Revolutionizing Leveling in World of Warcraft: A Pacifist’s Journey
World of Warcraft (WoW) has introduced a variety of creative leveling methods, but one standout approach is that of the player known as Pacifist, who embraces the Pokémon-inspired Pet Battles. This unique leveling style eschews traditional monster kills, opting instead for a method that doesn’t even necessitate a class specialization. While other players, such as one who leveled exclusively through herb gathering in the Pandaren starting area, have attempted unconventional paths, Pacifist’s method stands out as particularly engaging.
Rather than falling back on an overpowering team, which could be seen as the easy route, Pacifist has chosen to enhance the challenge and excitement of their playthrough. This approach offers a refreshing take on a “Pacifist”run in WoW that might inspire others to explore similar avenues.
Pacifist’s Impressive Pet Battle Level Grind
In a recent post on Reddit, user Flunkeren shared their incredible experience of leveling a Hunter to level 80 solely through Pet Battles—WoW’s equivalent of Pokémon battles. This feature, first introduced in the Mists of Pandaria expansion, allows players to capture creatures from across the game and engage in battles against both NPCs and fellow players.
While the original Pet Battle system has remained mostly unchanged, each expansion has introduced new species, including those from the latest update titled “The War Within.”Flunkeren’s alternate character, known as Pacifism, is focused exclusively on Pet Battles and combines elements from both PVE and PVP, similar to how a Pokémon trainer would operate.
During their journey, Pacifist concentrated on PVP battles from levels 1-50 and 70-80, supplemented by PVE battles in the 50-70 range. Remarkably, they managed to showcase achieving level 80 without any kills or experiences gained from traditional combat, marking a significant accomplishment.
It’s important to note that this method could be simplified by utilizing some of the game’s more powerful pet combinations. With over 1,400 different pets available, the variety is vast, including special event pets, such as the rare Parrlok acquired through unique collaboration efforts.

For their team, Pacifism selected Fel-Afflicted Skyfin, Twilight Clutch-Sister, and Tranquil Mechanical Yeti instead of defaulting to overpowering favorites, adding to the challenge and enjoyment of their journey. Looking ahead, they plan to focus exclusively on PVP battles for their next character, aiming to achieve the noteworthy “5,000 PVP Pet Battles Won” milestone.
This method does present its challenges, as Pacifism devoted an impressive 7 days, 18 hours, and 10 minutes of in-game time to reach level 80, engaging in approximately 1,500 PVP Pet Battles along the way. However, this ambitious endeavor might pave the way for others to follow suit in the future.
It’s conceivable that this trend could gain traction within the community, potentially sparking creative role-playing scenarios where players aspire to become “Gym Leaders,”similar to the beloved Pokémon games, with guildmates acting as their teams. Such developments would undoubtedly add a fascinating layer to the World of Warcraft experience.