Mounts are more than just a speed boost. They are a way to experience the game from a completely new perspective.
They allow players to reach places that were previously inaccessible because they have abilities like leaping, flying, and jumping extremely high.
They are not like mounts in other MMORPGs because every mount serves a unique purpose instead of just being a reskin of another one that has the same functionality.
Mounts were introduced in the Path of Fire expansion, and once obtained, can be used by all characters in your account, and this makes exploring maps with alts extremely convenient and less time-consuming.
Getting your first mount
You can get your first mount, the Raptor, by purchasing any of the available expansions and reaching level 10. Here is how this system works:
- If you own any of the expansions and reach level 10, you will instantly gain permanent access to the Raptor.
- If you purchase an expansion and have a character over level 10, then the game will attempt to give you the Raptor every 10th level.
- If you reach level 10 and are a free to play player or just own the base game, then you will get a 10 hour free trial to the Raptor.
All Mounts in Guild Wars 2
There is a total of 9 mounts in the game, and they all function completely differently from each other. Here is a list of every one of them with a brief summary of each, and a link that will take you to the dedicated guide for every mount.
Raptor
The Raptor can leap forward crossing distances and allowing you to reach places that were previously inaccessible. This is the first mount you unlock in the game.
Springer
The Springer is a rabbit that can jump extremely high getting you to mountains and places of interest that you weren’t able to get to before. This mount adds a layer of verticality to exploring the maps in GW2.
Skimmer
The Skimmer allows you to go faster while on the water surface, or quicksand if you are in the Crystal Desert. Moreover, this mount can swim underwater given that you completed the Finding Sibaha achievement.
Moreover, the Skimmer is a support type where you can heal enemies that you pass through while using the Barrel Roll ability.
Jackal
The Jackal is a dog-type mount that can travel through sand portals spread all over the Crystal Desert. Some locations are locked and can only be accessed by using the Jackal. He is more on the defensive side because when you engage and dismount from the Jackal, you will give yourself and allies around you a lot of barrier.
Griffon
The first flying mount that was introduced in Guild Wars 2 was the Griffon. This guy was the first mount that needed players to complete multiple collections to obtain, instead of being able to buy it right off a Renown Heart vendor.
Roller Beetle
Wanna go fast? Then get a Roller Beetle. This guy is the fastest among all the mounts in Guild Wars 2 as it allows you to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time.
Warclaw
The Warclaw is a WvW mount that can be used in all game modes but is efficient only in the mists. This mount has the ability to break down gates and dismount enemies from their own Warclaws which makes them useful for both zerging and solo roaming.
Skyscale
Unlike the Griffon who can’t go higher than where they started from, the Skyscale can fly upward for as long as they have stamina.
Siege Turtle
Introduced in End of Dragons, the Siege Turtle is the only mount that has two seats and can accomodate two players at the same time. One player can get in the driver seat, and the other player in the cannon seat.
Common mount abilities
Just like you saw in the list of mounts, everyone has their own unique skills, but all mounts share similar ones as well, given that you unlocked the necessary Masteries.
Bond of Life, Bond of Vigor, and Bond of Faith are unlocked through the Crystal Champion mastery track, and this track can only be unlocked after entering any Living World Season 4 map, except Sandswept Isles.
Stealth and Stealth 2.0 are unlocked through the United Legions Waystation Synchronization mastery track, and this track can only be unlocked when you enter Drizzlewood Coast.
Bond of Life
- Mastery: Bond of Life mastery
- Cost:
- Mastery Track: Crystal Champion
- Usability: Allows you to share your health pool with your mount.
Bond of Vigor
- Mastery: Bond of Vigor mastery
- Cost:
- Mastery Track: Crystal Champion
- Usability: Regenerates mount endurance quickly.
Bond of Faith
- Mastery: Bond of Faith mastery
- Cost:
- Mastery Track: Crystal Champion
- Usability: Allows you to launch forward from your mount.
Stealth
- Mastery: Ash Legion Mount Stealth
- Cost:
- Mastery Track: United Legions Waystation Synchronization
- Usability: You and your mount go invisible for 5 seconds.
Stealth 2.0
- Mastery: United Legions Waystation Mastery
- Cost:
- Mastery Track: United Legions Waystation Synchronization
- Usability: You and your mount go invisible for 8 seconds, and you get a health regen boon.
Mount Skins and Dyes
You can change the look of a mount by buying skins from the Gem Store and applying them to your mounts. Those skins are bound to your account and can be used across all characters once purchased. For example, a Skimmer can be changed from a Manta Ray to a Hummingbird, or a Springer can be changed from a Rabbit to a Cuckoo. Their functionality will remain the same, and the skin is purely cosmetic.
You can access all the skins that you unlocked by going to the Hero Panel > Mounts, and a list of all the mount skins can be found on the wiki page.
Moreover, you can change the color of your mount by applying different dyes. This can be done by accessing your Hero Panel > Dyes, and then pressing on the hoof icon on the top left corner of the panel.
