Armored Blue Wind Rider

Armored Blue Wind Rider is an epic flying mount available only to Horde characters. It was added to World of Warcraft in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion (patch 3.0.2). This is a large wind rider with blue armor and powerful wings, one of the most recognizable flying mounts of the faction. Wind riders are the traditional flying mounts of the Horde, and the armored version looks significantly more imposing than the standard models.

The mount is purchased from the vendor Mei Francis in Dalaran (Northrend) for 2,000 gold. Reputation with Kirin Tor lowers the price down to 1,600 gold at Exalted standing. This mount is also sold by Hira Snowdawn in Dalaran.

• Flying mount with no restrictions — flight speed depends on your riding skill and can reach +310%. On the ground, the mount moves at +100% speed.
• Striking appearance — the massive wind rider in blue armor stands out against the standard Horde wind riders. The model is unique to the armored series and differs from regular wind riders.
• Easy to obtain — the mount is bought from a vendor for gold with no additional requirements like reputation or achievements. You just need to fly to Dalaran and find the right NPC.
• Account-wide — once purchased, the mount appears in the collection of all your Horde characters.
• Collection value — the Armored Blue Wind Rider belongs to the family of armored wind riders and is often one of the first epic flying mounts for Horde players.

Formally, basic riding skill and level 10 are enough to make the purchase. However, to fly on this mount you will need to learn Expert Riding, which unlocks the ability to fly.

1. Make your way to Dalaran in Northrend. The fastest way is to use the portal from Orgrimmar. Open the portal room in Orgrimmar and find the "Dalaran, Crystalsong Forest" portal.
2. Once in Dalaran, head to the exotic beast shop "The Magnificent Menagerie." The shop is located east of Runeweaver Square.
3. Find the NPC Mei Francis — she stands at the shop entrance.

4. Talk to Mei Francis and select Armored Blue Wind Rider from the list of goods.
5. Pay 2,000 gold (or less if you have reputation with Kirin Tor) and use the item — the mount will instantly appear in your collection.

Alternatively, this mount can be purchased from Hira Snowdawn — she is also located in Dalaran (Northrend).

Mei Francis offers discounts on all her goods based on your reputation level with the Kirin Tor faction. Mages start the game at Friendly reputation, all other classes at Neutral.

You can earn reputation with the Kirin Tor through Northrend dungeons on Heroic difficulty, daily quests in Dalaran, and faction tabards. That said, the 400 gold savings is small, and most players prefer to simply buy the mount at full price.

Mei Francis trades several unique mounts. If you have already reached her, it makes sense to look at the whole selection — you may want to add several mounts to your collection at once.

Mount	Price	Faction
Armored Blue Wind Rider	2,000 g	Horde
Armored Snowy Gryphon	2,000 g	Alliance
Armored Brown Bear	750 g	Both factions
Wooly Mammoth	10,000 g	Both factions
Traveler's Tundra Mammoth	20,000 g	Both factions

Note: the Armored Snowy Gryphon is the Alliance counterpart of the Armored Blue Wind Rider. Both mounts cost the same and are sold by the very same vendor.

Dalaran (Northrend) is a flying city above the Crystalsong Forest zone. The easiest way to reach it is through a portal.

Horde:

1. Go to Orgrimmar and enter the portal room (located in the Valley of Spirits)
2. Find the portal labeled "Dalaran, Crystalsong Forest" — it will transport you straight into the city

Alternative methods:

• Mages can use the spell Portal: Dalaran - Northrend
• If you already have a flight path to Dalaran unlocked — fly there via a flight master from anywhere in Northrend
• Rings of Dalaran (sold by Harold Winston in Dalaran for 8,500 gold each) have a teleport-to-city ability with a 30-minute cooldown