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 is set to introduce the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and the Golden Ashes of Al’ar as rewards for two exciting promotions in China. Although these mounts are not yet available in other regions, they are reimagined versions of the Pureblood Fire Hawk and Ashes of Al’ar, two of the rarest raid boss drops in the game.

Following the reestablishment of the partnership between NetEase and Blizzard last year, games like World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, and Overwatch 2 have made a triumphant return to China. To celebrate, World of Warcraft has introduced various new features, including the Lightforged Gorehowl statue and the Xiao Liu pet with a teleportation function.

Now, WoW China is gearing up for another promotion, this time featuring new versions of some of the game's rarest mounts. The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and the Golden Ashes of Al’ar are recolored and reimagined versions of the Pureblood Fire Hawk and the Ashes of Al’ar, respectively. These fiery birds will be available through twin parallel promotions exclusive to China starting January 15, and they can be used in both modern and Classic WoW.

New Chinese World of Warcraft Promotion Mounts

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

At first glance, the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk appears identical to the Pureblood Fire Hawk, a rare drop from Ragnaros in WoW: Cataclysm’s Firelands raid. However, while flying, it showcases several xiangyun, or “auspicious clouds,” within its wings. These symbols, associated with peace, immortality, and good fortune, have been prominent in China for over 3000 years. The Golden Ashes of Al’ar is a gilded version of the Ashes of Al’ar, the phoenix mount that drops from Kael’thas Sunstrider in The Burning Crusade’s The Eye raid. It features a stylish black saddle and 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."

The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk can be obtained through an event called the Treasure Workshop, though details about the event are currently limited. On the other hand, the Golden Ashes of Al’ar is available from Landro’s Loot Box, which costs ¥200, or about $27. Each crate contains one of eight items, including other prestigious prizes like the X-51 Nether Rocket X-TREME and the Swift Spectral Tiger, an extremely rare mount from World of Warcraft’s discontinued TCG. Fans can form teams to buy these loot boxes, earning extra crates upon reaching certain spending milestones.

Unlike the new Xiao Liu pet, there is currently no evidence suggesting that the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk or Golden Ashes of Al’ar will be released internationally, though it is not impossible. Until then, players outside China will have to admire these stunning mounts from afar.