Summary
- Two exclusive Chinese World of Warcraft mounts, the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and the Golden Ashes of Al'ar, are reimagined versions of rare drops.
- Available in China starting January 15th through specific promotions.
- The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk features auspicious clouds, while the Golden Ashes of Al'ar is a gilded tribute to Kael'thas Sunstrider.
World of Warcraft China is introducing two new mounts: the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and the Golden Ashes of Al'ar. These stunning mounts are re-interpretations of the incredibly rare Pureblood Fire Hawk and Ashes of Al'ar, previously only obtainable through exceptionally low-chance raid drops. Currently exclusive to China, these mounts represent a significant addition to the game following the renewed partnership between NetEase and Blizzard. This partnership, re-established last year, brought back titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo IV, and Overwatch 2 to the Chinese market, celebrated with events including a Lighforged Gorehowl statue and the introduction of the Xiao Liu pet.
These new mounts, available from January 15th, will be obtainable through separate promotions. The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and Golden Ashes of Al'ar are visually distinct from their predecessors. Both will reportedly be usable in both modern and Classic WoW.
New Chinese World of Warcraft Promotional Mounts
- Blazing Royal Fire Hawk
- Golden Ashes of Al'ar
The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk, while resembling the Pureblood Fire Hawk (a rare drop from Ragnaros in WoW: Cataclysm's Firelands raid), boasts unique auspicious clouds within its wings during flight. These "xiangyun" are symbols of peace, immortality, and good fortune, holding deep cultural significance in China. The Golden Ashes of Al'ar, a resplendent golden version of the original Ashes of Al'ar (dropped by Kael'thas Sunstrider in The Burning Crusade's The Eye), features a stylish black saddle and evocative flavor text referencing Kael'thas' iconic line: "The golden Al'ar, beloved pet of Kael'thas Sunstrider, proves that death is merely a setback."
Acquisition methods differ. The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk is rewarded through an event called the Treasure Workshop (details pending). The Golden Ashes of Al'ar is obtainable from Landro's Loot Box, costing ¥200 (approximately $27 USD). This loot box offers eight possible rewards, including prestigious items such as the X-51 Nether Rocket X-TREME and the extremely rare Swift Spectral Tiger (from the discontinued WoW TCG). Team-based purchasing offers bonus crates based on spending milestones.
While the Xiao Liu pet saw release outside China, there's currently no indication that the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk or Golden Ashes of Al'ar will receive an international release. For now, these magnificent mounts remain exclusive to the Chinese World of Warcraft community.
