To expand on your post, this is what I got (although I'm still battling):

Amulets: Torchbearer, Wolve, Carrion Lord, Umbrus, Mirror Ghoul, Nightlady, Noflaik, Devora, Rouland Tomes: Mirror Ghoul, Nightlady, Devora, Rouland

Thanks ! I just got a Tome of Darkness from Mirror Ghoul as well.

I got a tome from Mirror Ghoul too!

Do you remember if that was during or after your first 10 wins?

for me it was the 18th win

Awesome! Thank you :D

That would be great! So 2 [Item=Parched Baguette Crystal] and 2 ? Just making sure I get the right ones (I have so many battle tokens...) Thank you!

I recall a few announcements that opponents were reset over the years, and I notice that my wins for Morostide challengers were reset this year (e.g. I got the full amount of EXP and the 5-win drops again). Does this happen regularly? Just for event opponents?

I noticed when killing Fishbreath Jacques for the first time that while the challenger profile says his EXP stat is 1000, I didn't get 1000 EXP from the kill. What's that about?

Also, more generally, are there good ways to grind EXP beyond doing Battle Quests?

Sorry if these are common questions, but I couldn't find answers on the FAQs (and there are quite a few).

Now I don't know where to focus - so many :)

You have defeated Mirror Ghoul 11 times! Blackcharm earned 60 EXP Points! Mirror Ghoul drops: Tome of Darkness Pureed Autumn Squash Potion

Thank you :D

Holiday challengers are reset every time they’re brought back (usually annually). Those announcements you’re remembering are from when all challengers were reset, which happens rarely. The last one was in November 2017, I believe, and the battle admins have said it’s unlikely that they’ll be reset again because it deflates challenger loot.

The EXP reward that is shown next to each challenger is for the 10th win. There’s a formula where the EXP slowly increases until you reach that 10th win value.

Battle quests are the best way to grind for EXP, in my opinion. But you can earn EXP from beating each challenger 10 times with each of your pets. You can unlock more challengers by collecting ‘secret’ ones or buying challengers from the Cash Shop. [Discontinued] Complete List of Unlockable Challengers

Congrats! 🎉
This is just the latest example of why you're my idol!

You Won! You have defeated Mirror Ghoul 18 times! Cynde earned 60 EXP Points! Mirror Ghoul drops:

Pureed Autumn Squash Potion Tome of Darkness

It was win 54 for me I think

You Won! You have defeated Crithbolcan

Cynde earned 3500 EXP Points!

Done for the day.

Took a lot of grinding but Hanji is now Tier 9! That's my third pet this year to move to a new tier. ^^

Woo, thanks Jess for the hard work!

Oooh congrats so much!!

So we have Rouland left and then the CS beast... I'm STILL looking at that spork in the wardrobe from time to time... wondering just how tf we gunna get it ... XD;; oof.

time. Battle Quest

SHHH! I'm trying to battle over here! ;)

222 wins on Nightlady this year She dropped 1 Shriek and that was only after the 103rd win with one pet

I'm really hoping this doesn't discourage those who are interested in battling. There were many amulet and tomes given out, more than ever before. It does help even out the lack of freezing scrolls although they are the main attraction with this challenger. It may be my imagination but I believe last year we were only able to obtain Shriek of Despair scrolls from Nightlady within the first 10 wins. I had 3 pets with 10 wins each on her and got 4 Shrieks. Correct me if I'm wrong because I didn't bother to take it past 10 wins last year. This also might be my imagination but it seems the way prizes, drops and awards changes every year without notice as if it came to a last minute decision isn't a favorite with long time battlers. I can't think of any games at all where the rules change as you play.