How to Soar Above Zandalar: A Complete Guide to Flying
The lush, ancient land of Zandalar, with its towering pyramids and vibrant jungles, beckons exploration. But how do you actually take to the skies and experience its beauty from above? The answer is now straightforward: you can fly in Zandalar simply by having the Expert Riding skill. No longer are you burdened by the lengthy and often arduous Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder achievements. Let’s dive into how this works and answer all your burning questions about flying in Zandalar.
How to Unlock Flying in Zandalar
The good news is that the previous major obstacle of the Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder meta-achievement has been removed. As of Patch 10.0.7, flying in Zandalar is unlocked for any character that has learned the Expert Riding skill. This means that if you have the base flying skill (Expert Riding) on a character, you can fly in Zandalar, regardless of whether you completed the Pathfinder achievement or not.
This change is a significant quality-of-life improvement, allowing both new and returning players to explore the entirety of Zandalar unhindered. No more lengthy grinds or reputation farming are necessary – just learn the appropriate riding skill and take to the skies.
Understanding Riding Skills
- Journeyman Riding: This is the initial ground mount speed upgrade. You’ll want this for faster travel on the ground if you’re new.
- Expert Riding: This is the base flying skill, and now the only requirement for flying in Zandalar.
- Master Riding: This is the highest-tier riding skill, granting the fastest flying speed.
To fly, make sure you’ve learned at least Expert Riding from your riding trainer. If you’re a returning player and already have a high level character, you likely already have this, but if you are a newer player, you will need to train it.
Level Requirements and Flying
You may find that your lower-level character can still fly, even if the game has scaled your character down below the level they were at when they learned Expert Riding. This is because the game remembers your learned flying skills, even if your level temporarily reduces. However, if you are just starting out and leveling through Zandalar, you will not have access to Expert Riding until your reach a level high enough to learn it from the riding trainer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Flying in Zandalar
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about flying in Zandalar, to ensure you have all the necessary information:
1. What was the Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder achievement?
The Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder was a meta-achievement that was originally required to unlock flying in Kul Tiras and Zandalar. It consisted of two parts: part one required exploring the continents and earning revered reputation with allied factions, while part two required further progression. Thankfully, this is no longer required.
2. Do I need to complete any quests to fly in Zandalar?
No, you do not need to complete any specific quests solely to unlock flying. As long as you have trained Expert Riding, you can fly in Zandalar.
3. Can I fly in Zandalar with a low-level character?
Yes, you can fly in Zandalar with a lower-level character that has learned the Expert Riding skill.
4. Do I need a specific flying mount to fly in Zandalar?
No, any flying mount that you have will work. The ability to fly is granted by the Expert Riding skill, not specific mounts.
5. Where do I learn the Expert Riding skill?
Riding trainers are found in major cities. For the Horde, you’ll find the riding trainer in Orgrimmar. For the Alliance, you’ll find it in Stormwind. The specific NPCs are often on the outskirts or upper levels of these cities.
6. Is there a cost for learning Expert Riding?
Yes, there is a gold cost associated with learning Expert Riding. The cost will vary depending on your level and any discounts from faction reputation.
7. Can I fly in Zandalar as soon as I arrive?
Not necessarily. You’ll need to learn the Expert Riding skill, which usually unlocks around level 30. If you are a new character leveling through BFA you will need to level to this point to learn this skill.
8. I can fly in Shadowlands, but not in Zandalar. Why?
Flying in Shadowlands requires a separate unlock (Renown with your Covenant), that has nothing to do with flying in Zandalar. To fly in Zandalar, you simply need the Expert Riding skill.
9. Does flying in Zandalar require a subscription?
Yes, flying in Zandalar requires an active World of Warcraft subscription.
10. What is the level range for Zandalar?
Zuldazar, the main zone in Zandalar, scales from levels 10 to 50. You can explore the region at various levels.
11. Do I need to level through Battle for Azeroth to play Shadowlands or Dragonflight?
No, players are no longer required to level through BfA. However, new players do have to level through BfA, at least for their first character, to become familiar with the game’s story up to that point.
12. Can I fly in other Battle for Azeroth zones now?
Yes, the removal of the Pathfinder requirement applies to all Battle for Azeroth zones, including Kul Tiras and Mechagon/Nazjatar.
13. Is there a way to increase my flying speed?
Yes, you can increase your flying speed by learning the Master Riding skill. It costs 5,000 gold to train. This cost can be reduced through reputation.
14. Do I have to unlock flying on every character?
The Expert Riding skill is learned on a character-by-character basis, and not account-wide, meaning all characters will need to level to at least level 30 and train the skill. This is not the case for Shadowlands flying, which is unlocked account-wide once obtained.
15. Can I fly in areas designed without flying in mind?
No. Some areas, such as dungeons, raids and battlegrounds are still no-fly zones, and likely always will be. The change only applies to flying in the open world.
Final Thoughts
Flying in Zandalar is now a more accessible and enjoyable experience. The removal of the Battle for Azeroth Pathfinder requirement is a welcome change for both new and veteran players. Simply train Expert Riding, and you’ll be soaring above the vibrant landscapes of Zandalar in no time. Enjoy the view!