Can You Give Away Mounts in WoW? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: mostly no. While directly gifting a mount you already possess in World of Warcraft (WoW) isn’t possible, there are workarounds and exceptions. You can purchase certain mounts as gifts through the Blizzard Shop and some mounts have a limited trade timer after acquisition. This article will dive into the intricacies of gifting, trading, and acquiring mounts in WoW, along with some frequently asked questions.
Gifting Mounts Through the Blizzard Shop
One of the primary ways to “gift” a mount is by using the Blizzard Shop. This method allows you to purchase certain mounts and send them directly to a friend’s Battle.net account.
How to Gift a Mount via the Blizzard Shop
- Visit the Battle.net Shop: Navigate to the Blizzard Shop on the Battle.net website or through the Battle.net desktop app.
- Select the Mount: Choose the mount you wish to gift. Note that not all mounts are available for gifting.
- Click “Gift”: Instead of clicking “Buy Now,” select the “Gift” option.
- Enter Recipient Information: You’ll be prompted to enter your friend’s BattleTag or email address, depending on the product.
- Complete the Purchase: Follow the prompts to complete the purchase. Your friend will receive a notification that they have received a gift.
Limitations of Gifting
- Not All Mounts are Giftable: Only mounts available in the Blizzard Shop can be gifted using this method. Mounts obtained through in-game activities like raids, quests, or achievements cannot be directly gifted once you have them.
- Regional Restrictions: Ensure that you are using the correct regional Battle.net Shop that matches your friend’s region to avoid compatibility issues.
Trading Mounts In-Game
In general, most toys, mounts, and pets cannot be traded directly between players in WoW. There is a limited exception for some items obtained in group content.
Trade Timers on Items
Certain items, including some pieces of gear and occasionally mounts, will have a trade timer. This allows you to trade the item to other players who were present when the item dropped, provided they were eligible to loot the item.
- Tradeable Loot: If you receive a mount drop in a raid or dungeon that you already have, and the mount is tradeable, you can offer it to another eligible player in your group within the trade timer window.
- Restrictions: The trade timer usually lasts for a few hours, and the recipient must have been present in the instance when the item dropped.
Why Can’t I Trade Most Mounts?
The restrictions on trading mounts are in place to maintain the integrity of the game’s economy and achievement system. Allowing unrestricted trading would likely devalue the effort required to obtain rare mounts and could lead to exploitation. The Games Learning Society promotes learning and understanding game mechanics and design choices, such as these restrictions.
Alternatives to Gifting and Trading
While direct gifting and trading of most mounts are restricted, here are a few alternative approaches:
- Boosting Services: While against the Terms of Service for many games, including WoW, some players offer boosting services, carrying other players through content to increase their chances of obtaining a specific mount. However, be aware that participating in such services carries risks.
- Gold Transfers: You could gift a friend gold, allowing them to purchase a mount from the Auction House (if available) or from a vendor. However, there are limits to how much gold can be traded between characters.
- Sharing Account-Bound Mounts: Some mounts are account-bound, meaning that once one character on your account obtains the mount, it becomes available to all characters on that account. If you obtain such a mount, you’re indirectly benefiting all characters on your account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I gift a WoW subscription to a friend?
No, you cannot directly gift a WoW subscription. However, you can gift game time to a friend through the Blizzard Shop. This gives them access to the game for a specified period.
2. How do I gift Battle.net Balance?
If you’re unsure what specific item to gift, you can gift Battle.net Balance. This allows your friend to purchase whatever they want from the Blizzard Shop, including mounts, pets, or game time. Look for the “Gift Battle.net Balance” option in the Blizzard Shop.
3. What is the rarest mount in WoW?
The title of the rarest mount often changes with new content, but some consistently rare mounts include:
- Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal (requires opening the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj on a server)
- Invincible’s Reins (drops from the Lich King in Icecrown Citadel)
- Silent Glider (extremely low drop rate).
4. Can you get the same mount twice in WoW?
Yes, it is possible to receive the same mount multiple times, especially from sources like repeatable quests or rare drops. However, most players collect them for the achievement count.
5. How rare is Invincible’s Reins?
Invincible’s Reins has a very low drop chance, approximately 1%, from the Lich King in the Icecrown Citadel raid (Heroic 25-player version).
6. What is the most expensive WoW mount?
Mounts obtained via Trading Card Games (TCG) loot cards, such as the Spectral Tiger, can fetch extremely high prices on the secondary market. Some have sold for thousands of dollars.
7. How many mounts are obtainable in WoW?
As of recent updates, there are over 900 obtainable mounts in World of Warcraft, excluding those that are no longer available.
8. What do you get for collecting 200 mounts?
Reaching the milestone of 200 mounts unlocks the Mount Parade achievement and rewards you with an armored dragonhawk flying mount.
9. Can I recruit a friend who has played WoW before?
You can use the Recruit-A-Friend program to invite friends who have an existing WoW account but have not had active game time in the past 24 months.
10. What is the easiest mount to get in WoW right now?
The Arboreal Gulper, which drops 100% of the time from a rare mob in Ardenweald, is generally considered one of the easiest mounts to obtain.
11. Can I trade gear in WoW?
Yes, gear can be traded within a limited timeframe to players who were present when the item dropped and were eligible to loot it. This trade timer usually lasts a couple of hours.
12. What class has the most class-specific mounts?
Paladins, Warlocks, Death Knights, and Demon Hunters typically have access to the most class-specific mounts, earned through quests or class-specific achievements.
13. Are there any mounts exclusive to WoW Classic?
Yes, some mounts are exclusive to WoW Classic, such as the Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal, which is only obtainable by players who completed the Scepter of the Shifting Sands questline and opened the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj on their server.
14. Can you gift items across different Battle.net platforms?
No, it is not possible to gift Battle.net products across different platforms. Make sure that both you and the recipient are using the same platform and region.
15. Where can I learn more about game mechanics and design?
For more insights into game mechanics and design, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. Understanding the underlying principles can enhance your gaming experience and appreciation for the nuances of game development.
In conclusion, while directly giving away mounts you already possess in WoW is largely restricted, the Blizzard Shop offers a viable method for gifting certain mounts. Understanding the limitations and exploring alternative approaches can help you share the joy of mount collecting with your friends.