The World of Warcraft is vast and if there wasn't access to transport other than Shanks' Pony you'd go crazy traversing the world. As an example, to travel from Stormwind Keep to Iron Forge on foot would take the player, on average, 40 minutes to an hour (it isn't a straight line at all) but by utilising the tram system as your mode of transport, the travel time is reduced to around 3 minutes. There are similar mods of transport available to all players and some available to certain classes.
Flying Mounts
The two mainstays are ground mount and flying mount and it's the latter you will have access to first. These will help you travel very large distances within a continent (transcontinental is by a different means). All flying mounts are classed as public transport, none available as your permanent pet. Flying mounts are faction dependant and each faction has access to two types.
Alliance
Gryphon The mighty gryphons of the Aerie Peaks aided the Alliance in its time of need. Part eagle and part lion, these proud creatures stand as noble symbols of the Alliance's fortitude. In addition to conveying important documents between the human, dwarf, and gnome leaders in the regions around Stormwind and Ironforge, gryphons have also been harnessed for paid transportation along routes throughout Alliance-controlled lands.
Humans start with node in Stormwind City in Elwynn Forest and Dwarves & Gnomes with a node in Ironforge.
List of all Gryphon Masters & their location
Hippogryph Having sworn allegiance to the night elves in honor of Cenarius, the magical hippogryphs now patrol the skies above Northern Kalimdor, scanning the horizon for invaders. During the war, these magnificent creatures, with bodies that resemble both stags and ravens, were ridden into battle by Sentinel archers. They have since agreed to serve as paid transport for the Alliance, carrying travelers along with them on their patrol routes. Night Elves start with node in Rut'theran Village in Darnassus List of all Hippogryph Masters & their location
Horde
Wyverns The sentient wyverns of Kalimdor were eager to ally themselves with the shamanistic Horde, whose commitment to honor and victory they strongly admire. Sharing a common ancestry with dragons and gryphons, wyverns revel in flight, dutifully carrying Horde riders along various routes surrounding Thunder Bluff and Orgrimmar for a small fee. Start with node in Thunder Bluff for Tauren, Orgrimmar for Orcs & Trolls List of all Wind Rider Masters & their location
Vampire Bats Like their Southern Kalimdor siblings, the vampire bats of Zul Aman have always savored the frenzied turmoil of battle. This chaotic disposition has naturally aligned them with the Forsaken, who continue their struggle against Lord Arthas' Scourge while maintaining a tense alliance with the Horde. In addition to ferrying throughout Lordaeron those who pay for their service, the vampire bats also act as scouts for the Dark Lady. Undead start with node in Undercity.
List of all Bat Handlers & their location
Before you can use flying mounts you will need to discover flight paths. Each race starts with the flight node in their race's starting city. Alliance races also start with a single route - Humans (Stormwind to Ironforge), Dwarves & Gnomes (Ironforge to Stormwind and Night Elves (Teldrassil to Darkshore). All other routes need to be discovered to eventually build an entire network of nodes such as can be seen in this map of Eastern Kingdom and this one of Kalimdor.
Once you have flight routes you will need to pay for the trip and these fees can range from a few copper to a flight costing around ten silver. Below are tables detailing the flight nodes, base prices, duration and links to the zone maps. Remember, these routes only become available when you've visited both nodes. |
