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Quest

Surprise Attack!

A World of Warcraft quest in Townlong Steppes. Facts and objectives from the current retail game data.

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Top Comments

The highest voted Wowhead comments for this page. They are community notes, not TheWoWDB comments.

1
Tharama+164via Wowhead (opens the original comment in a new tab)

I just finish this quest now and... wow. Just wow. I wrote up what happens across the quest and will hide it for those not wanting to be spoiled. Enjoy.

SpoilerAs you accept this quest, hundreds of Mogu appear and start besieging Niuzao Temple as well as the bridge across to it. You can easily fly over them but can also help relieve the emotionless NPC fighting them for no benefit ever then feeling better about yourself.

Waiting for you on the south east side of the temple, on the path, are all nine of your daily quest companions and Ban Bearheart. After briefly speaking to him, he and the other nine companions will start advancing up the steps and into the besieged temple and find Shan Bu, safely inside a bubble channeling a dark looking spell into Niuzao who is acting stunned on the spot.

Once he notices you, Shan Bu goes into this (fully voiced, like the rest of the quest) speech:

Shan Bu yells: Ahahaha, the Great Niuzao, strength of the west, divine celestial, protector of the weak...
Shan Bu yells: Your charge, the sha of fear, has escaped.
Shan Bu yells: The mantid besiege you from all sides.
Shan Bu yells: You wield the powers of a god, but you are beaten!
Shan Bu yells: You bear the burden of an entire people upon your shoulders. And how have they repaid you?
Shan Bu yells: You are forgotten. This is what you fear, is it not?
Shan Bu yells: Lay your duties aside and rest.
Nizuao yells: I will NEVER yield!
Shan Bu yells: When you are dying, beast, remember that I gave you a choice.
Shan Bu yells: Shan-ze! Hei Feng! Kill him!

After this, waves of [npc=63933] will come down from the north and west stairs to attack you. Meanwhile, [npc=63920] a heavenly wind serpent will bombard you from the air with Shadow Detonation. This does a moderate amount of damage and marks the ground with a red circle that you're supposed to step out of.

After several waves of [npc=63933] and several emotes ([npc=63920] prepares to land! and [npc=63920] is landing!) [npc=63920] himself with land with the shout:

[npc=63920] yells: The storm will consume you!
[npc=63920] yells: I shall show you TRUE strength!

After this, you and your band of heroes will fight the now grounded wind serpent in a rather easy fight. He will almost constantly use [spell=125990] which is an interruptible AoE knock for minor damage and, like most dragon, a deep breath. [npc=63920]'s deep breath is emoted before hand with "[npc=63920] takes a Deep Breath! Move behind him!" and hits in a very small frontal cone in front of him. I would also like to add he has the coolest breath I have ever seen. Ahem. Once he reaches 1% he'll become untargetable and goes:

[npc=63920] yells: No. NO!
[npc=63920] yells: Master, I have failed you...

And then dies, allowing you to loot him. I got 1x[item=81194] :D.

Afterwards, Niuzao returns to normality and thanks you:

Niuzao yells: Thank you, <Name>. You have saved us all.
Niuzao yells: Remember, it is at the darkest moment that light shines the brightest.
Niuzao yells: Well done, heroes.

Then he just stands there until you leave. Once you return to the Shado-Pan Garrison, your nine daily companions, Master Snowdrift and Ban Bearheart are standing in a half circle. After turning in the quest they induct you into the Shado-Pan formally:

Ban Bearheart says: Today, we welcome you into the Shado-Pan.
Ban Bearheart says: Your perseverance strengthens us. Your courage leads us. Your honor inspires us.
Ban Bearheart says: From this day forth, you walk as one of our brotherhood.
Yalia Songwhisper says: We knew you could do it!
Ban Bearheart says: Welcome <Name>, as a member of the Shado-Pan!
Lao-Chin the Iron Belly says: Good job. Guess you learned a little something from me.
Taoshi says: Let's go for a drink!
Fei Li says: Drinks!

And that's that. I hope you enjoyed writing this as much as I lost slept writing it and happy hunting to you all! :)

3
Freezy3+88via Wowhead (opens the original comment in a new tab)

For anyone who was excited to get exalted like I was half way through dailies, and became sad when I couldn't find this quest at all. Make sure to finish the daily quests, the quest giver then was letting me start this chain. Hope this helps.

Read all 112 on Wowhead ↗

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Quest facts

LevelLevel 25-35
Quest ID31277

The client quest POI data records no map location for this quest, so no map is shown.

Check whether you have already completed this quest in-game: /run print(C_QuestLog.IsQuestFlaggedCompleted(31277))

Description

Those damnable Mogu... Those scouts were a distraction! While we were hunting their spies, the main force moved on Niuzao Temple. Corrupted serpents, Mogu everywhere... this is a disaster! Thankfully, Ban was able to make it past their lines with the most elite members of our order. If you can slip past, too, meet up with him. We need to put a stop to this!

Related
Money41 gold22 silver
Experience7,200 XP
ReputationShado-Pan +1,000

Reward details

Items you receive

TypeMiscellaneous
Item level30
BindingBinds when picked up
UseLearning
EffectOnyx Cloud Serpent
Requires level10

“Teaches you how to summon this mount.”

Reputation: Shado-Pan +1,000

The shadowy protectors of Pandaria's temples, the Shado-Pan are wrought with mystery.

Reputation group: Mists of Pandaria.

Other quests in Townlong Steppes that reward Shado-Pan reputation: My Husband... (+25), First Assault (+100), Running Rampant (+75), Perfect Pitch (+75), Seeing Red (+100), Pitching In (+75).

Item facts are the current retail client’s (ItemSparse); the specialisations for a pick-one item are the ones the Blizzard quest API lists; faction and currency text is the client’s own. Lowest listed price = the US commodity auction house now.

Achievements

Completing this quest counts toward this achievement.