Bound Shadehound — How to Get the Mount

Bound Shadehound is a secret ground mount from the Shadowlands expansion, added in patch 9.0.5. It is a crafted mount that requires completing a multi-step quest chain in The Maw: gathering materials, solving a runic puzzle, forging armor, and binding a wolf soul to an armored frame.

Bound Shadehound was one of the few mounts usable in The Maw before patch 9.1. Currently, the mount functions as a regular ground mount in all locations.

• A unique secret mount with an engaging multi-step acquisition chain combining puzzles, crafting, and exploration
• One of the best shadehound models in the game with impressive running animations
• Counts toward the overall mount collection counter for achievements
• Perfectly complements Maw and Shadowlands-themed character transmogs
• Obtaining this mount is a refreshing experience compared to the usual boss drop farming

Obtaining the Bound Shadehound is a multi-stage process involving purchasing items from Ve'nari, gathering materials, solving a puzzle, and crafting. The entire process takes from several hours to a few days depending on how fast you farm Stygia.

Prerequisites

1. Level 80 character (Shadowlands content scales)
2. Completed the introductory quest chain for The Maw
3. Completed Ve'nari's quests "Rule 5: Be Audacious" and "Rule 6: Concealment is Everything" for access to the Tremaculum and Beastwarrens
4. "Appreciative" reputation (maximum level) with Ve'nari
5. Approximately 3,500 Stygia for purchasing required items

Step 1: Purchasing Items from Ve'nari

Head to Ve'nari in The Maw (coordinates 46.9, 41.7) and purchase the following items:

• Animated Razorwing Chain — allows use of grapple points (cost: 1,050 Stygia, requires "Uncertain" reputation level)
• Stygia Dowser — shows Stygian nodes on the mini-map (cost: 1,500 Stygia)
• Incomplete Rune Codex — needed for assembling the full codex (cost: 2,000 Stygia)

Step 2: Runic Puzzle — Crumbling Stele

Head to the Tremaculum. Use the grapple point at coordinates 23.1, 68.3, climb to the platform, then use the second grapple point at coordinates 24.0, 75.5.

On the upper platform, activate the extra action button "Stygian Delirium." A puzzle will appear: you need to arrange runes above a chest in the correct order matching the runes on the pillars (start from the left pillar and move clockwise). You have four attempts to swap runes.

If solved successfully, you will receive a Crumbling Stele from the runic chest. On failure, an enemy will appear, and a retry becomes available after 2 hours.

Step 3: Collecting Rune Codex Pages

Collect three codex pages in different parts of The Maw:

• Rune Codex Page: Forging (ID 185351) — in the Howl of Death cave in the Beastwarrens, coordinates 48.8, 84.7
• Rune Codex Page: Souls (ID 185352) — on a platform in the Tremaculum, coordinates 27.2, 72.3
• Rune Codex Page: Binding (ID 185353) — in the Tremaculum, coordinates 24.6, 12.6. Access via the runic portal at coordinates 27.5, 17.3

After reading all three pages and combining them with the Incomplete Rune Codex, you will receive the Complete Rune Codex.

Step 4: Obtaining the Soulforger's Tools

Find and kill the rare enemy Soulforger Rhovus at coordinates 35.8, 41.8 (Zovaal's Cauldron area). You must have the Complete Rune Codex collected. He drops Soulforger's Tools.

Note: Soulforger Rhovus does not spawn during the Kyrian covenant assault in The Maw.

Step 5: Obtaining the Wolf Soul

Find the Lost Soul — a spectral wolf that wanders along Gorgoa, the River of Souls. It spawns at coordinates 18.6, 53.1 and moves north to coordinates 37.0, 24.0, then disappears and respawns.

Interact with it to receive a Ritual-Ready Wolf Soul.

Step 6: Farming Stygian Materials

Using the Stygia Dowser, gather materials from Stygian nodes throughout The Maw:

• 200 units of Stygian Powder
• 200 units of Stygian Shards

This is the longest stage, which can take from 4 to 12 hours of active farming depending on server competition.

Step 7: Forging at the Anvil

Reach the Soulfused Anvil at the top of the Domination Citadel at coordinates 20.2, 67.0. Climbing requires several grapple points: 23.1, 68.4 → 22.2, 71.1 → 22.2, 70.8 → 22.5, 67.8.

Forge:

1. 20 Stygia Bars from 200 powder and 200 shards
2. Armored Frame from 20 bars and the Soulforger's Tools

Step 8: Binding Ritual

Head to the Binding Altar at coordinates 45.1, 48.3 (south of Ve'nari's Refuge). Combine the Armored Frame and the Ritual-Ready Wolf Soul to create the Feral Shadehound.

Step 9: Final Binding

Summon the Feral Shadehound — it will start running around erratically. Use the runes in the correct sequence, guided by the Crumbling Stele and the Complete Rune Codex. On failure, a retry is available after one minute.

After a successful binding, you will receive the Bound Shadehound mount.

The Maw is a zone in Shadowlands accessible after completing the expansion's introductory quest chain.

Quick Route to The Maw

1. Teleport to Oribos via the portal from your faction's capital city (Stormwind or Orgrimmar — portal room)
2. In Oribos, descend to the lower level and find the waypoint to The Maw
3. Alternatively, use the "Summons from The Maw" quest if available

Prerequisites for Obtaining the Mount

• Complete the Shadowlands introductory quest chain for access to The Maw
• Complete Ve'nari's quests "Rule 5" and "Rule 6" for access to the Tremaculum and Beastwarrens subzones
• Level reputation with Ve'nari to "Appreciative" (maximum)
• Accumulate at least 3,500 Stygia (4,550 including the Animated Razorwing Chain)

Key Coordinates

/way 46.9 41.7 Ve'nari (vendor)
/way 23.1 68.3 Grapple Point (Tremaculum)
/way 24.0 75.5 Runic Puzzle
/way 48.8 84.7 Page: Forging (Beastwarrens)
/way 27.2 72.3 Page: Souls (Tremaculum)
/way 27.5 17.3 Portal to Tremaculum
/way 24.6 12.6 Page: Binding
/way 35.8 41.8 Soulforger Rhovus
/way 18.6 53.1 Lost Soul (start of patrol)
/way 20.2 67.0 Soulfused Anvil
/way 45.1 48.3 Binding Altar

Farming Stygian Materials

The stage of collecting 200 Stygian Powder and 200 Stygian Shards is the longest part of the process. Here is how to speed it up:

• Best farming zone: Beastwarrens — this area has the highest density of Stygian nodes
• Node respawn time: approximately 5–9 minutes
• Don't move while gathering: if you cancel the channel by moving, the materials will be lost
• Nodes are personal: each node can only be gathered by one player, so farm during off-peak hours

Recommended Classes

Useful Farming Tips

• Use the HandyNotes: Stygia addon to display all Stygian node locations on the map
• Keep the Eye of the Jailer level below 2 to avoid spawning dangerous enemies
• Start farming Stygian materials at the same time as collecting codex pages — parallel completion saves time
• At level 80, Maw enemies pose little threat, but their numbers can slow you down

Time Estimates