliance Vanguard reputation gain will be through questing. Northrend is a vast continent, brimming with story and opportunities to earn favor with the Alliance.
Sub-heading 2.1: Borean Tundra - Your First Port of Call
Upon arriving in Northrend, likely via the boat from Menethil Harbor to Valiance Keep in the Borean Tundra, you'll be immediately thrust into a wealth of quests.
Valiance Keep: This is your primary quest hub. Pick up every single quest available here. They will send you out into the surrounding areas, battling Scourge, tuskarr, and other threats.
Amberpine Lodge: As you progress, you'll be directed to this lodge, offering more quests that contribute to your reputation.
The Nexus: While a dungeon, some quests leading into The Nexus will also grant Alliance Vanguard reputation.
Focus on completing full questlines. Many quests are part of a longer chain, and completing the final quest in a chain often grants a significant reputation boost. Don't be afraid to explore and uncover hidden quest givers!
Sub-heading 2.2: Howling Fjord - Another Crucial Starting Zone
For those who chose the boat from Stormwind to Valgarde in Howling Fjord, your journey will begin slightly differently, but the principle remains the same.
Valgarde: Your starting hub, offering a multitude of quests related to the Vrykul and the Kvaldir.
Explorers' League Outpost: This area will offer quests heavily tied to the Explorer's League, directly contributing to Alliance Vanguard.
Grizzly Hills and Dragonblight: As you out-level the initial zones, you'll naturally progress into these areas, where more Alliance-centric quests await. Always check the quest rewards – they will explicitly state if they grant Alliance Vanguard reputation.
Tip: Keep an eye out for quests that require you to kill specific mobs or collect certain items. These are often repeatable daily quests, which we'll discuss later, but even their initial completion offers good reputation.
Step 3: Dungeon Diving – Repeated Reputation Gains
While questing provides a solid foundation, dungeons are where you'll see your reputation truly soar. Each time you complete a Northrend dungeon while wearing the Tabard of the Alliance Vanguard, you will gain reputation with the Alliance Vanguard.
Sub-heading 3.1: Acquiring the Tabard
This is arguably the most crucial step for efficient reputation farming through dungeons.
Where to get it: The Tabard of the Alliance Vanguard can be purchased from Logistic Officer Goodwin at Valiance Keep in the Borean Tundra, or Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard at Valgarde in Howling Fjord.
When to get it: You can purchase the tabard as soon as you reach Friendly reputation with the Alliance Vanguard. Since early quests will quickly get you to Friendly, you should be able to acquire this tabard very early in your Northrend journey.
Equip it! This cannot be stressed enough. If you are not wearing the tabard, you will not gain Alliance Vanguard reputation from dungeon kills.
Sub-heading 3.2: Which Dungeons to Run?
Any Northrend dungeon will grant Alliance Vanguard reputation while wearing the tabard. However, some are more efficient than others due to their layout, mob density, and quick completion times.
The Nexus (Normal/Heroic): A very popular choice, quick to run, and the mobs are relatively easy.
Utgarde Keep (Normal/Heroic): Another early dungeon that's efficient for reputation.
Utgarde Pinnacle (Normal/Heroic): A slightly higher-level dungeon but also good for reputation.
Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom (Normal/Heroic): Good mob density.
Gundrak (Normal/Heroic): Can be a bit more complex, but still viable.
Strategy: Run dungeons on Heroic difficulty once you hit level 80, as they offer more reputation per mob kill and per boss kill. Plus, you'll be able to queue for them through the Dungeon Finder, making group formation easier. Don't underestimate the power of tanking or healing for faster queues!
Step 4: Daily Quests – Your Consistent Reputation Stream
Once you've reached level 80, or even earlier as you encounter them, daily quests become an incredibly important source of consistent reputation. These quests reset every 24 hours, allowing you to earn reputation day after day.
Sub-heading 4.1: Where to Find Daily Quests
While specific daily quests can vary, several key locations in Northrend offer them.
Valiance Keep (Borean Tundra): Some early dailies might be available here.
Argent Stand (Western Icecrown): Once you've progressed through the Icecrown questlines, the Argent Crusade offers many dailies that grant Alliance Vanguard reputation.
Dalaran: Several dailies can be found in Dalaran itself, particularly those related to the Silver Covenant. These are often associated with the Kirin Tor but can grant Alliance Vanguard rep.
Grizzly Hills and Dragonblight: Look for quest hubs in these zones that offer repeatable daily quests.
Pro Tip: Use a quest tracking addon like "Questie" or "Azeroth Auto Pilot" to easily identify available daily quests and their locations.
Sub-heading 4.2: The Importance of the Argent Tournament
The Argent Tournament in Icecrown is a massive source of daily quests that directly grant Argent Crusade reputation, and indirectly, Alliance Vanguard reputation through certain specific dailies and champion seals. While its primary focus is Argent Crusade, some quests will offer Alliance Vanguard reputation. As you progress through the Argent Tournament, you'll unlock more dailies, making it a very lucrative reputation farm.
Start the Argent Tournament questline as soon as you can! It's a lengthy endeavor, but the rewards, including reputation, are well worth the effort.
Step 5: Special Deliveries and Repeatable Quests – The Extra Boosts
Beyond standard questing and dungeons, there are a few other ways to snag some extra Alliance Vanguard reputation.
Sub-heading 5.1: Frostweave Cloth Turn-ins
Once you reach Honored with the Alliance Vanguard, you can turn in Frostweave Cloth to Quartermaster Logistical Officer Goodwin at Valiance Keep (Borean Tundra) or Quartermaster Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard at Valgarde (Howling Fjord) for reputation.
How it works: You'll need 20 x Frostweave Cloth per turn-in, and it grants 250 reputation (or more with reputation buffs).
Is it efficient? This method can be quite expensive if you're buying cloth from the Auction House, but if you're a tailor or have a reliable source of cloth, it can be a quick way to top off your reputation, especially when you're close to a new reputation tier.
Sub-heading 5.2: Specific Repeatable Quests
While less common than dailies, some areas might have repeatable quests (not dailies) that allow you to turn in specific items for reputation. Keep an eye out for these in your adventures, as they can sometimes offer a decent chunk of reputation if you have an abundance of the required materials.
Step 6: Maximizing Your Reputation Gains – Efficiency is Key!
To truly speed up your journey to Exalted, employ these strategies:
Sub-heading 6.1: Reputation Buffs
Guild Perks: If you're in a guild that has unlocked the "Mr. Popular" or "Everybody's Pal" guild perks, you'll gain an additional 5-10% reputation from all sources. This is a huge boost!
Darkmoon Faire Buff: When the Darkmoon Faire is active, ride the carousel or get the "WHEE!" buff for an additional 10% reputation gain for an hour. Stack this with other buffs for maximum effect.
Human Racial (Diplomacy): If you're playing a Human character, your racial ability "Diplomacy" grants an additional 10% reputation from all sources. This makes Humans excellent choices for reputation farming.
Sub-heading 6.2: Efficient Dungeon Runs
Pull Big: If your group is capable, pulling larger groups of mobs in dungeons will maximize the number of reputation gains per run.
Target Trash: Don't just rush the bosses. The trash mobs in dungeons also grant reputation, and often make up a significant portion of the total reputation per run.
Form a Dedicated Group: Running with a consistent group of friends or guildmates can lead to faster and more efficient runs, as you'll learn each other's playstyles and optimize pulls.
Sub-heading 6.3: Prioritize Daily Quests
Once you hit level 80, your daily routine should involve completing all available Alliance Vanguard daily quests before anything else. This provides a guaranteed chunk of reputation every day, regardless of your dungeon luck.
Step 7: Reaching Exalted – The Sweet Rewards!
Congratulations, hero! You've braved the frozen wastes, battled countless foes, and diligently completed quests and dungeons. Now, you stand at the pinnacle of Alliance Vanguard reputation: Exalted!
Sub-heading 7.1: What Do You Get?
Reaching Exalted unlocks a treasure trove of rewards from the Alliance Vanguard Quartermasters:
Epic Gear: Powerful weapons, armor, and trinkets that will aid you in your Northrend adventures and beyond.
Mounts: The Reins of the Grand Ice Mammoth (for a hefty sum of gold, but impressive!) and the Reins of the Armored Brown Bear (from the Argent Tournament, but requires Exalted with specific factions, including Alliance Vanguard).
Tabard of the Alliance: A cosmetic tabard to proudly display your achievement.
Achievements: Several reputation-related achievements, including "The Exalted" and "Northrend Vanguard."
Access to Vendors: Special vendors offering unique items and recipes.
Bragging Rights: Perhaps the most valuable reward of all!
Enjoy your hard-earned rewards, champion! You've proven your unwavering loyalty to the Alliance.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to quickly get to Friendly with Alliance Vanguard?
Quickly reach Friendly by completing all initial quests in Valiance Keep (Borean Tundra) or Valgarde (Howling Fjord). These starting zone quests grant a significant amount of reputation early on.
How to unlock the Alliance Vanguard Tabard?
The Alliance Vanguard Tabard is unlocked for purchase from Quartermaster Logistical Officer Goodwin (Valiance Keep) or Quartermaster Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard (Valgarde) once you reach Friendly reputation.
How to gain reputation with Alliance Vanguard through dungeons?
To gain reputation with Alliance Vanguard through dungeons, you must be wearing the Tabard of the Alliance Vanguard while killing mobs and bosses inside any Northrend dungeon.
How to get more reputation from dungeon runs?
To maximize reputation from dungeon runs, run them on Heroic difficulty, pull large groups of trash mobs, and ensure you are wearing your Alliance Vanguard Tabard. Utilizing reputation buffs also helps.
How to find daily quests for Alliance Vanguard?
Daily quests for Alliance Vanguard are primarily found in later Northrend zones like Icecrown (Argent Stand, Argent Tournament) and Dalaran (Silver Covenant dailies that grant AV rep). Look for blue exclamation marks on your map.
How to use Frostweave Cloth for Alliance Vanguard reputation?
Once Honored, turn in bundles of 20 Frostweave Cloth to the Alliance Vanguard Quartermasters in Valiance Keep or Valgarde for a small reputation boost.
How to speed up Alliance Vanguard reputation farming?
Speed up farming by consistently completing daily quests, spamming dungeons with your tabard on, and stacking reputation buffs like guild perks, Darkmoon Faire, and the Human racial (if applicable).
How to reach Exalted with Alliance Vanguard efficiently?
Efficiently reach Exalted by prioritizing questing through Northrend, then transitioning to daily quests and continuous dungeon spamming with the tabard equipped, while utilizing all available reputation buffs.
How to get the Grand Ice Mammoth mount?
The Reins of the Grand Ice Mammoth can be purchased from the Alliance Vanguard Quartermasters once you reach Exalted reputation, but it requires a substantial amount of gold (around 20,000g).
How to find the Alliance Vanguard Quartermasters?
The primary Alliance Vanguard Quartermasters are Logistic Officer Goodwin at Valiance Keep in the Borean Tundra and Veteran Crusader Aliocha Segard at Valgarde in Howling Fjord.
