When it comes to prioritizing which reputations I focus on working up to Exalted status, my priorities are based upon: profession recipes they unlock, pets or mounts that are available, and otherwise hard to obtain entry-level 80 gear for that character. This is why few of my characters attempt to work through all of the reputations each new expansion brings. This guide aims to help you prioritize where to spend your Cataclysm reputation faction grinding time.
NOTE: Until I can see how the rare level items from crafting and heroics shake out, not including the purchasable rare items here. In prior expansions, most of the rare reputation blues were not typically worth grinding out rep for on their own merits.
Neutral Factions
Horde Factions
Alliance Factions
Guardians of Hyjal
Exalted rep will land you the ability to purchase an epic plate DPS belt, cloth spirit belt, melee DPS mail boots (Malorne gear not for druids? Oh the humanity!), or a tanking cloak. Spellcasters will want to grind at least to revered to grab the Arcanum of Hyjal helm enchant.
Ramkahen
These guys are on my epic faction grind list so I can obtain a tan riding camel or a brown riding camel. Other epic purchasable items include dps spellcaster cloth boots, a melee DPS necklace, plate tanking wrists, or a plate healing waist. Melee DPS will want to grind to revered for the Arcanum of the Ramkahen helm enchant.
The Earthen Ring
Epic gear purchasable at exalted includes mail spellcaster boots, cloth spellcaster gloves, a melee DPS ring, and plate healing gloves. Tanks will want to grind to revered to purchase the Arcanum of the Earthen Ring helm enchant.
Therazane
Therazane's big draw is shoulder enchants. Rare shoulder enhancements available at Honored: Lesser Inscription of Charged Lodestone, Lesser Inscription of Jagged Stone, Lesser Inscription of Shattered Crystal, and Lesser Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz. Epic shoulder enhancements available at Exalted: Greater Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz, Greater Inscription of Shattered Crystal, Greater Inscription of Jagged Stone, and Greater Inscription of Charged Lodestone.
Dragonmaw Clan (H)
Melee DPS will want to grind out revered for the Arcanum of the Dragonmaw. Epic gear purchasable at exalted includes plate tanking boots, leather melee gloves, a spellcaster leather belt, and a spellcaster necklace.
Hellscream's Reach (H)
Clearly, I am going to be working on this rep, for a number of good reasons. Primarily: Hellscream's Reach Tabard (Use: Teleports the caster to Hellscream's Grasp on Tol Barad) and the Rustberg Gull vanity pet, both available at Honored reputation. At Exalted reputation, they have trinkets for everyone: Impatience of Youth, Mandala of Stirring Patterns, Mirror of Broken Images, Stump of Time, and Unsolvable Riddle. And they also have two mounts available at Exalted reputation: the Reins of the Drake of the West Wind and the Reins of the Spectral Wolf.
Baradin's Wardens (A)
Alliance folks will br grinding this rep for Baradin's Wardens Tabard (Use: Teleports the caster to Baradin Base Camp on Tol Barad) and the Rustberg Gull vanity pet. Like Hellscream's Reach, they have mounts available at Exalted reputation: Reins of the Drake of the West Wind and Reins of the Spectral Steed. And At Exalted reputation, they have trinkets for everyone: Impatience of Youth, Mandala of Stirring Patterns, Mirror of Broken Images, Stump of Time, and Unsolvable Riddle.
Wildhammer Clan (A)
Melee DPS will want to grind out revered for the Arcanum of the Wildhammer. Epic gear purchasable at exalted includes plate tanking boots, leather melee gloves, a spellcaster leather belt, and a spellcaster necklace.