WoW Lunar Festival Guide: Elders, Rewards, and Slitherdrake Armor
A full WoW Lunar Festival walkthrough: when it runs, where to find every Elder, how to earn Coin of Ancestry, and the mounts, pets, and transmog rewards.
By:
John Langan
What Is the WoW Lunar Festival?
The Lunar Festival is World of Warcraft's annual Moonglade celebration, when the druids of the Cenarion Circle mark their ancient victory over the demon Omen. For about two weeks each year, players travel Azeroth to honor the Elders, light fireworks, and collect Coin of Ancestry, the holiday's signature currency, which buys transmog, toys, pets, and mounts found nowhere else.
The festival floats with the lunar calendar rather than landing on fixed dates. In recent years it has run from late January into February; the 2025 celebration ran January 28 to February 11, and the 2026 festival runs February 16 to March 2. Everything here stays accurate from year to year; only the calendar window changes.
⚠️ The festival window shifts every year with the lunar calendar, so check the in-game calendar before assuming last year's dates still apply.
Key Takeaways
- The Lunar Festival is WoW's annual Moonglade celebration of the druids' victory over Omen, running roughly two weeks each year; the 2026 window is February 16 to March 2.
- Honoring an Elder grants one Coin of Ancestry, the currency you spend at Valadar Starsong in Nighthaven on toys, pets, transmog, and mounts.
- Defeating Omen at Lake Elune'ara completes Elune's Blessing, the event's signature achievement.
- The Lunar Launcher mount, added in 2025, costs 75 Coins of Ancestry from any Lunar Festival Vendor.
- The Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor is a 50,000 gold Dragonriding customization from Valadar Starsong, introduced in the 2024 festival.
- The "To Honor One's Elders" meta now spans nine regions, including eight Khaz Algar Elders added in 2025, and feeds the "What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been" Violet Proto-Drake.
The rest of this guide breaks down the schedule, the Elder routes by region, the achievements worth chasing, and every reward your Coins of Ancestry can buy.
When and Where the Festival Runs
The celebration centers on Nighthaven in Moonglade, with Lunar Festival camps in Ironforge, Stormwind, Darnassus, Thunder Bluff, Orgrimmar, the Dragon Isles, and the old Undercity. To begin, pick up the introductory quest The Lunar Festival from a Lunar Festival Harbinger in any capital city. After buying and launching some fireworks, you receive your Lunar Festival Invitation, which lets you teleport straight to Moonglade by standing within Greater Moonlight for the duration of the holiday.
Players who want to reach the pre-Cataclysm Undercity should speak with Zidormi in Tirisfal Glades, east of Lordaeron Keep near the burned scar beside the road, to shift to the older version of the zone.
Coin of Ancestry: the Event Currency
Coin of Ancestry is the only currency the Lunar Festival uses, and it persists on your character between years, so any coins left in your bags from a previous celebration are still spendable. You earn one coin each time you honor an Elder, and honoring an Elder also grants reputation with a nearby capital, some experience and gold, and a Lucky Red Envelope.
For a quick bonus, speak with Myrael Lunarbloom in Moonglade to pick up Lunar Preservation. Charging her staff at moonwells around Azeroth rewards 25 Coins of Ancestry in one go, which goes a long way toward the floral crowns and the Lunar Launcher mount.
Where to Find Every Lunar Festival Elder
Honoring Elders is the heart of the festival and the route to the "To Honor One's Elders" meta-achievement. Each region's Elders are listed by name with an exact location. Visiting one is as simple as speaking with them, so plan a flight path through each continent and clear them in a single loop.
✏️ Knock out the dungeon and Khaz Algar Elders first. They are the easiest to forget on a capital-city loop, and a few sit behind dungeon entrances you will not pass otherwise.
Eastern Kingdoms (17 Elders)
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Elder Goldwell | Kharanos |
| Elder Bellowrage | Blasted Lands |
| Elder Stormbrow | Goldshire |
| Elder Meadowrun | Western Plaguelands |
| Elder Starglade | Zul'Gurub |
| Elder Winterhoof | Booty Bay |
| Elder Silvervein | Thelsamar |
| Elder Skychaser | Sentinel Hill |
| Elder Rumblerock | Burning Steppes |
| Elder Dawnstrider | Flame Crest |
| Elder Highpeak | Hinterlands |
| Elder Ironband | Searing Gorge |
| Elder Graveborn | Brill |
| Elder Obsidian | Sepulcher |
| Elder Windrun | Eastern Plaguelands |
| Elder Snowcrown | Light's Hope Chapel |
| Elder Moonstrike | Scholomance |
Kalimdor (21 Elders)
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Elder Runetotem | Razor Hill |
| Elder Skygleam | Azshara |
| Elder Moonwarden | The Crossroads |
| Elder High Mountain | Vendetta Point |
| Elder Windtotem | Ratchet |
| Elder Bladeleaf | Dolanaar |
| Elder Starweave | Lor'danel |
| Elder Bloodhoof | Bloodhoof Village |
| Elder Riversong | Astranaar |
| Elder Grimtotem | Feralas |
| Elder Mistwalker | Dire Maul |
| Elder Nightwind | Felwood |
| Elder Skyseer | Freewind Post |
| Elder Morningdew | Fizzle and Pozzik's Speedbarge |
| Elder Ragetotem | Tanaris |
| Elder Dreamseer | Gadgetzan |
| Elder Thunderhorn | Un'Goro |
| Elder Brightspear | Winterspring |
| Elder Stonespire | Everlook |
| Elder Primestone | Silithus |
| Elder Bladesing | Cenarion Hold |
Northrend (18 Elders)
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Elder Sardis | Valiance Keep |
| Elder Beldak | Westfall Brigade |
| Elder Morthie | Star's Rest |
| Elder Fargal | Frosthold |
| Elder Arp | D.E.H.T.A. |
| Elder Northal | Transitus Shield |
| Elder Sandrene | Lakeside Landing |
| Elder Wanikaya | Rainspeaker Rapids |
| Elder Lunaro | Ruins of Tethys |
| Elder Bluewolf | Wintergrasp |
| Elder Tauros | Zim'Torga |
| Elder Thoim | Moa'ki Harbor |
| Elder Graymane | K3 |
| Elder Stonebeard | Bouldercrag's Refuge |
| Elder Pamuya | Warsong Hold |
| Elder Whurain | Camp Oneqwah |
| Elder Skywarden | Agmar's Hammer |
| Elder Muraco | Camp Tunka'lo |
Alliance Capitals (3 Elders)
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Elder Bladeswift | Darnassus |
| Elder Bronzebeard | Ironforge |
| Elder Hammershout | Stormwind |
Horde Capitals (3 Elders)
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Elder Darkhorn | Orgrimmar |
| Elder Wheathoof | Thunder Bluff |
| Elder Darkcore | The Undercity |
Dungeon Elders
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Elder Wildmane | Zul'Farrak |
| Elder Starsong | Sunken Temple |
| Elder Splitrock | Maraudon |
| Elder Stonefort | Blackrock Spire |
| Elder Morndeep | Blackrock Depths |
| Elder Farwhisper | Stratholme |
| Elder Jarten | Utgarde Keep |
| Elder Igasho | The Nexus |
| Elder Nurgen | Azjol-Nerub |
| Elder Kilias | Drak'Tharon Keep |
| Elder Ohanzee | Gundrak |
| Elder Yurauk | The Halls of Stone |
| Elder Chogan'gada | Utgarde Pinnacle |
Cataclysm Zones (9 Elders)
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Elder Stonebrand | The Temple of Earth |
| Elder Menkhaf | Uldum |
| Elder Sekhemi | Uldum |
| Elder Firebeard | Twilight Highlands |
| Elder Darkfeather | Twilight Highlands |
| Elder Windsong | Hyjal |
| Elder Evershade | Nordrassil |
| Elder Moonlance | Vashj'ir |
| Elder Deepforge | Deepholm |
Dragon Isles (8 Elders)
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Elder Shomkol | The Waking Shores |
| Elder Aylaag | The Waking Shores |
| Elder Shikaar | Ohn'ahran Plains |
| Elder Ohn'ir | Ohn'ahran Plains |
| Elder Nemaglek | Azure Span |
| Elder Dekidig | Azure Span |
| Elder Sik'ek | Thaldraszus |
| Elder Razlok | Thaldraszus |
Khaz Algar (8 Elders, added 2025)
| Elder Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Archivist Rubbleglint | Isle of Dorn |
| Archivist Coppermoss | Isle of Dorn |
| Archivist Farolt | The Ringing Deeps |
| Archivist Silsigra | The Ringing Deeps |
| Elder Knythall | Hallowfall |
| Elder Swornvow | Hallowfall |
| Elder Ikk'zivan | Azj-Kahet |
| Elder Ikk'xataz | Azj-Kahet |
With every Elder honored, you will have a full purse of Coins of Ancestry and most of the festival's achievements within reach. The Khaz Algar Elders are the newest additions and complete the Elders of Khaz Algar achievement on their own.
Lunar Festival Achievements and the Meta
The festival carries a stack of achievements, several of which are quick novelty objectives:
- Elune's Blessing — defeat Omen at Lake Elune'ara in Moonglade.
- Frenzied Firecracker — shoot off 10 Festival Firecrackers in 30 seconds or less.
- The Rocket's Red Glare — launch 10 Red Rocket Clusters in 25 seconds or less.
- Lunar Festival Finery — buy a festive pant suit or festive dress with Coins of Ancestry.
- Coin of Ancestry tiers — collect 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 Coins of Ancestry across separate achievements.
Honoring all of the Elders earns the "To Honor One's Elders" meta-achievement, which is itself a step in the long-running "What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been" meta that rewards the Violet Proto-Drake. Completionists chasing that drake across every world event can pick up an achievement completion carry to clear the slower seasonal steps.
Defeating Omen for Elune's Blessing
Omen is the corrupted Ancient whose defeat the festival commemorates, and each year he can be summoned again at Lake Elune'ara in Moonglade. Players gather to launch Cluster Rockets at the lake, which calls Omen forth. Bring him down, then stand in the moonlight on his resting place to receive Elune's Blessing, completing the achievement and granting a short buff. It is a group tag fight, so even on quiet realms he usually goes down fast.
Rewards: Mounts, Pets, Toys, and Transmog
Valadar Starsong and Fariel Starsong in Nighthaven stock the bulk of the festival's collectibles. A sampling of what your Coins of Ancestry can buy:
- Mount: the Lunar Launcher, added in 2025, for 75 Coins of Ancestry.
- Toys: the green, blue, and red Dragon costume sets, the Lunar Elder's Hearthstone, Elune's Lantern, and Everlasting Alliance and Horde Fireworks.
- Pets: Lunar Lantern and Festival Lantern, plus the Perky Blaster pet toy.
- Transmog and crowns: festive dresses and pant suits, plus four floral crowns (Crown of Prosperity, Courage, Good Fortune, and Dark Blossoms) unlocked through Myrael Lunarbloom's Lunar Preservation quest.
- Heirloom upgrades and patterns: Ancient and Timeworn Heirloom Armor Casings, firework schematics, and the Festival Dress and Suit patterns.
Once you buy a floral crown and finish its follow-up quest, the appearance is added to your transmog collection so you can wear it year-round, and the quests unlock account-wide after the first character completes them. Collectors chasing the Lunar Launcher and other holiday-locked mounts can browse mount boost options when the festival window is too tight to finish in time.
Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor
The standout cosmetic is the Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor, a Drakewatcher Manuscript that adds a fierce festival helm and claws to your Winding Slitherdrake Dragonriding mount. It was introduced in the 2024 (Year of the Dragon) festival and remains purchasable each year from Valadar Starsong.
One point that trips collectors up: the manuscript costs 50,000 gold, not Coins of Ancestry. The customization is account-wide once learned, and you apply it to your Winding Slitherdrake at any Rostrum of Transformation, so it is a pure cosmetic splurge rather than a grind.
📌 The most common mistake is trying to buy the Slitherdrake armor with Coins of Ancestry. It is a 50,000 gold purchase, so bank the gold ahead of the festival rather than grinding coins for it.
The WoW Classic Lunar Festival
A WoW Classic version of the Lunar Festival runs for players on the older clients. Look for the Lunar Festival Emissary in any capital city to begin honoring Elders. The Elder hunt and Coin of Ancestry rewards anchor the Classic event, though the retail-only extras such as the Lunar Launcher mount and the Slitherdrake armor customization are not part of it.
FAQ
When does the WoW Lunar Festival start?
The Lunar Festival floats with the lunar calendar rather than a fixed date, usually landing in late January or February and running about two weeks. The 2025 event ran January 28 to February 11, and the 2026 event runs February 16 to March 2.
How do I earn Coin of Ancestry?
You receive one Coin of Ancestry each time you honor an Elder, and a one-time 25-coin reward from Myrael Lunarbloom's Lunar Preservation quest in Moonglade. Coins persist on your character between years, so unspent coins from a prior festival still count.
Where do I find all the Lunar Festival Elders?
Elders are spread across nine regions: the Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Northrend, the Cataclysm zones, both Alliance and Horde capitals, several classic dungeons, the Dragon Isles, and the Khaz Algar zones added in 2025. Each region is listed by name and exact location in this guide.
How do I get Elune's Blessing?
Travel to Lake Elune'ara in Moonglade, where players launch Cluster Rockets to summon Omen. Defeating Omen completes the Elune's Blessing achievement and grants Elune's short blessing buff to everyone present.
How much is the Winding Slitherdrake: Lunar Festival Armor?
The Drakewatcher Manuscript costs 50,000 gold from Valadar Starsong in Nighthaven, not Coins of Ancestry. It is account-wide once learned and is applied to the Winding Slitherdrake at a Rostrum of Transformation.
How do I get the Lunar Launcher mount?
The Lunar Launcher was added in the 2025 festival and costs 75 Coins of Ancestry from any Lunar Festival Vendor, such as Valadar Starsong. Honoring the full set of Elders plus the Lunar Preservation quest comfortably covers the cost.
Does the Lunar Festival have a WoW Classic version?
Yes. WoW Classic runs its own Lunar Festival in parallel with retail. Speak with the Lunar Festival Emissary in any capital city to begin honoring Elders on the Classic client.
Do Coins of Ancestry carry over between years?
They do. Coin of Ancestry is a persistent currency, so any coins you banked in a previous festival are still spendable when the event returns, letting you stockpile toward bigger rewards over multiple cycles.
Last reviewed 2026-06-23 against Patch 12.0.5 Lingering Shadows — Maintained by WowCarry's WoW team.