Mounts in World of Warcraft (WoW) are more than just a means of transportation; they are a symbol of accomplishment, a badge of honor that players proudly display after hours (or even weeks) of farming. Some mounts can be acquired easily, but others are notorious for low drop rates or time-consuming requirements. This article will explore some of the game’s most elusive yet attainable mounts. These mounts can be earned through dedication, persistence, and sometimes luck.

Ashes of Al’ar

• Source: Kael’thas Sunstrider, The Eye (Tempest Keep)
• Drop Rate: ~1-2%
• Location: Netherstorm, Outland

One of the most iconic mounts in the game, Ashes of Al’ar, is a fiery phoenix that drops from Kael’thas Sunstrider in The Eye, located in Tempest Keep. Players have sought This mount after The Burning Crusade, thanks to its stunning design and rare drop rate. While this mount is obtainable through farming, it has a notoriously low drop rate, making it a challenge for anyone determined to add it to their collection.

Given that Tempest Keep is now a legacy raid, higher-level players can solo the content easily. However, with a drop rate hovering around 1%, it can still take months or even years to finally loot this mount. Persistence is key, and for those dedicated enough, this phoenix will one day rise in your collection.

Invincible

• Source: The Lich King, Icecrown Citadel (Heroic 25-man)
• Drop Rate: ~1%
• Location: Icecrown, Northrend

The Invincible mount, once belonging to Arthas Menethil, is one of the most coveted mounts in the game. Dropping only from the heroic 25-man version of the Lich King in Icecrown Citadel, this skeletal horse represents the final mount drop from one of World of Warcraft’s most iconic villains.

Invincible is not for the faint-hearted with a drop rate of around 1%. It requires weekly farming of Icecrown Citadel on its hardest difficulty, which higher-level players can solo but still takes some time. Many players are drawn to the nostalgia and lore surrounding Arthas, which makes Invincible even more desirable. Patience is required, but nothing compares to flying through Azeroth on this legendary undead steed.

Reins of the Heavenly Onyx Cloud Serpent

• Source: Sha of Anger, World Boss
• Drop Rate: ~0.03%
• Location: Kun-Lai Summit, Pandaria

The Heavenly Onyx Cloud Serpent is one of the rarest world boss drops in the game, coming from the Sha of Anger in Kun-Lai Summit. It boasts one of the lowest drop rates in the game, hovering around 0.03%, making it a true “hard-to-get” mount. The Sha of Anger is a world boss, and though it respawns regularly, the low drop rate can make this mount a frustrating pursuit for players.

While the fight is quick and world bosses are easy to farm, the low drop rate ensures that this mount remains elusive for most players. As with all rare mounts, persistence is key—week after week, you’ll need to defeat the Sha of Anger and cross your fingers for that lucky drop.

Reins of the Time-Lost Proto-Drake

• Source: Time-Lost Proto-Drake, Rare Spawn
• Drop Rate: 100%
• Location: Storm Peaks, Northrend

The Time-Lost Proto-Drake is infamous among mount collectors for its extremely elusive nature. This rare proto-drake spawns in Storm Peaks, but finding it is the real challenge. The mount has a 100% drop rate when the drake is killed, but the problem is that the Time-Lost Proto-Drake shares a spawn timer with another rare mob, Vyragosa, and appears infrequently.

To obtain this mount, players need a lot of patience, as they may spend days, weeks, or even months camping its spawn points. It’s not uncommon for players to spend significant amounts of time flying in circles around Storm Peaks in the hopes of spotting the rare drake before someone else does. While it’s a tough mount to acquire, its exclusivity makes it a prized possession for those who manage to tame this legendary proto-drake.

The Zulian Panther

• Source: High Priestess Kilnara, Zul’Gurub
• Drop Rate: ~1-2%
• Location: Stranglethorn Vale, Eastern Kingdoms

The Zulian Panther drops from High Priestess Kilnara in Zul’Gurub, a dungeon. This sleek, black panther mount is reminiscent of the original Zul’Gurub raid mounts, which were removed from the game years ago, making the current version highly sought after.

With a drop rate of around 1-2%, obtaining this mount can take a significant amount of farming. However, the dungeon is soloable by higher-level characters, so it’s possible to run the dungeon weekly until the panther drops. Its sleek appearance and rarity make it a favorite among collectors, and it’s a worthy addition to any mount collection.

Fiery Warhorse

• Source: Attumen the Huntsman, Karazhan
• Drop Rate: ~1%
• Location: Deadwind Pass, Eastern Kingdoms

The Fiery Warhorse is a mount that drops from Attumen the Huntsman in the old Karazhan raid, one of the original raids introduced in The Burning Crusade. The mount’s drop rate is incredibly low, around 1%, making it a challenge to obtain.

Despite its age, Karazhan remains a fan favorite for farming mounts, and the Fiery Warhorse continues to be one of the more elusive ground mounts in the game. Attumen is relatively easy to reach, and a full clear of the raid isn’t necessary, making this a good weekly farm for those hoping for a fiery steed.

Experiment 12-B

• Source: Ultraxion, Dragon Soul (Raid Finder, Normal, Heroic)
• Drop Rate: ~1-2%
• Location: Dragonblight, Northrend

The Experiment 12-B mount is a skeletal drake that drops from Ultraxion in the Dragon Soul raid. While the raid itself is soloable, especially in Raid Finder mode, the low drop rate of the mount means that acquiring it can be a time-consuming task.

This mount stands out due to its unique, skeletal dragon design. With a drop rate of around 1-2%, Experiment 12-B can take a considerable amount of time and effort to obtain. As with many rare raid mounts, it’s all about running the raid regularly until you finally strike gold.

Mimiron’s Head

• Source: Yogg-Saron (No Keepers), Ulduar
• Drop Rate: ~1%
• Location: Storm Peaks, Northrend

Mimiron’s Head is one of the most sought-after mounts in the game due to its unique design. It’s a flying mechanical head that drops from Yogg-Saron in Ulduar, but only if you defeat him without the aid of any Keepers on the hardest difficulty. With a drop rate of around 1%, this mount requires weekly farming of Ulduar and defeating one of the most challenging bosses in the game’s history.

Given its mechanical look and connection to Mimiron (a favorite NPC among many players), Mimiron’s Head is a highly coveted mount. High-level players can solo Ulduar, but it still takes persistence and luck to finally obtain this mount.

Blue Proto-Drake

• Source: Skadi the Ruthless, Utgarde Pinnacle
• Drop Rate: ~1-2%
• Location: Howling Fjord, Northrend

The Blue Proto-Drake drops from Skadi the Ruthless in Utgarde Pinnacle, a dungeon located in Northrend. This drake has a drop rate of about 1-2%, making it another mount that requires consistent farming. However, the dungeon is relatively short, and Skadi can be easily reached, making this mount a manageable farm for high-level players.

The Blue Proto-Drake is a simple but beautiful drake mount, and its connection to Wrath of the Lich King makes it a fan favorite. For players looking to expand their drake collection, this one is definitely worth pursuing.

Smoldering Egg of Millagazor (Pureblood Fire Hawk)

• Source: Ragnaros, Firelands (Heroic)
• Drop Rate: ~1%
• Location: Mount Hyjal, Kalimdor

The Smoldering Egg of Millagazor, which grants the Pureblood Fire Hawk mount, drops from Ragnaros in Firelands on heroic difficulty. The mount is a fiery hawk that leaves a trail of flames as it soars through the air. While Firelands is an old raid, the mount’s drop rate is around 1%, making it a tough farm.

Firelands is soloable for high-level players, but as with other raid mounts, weekly farming is required for a shot at this stunning hawk. It’s a striking mount, perfect for players who love fiery designs or want a piece of Cataclysm history in their collection.

While these mounts may play hard to get, they are all attainable with enough persistence. Whether it’s through rare drops, world boss farming, or camping rare spawns, each mount presents a unique challenge that rewards the player with not just a mount but a story of perseverance. So, saddle up and get ready to embark on the long and sometimes tedious journey to add these elusive mounts to your collection.