One of the main novelties in the Dragonflight game is the Dragonriding system. It looks like one of the most outstanding casual features among all the latest expansions. In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about Dragonriding, its abilities, talents, customization, and more.
With the Dragonriding system, players can ride their very own dragon in the game world. This allows players to explore the world from a whole new perspective and experience the thrill of flying. Dragonriding also provides players with various abilities and talents that can help them in different challenges.
One of the most exciting things about Dragonriding is the ability to customize your dragon. You can choose from various dragon breeds and customize their appearance to your liking. As you progress in the game, you will unlock new Dragonriding talents that will enhance your dragon’s abilities. Some of these talents will improve your dragon’s speed, while others will allow you to perform special maneuvers.
Overall, the Dragonriding system adds a whole new dimension to the Dragonflight game. It offers players a unique and exciting gameplay experience that is sure to keep them coming back for more. So, saddle up your dragon, and let’s take to the skies!
Dragonriding Overview
The highly anticipated ninth expansion of World of Warcraft, Dragonflight, has brought with it a game-changing feature called Dragonriding, also known as Dragongliding among many WoW players. This mechanic has revolutionized the gameplay experience, introducing a brand new momentum and gravity-based type of flight that requires time and practice to master.
As a new Dragonrider, you’ll have the chance to discover, train, and befriend special drakes of the Dragon Isles, opening up endless possibilities for exploration.
To help you get started, here are some key things you need to know about Dragonriding:
- The first time you can hop on your drake and experience Dragonriding is in the first Dragon Isles zone, Waking Shores.
- Don’t underestimate the versatility of drakes! In addition to flying, they can also be used as standard ground mounts.
- Unfortunately, you can’t use other mounts for Dragonriding. No floating alpacas or gargoyles, unfortunately.
- Dragonriding is limited to the Dragon Isles continent, but there is plenty to explore within this vast and mysterious land.
- There are five basic drakes to discover in the Dragon Isles, each found in a different zone. This adds an exciting element of adventure as you journey through the different regions in search of your perfect drake companion.
Overall, Dragonriding is a thrilling new addition to World of Warcraft’s already expansive universe. Get ready to take to the skies and explore the wonders of the Dragon Isles like never before!
4.9Dragonriding Drake Types
There are currently five types of drakes you will find in the Dragon Isles:
The drakes are all highly customizable. Among the things you can customize are:
- Horns: forms, color, and style;
- Scales: type, color;
- Patterns on the skin;
- Body parts: legs, tail, back, throat;
- Head: nose, chin, mouth, brow, ears, eyes;
- Armor: body and head armor, its color, etc.
Changing a drake’s appearance in Dragonflight’s Dragonriding system is not as simple as choosing a new mount skin. To unlock the ability to customize your drake’s appearance, you will need to complete certain requirements, such as quests, exploration, achievements, or Drakewatcher Manuscripts. The best part is that once you unlock a feature, it’s account-wide, meaning all your characters can benefit from it.
Once you’ve unlocked the features, head to the Rostrum of Transformation and get ready to have some fun. This is where you can transform your drake to your heart’s content, changing its color, markings, and more. With so many options to choose from, you can make your drake truly unique and personalized.
But what if you’re already a Dracthyr Evoker? How does Dragonriding work for you? Well, the good news is that being a Dracthyr Evoker doesn’t hinder your ability to ride a drake!
Dragonriding with a Dracthyr Evoker
For the Dracthyr, Dragonriding still works, but it’s not exactly the same. Blizzard made it clear that they wanted the Dracthyr player experience to not be identical to Dragonriders’, so there are a few differences.
- The Dracthyr can use Dragonriding mechanics, their flight is also momentum and gravity-based;
- The Dracthyr can begin their flight from anywhere, using their Soar racial ability;
- Soar also unlocks two abilities: Surge Forward and Skyward Ascent. Surge Forward allows you to flop forward a short distance, gaining speed. Skyward Ascent allows you to flop upward, gaining speed at the cost of some momentum;
- Soar cools down when you land;
- Soar works without the Vigor system or Dragonriding skills;
- While Dragonriders collect Dragon Glyphs to progress their Dragonriding traits, the Dracthyr use the Glyphs to boost their Soar ability and decrease its cooldown time;
- Even though the Dracthyr start off with slower speeds than mounts, collecting Glyphs will allow them to increase the fly speed and catch updrafts as drakes do;
- The speed increase and shorter cooldowns will only work on the Dragon Isles.
Dragonriding Abilities and Leveling
Here we’ve collected currently known information about the basic abilities and traits you will unlock as you progress and level up your drake.
Let’s be honest, at the very beginning, Dragonriding isn’t necessarily breathtaking. But as you progress you will unlock new abilities and navigate the skies with more power, stamina, and grace.
Dragon Glyphs
For that, you will first need to find Dragon Glyphs (currently 48 of them in total) throughout the zones of the Dragon Isles. Not all of them lay in the open and ready for taking, so be prepared for a fair bit of exploration.
For each Glyph you will get achievement, meaning that the Glyphs you’ve so meticulously collected are account-wide and you won’t have to repeat the same fascinating process with your other characters.
Dragonriding Talents
With Dragonriding talents, you can customize your flying experience to suit your playstyle and preferences. Whether you’re looking to improve your combat abilities or simply want to explore the Dragon Isles at a faster pace, these talents offer endless possibilities for enhancing your Dragonriding adventure. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of all the Dragonriding talents and their corresponding effects that can be obtained with Dragon Glyph Embers. These talents are an essential aspect of Dragonriding in the Dragonflight expansion, and mastering them will greatly enhance your flying experience within the Dragon Isles.
Talent | Tier | Description | Cost |
1 | Your Vigor is increased to 4. | ||
2 | While moving at low speeds,  Surge Forward‘s effectiveness is increased by up to 122%, decreasing as speed increases. | ||
2 | Your Vigor regeneration rate is accelerated to 1 Vigor every 25 sec while grounded. | ||
2 |  Thrill of the Skies generates 1 Vigor every 10 sec. | ||
3 |  Surge Forward evades Scalechillers, Scalechargers, and other obstacles encountered in time trials and races for 1 second after being used. | ||
4 | While dragonriding at middle speed and above, you gain stacks of Dragonrider’s Initiative, up to 10. When landing at mid-to-high speeds, you create a shockwave, damaging enemies for [Attack power * 0.72 * (1 + Versatility) / | ||
4 | While airborne on a Dragon Isle Drake, you gain stacks of Dragonrider’s Compassion, up to 10. When you dismount, you gain a shield worth 1% of your health and gain 1% movement speed per stack, lasting 30 sec. | ||
5 | Flap back, reducing forward movement. 10-second cooldown. | ||
5 | Your Vigor regeneration rate is accelerated to 1 Vigor every 20 sec while grounded. | ||
6 | Activating  Aerial Halt while affected by Thrill of the Skies generates 1 Vigor. | ||
6 |  Whirling Surge evades Dragonbane Wingshredders and dismounts airborne enemy players. | ||
7 | Your Vigor is increased to 5. | ||
8 | Gathering herbs or minerals increases your Vigor recharge rate by 10% for 10 sec. | ||
8 | Defeating an enemy increases your Vigor recharge rate by 10% for 3 sec. This effect can only occur once every 10 sec. | ||
9 | Your Vigor is increased to 6. | ||
9 | Your Vigor regeneration rate is accelerated to 1 Vigor every 15 sec while grounded. | ||
9 | Thrill of the Skies generates 1 Vigor every 5 sec. |
Dragonriding Abilities
If you’re ready to take on the skies in World of Warcraft’s Dragonflight expansion, it’s important to know that your default ability bar will be replaced by a new ability bar when Dragonriding. This bar will contain all of your Dragonriding abilities, which are essential for mastering this thrilling mechanic.
There are five unique Dragonriding abilities that you will learn as you level up your character in the Dragon Isles. These abilities use Vigor and will allow you to stay in the air for longer periods of time. Whether you’re exploring the vast landscape or engaging in battles with other players, these abilities will prove to be invaluable.
It’s worth noting that these abilities will replace your default ability bar, similar to other abilities that change your bar such as Mind Control. But don’t worry, you’ll be able to access your default abilities again once you dismount your drake.
Below, we have listed the five unique Dragonriding abilities that you will learn while leveling up in the Dragon Isles. These abilities use Vigor and will allow you to stay in the air for longer periods of time, making them essential for mastering the Dragonriding mechanic.
Default Keybind | Ability | Vigor Cost | Description |
1 | 1 | Flap forward, gaining a small burst of momentum. | |
2 | 1 | Flap upwards, gaining a small burst of momentum and altitude. Pressing the Jump key twice while grounded will automatically use Skyward Ascent. | |
3 | 3 | Spiral forward to cover a great distance, gaining a large burst of momentum. 30-second cooldown. | |
4 | 0 | Mark a waypoint of your current position for 3 minutes. Once you have a waypoint created, this spell turns into  Bronze Rewind, which can be used to return you to that waypoint. You cannot create a waypoint while flying, but you can return to that waypoint while in the air. 3-minute cooldown. | |
5 | 0 | Flap back, reducing forward movement. 10-second cooldown. |
Dragonriding Mechanics
All the traits and abilities mentioned above you will need for mastering the specific type of, for lack of a better word, flying introduced in Dragonflight. It’s not the same as a normal flight and will require some getting used to.
Below we will highlight its little quirks and specifics.
- Dragonriding mounts aren’t the same as normal flying mounts. They are separate;
- You can ride your drakes normally on the ground. If you want to fly, double press the spacebar or fall off a cliff;
- Flying here is momentum-based. It will feel more like gliding or floating – at least, at first. The more you upgrade your drake, the closer to a normal flight it will get;
- You gain momentum when you fly down at an angle. To create and maintain it, you can try flying down quickly and then flying up with momentum to propel you onward. Using an additional Vigor point will also help you fly upward;
- If you run out of momentum completely, you will descend and land. Luckily, you don’t get any fall damage from landing this way;
- However, you’ll need to wait until at least one point of your Vigor is restored. Vigor is regenerated while you’re on the ground.
Flying around and mastering the unwieldy mechanic can be fun by itself, but there are also other ways to practice and show off your skills.
Dragonriding Races
For those seeking a challenge, Dragonriding races are the perfect way to test your skills and compete against other players. To join a race, simply seek out an NPC Bronze Timekeeper who will guide you through the process.
During a race, you’ll need to showcase your Dragonriding abilities by maintaining high speeds, navigating through twists and turns, and taking advantage of gale winds to gain an edge over your competitors. To succeed in the race, you’ll also need to keep track of the allotted time and clear checkpoints in order to extend it.
As you race through the Dragon Isles, you’ll face various obstacles and challenges that will put your Dragonriding skills to the test. But don’t worry, with practice and determination, you’ll soon become a master of the skies.
At the end of the race, you’ll receive a rating based on your performance, allowing you to compare your skills against other players and strive for improvement. So, get ready to take on the ultimate Dragonriding challenge and join a race today!
World Changing
With the introduction of Dragonriding and, consequently, lengthy flights, the world had to transform for the player.
Ion Hazzikostas, game director, said that the Azure Span is the largest zone in the history of World of Warcraft. Other Dragon Isles zones are pretty spacy as well. There are lots of places you don’t really need for any quests, but players argue that massive lands make the world feel alive, not just a place packed with quests.
The vast spaces were designed with the new mechanic of Dragonriding in mind. What’s the point of building up Vigor in your fancy new drake if you have nowhere to spread your wings, right? Brian Holinka, the game designer, says this:
“We’ve tried to make spaces that are bigger that really take advantage of that and make it a lot more fun. So for the time being, players will be having a good time in the Dragon Isles on their dragons and seeing it in a whole new, different perspective.”
Currently, Blizzard claims that Dragonriding will only exist within the Dragonflight expansion.
Of course, like any new feature, some players may be skeptical about the Dragonriding mechanic. But we assure you, it’s a fantastic addition that adds a whole new dimension to the World of Warcraft universe.
So, what are you waiting for? Hop on your drake and start your Dragonriding adventure today! Whether you’re exploring the Dragon Isles or competing in Dragonriding races, we wish you the best of luck on your exciting new journey.
