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Unlocking the Skies: A Comprehensive Guide to Flying in WoW Retail

So, you’re ready to take to the skies in World of Warcraft Retail? Excellent choice! Flying unlocks a whole new dimension of exploration and efficiency. The simple answer is this: Unlocking flying in WoW Retail depends on which zone or expansion you’re aiming to soar through. Generally, it involves reaching a certain level, purchasing appropriate riding skills, and sometimes, completing specific achievements or questlines. Let’s break it down in detail.

The Basics of Flight: Levels and Skills

The foundation of flying in WoW lies in your character’s level and their riding skill.

Level Requirements

You can first learn to fly at level 30. This unlocks the Expert Riding skill.

Riding Skills

Apprentice Riding: (Level 10) Allows you to ride ground mounts at 60% speed. Essential to get you started on your adventures.
Journeyman Riding: (Level 20) Increases ground mount speed to 100%. A welcome upgrade for faster travels.
Expert Riding: (Level 30) This is where the magic happens! It allows you to ride flying mounts at 150% speed.
Artisan Riding: (Level 40) Improves flying speed to 280%. A significant boost that makes covering large distances much quicker.
Master Riding: (Level 60) Reaches maximum flying speed at 310%. This is the ultimate speed for traversing the world.

Where to Learn Riding Skills

Visit a Riding Trainer in any major city (Stormwind, Orgrimmar, etc.). Trainers include Bralla Cloudwing in Stormwind and Maztha in Orgrimmar. The guards in major cities can direct you to the nearest Riding Trainer.

Cost

The cost of each riding skill varies, with Expert Riding typically costing around 250 gold. Higher riding skill levels will cost more.

Expansion-Specific Flying Requirements

While the basic riding skill unlocks the ability to fly, specific expansions and zones often have their own requirements. Here’s a breakdown:

Classic Zones (Kalimdor & Eastern Kingdoms)

Once you have Expert Riding, you can fly in almost all classic zones. You may need to explore the zone on foot initially to “discover” it before you can fly there.

Outland (The Burning Crusade)

Same as above, you can begin to fly in Outland once you have Expert Riding.

Northrend (Wrath of the Lich King)

Same as above, you can begin to fly in Northrend once you have Expert Riding.

Cataclysm Zones

If you have Expert Riding, then you can fly in the zones introduced in the Cataclysm expansion.

Pandaria (Mists of Pandaria)

Same as above, you can begin to fly in Pandaria once you have Expert Riding.

Draenor (Warlords of Draenor)

To fly in Draenor, you need to complete the Draenor Pathfinder achievement. This requires exploring Draenor, finding treasures, completing various questlines, and achieving Revered reputation with specific factions. It’s a time investment, but worthwhile.

Broken Isles (Legion)

To fly in the Broken Isles, you need to complete the Broken Isles Pathfinder, Part One and Broken Isles Pathfinder, Part Two achievements. These involve exploring the Broken Isles, completing specific world quests, reaching Revered reputation with specific factions, and completing class hall campaigns.

Kul Tiras & Zandalar (Battle for Azeroth)

Flying in Kul Tiras and Zandalar requires completing the Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder, Part One and Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder, Part Two achievements. Similar to previous Pathfinder achievements, these involve exploration, questing, and reputation grinding.

Shadowlands

To fly in the four main Shadowlands zones (Bastion, Maldraxxus, Ardenweald, and Revendreth), you need to achieve the following:
- Reach Renown level 44 with your chosen Covenant.
- Complete all 9 chapters of your Covenant Campaign.
- Complete up through the 3rd chapter of the 9.1 “Chains of Domination” Campaign (ending with The Primus Returns).
After completing the conditions mentioned above, you will earn the item Memories of Sunless Skies, that allows all your characters on one WoW account to fly.

Dragon Isles

In Dragonflight, you initially utilize Dragonriding, a dynamic form of flight unique to the Dragon Isles.
To unlock regular flying in the Dragon Isles, you need to complete the following achievements:
- Waking Hope: Complete the Waking Shores storyline.
- Ohn’a’roll: Complete the Ohn’ahran Plains storyline.
- Azure Spanner: Complete the Azure Span storyline.
These achievements are earned through the main quest line of the Dragon Isles and will allow you to activate regular flying and use traditional flying mounts within the expansion’s zones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about unlocking flying in WoW Retail:

1. What level do I need to be to start flying?

You can start flying at level 30 by learning the Expert Riding skill.

2. How much does it cost to learn how to fly?

The Expert Riding skill typically costs around 250 gold. The price of higher riding skills increases with each level.

3. Where can I learn flying?

Visit a Riding Trainer in any major city, such as Stormwind or Orgrimmar. Ask a guard for directions to the nearest trainer.

4. Can I fly in all zones once I learn the Expert Riding skill?

No. While you can fly in many older zones (Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms, Outland, Northrend) with Expert Riding, newer zones often require completing specific Pathfinder achievements or other criteria, as discussed above.

5. What is a Pathfinder achievement?

Pathfinder achievements are meta-achievements that require completing various tasks within a specific expansion, such as exploring zones, completing quests, and gaining reputation with factions. Completing a Pathfinder achievement usually unlocks flying in the associated zones for all characters on your account.

6. How long does it take to unlock flying in Shadowlands?

Unlocking flying in the Shadowlands can take around 3-4 days, depending on your progress with your Covenant campaign and Renown level. It involves reaching Renown 44, completing the Covenant campaign, and finishing part of the Chains of Domination campaign.

7. Is flying account-wide in Shadowlands?

Yes, once you unlock flying in the Shadowlands with one character by obtaining Memories of Sunless Skies, all characters on your account can fly in those zones.

8. What are the requirements to fly in Dragonflight?

Initially, you’ll use Dragonriding. To unlock traditional flying in the Dragon Isles, you need to complete specific achievements tied to the main storylines of each zone: Waking Hope, Ohn’a’roll, and Azure Spanner.

9. Can I use my old flying mounts in Dragonflight?

Yes, once you unlock the achievements, you can use all your collected flying mounts in the Dragon Isles.

10. Do I get a free flying mount in WoW?

A quest called Time to Fly will grant you a free flying mount once you reach level 30.

11. Can I fly at level 20 in WoW?

No, flying isn’t available until level 30, when you can learn Expert Riding.

12. Can I buy flying in WoW?

Some locations such as Kalimdor, Eastern Kingdoms, Northrend, Outland, Pandaria, Draenor, Broken Isles, and BFA zones allow players to buy the WoW flying license in exchange for gold. To unlock flying in Shadowlands or in the Dragon Isles one has to complete so-called pathfinder WoW meta-achievements.

13. Why can’t I fly on WoW?

The main reason is that you may not have the required riding skills for flying or may not have completed the specific achievements required for flying in certain zones.

14. Where do you learn flying in classic wow?

Flying skill is learned at a specialized trainer for a fee. The Alliance and Horde have separate flying trainers in Hellfire Peninsula: Alliance players train with Hargen Bronzewing, who is found in Honor Hold in Hellfire Peninsula, /way 54.2 62.6.

15. Can I get to Icecrown without a flying mount?

Yes, you can reach icecrown by teleporting to crystalsong forest from dalaran. Press map and you’ll see theres a path to icecrown you can travel by ground mount.

In Conclusion

Unlocking flying in WoW Retail is a journey that combines leveling, skill training, and often, dedicated effort towards completing specific achievements. Whether you’re soaring through the skies of old Azeroth or exploring the newer realms of the Dragon Isles, the freedom of flight is a rewarding experience that enhances your gameplay. So, level up, train your riding skills, and conquer those Pathfinder achievements – the skies await!

Learning in games, like understanding the complexities of unlocking flying, provides valuable skills and knowledge. The Games Learning Society explores how games can be used for educational purposes. Check out their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for more information.

How to unlock flying WoW retail?