Main Mounts      Human Mounts      Dwarf Mounts      Orc Mounts      Tauren Mounts      Night Elf Mounts Alternate Transportation Public Transportation Portals Spells & Abilities

In any given world going from one destination to another is always a menial task, especially when you're facing a vast expanse of land with little to see beyond your own feet. Alternate methods of travel keep the journey time short, thus allowing more action in less time. Essentially, that's the entire purpose of alternate forms of traveling. Be it player controlled or automated, they are great ways to travel the world efficiently.

Players of all levels may travel on a limited basis via automated public transport systems, while more elaborate and further-reaching methods are reserved for the higher levels. After all, it is only in the higher levels that you'll need to have access to exotic areas such as Winterspring or the Eastern Plaguelands.

To date the known forms of transportation throughout World of Warcraft are Walking/Running (duh!), Swimming, Player Mounts, Flightpaths, Intercontinental Ships, and Instant Magical Travel. Below is a summary of each, with links to sections that provide additional details:

WALKING / RUNNING - The most obvious way to travel the world is with your own two feet and it, obviously, the slowest.. It can literally take over an hour of real time to travel from one end of the continent to the other. It is also by far the most dangerous since creatures along the way can attack you at will. Most classes gain the ability to augment their own traveling speed. Be sure to check out the TRAVELING SPELLS AND ABILITIES section for more information about those abilities.

SWIMMING - All characters are able to swim for short distances, whether to cross a short river/pond or to travel to an island that resides a short distance from shore. You can even swim underwater to fight some creatures, but beware that you will also be restricted by the amount of air in your lungs. It is also not possible to travel between continents or out into the endless sea by this method. The sea may be endless, but your endurance is not. Fatigue will eventually beset your character and you will drown.

PLAYER MOUNTS - Every character is given the opportunity to own their own mount at Level 40. The Paladin and Warlock classes are given a mount as part of their training (a definite benefit of each of these classes). For details on what each race is eligible for which mount, and for special mounts that you can get using other methods, be sure to check out our PLAYER MOUNTS SECTION.

LOCAL FLIGHT PATHS - Traveling by foot to another zone can often feel excruciatingly slow. Thankfully, once you visit a new zone or town, most major locations offer the ability to link those locations to previously visited areas with Flight Paths. Wyverns & Bats for the Horde, Gryphons & Hippogryphs for the Alliance, these beasts of burden will carry you through the air on set paths, however this form of travel is restricted to the continent that you are on. For more details, make sure to check out our LOCAL FLIGHT PATHS SECTION!

INTERCONTINENTAL TRAVEL - The only way to travel between the two major continents is by ship - Goblin Zeppelins (Horde), or Boats (Alliance). For more details about these free forms of travel, make sure to check out our INTERCONTINENTAL TRAVEL SECTION.

MAGICAL PORTALS – Portals have long since existed in the world of Azeroth. Many have been opened to bring horrible beasts and demons into the lands, while others are simply created for expedited travel. Make sure to check out our MAGICAL PORTALS SECTION for more!

With the Travel System in the World of Warcraft being so complicated, Blizzard was kind enough to put together a great FAQ for the players. The entire FAQ can be found at HERE.

Personal mounts, specific to each race, will also be available to characters at higher levels. For instance, Orcs will ride dire wolves, Humans will ride horses, and Dwarves will ride battle rams. Though it will be somewhat challenging to do so, characters can also learn how to ride the mounts of races other than their own. In addition, "epic" and magical forms of travel can be discovered in the game, such as ancient portals and player-based rituals, that can be used for instant travel to exotic locations.

How do mounts work in World of Warcraft?
World of Warcraft offers a variety of mounts for the different races of Azeroth (the world on which the game takes place). For example, Humans generally ride horses, and Orcs tend to favor their trusted wolf mounts. Mounts are a great way to travel the world for mid-to-high-level characters. With extensive training, riding specialists will be able to use mounts not generally available to their particular race, but this ability will be rare.

When can players get their own mount?
The level requirement is 40. Players also must learn a riding skill which requires both a good reputation toward the faction of the trainer for that specific mount, and will also cost you a fee. At level 60, you can gain access to a faster mount, which is very expensive, so prepare yourself to spare gold soon enough if you plan acquiring the faster mount.

How will players use mounts?
Mounts become available to each race at a high level, and they can be "called" when needed by the owner. We also have other specialty mounts. A high-level Warlock, for example, can summon a Felsteed.

Can players own or operate ships?
At this time, all ships are owned and operated by NPCs within the game.

Can players drive or ride vehicles/mounts?
We include several personal modes of transportation, including horses, wolves, and more. We also include many vehicles including ships, zeppelins, and Gryphons that will provide quick and easy travel throughout the world. Read the Mounts page and the Public Transportation page to learn more about this.

Updated 12/18/06 by tristanalexander