Do you gaze up at the sweeping vistas overhead and long to soar through the clouds? Are you seeking to take your mastery of Tyria to thrilling new heights? This comprehensive guide will equip you with everything needed to earn your wings!
The exhilaration of gliding over lakes, diving off cliffs and racing through the bright blue heavens grants players an unparalleled rush. Flying mounts also provide unmatched mobility for exploration. But this awesome aerial advantage doesn‘t come easy.
To take flight you‘ll need to unlock specific expansions, level key masteries, and complete certain story episodes first. Only then can you tackle the collections and achievement chains that ultimately reward you with wings.
This guide will prepare you to breeze through those prerequisites swiftly. You‘ll also get a detailed roadmap for obtaining both the Griffon and Skyscale mounts to rule the skies of Tyria!
Prerequisites to Unlock Flying Mount Collections
Before those shiny new feathers adorn your back, some groundwork must be laid first:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Expansions | Path of Fire expansion – Required for Griffon Living World Season 4 – Required for Skyscale |
| Masteries | Path of Fire: Updraft Use (Rank 2) The Skyscale: All ranks maxed out |
| Story Progress | Path of Fire: Completed main story Living World S4: Completed Episode 6 |
I recommend completing the above ASAP if flying interests you. Let‘s break down how to unlock solutions for wings next!
The Graceful Griffon Mount
This majestic half eagle, half lion soars through the skies with awe-inspiring agility. Unlocking your Griffon requires finishing the "Open Skies" collection in your journal:
Step 1) Speak to the Remains of the Last Spearmarshal at Sunspear Sanctuary after completing Path of Fire story to kick things off.
Step 2) Complete 4 collections to gather:
- 50 Barnacled Chests (found underwater lost ruins)
- 50 Ornate Gold Feathers (scattered across multiple PoF maps)
- Trade Contracts for 25 Fresh Winterberries (easy Daily Berry Farmer achievement)
- 25 Eggs of Exotic Birds by gliding/bouncing around habitats
Step 3) Return all above to NPC, then complete "Griffon Expert" adventure without failing for Griffon Egg
Step 4) Hatch the egg by feeding it meats, complete challenge races, then head to Griffon Roost to meet your new mount!
Some tips:
- For chests, look in circular ruin layouts underwater
- Grab feathers while doing events or other activities
- You can buy trade contracts from the trading post to skip that farm
After acquiring this mount you‘ll gain access to the Griffon masteries. I highly recommend leveling these up as each stage expands your capabilities substantially:
| Mastery | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Swiftness | +33% flight speed |
| Wings of Rescue | Revive allies while diving |
| Airsickness Defense | Avoid flight skill interruptions |
| Agility | Tighter turns while diving or gliding |
The Griffon‘s strengths shine when rapidly traversing varied vertical terrain. Its high mobility makes short work of crevices or platforms spanning different heights. No other mount can clear massive horizontal and vertical distances as quickly!
The Versatile Skyscale Mount
This exotic dragon-lion hybrid features wings plus a scorpion tail to climb virtually any surface. But obtaining a Skyscale will test your dedication over a grueling achievement chain. Here‘s an overview:
collections)
- Gather Wakestones and Awakened Essences
- Ranch Skyscales to learn abilities
- Help repair habitats
- Gather materials through events
Step 2 (3 collections)
- Incubate baby Skyscales
- Raise hatchlings through juvenile stage
- Mature Skyscale to bond friendship
Step 3 (4 collections)
- Prove aerial mastery to elders
- Gather rare materials from group content
- Construct saddle and final components
- Complete "Skyscale Flight" challenge mission
Some hard-won wisdom:
- You can buy account-bound materials from trading post
- Making friends with Skyscales requires daily effort over weeks
- Group challenge modes will test your consumable/buff knowledge
However, that adversity builds an incredible bond with your mount! The Skyscale mastery line also upgrades flight in major ways:
| Mastery | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Strength | Carry allies while flying |
| charged Tail Swipe | AOE attack for combat |
| Dragon Energy | Regenerate endurance in midair |
| Charged Wing Buffet | Knock back foes on impact |
Fully enhanced, the versatile Skyscale enables you to stay permanently airborne while providing supportive capabilities. It can‘t match the Griffon‘s raw speed but offers more accessibility and convenience. Choose your aerial ally based on your priorities!
Speculation on Future Flying Mounts
While speculation runs rampant, ArenaNet has hinted at plans for further winged mounts. Potential candidates include:
Phoenix: Rising from ash with fiery wings could provide fire fields or revive abilities. Useful mobility in volcanic areas.
Manta Ray: Graceful gliding over bodies of water would enable marine life aid. Mesmer portals could allow transporting squad members out to sea!
I‘ll be sure to provide updates here if any emerge. For now our airborne options remain exclusively Griffon and Skyscale!
Recommendations for New Fliers
With the skies suddenly seeming wide open, what should aspirational aviators focus first?
I advise starting with the Griffon due to its lower time investments and solid versatility. Learn basic flight mechanics, then utilize the mastery upgrades to expand your capabilities. This sets you up nicely to eventually tame the Skyscale‘s steeper requirements.
Here‘s a comparison of the two mounts:
| Griffon | Skyscale | |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock Time | 1 week | 4+ weeks |
| Top Speed | Faster | Slower |
| Strengths | Vertical mobility, diving | Accessibility, convenience |
Veteran players seeking prestige can skip the Griffon and dive straight for the exclusive Skyscale Mastery. Casual players should grab the Griffon first to learn ropes before attempting the Skyscale‘s journey.
Advanced Skyfaring Strategies
Once you‘ve earned both mounts, you can take your skills to even greater heights!
Expert racing tips:
- Utilize slingshots for speed bursts midair
- Memorize shortcut routes in courses
- Swap mounts quickly through key bindings
Don‘t just aim for completion times either. Compete on the leaderboards! The current records are:
| Race | Record Time |
|---|---|
| Griffon Race 1 | 1:02 |
| Griffon Race 2 | 1:30 |
| Skyscale Race | 2:14 |
Think you have the flying finesse to beat these top times? Put your skills to the ultimate test!
Conclusion – Take the Leap!
The road to flying can seem intimidating, but stay determined in your aspirations! Whether you admire the Griffon‘s grace or Skyscale versatility, unlocking these mounts brings liberating new horizons to your adventures.
Prioritize working through those prerequisites first. Then channel positivity towards each arduous collection knowing it ultimately elevates you to breathtaking new heights! I welcome you in advance to the high flying ranks of aerial explorers who dance gleefully among the clouds.
Now spread your wings – the open skies await!
