Classic WoW Mounts Guide: Every Mount and How to Get Them (2026)
Mounts in Classic World of Warcraft are not just a way to get around. They are a hard-won trophy, a gold sink, a status symbol, and one of the most memorable parts of the original WoW experience. Reaching level 40 and finally being able to afford your first mount was a genuine milestone in 2004, and that feeling is very much alive on Classic Anniversary realms today.
This guide covers everything you need to know about mounts in Vanilla WoW, from the basics of riding skill and costs to every racial mount, class mount, rare drop, and raid reward available in the game. Whether you are a returning veteran or a first-time Classic player planning your collection, this is your complete reference.
How Mounts Work in Classic WoW
Unlike modern retail WoW, where mounts unlock at level 10 for a handful of gold, Classic WoW ties mounts to a specific riding skill system that costs a significant amount of gold. Understanding the system before you hit level 40 will save you a lot of frustration.
Riding Skill Levels
There are two tiers of riding skill in Classic WoW:
| Riding Skill | Level Required | Mount Speed | Riding Skill Cost | Mount Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (75) | Level 40 | +60% speed | 20g | 80g each |
| Journeyman (150) | Level 60 | +100% speed | 100g | 900g each |
Full cost without discounts: 100g at level 40, 1,000g at level 60. For new players, the level 60 epic mount represents one of the biggest single gold expenses in the entire game.
Getting Discounts
You can reduce mount costs by 10% per discount through two methods:
- Honored reputation with the faction you are buying from. This applies to the riding skill cost and the mount cost.
- Human racial passive (Diplomacy): Humans gain reputation faster, making it easier to reach Honored with other factions.
With both discounts active, the total cost drops to 80g at level 40 and 800g at level 60. Still a lot, but every gold counts in Classic.
Where to Train Riding
You train riding skill from the mount vendor for your own race, not from a general trainer. Each race has a specific vendor in a specific location. You do not need to visit a class trainer to learn to ride.
Alliance Racial Mounts
Alliance players have four racial mount types available: horses, rams, mechanostriders, and nightsabers. You start with access to your own race’s mounts, but you can purchase another race’s mounts by reaching Exalted with that race’s faction.
Human Mounts (Horses)
Humans ride horses purchased from Katie Stokx in the Eastvale Logging Camp in Elwynn Forest. Several other vendors worldwide also sell a subset of these horses.
Normal Mounts (Level 40, 60% speed):
- Brown Horse
- Chestnut Mare
- Pinto
Epic Mounts (Level 60, 100% speed):
- Swift Brown Steed
- Swift Palomino
- Swift White Steed
Dwarf Mounts (Rams)
Dwarves ride rams purchased from Veron Amberstill at the Amberstill Ranch in Dun Morogh.
Normal Mounts:
- Brown Ram
- Gray Ram
- White Ram
Epic Mounts:
- Swift Brown Ram
- Swift Gray Ram
- Swift White Ram
Gnome Mounts (Mechanostriders)
Gnomes ride mechanical mounts called mechanostriders, purchased from Milli Featherwhistle at the Steelgrill’s Depot in Dun Morogh.
Normal Mounts:
- Blue Mechanostrider
- Green Mechanostrider
- Red Mechanostrider
Epic Mounts:
- Swift Blue Mechanostrider
- Swift Green Mechanostrider
- Swift White Mechanostrider
- Swift Yellow Mechanostrider
Night Elf Mounts (Nightsabers/Frostsabers)
Night Elves ride big cats called nightsabers, purchased from Lelanai in the village of Dolanaar in Teldrassil.
Normal Mounts:
- Spotted Frostsaber
- Striped Frostsaber
- Striped Nightsaber
Epic Mounts:
- Striped Dawnsaber
- Striped Nightsaber (epic version)
- Swift Frostsaber
- Swift Mistsaber
- Swift Stormsaber
Night Elf mounts are among the most visually distinctive in the game and a popular cross-faction purchase for Alliance players.
Horde Racial Mounts
Horde players have four racial mount types: wolves, undead horses, kodos, and raptors. Cross-faction purchases within the Horde work the same way, requiring Exalted reputation with the associated faction.
Orc and Troll Mounts (Wolves)
Orcs and Trolls share the wolf mount vendor. Ogunaro Wolfrunner in Orgrimmar sells these mounts.
Normal Mounts:
- Black Wolf
- Brown Wolf
- Dire Wolf
- Timber Wolf
Epic Mounts:
- Horn of the Swift Brown Wolf
- Horn of the Swift Gray Wolf
- Swift Timber Wolf
Undead Mounts (Skeletal Horses)
Undead players ride skeletal horses, purchased from Zachariah Post in Brill, Tirisfal Glades.
Normal Mounts:
- Black Skeletal Horse
- Blue Skeletal Horse
- Brown Skeletal Horse
- Red Skeletal Horse
Epic Mounts:
- Green Skeletal Warhorse
- Ochre Skeletal Warhorse
- Purple Skeletal Warhorse
The skeletal horses are among the most iconic visual designs in WoW history and a favourite on both Classic and retail servers.
Tauren Mounts (Kodos)
Taurens ride kodos, purchased from Harb Clawhoof in Bloodhoof Village in Mulgore.
Normal Mounts:
- Brown Kodo
- Gray Kodo
Epic Mounts:
- Great Brown Kodo
- Great Gray Kodo
- Great White Kodo
Kodos are notoriously large mounts. Riding one into Orgrimmar turns heads every time.
Troll Mounts (Raptors)
Trolls also have their own distinct mount: raptors. These are purchased from Zjolnir in Sen’jin Village in Durotar.
Normal Mounts:
- Emerald Raptor
- Turquoise Raptor
- Violet Raptor
Epic Mounts:
- Swift Blue Raptor
- Swift Olive Raptor
- Swift Orange Raptor
Cross-faction note: The raptor is the only way the Alliance can get a raptor-style mount in Classic, through the rare drop Swift Razzashi Raptor (covered below in the Rare Drops section).
Class Mounts
Two classes in Classic WoW get their mounts through quests rather than purchasing them from vendors: Paladins and Warlocks. These class mounts are free in the sense that you do not pay gold for the mount itself, though Paladin quests have some material costs.
Paladin Mounts
Level 40: Complete the quest The Tome of Nobility, picked up from Duthorian Rall inside the Cathedral of Light in Stormwind City. This teaches you Summon Warhorse, an Alliance-exclusive white charger. Horde Paladins (Blood Elves) were not available in Classic Vanilla.
Level 60: The epic Paladin mount requires completing a more involved quest chain to earn the Charger (Summon Charger), a powerful armoured warhorse. Unlike the level 40 version, this epic quest has material costs, including enchanting reagents, specific crafted items, and dungeon runs.
If you want to ride a different mount as a Paladin, you still need to train riding skill and purchase one normally.
Warlock Mounts
Level 40: Complete the quest Summon Felsteed, picked up from Strahad Farsan at Ratchet in The Barrens. This teaches you Summon Felsteed, a fiery demonic horse that is one of the most recognisable mounts in Classic WoW.
Level 60: The epic Warlock mount, the Dreadsteed, requires completing the challenging Dreadsteed of Xoroth quest chain. This involves several dungeon runs, including Dire Maul West and specific reagents. The final encounter in Dire Maul is a memorable piece of Classic WoW content. Unlike modern WoW, where the Dreadsteed is learned automatically, in Classic, it requires putting in real effort.
PvP Mounts
Classic WoW has a competitive PvP honour system, and players who grind their way to specific honour ranks can unlock PvP reward mounts. These are available to both factions but require reaching a specific rank in the Classic PvP system.
Alliance PvP Mounts
The Alliance PvP mount reward is a Black Battlesteed, a dark horse variant tied to PvP rank. To purchase it, you must:
- Reach at least Lieutenant General (Rank 12) for epic quality, or lower ranks for normal quality versions
- Have at least 150 riding skills for the epic version
- Complete a token-gathering quest associated with the mount
The key rule with PvP mounts: you must hold the required rank at the time of purchase, but you do not need to maintain that rank to keep using the mount once you have it.
Horde PvP Mounts
The Horde PvP mount follows the same structure, with a comparable rank requirement for a dark epic wolf variant.
PvP mounts were genuinely prestigious in original Vanilla WoW. Reaching Rank 14 (Grand Marshal / High Warlord) was a near-full-time commitment that only the most dedicated players achieved. On Anniversary realms, the system works similarly.
Rare Drop and Raid Mounts
This is where Classic WoW mount collecting gets interesting. Beyond racial and class mounts, the game contains several rare drops with low probabilities and raid-specific rewards that remain among the most coveted in all of WoW’s history.
Rivendare’s Deathcharger
Source: Lord Aurius Rivendare in Stratholme
Drop Rate: Approximately 0.9% (roughly 1 in 111 kills)
Faction: Both
Notes: The original rare mount, the one that launched a thousand farming sessions. The Deathcharger is a skeletal horse that looks like an upgraded version of the undead racial mounts. Stratholme is easily soloable, and you can reset and re-enter the dungeon repeatedly (up to 10 instances per hour, shared across your account). Some players ran this hundreds of times before seeing it drop. At roughly 0.9%, the odds are not kind, but the run itself takes only a few minutes at max level.
Wowhead data lists the confirmed drop rate at around 0.9%, and community farming logs show players averaging 50-500+ kills before getting it. It is also occasionally available on the Black Market Auction House for players who would rather spend gold than time.
Swift Zulian Tiger
Source: High Priest Thekal in Zul’Gurub
Drop Rate: Approximately 0.8% per raid kill (much lower per individual)
Faction: Both (but especially coveted by Horde, as it was the only tiger mount for them)
Availability: Only in Classic WoW servers. Removed from retail when Zul’Gurub was revamped in Cataclysm.
The Swift Zulian Tiger is one of the most famous rare mounts in WoW history. In the original 20-man raid format, the mount dropped for the group, but only one player won it, making individual odds far lower than the base drop rate. In Classic WoW on anniversary realms, it remains a raid-reset farm target.
Since Cataclysm removed it from retail content, the Swift Zulian Tiger exists only in Classic. It occasionally surfaces on the retail Black Market Auction House, where it sells for enormous sums of gold.
Swift Razzashi Raptor
Source: Bloodlord Mandokir in Zul’Gurub
Drop Rate: Less than 1%
Faction: Both (notably the only raptor mount for Alliance players)
Availability: Classic WoW only. Also removed in Cataclysm.
The Swift Razzashi Raptor came from the same raid as the Zulian Tiger and met the same fate at Cataclysm’s launch. For Alliance players, it was the only way to ride a raptor, which made it exceptionally rare and sought-after on Alliance servers. Classic revival gives players another shot at it.
Onyxian Drake
Source: Onyxia in Onyxia’s Lair
Drop Rate: Approximately 1%
Faction: Both
Notes: Onyxia’s Lair is one of the most iconic raids in WoW history, and the Onyxian Drake is still a popular farm target on retail servers today. The run is short and soloable, making it an efficient weekly check-in. Community farming data suggests it can take anywhere from 100 to 400+ kills before you see the drop.
Qiraji Battle Tanks (AQ40)
The Temple of Ahn’Qiraj contains four coloured Qiraji Battle Tanks that drop from trash mobs inside the raid:
- Blue Qiraji Battle Tank
- Green Qiraji Battle Tank
- Yellow Qiraji Battle Tank
- Red Qiraji Battle Tank (rarest of the four, awards a Feat of Strength)
Important quirk: These mounts can only be used inside the Temple of Ahn’Qiraj itself. Outside the raid, they are unusable. This means they function more as raid utility items than true mounts in the traditional sense. They do not require any specific riding skill to use inside the instance.
The Red Qiraji Battle Tank is considerably rarer than the other three and grants the Feat of Strength achievement Why? Because It’s Red.
The Black Qiraji Battle Tank (Legendary)
This is in a category of its own. The Black Qiraji Battle Tank is the only Legendary quality mount in World of Warcraft, and it is permanently unobtainable except through one specific mechanic tied to a server event.
How it was obtained: To earn the Black Qiraji Battle Tank, a player had to complete the entire Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain, which required the backing of a full guild, runs through Molten Core, Blackwing Lair, and Ahn’Qiraj, plus specific rare crafted items. The player would then ring the Scarab Gong to open the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj. Any player who completed the final quest Bang a Gong! Those within 10 hours of the gates’ first opening would receive the Black Qiraji Battle Tank.
The first player to ring the gong on their server was permanently awarded the Scarab Lord title. Only one player per server could hold this title.
Unlike the other Qiraji tanks, the Black Qiraji Battle Tank can be ridden outside the raid. This makes it the most unique and visually distinctive mount in all of Classic WoW.
On Classic Anniversary servers, Phase 5 brought the Ahn’Qiraj opening event back, giving players another window to complete the chain and earn the mount within the 10-hour battle period.
Unobtainable Classic Mounts
Some mounts from the original Vanilla era are no longer available even on Classic servers. These are worth knowing about for collectors and lore enthusiasts.
Swift Zulian Tiger and Swift Razzashi Raptor are still obtainable in Classic WoW but are permanently removed from retail WoW (except on the Black Market Auction House).
Ivory Raptor existed in the original game files as an Alliance raptor mount but was never officially released to players. It has become something of a WoW legend.
The original Green Wing Macaw and various other early TCG (Trading Card Game) mount codes from 2004-2006 are no longer redeemable in most cases.
Mount Farming Strategies for Classic WoW
Stratholme: Rivendare Farming Route
Stratholme is the most efficient Classic mount farm. The dungeon resets quickly when you leave and re-enter, and you can complete up to 10 instance entries per hour (account-wide limit, not character-based).
Optimal approach:
- Enter through the main gate on the Undead side (Rivendare’s side)
- Clear a direct path to Baron Rivendare, skipping most of the instance
- Kill Baron Rivendare, check the loot
- Exit and reset immediately
- A skilled player can complete each run in under 5 minutes
The 10-instance-per-hour limit means you can make a maximum of 10 attempts per hour. At 0.9% drop rate, you have roughly an 8.6% chance of seeing the mount in any given hour of farming.
Zul’Gurub: Weekly Raid Reset
Zul’Gurub resets weekly, limiting you to one attempt per character per week. To maximise odds for the Swift Zulian Tiger and Swift Razzashi Raptor, run multiple characters through the raid every week. This requires maintaining several level 60 characters and is a significant time investment.
High Priest Thekal (Tiger) and Bloodlord Mandokir (Raptor) are the two bosses you need. Both are reached relatively early in the raid, so you do not need to complete the full clear.
Onyxia: Quick Weekly Farm
Onyxia’s Lair resets weekly. The encounter is short and straightforward at max level. It takes about 5 minutes to complete the full run, including travel time. Set a weekly reminder and run it on all the characters you maintain. The Onyxian Drake has around a 1% drop rate, so expect a long journey.
Cross-Faction Mount Collecting
One of the most rewarding long-term goals in Classic WoW is collecting mounts from other races within your faction. To do this, you need to reach Exalted reputation with that race’s associated faction.
Alliance Cross-Faction Mounts
| Target Mount | Required Faction | City |
|---|---|---|
| Human Horses | Stormwind | Stormwind City |
| Dwarf Rams | Ironforge | Ironforge |
| Gnome Mechanostriders | Gnomeregan Exiles | Ironforge area |
| Night Elf Frostsabers | Darnassus | Darnassus |
Getting Exalted with all four Alliance factions unlocks a total of 18 unique mounts and forms the foundation of a comprehensive collection.
Horde Cross-Faction Mounts
| Target Mount | Required Faction | City |
|---|---|---|
| Orc/Troll Wolves | Orgrimmar | Orgrimmar |
| Undead Skeletal Horses | Undercity | Undercity |
| Tauren Kodos | Thunder Bluff | Thunder Bluff |
| Troll Raptors | Darkspear Trolls | Sen’jin Village |
Tauren players note: the Tauren racial mount (kodo) is purchased from Bloodhoof Village in Mulgore, not from Orgrimmar.
Riding Costs and Gold Farming Tips
The level 60 epic mount wall (1,000g without discounts, 800g with both) is one of Classic WoW’s defining challenges. Here is a brief breakdown of efficient gold farming strategies that are relevant in 2026 on Anniversary servers:
Best gold sources approaching level 60:
- Dire Maul tribute runs produce consistent gold and valuable BoE drops
- Maraudon and Stratholme farming for valuable BoE blues and vendor trash
- Thorium ore and black lotus in Un’Goro, Eastern Plaguelands, and Winterspring if you have Mining
- Skinning while levelling is passive income that adds up significantly over 1-60
Discount stacking: If you plan to buy epic mounts from multiple racial factions, prioritise getting to Honored with all Alliance or all Horde factions early. Each Honored reputation saves you a meaningful amount across dozens of mount purchases.
Mounts and the Collection Achievement
Classic WoW does not have the modern achievement system, so mount collecting in vanilla is a purely personal pursuit rather than a tracked progression system. That said, there are several community-recognised milestones:
- Getting your first mount at 40 (often celebrated in guild chat)
- Earning the level 60 epic mount (a genuine flex in 2004)
- Collecting all racial mounts on your faction (requires Exalted with all racial factions)
- Earning the Black Qiraji Battle Tank (Scarab Lord distinction)
- Getting Rivendare’s Deathcharger (proof of determination)
Quick Reference: All Classic WoW Mount Sources
| Category | Example Mounts | How to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance Racial | Horses, Rams, Mechanostriders, Frostsabers | Buy from racial vendor, or be Exalted with that race |
| Horde Racial | Wolves, Skeletal Horses, Kodos, Raptors | Reach the required PvP Rank |
| Class (Paladin) | Warhorse, Charger | Class quest at Level 40 and 60 |
| Class (Warlock) | Felsteed, Dreadsteed | Class quest at Level 40 and 60 |
| PvP Rewards | Black Battlesteed (A), Dark War Wolf (H) | Farm specific boss with a low drop rate |
| Rare Drop | Deathcharger, Onyxian Drake | Farm specific boss with low drop rate |
| ZG Rare Drops | Zulian Tiger, Razzashi Raptor | Weekly raid farm, under 1% each |
| AQ40 Tanks (in-raid) | Blue/Green/Yellow/Red Battle Tanks | Trash drops in Temple of Ahn’Qiraj |
| AQ40 Legendary | Black Qiraji Battle Tank | Complete Scepter of the Shifting Sands chain |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much gold does a mount cost in Classic WoW?
At level 40, a normal mount costs 100 gold total (20g riding skill + 80g mount) without discounts, or 80g total with both available discounts applied. At level 60, an epic mount costs 1,000g total without discounts, dropping to 800g with both discounts. Paladin and Warlock players get their class mounts through quests instead.
Can Alliance players ride raptors in Classic WoW?
Yes, but only through the Swift Razzashi Raptor rare drop from Bloodlord Mandokir in Zul’Gurub. It has a drop rate of less than 1% and is only available on Classic servers. On retail WoW, it was removed when Cataclysm revamped Zul’Gurub.
Can Horde players ride tigers or sabers in Classic WoW?
The only way for Horde players to ride a tiger in Classic is through the Swift Zulian Tiger, a rare drop from High Priest Thekal in Zul’Gurub. It has a drop rate of approximately 0.8%. This is one of the main reasons it is so coveted on Horde servers.
What is the rarest mount in Classic WoW?
The Black Qiraji Battle Tank is the rarest and most prestigious mount in Classic WoW. It is the only Legendary quality mount in the game. It was only available to players who completed the Scepter of the Shifting Sands quest chain and rang the Scarab Gong during the 10-hour window of the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj opening event. Only one player per server could earn the Scarab Lord title (the first to ring the gong), though any player completing Bang a Gong!
What is the easiest rare mount to farm in Classic WoW?
Rivendare’s Deathcharger from Stratholme is the most farmable rare mount in Classic. The dungeon is short, resets quickly, and can be run up to 10 times per hour per account. At a roughly 0.9% drop rate, it still requires patience, but it is much more accessible than weekly-locked raid mounts.
Do Tauren players get their own mount in Classic WoW?
Yes. Tauren ride kodo mounts, purchased from Harb Clawhoof in Bloodhoof Village in Mulgore. Normal kodos are available at level 40 and epic kodos at level 60. Tauren must also reach Exalted with their faction if they want mounts from other Horde races.
What happens to PvP mounts if I lose my PvP rank?
You keep the mount permanently once you purchase it. The rank requirement only applies at the time of purchase. If your rank drops after buying the mount, you still retain it and can use it freely.
Are Classic WoW mounts account-wide?
No. Classic WoW does not use the modern account-wide mount system. Each character must earn or purchase their own mounts individually. This is one of the key differences between Classic and retail WoW.
Can you get the Swift Zulian Tiger and Swift Razzashi Raptor on retail WoW?
They were removed from retail when Cataclysm revamped Zul’Gurub into a 5-player dungeon. They occasionally appear at the Black Market Auction House on retail servers, where they sell for very high prices in gold. On Classic servers, both mounts are still obtainable through the original raid.
Do the Qiraji Battle Tanks work outside Ahn’Qiraj?
The four coloured tanks (Blue, Green, Yellow, Red) only work inside the Temple of Ahn’Qiraj raid. The Black Qiraji Battle Tank is the exception, as it can be ridden anywhere in the world.
Related Guides
Expand your WoW mount collection with these companion articles:
- Complete WoW Mounts Guide — Every mount in the game, organised by acquisition method and expansion
- Easiest WoW Mounts to Get — 50+ mounts you can add to your collection in under an hour
- Rare WoW Mounts Farming Guide — Drop rates, farming strategies, and time estimates for 100+ rare mounts
- Burning Crusade Mounts Guide — The first expansion, including Ashes of Al’ar and flying mount progression
- Wrath of the Lich King Mounts Guide — Invincible, Mimiron’s Head, and every proto-drake
- Achievement Mounts Guide — Glory achievements, meta-achievements, and every mount earned through the achievement system
- WoW Battle Pets Guide — Collect pets alongside mounts for the ultimate WoW collectibles experience