mounts (WoW)  

Definition

A Mount is an animal that a player can ride (or machine if the player is a Gnome or an Engineer) that increases movement speed during travel. Warlocks and Paladins can summon their mounts with special spells. Also, in the Outlands, flying mounts are available for purchase after reaching level 70.

There are a few options/requirements for acquiring a mount. A player can learn the riding skill and purchase the mounts that correspond to their riding skill level, though each race has their own unique location and mounts.

Players can buy PvP Mounts using Marks of Honor; buy specific reputation mounts, where a specific rep with a faction is needed (usually this is exalted) such as Cenarion Expedition, Talbuks from Halaa, etc.; or try to acquire a mount from such instances as Stratholme, Zul'Gurub, Zul'Aman, Tempest Keep - The Eye, Magisters' Terrace, Sethekk Halls, and Karazhan. These mounts, however, have an extremely low drop rate.

The ability for another race to be able to acquire a different race's mount, requires the reputation of exalted with the faction. For example, if a human want to ride an Elekk, they must be exalted with Exodar.

Reputation Discounts

If a player is in good standing with their particular faction (meaning they are Friendly, Honored, Revered, or Exalted), they may be able to obtain a reputation discount for that corresponding faction. Reputation discounts cover more than just mounts though. They are available for other items as well. This discount pertains to a faction discount (5% friendly, 10% honored, 15% revered and 20% exalted).

Riding Skills By Level

Level 30

The Apprentice Riding Skill (75) is available to players at level 30 for the cost of 35 gold. The skill may be acquired for less if the player has any reputation discounts. Players may only purchase a Rare ground mount for an additional 10 gold after the skill has been trained. The Rare mount has a 60% movement speed increase.

Level 60

The Journeyman Riding Skill (150) is available for 600 gold at level 60. Reputation discounts may apply. Players may purchase an Epic ground mount for an additional 100 gold after the skill has been trained. The Epic mount has a 100% movement increase.

Level 70

Both the Expert (225) and Artisan (300) Riding Skills are available at level 70. The first riding skill (Expert) allows players to ride a flying mount that costs 800 gold for the skill training and an additional 100 gold for the mount. This flying mount has a 60% movement increase. The Artisan Riding Skill costs 5000 gold for the skill training and an additional 200 gold for an epic flying mount. No reputation discounts are available. The epic flying mount has a 280% movement increase.

Level 77 (Cold Weather Flying)

Upon entering Northrend players will be ground bound as the treacherous winds are to difficult to master with novice Outland wings. Once the player reaches level 77, Cold Weather Flying can be purchased for 1,000 gold from Hira Snowdawn, Roxi Ramrocket or Pilot Vic. Druids will have to train Cold Weather Flying to regain use of their Flight Form.

Mounts

Rare Ground Mounts

Rare Ground Mounts cost 10 gold and require the Apprentice Riding Skill (75) to ride.

Epic Ground Mounts

Epic Ground Mounts cost 100 gold and require the Journeyman Riding Skill (150) to ride.

Flying Mounts

Flying mounts can only be purchased using the Expert Riding Skill (225) after gaining level 70. The basic flying mount costs 100 gold.

Epic Flying Mounts

Epic Flying Mounts can be acquired once reaching level 70 and gaining the Artisan Riding Skill (300). The epic flying mounts cost around 200 gold and may also require a certain level of reputation with the mounts corresponding faction.

PvP Mounts

PvP mounts require an accumulation of honor tokens and honor to purchase.

Rare Faction Mounts

There are three Rare Faction Mounts in the game - two in the Burning Crusade expansion and one in Winterspring.

Winterspring Frostsaber: The only epic ground mount that a player can purchase with the Apprentice Riding Skill. The player must be level 60 and be exalted with the Wintersaber Trainers to purchase this mount. The mount costs 80 gold and is sold by Rivern Frostwind on Frostsaber Rock.

Riding Talbuk: This epic mount requires the player to be exalted with the corresponding Nagrand faction (Mag'har for the Horde and Kurenai for the Alliance) to purchase. The mount costs 70 gold and is sold by two vendors: Provisioner Nasela for the Mag'har, and Trader Narasu for the Kurenai.

War Talbuk: This epic mount requires the player to be exalted with the corresponding Nagrand faction (Mag'har for the Horde and Kurenai for the Alliance) to purchase. The mount costs 100 gold and is sold by two vendors: Provisioner Nasela for the Mag'har, and Trader Narasu for the Kurenai. ^[1]

Dropped Mounts

Dropped mounts are mounts that are found in instances all over both the Outlands and Azeroth. All of these mounts have an extremely low drop rate, and can be obtained by members of either faction.

Holiday Mounts

Special mounts are available during game-wide events throughout the year.

Feast of Winter Veil: During this festival, Fresh or Preserved Holly can be obtained, which changes the players mount into a reindeer. If the player is on a flying mount, the reindeer will fly. Both items require level 40. The Preserved Holly can be obtained by completing quests "Metzen the Reindeer" or "The Hero of the Day".

Brewfest: During this fun festival, 600 Brewfeast Prize Tickets can be turned in along with gold to obtain a Brewfest Ram or a Swift Brewfest Ram. The Brewfest Ram costs 10 gold, along with the 600 tickets. The Swift Brewfest Ram costs 100 gold and 600 tickets. The Alliance can buy their Ram from Belbi Quikswitch in Dun Morogh, while the Horde can see Blix Fixwidget in Durotar.

Hallow's End: During this seasonal event, players can obtain rideable broomsticks. All brooms are dropped from the Headless Horseman in Scarlet Monastary's graveyard wing. Each different broomstick requires a different level/riding skill combination. The Headless Horseman also drops The Reins of the Headless Horseman's mount.

Mount Speed

There are five ways to increase the speed of your mount. All methods work on both ground and flying mounts. The first three methods can be "stacked" or used together, while the last two cannot.

1. Enchant Gloves - Riding Skill:
• Gives +2% to riding speed (stackable). This enchant can be created from a world dropped Enchanting recipe.
2. Carrot on a Stick:
• Gives +3% to riding speed (stackable). This item is a reward from the Gahz'rilla quest in Zul'Farrak.
3. Mithril Spurs:
• Gives +4% to riding speed (stackable). This item can be created from world drop Blacksmithing plans.
4. Riding Crop:
• Gives +10% to riding speed (not stackable). This item is a Leatherworking pattern sold in Old Hillsbrad Foothills. (Does not work for players above level 70)
5. Skybreaker Whip:
• Gives +10% to riding speed (not stackable). This item is a quest reward from the quest Dragonmaw Race: Captain Skyshatter. The player must also be Honored with Netherwing. (Does not work for players above level 70)

In addition, both Paladins and Hunters have abilities that can increase their riding speed:

Paladins:

• Pursuit of Justice - increases mount speed by 5%, 10%, or 15% respectively. This ability cannot be stacked.
• Crusader Aura - increases mount speed for all members in the party by 20%. This ability cannot be stacked. The ability is available at level 62.

Hunters:

• Pathfinding - increases your speed while mounted by 5% or 10% respectively and cannot be stacked

Notes

1. ^ This mount is the armored version of the Riding Talbuk.

History

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