The Elusive Swift Zulian Tiger: Drop Rate and Everything You Need to Know in Classic WoW
The Swift Zulian Tiger is an iconic mount in World of Warcraft, renowned for its striking appearance and extreme rarity. For players delving into the depths of Classic WoW, the question of its availability and drop rate is a common one. This article provides a comprehensive look at the Swift Zulian Tiger in Classic WoW, including its drop rate, history, and answers to some frequently asked questions.
Swift Zulian Tiger Drop Rate in Classic WoW
The Swift Zulian Tiger had a notoriously low drop rate in its original iteration, and this remains true in Classic WoW. The estimated drop rate of the Swift Zulian Tiger is approximately 0.80%, or about 1 in 125, when it drops. This drop occurs from High Priest Thekal, who can be found inside the Zul’Gurub raid. This means that on average, you’d expect to see the mount drop once every 125 kills of the boss. This is where the “abysmally small” and rare reputation of the tiger truly comes from.
Why the Drop Rate Seems Even Lower
It’s important to note that the 0.80% drop rate is for the raid group as a whole. Typically, in the classic version of Zul’Gurub, a raid group consisted of 20 players. Therefore, the chance of any specific player receiving the mount drops even further. If your raid is comprised of 20 members and the mount drops, then one person will receive it. For a specific person the odds of getting the mount on a single boss kill is approximately 1 in 2500, or .04%. This highlights the true rarity of obtaining the Swift Zulian Tiger. Many players ran the raid countless times without ever seeing the mount drop. This is a common experience for players farming for rare mounts.
Swift Zulian Tiger History and Availability
The Swift Zulian Tiger was introduced as a loot drop in the original Zul’Gurub raid. This old version of the raid was a 20-man encounter that presented a good challenge to players back in the day. High Priest Thekal was the source for this mount, making him the target of many raiders seeking this magnificent tiger. The mount itself is visually striking. It resembles a large nightsaber, with a distinctive orange body and black tiger stripes. This unique color scheme helped make it highly sought after.
The Transition to Cataclysm and Its Disappearance
When Zul’Gurub was revamped as a 5-player dungeon in the Cataclysm expansion, the Swift Zulian Tiger was removed as a loot drop. This change made the mount unavailable to acquire through normal gameplay. The removal of the mount from Zul’Gurub solidified its status as a rare and prestigious item, only available in Classic WoW. The desire for the mount only increased as players realized that they might not have another chance to acquire the mount.
Availability in Modern WoW
The Swift Zulian Tiger is currently unavailable in modern versions of World of Warcraft through normal gameplay. It sometimes appears on the Black Market Auction House, however, acquiring it through this method requires a great amount of gold, and still has a small chance of success. The Black Market Auction House is highly competitive, and there are only a few specific ways that a player can try to acquire this mount on modern servers. As the mount cannot be obtained in modern World of Warcraft via normal means it has become one of the rarest mounts in the game. The mount maintains its rare and prestigious status, with only older players of the game being able to potentially acquire the mount.
Swift Zulian Tiger: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you still get the Swift Zulian Tiger in Classic WoW?
Yes, you can still get the Swift Zulian Tiger in Classic WoW. It drops from High Priest Thekal in the Zul’Gurub raid.
2. What boss drops the Swift Zulian Tiger?
The Swift Zulian Tiger drops from High Priest Thekal in the Zul’Gurub raid.
3. What is the exact drop rate of the Swift Zulian Tiger?
The drop rate of the Swift Zulian Tiger is approximately 0.80% or 1 in 125 for the raid group as a whole. Remember, each individual has an even smaller percentage to acquire it.
4. What was the original drop rate from High Priest Thekal?
The original drop rate was the same, at approximately 0.80% or 1 in 125.
5. Is the Swift Zulian Tiger a guaranteed drop if you do the raid enough times?
No, the Swift Zulian Tiger is not a guaranteed drop. Even after running the raid many times, the chance of it dropping is only 0.80% each time. This is the same as any other loot drop, and the chances of the mount appearing are not impacted by other boss kills.
6. How many players can participate in the Zul’Gurub raid?
Zul’Gurub is a 20-man raid in Classic WoW.
7. How does the raid size affect the chances of getting the mount?
The 0.80% drop rate applies to the entire raid group, so when a mount drops it goes to one person in a 20 person raid, but not everyone gets one. If a mount does drop for your group, each player has a 1/20 chance of getting it. It is not guaranteed for a given player, even if it drops. This means it could take a very long time to acquire the mount for a player, if ever.
8. Is the Swift Zulian Tiger available on the Black Market Auction House?
Yes, the Swift Zulian Tiger can appear on the Black Market Auction House in modern versions of World of Warcraft, but it is not available on the Black Market in Classic WoW.
9. Was the Swift Zulian Tiger available for both Alliance and Horde players?
Yes, the Swift Zulian Tiger was available for both Alliance and Horde players in Classic WoW.
10. What is the difference between the Swift Zulian Tiger and the Swift Zulian Panther?
The Swift Zulian Tiger drops from High Priest Thekal, while the Swift Zulian Panther drops from High Priestess Kilnara in the same raid. The Swift Zulian Panther also has an approximate drop rate of 1%. They are two different mounts entirely with different coloring.
11. What is the rarest mount in Classic WoW besides the Swift Zulian Tiger?
Other rare mounts in Classic WoW include the Black Qiraji Resonating Crystal, Deathcharger’s Reins, and the Swift Razzashi Raptor.
12. What is the riding skill required to use the Swift Zulian Tiger?
The Swift Zulian Tiger requires 150 Riding skill.
13. How can I increase my chances of getting the mount?
The best way to increase your chances is to run Zul’Gurub with multiple characters weekly, if possible. Since the drop rate is so low, the only real strategy is to do the content as much as possible.
14. Why is the Swift Zulian Tiger considered so rare?
The Swift Zulian Tiger is considered rare because of its extremely low drop rate and it has been removed from the game content outside of classic.
15. Is the Swift Zulian Tiger the rarest mount in World of Warcraft?
While it’s one of the rarest in Classic WoW, modern World of Warcraft has other mounts considered rarer due to extremely low drop rates. This includes mounts like the Silent Glider and Clutch of Ji-Kun. The Swift Zulian Tiger remains one of the more prestigious and iconic mounts.
Final Thoughts
The Swift Zulian Tiger remains an iconic and elusive prize for players in Classic WoW. Its extremely low drop rate, combined with its historical context, makes it one of the most sought-after mounts in the game. While the odds may seem daunting, persistence and dedication can eventually lead to claiming this magnificent beast. For those brave enough to face the challenges of Zul’Gurub, the Swift Zulian Tiger remains a treasure worth pursuing.