How to Breed Mounts in Black Desert Online: A Comprehensive Guide
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Breeding mounts in Black Desert Online (BDO) is a core mechanic for obtaining faster, higher-tier horses and even the coveted Mythical Horses. There are fundamentally three ways to breed horses in BDO:
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Breeding Market: Utilize the Breeding Market at any Stable. This allows you to breed a female horse you own with another player’s male horse (or vice versa). Your female horse must have at least one available breeding count. You select a desirable male horse listed in the Breeding Market and pay a fee to breed with it. This is a common method for newer players or those seeking specific bloodlines.
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Own Stable Breeding: Breed a female and male horse both residing in your own stable. Both horses must have at least one available breeding count. This method offers more control over the resulting foal’s potential stats and skills, but requires owning both a male and female horse of desired tiers.
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Horse Exchange (Less Common): Exchange both a male and female horse at the Stable for a chance to receive a foal. Be warned: you permanently lose both horses in this process! This is generally considered less desirable than breeding, but can sometimes be a last resort if breeding attempts aren’t yielding the desired results. The cost for Horse Exchange is 35,000 Silver.
Understanding Horse Breeding Mechanics
Breeding Counts
Each horse has a limited number of breeding counts. These counts determine how many times a horse can be used for breeding. Once exhausted, a horse can no longer breed, but can still be ridden and used for other purposes. Breeding counts are not restored.
Horse Tiers and Levels
The tier of a horse directly impacts its stats and potential skills. Higher-tier horses are generally faster and stronger. Breeding two high-tier horses gives you a better chance of getting a higher-tier foal. The level of the parent horses also plays a significant role in the potential tier of the foal. Leveling your horses before breeding is crucial for obtaining better offspring. Leveling to level 30 is a common strategy.
Skills and Stats
While the exact mechanics are debated, there is a general consensus that the skills and stats of parent horses can influence the foal’s potential skills. Some players believe that breeding horses with desirable skills increases the likelihood of those skills being passed on to the foal.
Breeding Timer
After initiating breeding, there is a waiting period of 2.5 hours. During this time, you cannot retrieve the horses involved in breeding. After the timer expires, you can claim your foal.
Essential Steps for Successful Horse Breeding
- Prepare Your Horses: Ensure you have at least one female horse with available breeding counts. If you’re using the Own Stable Breeding method, you’ll need a suitable male horse as well.
- Level Up Your Horses: Leveling parent horses to level 30 is commonly advised to improve the chances of a higher-tier foal.
- Select a Breeding Method: Choose between the Breeding Market, Own Stable Breeding, or the Horse Exchange method based on your resources and goals.
- Initiate Breeding: If using the Breeding Market, find a desirable male horse and select “Breed.” If using Own Stable Breeding, select a female horse and choose to breed with a horse in your stable.
- Wait for the Breeding Timer: Patiently wait for the 2.5-hour breeding timer to expire.
- Claim Your Foal: After the timer, visit the stable and claim your newly born foal. It will be a Level 1 horse.
- Register your horse You need to register your horse after you claim it.
Reaching Tier 8 and Mythical Horses
Obtaining Tier 8 and Mythical Horses requires specific steps and dedicated effort.
- Tier 8 Horses: You can obtain Tier 8 Horses by breeding two Level 30, Tier 7 horses. Using a [Rainbow Jewel Fruit], purchased from the Livestock Vendor for 100,000,000 Silver, increases the chance of success, although the odds remain low.
- Mythical Horses: To create a Tier 10 (T10) Mythical Horse, you need both a Male and Female Tier 9 Horse of the same type. Both horses must be level 30, and you must take them to either Stonetail Ranch or Grana Stable. You will also need a new item called Mythical Censer.
The Games Learning Society and BDO
Horse breeding in Black Desert Online is just one aspect of the game’s complex system that relies on player agency, community interaction, and resource management. The game provides a virtual laboratory where players can test hypotheses, share findings, and build collective knowledge – a scenario that resonates strongly with the principles of the Games Learning Society, a community dedicated to understanding how games foster learning and engagement. Learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I increase my chances of getting a higher-tier horse when breeding?
Level up your parent horses to level 30 before breeding. Consider using the Breeding Market to access higher-tier male horses owned by other players.
2. What happens if my horse dies in BDO? Do I lose it forever?
If your horse dies, you do not lose it permanently. You can revive it at a stable using Silver. However, be aware that if you were carrying trade items on your horse when it died, those items may be lost.
3. What is the best location to find wild horses for capturing in BDO?
The region south of Duvencrune and west of the Gayak Altar node is known for a higher chance of finding Tier 7 wild horses.
4. How do breeding counts work? Can I restore them?
Each horse has a limited number of breeding counts. Once those counts are exhausted, the horse can no longer breed. Breeding counts cannot be restored.
5. Can I breed any two horses together, or are there restrictions?
You can breed any two horses together, provided they are of opposite genders and have available breeding counts. However, breeding horses of similar tiers generally yields better results.
6. How long does it take to breed a horse in BDO?
The breeding timer is 2.5 hours.
7. Where can I find the Rainbow Jewel Fruit needed for Tier 8 horse breeding?
You can purchase the [Rainbow Jewel Fruit] from the Livestock Vendor for 100,000,000 Silver.
8. Does my Training Level affect my chances of breeding a good horse?
Your Training Level and Mastery do not directly affect the chances of breeding an Imperial Steed, but can affect the likelihood of getting better skills on the foal, and other benefits.
9. What is an Imperial Steed, and how do I get one?
An Imperial Steed is a horse with certain desired traits and a specific appearance. You can only obtain an Imperial Steed through horse breeding, not through the Horse Exchange.
10. Can I ride my horse in the desert without any issues?
Horses can be ridden in the desert, but they cannot use any skills, and their speed is significantly reduced. They do not suffer immediate death or heatstroke/hypothermia.
11. Is the Horse Exchange method a good way to get a high-tier horse?
The Horse Exchange is generally considered less desirable than breeding, as you permanently lose both horses involved. It can sometimes be a last resort, but it’s not the most efficient way to obtain a high-tier horse.
12. What gear is considered the best for horses in BDO?
The Wind set is arguably the best horse gear due to its set effects.
13. What is the maximum horse level in BDO?
Horses can now be leveled up to Lv. 100. These horses will not draw aggro from monsters in monster zones if their level is high enough.
14. What are some general tips for getting good horse skills?
Some players believe that breeding horses with desired skills increases the likelihood of those skills being passed on to the foal. The higher the tier of the parent horses the better.
15. How do I breed pets in BDO?
You can only breed pets that are the same type (other than Wizard Gosphy which can be exchanged with any). To open the exchange window, click your pet icon then “Exchange”. Click the add icon next to the pets you want to exchange. You can exchange up to 5 pets.
Hopefully, this detailed guide has answered all of your questions about how to breed mounts in Black Desert Online. Happy breeding!