Last updated on February 11, 2026 by MMOJUGG Team | Game: WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Guide | Tags: TBC Classic Anniversary Riding
With the Dark Portal opened on February 5th in TBC Classic Anniversary, Phase 1 is live—Outland's skies are the ultimate gold farm. Epic flying (280%) unlocks primal hotspots, but the 5,000g wall crushes noobs. In this fresh, hyper-competitive economy, skip slow birds: rush Artisan Riding or Druid Flight Form to dominate Phase 1 herb/node sniping!
You may also need: Rep-Optimize Leveling | Phase 1 Heroic & Kara Attunement | How to Afford Epic Flying
In the Anniversary edition, leveling is 35% faster, meaning you'll hit level 30 and 60 much quicker than expected. Training now dominates the cost, making gold management vital from day one - Master Riding in TBC.
Riding Tier | Level | Skill | Total Cost (Train + Mount, no rep) | Speed | 2026 Anniversary Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apprentice | 10 | 75 | 45g | 60% | Essential for early PvP escapes in STV/Outland entry. |
Journeyman | 40 | 150 | 700g | 100% | Mandatory for Hellfire Peninsula/Outland rush. |
Exalted with capital faction by Lv55 cuts Journeyman train to 480g (total ~580g). Grind reps early! If you grind only dungeons, you might lack the rep, forced to pay the full 690g.
If you're short on gold for your Level 60 mount, don't walk through the Dark Portal. A slow start in Outland will cost you hours of progress. Secure 500g-1000g now to ensure a smooth transition.
In TBC Anniversary, Expert Riding (60% speed) is often a "noob trap," while Artisan (280% speed) is the key to the kingdom. - How to Afford Epic Flying Mounts Fast
Flying Tier | Skill | Train Cost | Total Cost (Train + Mount) | Air Speed | Strategic Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rare (Expert Riding) | 225 | 800g | 900g | 60% | Skip—slower than epic ground on land; invest in 280% fund. |
Epic (Artisan Riding) | 300 | 5,000g | 5,200g | 280% | Phase 1 gold engine: Farm primals/motes in Netherstorm highs. |
In the 2026 meta, skip the 60% rare mount. Use your epic ground mount to farm the Elemental Plateau or Primal Manas. The 900g spent on a slow bird is better invested directly into your 5,000g fund. You cannot compete for "Cloud Farming" (Engineering) or high-altitude nodes without 280% speed.
Bypass the 100-hour grind and get your Epic Wings to start your ROI immediately.
Unlike later expansions, flight trainers are locked in Shadowmoon Valley for the Anniversary launch.
Alliance: Ilsa Blusterbrew (/way 37.4 56.2, Wildhammer Stronghold)
Horde: Olrokk (/way 29.2 28.6, Shadowmoon Village)
These hubs are PvP hotzones. If you are on a PvP server, bring friends or be ready for a fight. Grouping up here is also a great way to find Karazhan Attunement partners.
Druids are the "Cheaters" of TBC. With Dual Spec available, they are the most efficient class in the 2026 meta.
Level 68 Flight Form: Costs only 860g (includes free Expert Riding).
Instant Cast: You can herb/interact and shift instantly to fly away—immune to most ganks.
68 Druids should focus exclusively on Herbalism in the Barrier Hills. You can out-farm level 70s who are still on ground mounts.
Phase 2 Preview: The Swift Flight Form (280%) quest arrives later, giving Druids the most iconic mount in the game.
Cenarion Hippogryph: (Exalted with Cenarion Expedition, 1,600g). The ultimate status symbol for Phase 1.
Netherwing Drakes: (Coming later) - Requires 280% flying to even start the questline.
Gladiator Drakes: (310% speed). Only for the top 0.5% of Arena players.
Reach Revered with your racial capital (e.g., Orgrimmar/Stormwind). This provides a 20% discount on Ground and Expert flying. Note: There is no discount for the 5,000g Artisan training.
In the hyper-competitive 2026 economy, resources like Primal Mana in Netherstorm are "sniped" by 280% flyers. If you are on a 60% mount, you are effectively locked out of the best gold-farming spots in the game.
In Phase 1, they are strictly in Shadowmoon Valley: Alliance at Wildhammer Stronghold and Horde at Shadowmoon Village.
At Level 68 for a total cost of 860g. This is the single biggest gold-saving perk in TBC, saving you nearly 900g compared to other classes.
The most efficient method is to secure your gold early. While farming Primals works, the competition on Anniversary servers is extreme. Most top-tier raiders use MMOJUGG.com to ensure they have their 5,000g ready the moment they hit 70, allowing them to focus on Heroic dungeon keys instead of grinding motes.
TBC Anniversary mounts evolve travel: cheap ground early, pricey skies rewarding farms and raids. Master your reps, prioritize Artisan Riding, and leverage Druid perks for a competitive edge.
Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for the latest on WoW TBC Classic Anniversary. Bookmark us for ongoing guides, and browse our WoW TBC Classic Anniversary Gold Shop to fuel your ascent and secure your epic flying mount smoothly.
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