Soaring the Skies: Unlocking Dragonriding Mounts in Dragonflight
Unlocking new Dragonriding mounts in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is a layered process that blends gameplay progression with reputation grinds and quest completion. You start with the Renewed Proto-Drake early on, and the journey expands from there. Fundamentally, unlocking other dragons boils down to a combination of completing specific questlines, earning achievements tied to the main story, and increasing your Renown with the various factions inhabiting the Dragon Isles. Customization of your existing drakes also provides an avenue to achieve that “new dragon” feel.
Diving Deeper into Dragonriding Mount Acquisition
Questlines and Achievements
Certain questlines reward unique Dragonriding mounts directly upon completion. For example, obtaining the Winding Slitherdrake, the serpentine black dragon, requires progressing through the “Inherited Sin” storyline and finishing the quest “Worst of the Worst.” Keep an eye on main story quests in each zone as they often unlock new dragons or customization options. Achievements related to exploring zones and interacting with their inhabitants often grant rewards, including new looks for your drakes.
Renown and Faction Rewards
The cornerstone of unlocking many Dragonriding customizations and, to some extent, entirely new mounts lies in the Renown system. Each major faction in the Dragon Isles – the Valdrakken Accord, the Maruuk Centaur, the Iskaara Tuskarr, and the Dragonscale Expedition – offers unique rewards as you increase your standing with them. These rewards often include Dragonriding customizations, such as new scales, horns, and armor.
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Valdrakken Accord: Reaching higher Renown levels with the Valdrakken Accord unlocks various colorations and features for your dragons.
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Maruuk Centaur: Favor with the Maruuk Centaur brings access to customizations themed around the centaur culture and the plains of Ohn’ahran.
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Iskaara Tuskarr: The Iskaara Tuskarr offer customizations that reflect their maritime culture and their connection to the Azure Span.
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Dragonscale Expedition: Renown with the Dragonscale Expedition provides access to customizations reflecting their adventurous spirit and their connection to the ancient dragon lore.
Gaining Renown involves completing world quests, daily quests, and other activities specific to each faction.
Gathering Resources
Many customizations and some mounts also require specific resources, such as Dragon Isles Supplies, which can be obtained through world quests, treasure hunting, and completing daily quests. Keep an eye on the Auction House as well, as players often sell these resources, saving you time on grinding.
Exploring and Discovering Secrets
Dragonflight is rife with secrets and hidden quests. Some of the most unique Dragonriding customizations are earned by discovering these secrets, so keep an eye out for hidden areas, interact with everything you can, and explore every corner of the Dragon Isles.
FAQ: Dragonriding Mounts in Dragonflight
How do I get started with Dragonriding in Dragonflight?
You automatically unlock the Dragonriding system and the Renewed Proto-Drake early in the Dragonflight campaign as you progress through the initial questline. This initial quest chain teaches you the basics of Dragonriding and allows you to customize your first drake.
Can I use my old mounts in the Dragon Isles?
Yes, you can still use your old mounts in the Dragon Isles, but Dragonriding mounts are significantly faster and more efficient for traversing the vast landscapes. Dragonriding is the intended method of transportation within the Dragon Isles.
How do I improve my Dragonriding abilities?
You improve your Dragonriding abilities by collecting Dragon Glyphs scattered throughout the Dragon Isles. These glyphs unlock new talents in the Dragonriding talent tree, enhancing your speed, vigor regeneration, and maneuverability.
What is Vigor, and how does it affect Dragonriding?
Vigor is the energy resource used for Dragonriding abilities like Surge Forward and Skyward Ascent. Managing your vigor effectively is crucial for maintaining speed and altitude. Vigor regenerates over time, and you can also regenerate it by performing specific maneuvers, such as skimming close to the ground.
How do I get the Highland Drake?
The Highland Drake is unlocked fairly early on in the main questline of the Dragonflight expansion, much like the Renewed Proto-Drake. Just continue the story to unlock this fantastic drake!
How do I get the Cliffside Wylderdrake?
The Cliffside Wylderdrake is unlocked after reaching the third zone of the game, the Azure Span, after the end of the main questline, “The Azure Span.”
How do I get the Windborne Velocidrake?
The Windborne Velocidrake is unlocked when you arrive at the Thaldraszus zone after completing the main questline, “Legacy of Tyr.”
What are Dragonriding customizations?
Dragonriding customizations are options that allow you to change the appearance of your Dragonriding mounts. These customizations include different heads, horns, scales, colors, and armor. They are unlocked through various means, including Renown with factions, completing quests, and earning achievements.
How do I unlock new colors for my Dragonriding mounts?
New colors, or scales, for your Dragonriding mounts are typically unlocked by increasing your Renown with the various Dragon Isles factions. For example, Blue Scales might be unlocked by reaching a specific Renown rank with the Iskaara Tuskarr.
Are there any hidden Dragonriding customizations?
Yes, there are several hidden Dragonriding customizations that require exploration and puzzle-solving to unlock. Keep an eye out for hidden areas and interact with your surroundings.
What is the rarest Dragonriding mount customization?
While “rarest” is subjective and can change over time, some customizations that require significant effort or luck to obtain are often considered rare. These could include customizations tied to specific achievements, difficult quests, or low-drop-rate items.
Can I trade Dragonriding customizations with other players?
No, Dragonriding customizations are generally account-bound and cannot be traded with other players.
How do I track my progress towards unlocking Dragonriding customizations?
You can track your progress towards unlocking Dragonriding customizations by checking your achievements, Renown levels with the Dragon Isles factions, and quest completion.
Where can I find information on the best Dragonriding routes and techniques?
There are numerous online resources, including guides, videos, and community forums, that provide information on the best Dragonriding routes and techniques. Experimenting yourself is also a great way to find optimized routes!
Is there a link between Dragonriding and learning?
Absolutely! Dragonriding promotes spatial reasoning, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills as players navigate complex terrains, manage resources, and optimize their flight paths. These are skills that are studied by the Games Learning Society. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to find out more.
Unlocking new Dragonriding mounts and customizations in Dragonflight is a rewarding experience that encourages exploration, progression, and engagement with the world and its inhabitants. So, saddle up, take to the skies, and discover the wonders of the Dragon Isles!