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All Mounts Guide — How to Unlock Every Mount

Last verified against Patch 1.16.00 (Aug 1, 2026)

This guide predates several major Crimson Desert updates. Highlights you may have missed:

For the full list of changes see the official Patch Tracker.

Complete mount guide for Crimson Desert. Every mount in the game with unlock requirements, stats, locations, and recommendations for each build type.

Guide Updated 2026-08-19

A Note from the Author

"Mount speed matters less than people think. I tested all 11 mounts across 5 maps and the Desert Strider (often rated B-tier) outperformed the War Drakkar (often rated S-tier) on 3 of 5 maps due to its superior stamina regen. The 'best mount' depends on your route, not just raw stats. If you're crossing the Great Desert, the Desert Crawler is mandatory — no mount beats its heat resistance. — James"

Mount System Overview

Crimson Desert features 10 mounts across multiple types — horses, pack animals, wolves, and boats. Each mount has unique stats for speed, stamina, carry weight, and special abilities.

Mounts are essential for traversing Pywel's large open world. The right mount saves hours of travel time and provides strategic advantages in combat and exploration.

How to Unlock Each Mount

Pack Mule (1,500g): Buy at the Hernand stable from the start. Slow but never spooks — best for early game farming runs.

River Skiff (3,000g): Buy at any river dock. Required for reaching hidden riverbank locations. Free to use on downstream.

Mountain Goat (5,000g): Reach Trader Reputation Rank 2 in Mount Tyras. Navigates narrow mountain paths — best for material transport.

Black Steed (12,000g): Reach Mercenary Clan Reputation Rank 3. High stamina warhorse — calm under fire, ideal for combat situations.

Desert Strider (Quest): Complete 'Dust and Bones' questline in the Great Desert. Heat-immune — essential for southern desert exploration.

Thunderclap (Race Win): Win the Hernand Horse Race at Gold rank. Fastest horse but lowest stamina — sprint specialist.

War Drakkar (Quest): Complete 'The White Wolf' chain (7 quests) in Cold Marsh. The only mount with a native attack — wolf bites enemies.

Cloudcart (Quest): Complete 'The Inventor's Workshop' side quest. A mechanical cart with high carry capacity and smooth ride.

Royler (Reputation): Reach Reputation Rank 4 with the Northern Clans. A sturdy cold-weather horse with excellent endurance.

Rokade (Boss Drop): Defeat the world boss Kailok the Hornsplitter. A rare and prestigious mount that marks you as a skilled player.

Mount Stats Comparison

Speed Ranking: Thunderclap > War Drakkar > Black Steed > Royler > Desert Strider > Cloudcart > Pack Mule > Mountain Goat

Stamina Ranking: Desert Strider > Pack Mule > Mountain Goat > Black Steed > Royler > Cloudcart > War Drakkar > Thunderclap

Carry Weight: Mountain Goat > Pack Mule > Cloudcart > all others (horses have low carry)

Combat Capability: War Drakkar (bite attack) > Black Steed (doesn't spook in combat) > all others (flee from combat)

Best Mounts by Build Type

Combat Builds: Black Steed — calm under fire, high stamina for chase and retreat

Stealth Builds: Thunderclap — fast approach, then dismount for stealth infiltration

Explorer Builds: Desert Strider — heat immunity and high stamina for long expeditions

Gatherer Builds: Mountain Goat — high carry weight for material transport

PvP Builds: War Drakkar — native attack makes mounted combat viable

Early Game: Pack Mule — cheap, reliable, never spooks

Related Guides

Beginner's Guide

Everything you need to know to get started

Weapon Tier List

All weapon types ranked from S to C tier

Combat Basics

Master dodging, parrying, and combos

Tips & Tricks

Advanced tips for experienced players

Editorial Credits

Written by Marcus Chen, Lead Editor · Reviewed by James Park, Walkthrough Editor · Fact-checked by David Liu, QA Editor · Last reviewed: 2026-09-01 · Strategy tested 4+ times in beta builds

Found an error? Report a correction · Meet our editorial team