Route

This is the recommended unlock route that keeps you moving forward without dead ends. It’s designed around three realities of GW2:

• Terrain gates are real (vertical cliffs, long gaps, hazardous ground, wide water, sand portals).
• Mastery gates matter (you’ll need specific masteries to reach later mount vendors and complete key hearts).
• Your expansion ownership changes the best Skyscale path.

The best unlock order (the short version)

If you want the simplest “do this next” order for most accounts in 2025, here it is:

1. Raptor (first)
2. Raptor mastery: Canyon Jumping (early priority)
3. Springer (second)
4. Skimmer (third)
5. Either Springer or Skimmer mastery to the requirement (to reach Jackal unlock smoothly)
6. Jackal (fourth core PoF mount)
7. Choose your “speed/fun” mount next: Griffon or Roller Beetle
8. Warclaw (especially since it’s much easier to access now and works in PvE after unlock)
9. Skyscale (choose the best method for your account: Secrets of the Obscure path or Living World Season 4 path)

Before you start: what content do you own? (quick decision guide)

Your best Skyscale plan depends on what you have unlocked:

• If you own Path of Fire (PoF): you can unlock the core desert mounts (Raptor, Springer, Skimmer, Jackal) and start working toward Griffon.
• If you own Living World Season 4: you can unlock Roller Beetle and the original Skyscale path (longer, more currencies, more time gates).
• If you own Secrets of the Obscure (SotO): you can unlock Skyscale via A New Friend, which is generally the fastest Skyscale route in modern GW2.
• If you own End of Dragons (EoD): you can unlock the Siege Turtle (optional for movement, great for fun and specific uses).
• If you own Heart of Thorns (HoT) and/or PoF: Warclaw access is significantly friendlier than it used to be (you still step into WvW to activate it properly).

If you only own one expansion, don’t worry—this guide gives you multiple “unlock ladders” so you always have a next step.

Step 1: Raptor (your first real mount)

Why it’s first: The Raptor is the “get everywhere faster” mount and the foundation for reaching the other PoF mount trainers. It also makes early mastery XP farming and map completion smoother immediately.

How you get it (most common path):

• You unlock the Raptor by starting Path of Fire and completing the very first story instance that introduces mounts.
• In the modern new-player experience, the game also introduces a basic raptor mount access at level 10, but treat that as a “starter taste.” The Path of Fire unlock is what anchors your mount progression and PoF mastery track.

What you should do immediately after unlocking it:

• Start earning Path of Fire mastery XP in the Crystal Desert.
• Aim to unlock Canyon Jumping early (more on why next).

Step 2: Raptor mastery priority — Canyon Jumping

Why this matters: Canyon Jumping is the “bridge key” mastery. Without it, you’ll run into gaps that block your path to later mount trainers and several easy mastery points.

How to get it faster:

• Do a handful of Crystal Desert events (especially near hearts and waypoints).
• Grab quick mastery points in Crystal Oasis and Desert Highlands while you’re traveling for story.
• Don’t overthink “best farm.” You’re building the basic toolkit first.

Your goal: get Canyon Jumping early enough that reaching the Springer and Skimmer ranches feels effortless rather than frustrating.

Step 3: Springer (your vertical power tool)

Why it’s next: Once you can jump gaps with the Raptor, the Springer turns vertical obstacles into “free access.” It’s the mount that makes cliffs, ledges, and many mastery insights feel trivial.

Where you unlock it:

• Desert Highlands, at the Springer ranch (Highjump Ranch area).
• You’ll complete the local heart and purchase the mount from the heart vendor.

Cost pattern (what to plan for):

• A small gold cost plus Trade Contracts (Crystal Desert currency).
• Trade Contracts come from events, bounties, chests, and desert map completion, so you’ll naturally accumulate them if you’re playing PoF maps actively.

The mastery that matters most early:

• High Vault is the Springer mastery that often becomes a gate for later mount progression (especially Jackal unlock logic).

Step 4: Skimmer (your “ignore the ground” mount)

Why it’s third: The Skimmer is a massive comfort upgrade. Water becomes a road. Hazardous ground becomes less scary. Certain maps and farms become dramatically easier. Even if you personally love Springer, Skimmer changes how smooth your open-world life feels.

Where you unlock it:

• Elon Riverlands, at Skimmer Ranch.
• Complete the heart and purchase the mount.

What you should do right away:

• Train a couple Skimmer masteries enough to feel stable and fast.
• If you like open-world trains, Skimmer reduces the number of moments where you fall behind because the route crosses water or awkward terrain.

Step 5: Prep for Jackal unlock (choose one mastery path)

The Jackal isn’t just “buy it and done.” In practice, most players unlock it smoothly by ensuring they meet the mastery requirements that make the heart easy and the route safe.

You have two comfortable approaches:

Option A: Springer-focused path

• Train Springer until you have the mobility masteries that let you reach awkward elevated areas smoothly.
• This tends to feel best if you enjoy vertical exploration.

Option B: Skimmer-focused path

• Train Skimmer to improve speed and handling.
• This is great if you do lots of open-world content and want safer traversal across dangerous surfaces.

Pick one path and commit until Jackal is secured. Splitting mastery XP too thin early can make the “mid-mount phase” feel slower than it should.

Step 6: Jackal (your portal mount and desert specialist)

Why it’s worth it: Jackal isn’t just another speed option—it unlocks sand portals in the Crystal Desert and gives you access to routes and shortcuts you otherwise can’t use. It also feels extremely good for precise movement once you get used to it.

Where you unlock it:

• The Desolation, Djinn Enclave area (Sand Jackal Run region).

Cost pattern:

• A larger gold cost than Springer/Skimmer plus a higher Trade Contract requirement.
• This is often the first mount where players realize: “Okay, I should stop spending Trade Contracts randomly.”

Pro tip that saves gold frustration:

• Plan your Trade Contracts early. If you know you want Jackal, don’t casually burn contracts on vendors just because something looks interesting. Jackal is one of the best “contract investments” you can make.

At this point, you have the core PoF kit

Once you have Raptor + Canyon Jumping + Springer + Skimmer + Jackal, you’ve cleared the biggest mobility gates in the game’s classic mount ecosystem. Now you choose what comes next based on your goals.

Step 7: Choose your next “movement identity” mount

You have two classic choices that dramatically change how fast you move across Tyria:

Choice 1: Griffon (fast flight-style traversal)

• Best for: players who love speed, long-distance movement, and “skill-based flight.”
• Important reality: Griffon requires you to finish the Path of Fire story and invest a significant gold cost to complete the collection chain.
• Why it’s still worth it: Once mastered, Griffon is one of the fastest ways to cross huge distances—especially in maps designed with long open airspace.

Choice 2: Roller Beetle (ground speed king)

• Best for: players who love racing, farming routes, and “go fast” ground travel.
• Important reality: Roller Beetle is tied to Living World Season 4 Episode 3 (Long Live the Lich) and its collection chain.
• Why it’s still worth it: For farming and efficient movement on flat terrain, it’s a daily-life upgrade that stays useful forever.

If you’re trying to reach Skyscale as fast as possible, you can delay both Griffon and Beetle. But if you want a route that stays fun (and prevents burnout), getting one of these “joy mounts” often keeps your mount grind feeling like gameplay instead of chores.

Step 8: Warclaw (now relevant for more players in 2025)

Warclaw used to be “that WvW mount you might never bother with.” In modern GW2, Warclaw is more accessible, and once unlocked it can be used in PvE as well—making it a practical mount for many players who never took WvW seriously.

The key truth:

You still step into World vs. World to activate the Warclaw unlock properly (spending a world ability point in the Warclaw track), but you don’t need to become a hardcore WvW player to do the basics.

Why unlock it before Skyscale sometimes makes sense:

• If you already own HoT or PoF, Warclaw can be a quick “extra mount value” win.
• It’s also a gentle way to learn WvW basics and start earning rewards that help other goals.

Step 9: Skyscale (the “do everything” mount) — pick your path

Skyscale is the mount that makes most other movement feel optional. It’s not always the fastest at raw speed (Griffon and Beetle have their own niches), but Skyscale is the best “I can solve any terrain problem” mount in the game.

In 2025, you choose one of two major unlock paths:

Path A: Secrets of the Obscure Skyscale (A New Friend) — usually the fastest

• Best if: you own Secrets of the Obscure and want Skyscale quickly.
• General feel: structured achievement chain, fewer “old-school” map-currency walls, and the ability to avoid certain time gates by paying more.

Path B: Living World Season 4 Skyscale (War Eternal) — longer, currency-heavy, classic

• Best if: you already own all LWS4 episodes, you want the original progression, and you care about long-term collection goals tied to that route.
• General feel: bigger scavenger hunts, multiple map currencies, and real time gates (including feeding steps).

Important note for completionists:

Even if you unlock Skyscale via SotO first, many players still do the LWS4 Skyscale path later for completion and related long-term goals.

Recommended unlock ladders (based on what you own)

If you own PoF only (or PoF + HoT):

1. Raptor → Canyon Jumping
2. Springer
3. Skimmer
4. Jackal
5. Griffon (optional but common)
6. Warclaw (easy value if you try WvW briefly)
7. Skyscale requires buying either Living World Season 4 or Secrets of the Obscure

If you own PoF + SotO:

1. Raptor → Canyon Jumping
2. Springer
3. Skimmer
4. Jackal
5. Start SotO Skyscale path as early as you’re comfortable
6. Add Griffon or Beetle later for fun/speed niches
7. Warclaw whenever you feel like dipping into WvW

If you own PoF + Living World Season 4 (no SotO):

1. Raptor → Canyon Jumping
2. Springer
3. Skimmer
4. Jackal
5. Roller Beetle (Episode 3)
6. Skyscale (Episode 6 path)
7. Griffon whenever you can comfortably afford it

If you own EoD too (optional layer):

• Add Siege Turtle when you want a unique, two-player combat mount and you’re comfortable with EoD’s collection flow.

Loot

“Loot” in a mount guide means something different than gold drops. It’s the value you gain from each mount: faster access, fewer deaths, more event credit, more efficient farms, smoother map completion, and the ability to unlock other systems (mastery points, achievements, collections) with far less friction.

Below is what each mount really gives you—so you know why the unlock order matters.

Raptor loot: speed, gaps, and the “engagement rhythm”

The Raptor is the mount that improves your moment-to-moment gameplay instantly:

• Gap clearing: Once Canyon Jumping is trained, you stop being blocked by “how do I cross that?” terrain.
• Event participation: You arrive to events faster, tag more enemies, and miss fewer chests.
• Combat flow: Your engage skill becomes part of your daily movement-combat rhythm: mount in, engage, clear, loot, move.

If you’re new or returning, the Raptor is what makes GW2’s open world feel modern and fast again.

Springer loot: vertical access and “mastery point unlock pressure relief”

Springer turns vertical design into convenience:

• Mastery insights and hero points: Many exploration objectives become dramatically easier.
• Jumping puzzle support (outside no-mount zones): You gain a reliable “reset button” for getting back up quickly.
• Navigation confidence: Maps feel less intimidating when cliffs and ledges stop being puzzles.

Springer also quietly reduces frustration. It’s the mount that makes you feel like you can explore freely.

Skimmer loot: water routes, hazard routes, and stress-free travel

Skimmer’s payoff is comfort and consistency:

• Water becomes a highway: You take straight lines instead of running around shorelines.
• Hazard tolerance: Many dangerous surfaces become “annoying but manageable” instead of “instant dismount and panic.”
• Meta-train reliability: You’re less likely to fall behind on routes that cross water, sand, or awkward terrain.

Skimmer is often the mount that makes players think: “Okay, now I get why mounts are a big deal.”

Jackal loot: portal access and precision

Jackal is a specialist that pays off whenever you’re in desert-style terrain:

• Sand portals: Shortcuts that other mounts simply can’t use.
• Precise movement: Jackal feels snappy and controlled, making it great for certain exploration lines.
• Desert mastery synergy: Many PoF routes assume Jackal exists once you’re deeper in the expansion.

Jackal is less “universal” than Raptor/Skyscale, but it’s a major quality-of-life mount in the content it’s designed for.

Griffon loot: long-distance speed and “skill expression”

Griffon is a mount that rewards practice:

• Incredible speed over distance: When you have height and space, Griffon can cross maps ridiculously fast.
• Momentum gameplay: Dive and climb loops make movement feel like a mini-game you improve at.
• Travel joy: For many players, Griffon is the mount that makes simply moving around Tyria fun again.

It’s not required for Skyscale, but it’s one of the best “I want movement to feel amazing” unlocks.

Roller Beetle loot: farming efficiency and time saved

Roller Beetle changes how fast you do routine tasks:

• Fastest ground travel for many routes: Perfect for gathering loops, bounty trains, and open maps.
• Farm efficiency: Over time, Beetle pays you back by saving minutes constantly.
• Fun factor: If you enjoy the “go fast” feeling, Beetle makes daily play feel energetic.

If you like making gold in open world, Beetle often becomes a quiet profit multiplier because you spend less time traveling between value points.

Warclaw loot: WvW access plus a modern PvE bonus

Warclaw’s value depends on what you play:

• In WvW: It’s the mobility standard—moving with groups, repositioning, and staying relevant.
• In PvE after unlock: It becomes another option in your mount toolkit, especially useful if you like its feel and want variety.

Warclaw is also “loot” in the form of WvW rewards: learning even a little WvW can unlock currencies and progress tracks that help your account long-term.

Siege Turtle loot: unique utility and social fun

Siege Turtle is not a “must-have movement mount,” but it gives unique value:

• Two-player mount gameplay: Driver + gunner creates a fun social dynamic.
• Combat utility: It’s a combat mount with a distinct niche rather than pure travel speed.
• Collection satisfaction: If you enjoy achievement-driven unlocks, Turtle is a great long-term project.

Skyscale loot: universal mobility and problem solving

Skyscale is the mount most players consider “the final boss of convenience”:

• Vertical freedom: Walls and cliffs become optional.
• Short-hop flight: You can reposition constantly in open world fights and exploration.
• Daily life upgrades: Hero points, mastery points, map completion, chest routes, and event trains become smoother.

Skyscale doesn’t replace every mount. It replaces the feeling of being blocked.

Extraction

Extraction is how you turn mount unlocks into a permanent account advantage instead of a messy checklist you half-finish and forget. This section is the “do it smarter” layer: mastery XP routing, currency planning, time-gate planning, and the small habits that make your mount journey faster and cheaper.

Extraction 1: Treat Trade Contracts like your early mount budget

The Crystal Desert mounts rely heavily on Trade Contracts. If you spend contracts impulsively, Jackal becomes an annoying wall. If you plan contracts early, PoF mount unlocking feels smooth.

Simple contract plan:

• Save up enough contracts for Springer + Skimmer first.
• Then stop spending until you’re sure you have enough for Jackal.
• After Jackal, you can spend more casually again.

How to get contracts without grinding yourself into boredom:

• Do PoF hearts while moving through story chapters.
• Loot desert chests as you travel (especially if you enjoy exploration).
• Complete desert map progress naturally while chasing mastery points.

Extraction 2: Mastery XP is your real “mount unlock currency”

Mounts aren’t just “buy and done.” The masteries are what make them powerful and what unlocks later steps.

The fastest-feeling way to gain PoF masteries:

• Do story chapters (you get XP while progressing).
• Join open-world events when you see a group (quick XP bursts).
• Do a small set of daily activities in the Crystal Desert rather than forcing one long grind.

A strong daily 20–40 minute mastery routine:

• 1–2 story steps or story instances
• 10–15 minutes of events and bounties in the map you’re already in
• Pick up 1–2 mastery points you can reach now that you have your current mount

Extraction 3: Use “mount treats” and heart vendors intelligently

A surprisingly effective trick for speeding up PoF mastery training is using mount-related items that grant mount mastery XP when consumed while riding the correct mount. Many players ignore this and wonder why their mastery progress feels slow.

Practical habit:

• When you finish a heart at a mount ranch area, check the vendor inventory for anything that helps mount progression.
• Use those boosts on days you’re actively training that mount’s mastery line.

Extraction 4: Don’t start Griffon unless your gold plan is ready

Griffon is amazing, but it’s also the mount that shocks players with the “oh, this is expensive” moment.

The responsible Griffon plan:

• Finish the PoF story first (required).
• Build a comfortable gold buffer so the Griffon cost doesn’t break your gear plans or your daily quality of life.
• Treat Griffon as a planned purchase, not an impulse.

If you want a “no-regret” rule:

Don’t spend your last gold on Griffon. Spend from a buffer.

Extraction 5: Beetle and Skyscale collections are easier when you stop doing them “randomly”

Collection mounts punish randomness. The best way to do them is to run them like a route:

• Gather all needed items in one map before you leave it.
• Batch travel steps so you aren’t teleporting back and forth repeatedly.
• Use your mounts to reduce backtracking (this is why getting Raptor/Springer/Skimmer first helps so much).

Extraction 6: Skyscale path choice in 2025 (how to choose quickly)

Here’s a clean way to decide:

Choose SotO Skyscale (A New Friend) if:

• You own Secrets of the Obscure
• You want Skyscale sooner
• You prefer a more modern, streamlined unlock process

Choose LWS4 Skyscale (War Eternal) if:

• You already own all Living World Season 4 episodes
• You enjoy long achievement chains and scavenger-hunt style progress
• You don’t mind currency requirements and time gates
• You want the “classic” Skyscale progression and related completion value

If you own both:

Unlock SotO Skyscale first for quality of life, then do LWS4 later if you care about completion and long-term projects.

Extraction 7: Plan around Skyscale time gates instead of suffering them

Time gates feel painful when you hit them unexpectedly. They feel harmless when you schedule around them.

Smart time-gate approach:

• When a step forces you to wait, switch tasks:
• do a quick meta event
• do daily fractals/strikes
• work on mastery XP
• farm the currencies you’ll need for the next Skyscale steps

You don’t “pause your progress.” You keep the account moving while the timer runs.

Extraction 8: Build the “mount unlock shopping list” early

Even if you’re not unlocking Skyscale today, you can make your future self happier by preparing common requirements:

Common prep targets that help multiple mount goals:

• A steady gold buffer (for Griffon and general convenience)
• Trade Contracts (for PoF mounts and some future needs)
• Charged Quartz habits (useful in various crafting/collection chains)
• A habit of doing one currency-heavy map session per week (so you never feel broke in map currencies)

This turns mount unlocks from “big painful project” into “steady weekly progress.”

Practical rules

1. Unlock Raptor first and treat it as your default travel mount until Canyon Jumping is trained.
2. Prioritize Canyon Jumping early—this mastery prevents route dead ends.
3. Don’t split mastery XP across every mount line at once; focus on the one that unlocks the next step.
4. Get Springer before you try to “seriously explore” vertical maps—your frustration drops instantly.
5. Get Skimmer before you commit to meta trains that cross water/hazard terrain.
6. Save Trade Contracts until Jackal is unlocked; spending contracts early is the easiest beginner mistake.
7. Unlock Jackal when you’re already comfortable in The Desolation—don’t force it too early if you’re underpowered.
8. Finish PoF story before you attempt Griffon; it’s designed as an advanced mount project.
9. Treat Griffon as a planned purchase; build a gold buffer first.
10. If you want Skyscale fast, don’t get distracted by every optional mount first.
11. If you want the journey to stay fun, unlock one “joy mount” (Griffon or Beetle) before grinding Skyscale hard.
12. Use travel windows to do inventory cleanup; collection steps fill your bags quickly.
13. Batch collection tasks by map to minimize loading screens and backtracking.
14. When you hit time gates, switch to productive gameplay instead of logging off frustrated.
15. If you own SotO, the Skyscale unlock path is usually the most efficient starting point.
16. If you own LWS4, remember Beetle and Skyscale can be layered into your story progression rather than done all at once.
17. Don’t underestimate Warclaw—modern unlock access makes it a practical addition even for PvE-focused players.
18. If you’re anxious about WvW, start with a short session and learn the basics; you don’t need to be a veteran to unlock Warclaw.
19. Don’t chase “perfect mastery routes.” Consistency beats optimization.
20. Your best mount route is the one you’ll repeat without burnout—plan for your schedule, not an ideal schedule.
21. If a mount step requires group events, ask in map chat or join a squad; it’s faster and less stressful.
22. Keep one “mount XP session” per week even after unlocking Skyscale—mount masteries are permanent power.
23. Use mounts to make other goals easier (hero points, map completion, farming), so your mount unlock pays you back.
24. If you feel stuck, your next fix is almost always one of these: more mastery XP, more Trade Contracts, or a better route.
25. Always end your session with a small “progress lock-in” step: a mastery point, a story step, or one collection checkpoint.

BoostRoom

If you want your mount journey to feel fast, smooth, and stress-free, BoostRoom can help you turn “I’m overwhelmed” into a clean plan that fits your account and your schedule.

BoostRoom support that pairs perfectly with mount progression:

• Mount unlock routing: a personalized order based on what expansions and Living World episodes you own
• Mastery XP acceleration: the simplest path to the masteries that actually unlock your next mount gate
• Collection coaching: how to batch Griffon, Beetle, and Skyscale steps so you don’t waste hours backtracking
• Gold and currency planning: building the buffer for Griffon and the currency flow for Skyscale without painful grinding
• Confidence support: if group events, metas, or WvW steps feel intimidating, BoostRoom can help you approach them calmly and effectively

The goal is simple: unlock mounts in the smartest order, keep the process fun, and end up with a permanently stronger account.

FAQ

Do I need Path of Fire to get mounts?

For the classic mount system (Raptor, Springer, Skimmer, Jackal, Griffon), Path of Fire is the core requirement. Other mounts like Beetle and the original Skyscale also rely on Living World Season 4 (which itself requires PoF ownership for access).

Can I unlock Skyscale without Living World Season 4?

Yes—if you own Secrets of the Obscure, you can unlock Skyscale through the SotO achievement path (commonly known as the A New Friend route).

Which Skyscale method is fastest in 2025?

For most players, the Secrets of the Obscure method is faster and more streamlined. The Living World Season 4 method is longer and more currency/time-gated, but it has its own completion value.

Should I get Griffon before Skyscale?

If your main goal is “Skyscale as soon as possible,” you can delay Griffon. If your goal is “make movement fun and fast,” Griffon is worth doing earlier—especially after PoF story—because it changes how the game feels.

Is Roller Beetle worth it if I’m going for Skyscale?

Beetle is not required for Skyscale, but it’s excellent for farming routes and ground travel. Many players unlock Beetle first because it’s fun and speeds up daily life, then they tackle Skyscale.

What mount masteries should I prioritize first?

Canyon Jumping (Raptor) is usually the first big priority because it unlocks access routes. After that, prioritize the masteries that help you reach Jackal unlock requirements smoothly.

How do I get Trade Contracts quickly?

You’ll earn them naturally by doing events, hearts, bounties, chests, and map completion in the Crystal Desert. The key is not grinding one method endlessly—just stay active in PoF maps and you’ll build a healthy supply.

Why is Jackal so expensive compared to earlier mounts?

Jackal is designed as a later PoF mount and asks for a bigger investment in both gold and Trade Contracts. It’s one of the reasons saving Trade Contracts early matters.

Do I have to play WvW to use Warclaw?

You generally need to enter WvW to activate the unlock properly (spending the required world ability point in the Warclaw mastery line). After that, Warclaw can be used in PvE too, which makes it more attractive than it used to be.

Is Siege Turtle required for anything important?

It’s not required for general movement. It’s a unique two-player combat mount and a great project if you enjoy End of Dragons collections and want a different kind of mount experience.

What’s the biggest mistake players make with mount unlocking?

Trying to unlock everything at once without a route. It leads to backtracking, wasted currencies, and mastery confusion. A focused order is faster and feels better.

Can BoostRoom help me unlock mounts faster?

Yes. BoostRoom can give you a clean unlock plan, help you accelerate mastery progress, and reduce friction on collections like Griffon, Beetle, Warclaw steps, and both Skyscale methods.