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Soaring Through Azeroth: A Comprehensive Guide to Flying Mount Costs in World of Warcraft

The cost of a flying mount in World of Warcraft (WoW) isn’t a straightforward answer. It depends on several factors, including your level, the expansion you’re playing, your reputation, and whether you’re playing a retail version of WoW or WoW Classic. In modern retail WoW, players receive a free flying mount upon reaching level 30 and completing the “Time to Fly” quest, while in WoW Classic, the cost of a flying mount can range from a couple of gold to a thousand gold, depending on the mount’s rarity. This guide will break down the costs associated with learning to fly and acquiring your airborne steed, across different versions and expansions of the game.

Understanding the Basics: Riding Skill and Mount Costs

Before you can take to the skies, you’ll need the appropriate Riding skill. This skill allows you to use mounts of various speeds and types, including flying mounts. The cost of these skills can vary depending on the expansion and your reputation with the trainer’s faction. Let’s look at how prices change between WoW Classic and Retail.

WoW Classic: The Gold Grind is Real

In WoW Classic, earning gold can be a significant undertaking. Here’s a breakdown of flying costs:

Riding Skill: The riding skill itself costs around 20 gold.
Epic Flying Mounts: An epic flying mount will set you back approximately 1,000 gold.

Retail WoW: Flying Becomes More Accessible

In retail WoW, the process has been streamlined and made more accessible for players:

Free Flying Mount: As mentioned earlier, players get a free flying mount at level 30 through the “Time to Fly” quest. This drastically reduces the initial cost barrier.
Riding Skill Costs: Riding skill costs are relatively minor compared to Classic.
Variety of Mounts: A vast array of mounts are available through various means, including vendors, quests, achievements, and the in-game store.

Factors Influencing the Cost

Several factors can affect the price you pay for flying in WoW:

Reputation: Having a high reputation with a faction can significantly reduce the cost of riding skills and mounts sold by that faction’s vendors. Being Exalted with a faction typically offers the highest discount.
Riding Skill Level: Different riding skills are required for different mount speeds. As you progress, you’ll need to upgrade your riding skill, which incurs additional costs.
Mount Rarity: Mounts range from common to extremely rare. Rarer mounts, often obtained through difficult content or limited-time events, can command incredibly high prices on the Black Market Auction House or from other players (where trading mounts is allowed).
Expansion Specifics: Each expansion has its own requirements and costs associated with flying. For example, to fly in older expansions, you simply need to purchase the appropriate riding skill and be of the required level. In some newer expansions, unlocking flying requires completing specific achievements.
Game Version: The game version you are playing affects the cost: retail WoW or WoW Classic.

Flying Requirements by Expansion

Flying isn’t always as simple as buying a skill and a mount. Some expansions have specific requirements:

Outland (Burning Crusade): Requires level 60 and purchasing the appropriate riding skill from a trainer in Hellfire Peninsula.
Northrend (Wrath of the Lich King): Requires level 68 and purchasing Cold Weather Flying. This allows you to fly in Northrend zones.
Cataclysm & Beyond: Flying is generally available in the older zones after purchasing the appropriate riding skill.
Draenor & Legion: Initially, flying was locked behind Pathfinder achievements. Completing these achievements unlocked flying account-wide in those zones.
Battle for Azeroth, Shadowlands, & Dragonflight: Similar to Draenor and Legion, flying is often unlocked through completing meta-achievements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do you get a free flying mount in WoW?

Yes, in modern retail WoW, you receive a free flying mount upon reaching level 30 and completing the “Time to Fly” questline.

2. How much does an epic flying mount cost in WoW Classic?

In WoW Classic, an epic flying mount typically costs around 1,000 gold.

3. How much is epic riding training?

In older versions of WoW, like Classic, epic riding training costs around 20 gold, but the mount itself is where the significant expense lies (1,000 gold). In retail WoW, the cost is more integrated into the general riding skill progression.

4. Do you have to buy epic riding before flying?

In older versions of WoW, yes. You needed the “epic” riding skill before you could learn to fly, as it unlocked the ability to use faster mounts, including flying ones. This system has been streamlined in retail WoW.

5. How much does a basic flying mount cost in The Burning Crusade (TBC)?

In TBC, a basic flying mount can cost around 100 gold, while the epic flying mount costs 1,000 gold. The riding skill itself will also cost gold.

6. How much does a level 40 mount cost in WoW?

Level 40 mounts are ground mounts. The riding skill costs around 20 gold, and the mount itself can cost between 80 and 100 gold, depending on your faction and reputation. Epic ground mounts can cost 1,000 gold.

7. Can you buy flying in WoW?

Yes, you can buy flying skills from riding trainers in various locations. However, in some expansions, you also need to complete specific achievements or questlines to unlock flying in certain zones.

8. How do you get a flying mount in WoW?

In retail WoW, once you reach Level 30, you can get a free one after completing the required questline.

9. How much does the Death Knight flying mount cost?

The Death Knight-exclusive flying mount costs 1,000 gold without any faction discounts. You also need to purchase Cold Weather Flying to fly in Northrend, which costs another 1,000 gold.

10. What quests require a flying mount?

Many quests across various expansions require flying mounts to access specific areas or complete objectives. These are particularly common in zones introduced in The Burning Crusade and later expansions.

11. How much does it cost to fly in Northrend?

Flying in Northrend requires purchasing Cold Weather Flying, which costs 1,000 gold. You also need to be at least level 68 to learn the skill, or level 77 if you don’t have a level 80 character.

12. Why won’t my flying mount fly?

Several reasons could prevent your flying mount from taking off:

Insufficient Level: You may not be high enough level to use flying mounts.
Unlearned Skill: You haven’t purchased the appropriate riding skill.
Restricted Zone: You’re in a zone where flying is disabled or requires specific achievements to unlock.

13. How to unlock flying in Shadowlands or Dragonflight?

Flying in Shadowlands and Dragonflight typically requires completing specific meta-achievements, often involving completing the main storyline and reaching a certain reputation level with key factions.

14. How much does master riding cost in WoW?

Master Riding, which increases your flying speed significantly, can cost around 5,000 gold, but this can be discounted based on your reputation with the trainer’s faction, potentially reducing the cost to 4,000 gold.

15. What is the most expensive mount in World of Warcraft?

The Swift Spectral Tiger is considered the most expensive mount. This mount was obtained through a rare card in the discontinued WoW Trading Card Game, and unused codes for the mount can sell for thousands of dollars. There are also extremely rare mounts that drop in-game from rare bosses, such as the Ashes of Al’ar.

Finding the Right Mount for You

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting your adventure in Azeroth, understanding the costs and requirements for flying mounts can help you plan your journey and reach your goals more efficiently. From the gold grind of Classic to the streamlined systems of retail WoW, the ability to soar through the skies is a rewarding experience. Happy flying!

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How much does a flying mount cost in WoW?