WithBattle for Azerothdrawing to a close,World of Warcraftplayers are just waiting to head into theShadowlandslater this year. Since thepre-patch event is coming soon, most characters will find any gear they get now is quickly replaced by more powerful items. However, adventurers can still work towards permanent rewards like earning a new mount in the meantime.
Since Patch 8.3 brought N’Zoth’s invasions to Azeroth, players have fought and killed thousands of Aqir insects in Uldum. Among the many types include airborne ones that harass even heroes flying through the sky. Several variants of this flying Aqir model can be found as a rare drop or bought for Horrific Vision currency, but players can also raise their own mount over several weeks.
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Finding the Egg
First, players will need to locate a ‘Voidtouched Egg’ in Western Uldum which can be found during any invasion. Interacting with the egg will start a quest to bring it back to Ramakhen and talk with the NPC H’partho Ardoros. Immediately after, he gives another quest to inspect 7 more Voidtouched Eggs in Uldum and completing that will open up dailies starting the next day.
Raising the Egg
The egg has an EXP bar with a cap of 5000 above its head that signals how close it is to reaching the next stage. Completing daily quests provided by H’partho Ardoros award a certain amount of EXP.
Once the EXP bar is fully filled, it will hatch the next day and award the Aqir Egg Cluster toy.
Raising the Larva
Players now get a quest to collect 12 ‘Chunks of Meat’ from animals in Uldum and the Vale of Eternal Blossoms to feed their Aqir larva which it promptly rejects. However, this opens up a new set of dailies to progress another EXP bar on the larva.
When the EXP bar is filled to 5000, the larva cocoons itself and grows further, awarding a Shadowbarb Hatchling battle pet the next day.
Raising the Hatchling
Compared to earlier stages, players can raise their hatchling’s EXP bar through 2 dailies: normal combat or pet battles while the Shadowbarb Hatchling is in the party.
After the Aqir hatchling reaches 5000 EXP, it’s fully grown and just needs one more thing to become a mount.
Getting a Saddle
The Aqir drone needs a saddle, so H’Parthos directs players to speak with Blacksmith Abasi in Ramakhen. Abasi says its doable, but first he needs 12 ‘Black Empire Arnaments’ from N’Zoth’s cultists in Uldum or the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. After handing the items over, Abasi tells players to come back tomorrow for their saddle. The next day, Abasi starts one final quest to bring the ‘Otherworldly Saddle’ to H’Parthos. Once completed, players are finally awarded with their Shadowbarb Drone.
Although this questline is not going away, theimminent Scourge invasionandShadowlandscontent will occupy most players' time in the coming months, so getting the mount now is the best option. Once it’s done, this Aqir friend will loyally carry heroes anywhere through Azeroth and even into the afterlife.
