Rare Mount Recolors Added to WoW, With a Twist

Summary

• Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and Golden Ashes of Al’ar are exclusive Chinese WoW mounts, reimagined from rare drops.
• These new mounts are obtainable through specific promotions in WoW China starting January 15.
• Blazing Royal Fire Hawk features auspicious clouds while Golden Ashes of Al’ar pays homage to Kael’thas Sunstrider.

World of Warcraft enthusiasts in China are in for a treat with the introduction of the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and the Golden Ashes of Al’ar mounts, available as rewards for two exciting promotions starting January 15. These mounts, while exclusive to the Chinese region for now, are captivating reimaginings of the Pureblood Fire Hawk and Ashes of Al’ar, two of the rarest raid boss drops in the game.

The reestablished partnership between NetEase and Blizzard last year marked a significant milestone, bringing beloved titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, and Overwatch 2 back to the Chinese gaming community. To celebrate this return, World of Warcraft introduced several celebratory elements, including the Lightforged Gorehowl statue and the Xiao Liu pet, which boasts a unique teleportation function.

Now, WoW China is gearing up for another thrilling promotion, featuring new versions of these rare mounts. The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk, while resembling the Pureblood Fire Hawk dropped by Ragnaros in the Firelands raid of WoW: Cataclysm, is distinguished by the presence of xiangyun, or “auspicious clouds,” within its wings. These clouds symbolize peace, immortality, and good fortune, elements deeply ingrained in Chinese culture for over 3000 years. The Golden Ashes of Al’ar, a gilded version of the phoenix mount from Kael’thas Sunstrider in The Burning Crusade’s The Eye raid, features a stylish black saddle and a poignant flavor text that echoes the character’s iconic line: “The golden Al'ar, beloved pet of Kael'thas Sunstrider, proves that death is merely a setback.”

New Chinese World of Warcraft Promotion Mounts

• Blazing Royal Fire Hawk
• Golden Ashes of Al'ar

Players can acquire the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk through an event known as the Treasure Workshop, though specifics on how this will work are still under wraps. Meanwhile, the Golden Ashes of Al’ar can be obtained from Landro’s Loot Box, priced at ¥200, or approximately $27. Each box guarantees one of eight items, including other prestigious rewards like the X-51 Nether Rocket X-TREME and the Swift Spectral Tiger, a highly coveted mount from the discontinued World of Warcraft TCG. Additionally, fans can join teams when purchasing these loot boxes, earning extra crates as they hit certain spending thresholds.

While the new Xiao Liu pet has sparked speculation about a potential international release, there is currently no indication that the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk or Golden Ashes of Al’ar will be available outside of China. Until such a release is confirmed, players worldwide will have to content themselves with admiring these stunning mounts from a distance.