World of Warcraft's dragon-themed expansion, Dragonflight, introduces a brand-new system, Dragonriding.
Fitting for the expansion, players can hop on dragons to traverse the vast lands and zones of the Dragon Isles. Replacing the traditional flying mount, which players use to move around any location in the MMORPG, Dragonriding will be the main form of transportation. It's a new form of flying with its own set of abilities, talents, and glyphs that allow players to customize and progress further.
Dragonriding is one of if not the biggest additions coming with the new expansion. That being said, here's a full-blown guide to the new system, including how to unlock Dragonriding, how to fly, resources, abilities, talents, and more.
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How to unlock Dragonriding in WoW Dragonflight
Unlocking Dragonriding in WoW Dragonflight is easy, as it'll come naturally as you begin the new expansion.
You will first need to get to the Dragon Isles, you can do so by completing the "The Dragon Isles Await" quest that many players have already completed in the pre-patch before. After issuing orders and recruiting allies to aid the cause at the Dragon Isles, you'll start your Dragonflight journey on the Waking Shores.
From there on, you'll receive five chapters that you'll need to complete: The Dragon Isles Await, Dragons in Distress, In Defense of Life, Wrathion’s Gambit, and Waking Hope. After completing the first two chapters of the story, namely The Dragon Isles Await and Dragons in Distress, you'll meet with Alexstraza the Life-Binder, at the Ruby Lifeshrine and learn Dragonriding. The dragon queen will give you a quest titled "Dragonriding" which will have you speak to Lord Anestrasz. After speaking to him, you'll learn the Dragonriding skill.
How does Dragonriding work in WoW Dragonflight?
Dragonriding is the main way players will move around in the Dragon Isles. Unlike standard flying where you summon a mount and go from one location to the other at 150%, 280%, or 310% speeds, Dragonriding kicks it up several notches with abilities and a resource to use said abilities.
Dragonriding Abilities
As you level through Dragonflight and unlock Dragonriding, you'll begin gaining spells. Like any class, you'll have passive spells that benefit you in some type of way and active spells that you can use to further enhance your flying.
Here's a list of all of the spells.
Passives
- Dragonriding Basics: While falling from a high location, your Dragon Isle drake extends its wings to propel you both forward. Pointing yourself downward grants more momentum. Evening out can transfer that momentum forward. Pointing yourself upward slows you down. When at your slowest, you will start to fall slowly toward the ground. You also gain access to the following abilities–Surge Forward and Skyward Ascent.
- Vigor: Dragonriding abilities spend Vigor. Spending time on the ground, whether mounted or dismounted, regenerates one Vigor every 30 seconds.
- Lift Off: When mounted on a dragonriding mount, double jump to launch upward and start gliding forward.
- Thrill of the Skies: While dragonriding at high speeds, you regenerate one Vigor every 15 seconds.
- Winds of the Isles: You can detect and utilize gale winds that redirect your flight and propel you onward, boosting your speed in the direction of the gale.
Actives
- Surge Forward: Flap forward, gaining a small burst of momentum. (Costs one Vigor)
- Skyward Ascent: Flap upwards, gaining a small burst of momentum and altitude. Pressing the Jump key twice while grounded will automatically use Skyward Ascent. (Costs one Vigor)
- Whirling Surge: Spiral forward to cover a great distance, gaining a large burst of momentum. (30-second cooldown and costs three Vigor)
- Bronze Timelock: Mark a waypoint of your current position for three 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. (three-minute cooldown)
Dragonriding Resource
In order to use the Dragonriding abilities, you will have to spend a resource—Vigor.
Used for abilities such as Whirling Surge, Vigor is limited to three points and as you progress through the game and Dragonriding, you'll unlock three more Vigor points. Vigor begins recharging as soon as you hit the ground, additionally, it recharges if you hit top speed while flying the Dragon Isles.
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Dragonriding Talents in WoW Dragonflight
At first, when you first start using Dragonriding in WoW Dragonflight, it'll feel a bit clunky, that's where talents come in.
Earned via collecting Dragon Glyphs, these will help you take your Dragonriding to the next level.
Here's a list of all of the Dragonriding talents.
Drake and Rider Training - Your Vigor is increased to four.
Redirection - While moving at low speeds, Surge Forward’s effectiveness is increased by up to 122 percent, decreasing as speed increases.
Dynamic Stretching - Your Vigor regeneration rate is accelerated to one Vigor every 25 sec while grounded.
Thrill Chaser - Thrill of the Skies generates one Vigor every 10 sec.
Ohn’ahra’s Gusts - Surge Forward evades Scalechillers, Scalechargers, and other obstacles encountered in time trials and races for one second after being used.
Dragonrider’s Initiative - 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, and disorienting them for three sec. Landing at low speeds cancels Dragonrider’s Initiative.
Dragonrider’s Compassion - 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 one percent of your health and gain one percent movement speed per stack, lasting 30 sec.
Restorative Travels - Your Vigor regeneration rate is accelerated to one Vigor every 20 sec while grounded.
Airborne Tumbling - Whirling Surge evades Dragonbane Wingshredders and dismounts airborne enemy players.
Dragonriding Learner - Your Vigor is increased to five.
Dragonrider’s Cultivation - Gathering herbs or minerals increases your Vigor recharge rate by 10% for 10 sec.
Dragonrider’s Hunt - Defeating an enemy increases your Vigor recharge rate by 10 percent for three sec. This effect can only occur once every 10 sec.
Beyond Infinity - Your Vigor is increased to six.
Yearning for the Sky - Your Vigor regeneration rate is accelerated to one Vigor every 15 sec while grounded.
At Home Aloft - Thrill of the Skies generates one Vigor every five sec.
Dragon Glyphs in WoW Dragonflight
To unlock your Dragonriding talents, you'll need to collect Dragon Glyphs. Littered around the Dragon Isles, there are 48 glyphs in total and can be unlocked fairly quickly if done right.
For more on how to unlock these glyphs, here is a guide on how to unlock all of the glyphs.
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Dragonriding Drakes Customizations in WoW Dragonflight
Going alongside talents and abilities, you can customize your Dragonriding drakes. There are four Dragonriding drakes in total that as you progress through the main story o the Dragon Isles, you'll unlock. These are the Renewed Proto-Drake, Windborne Velocidrake, Highland Drake, and Cliffside Wylderdrake.
Each is tied to a specific zone in the new continent. Here's where each can be unlocked:
- Renewed Proto-Drake in the Waking Shores
- Windborne Velocidrake in Ohn’ahran Plains
- Highland Drake in Azure Spana
- Cliffside Wylderdrake in Thaldraszus.
All four of these drakes are highly customizable, allowing you to change anything from colors to their horns, and much more.
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