Corrupted Gladiator's Proto-Drake

Corrupted Gladiator's Proto-Drake is an epic flying mount added in Battle for Azeroth with patch 8.3.0 "Visions of N'Zoth". It is a massive black proto-drake clad in heavy iron armor and adorned with spiked plates.

The mount was awarded for the achievement Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 4 — the highest reward of the PvP season for players who won at least 50 matches in 3v3 arena while holding an Elite rating. It is the final entry in the BfA proto-drake line: the first season gave the red Dread Gladiator's Proto-Drake, the second the blue Sinister Gladiator's Proto-Drake, the third the purple Notorious Gladiator's Proto-Drake, and the fourth — this very black "iron" variant.

• A prestigious PvP trophy — the Corrupted Gladiator's Proto-Drake is one of the most coveted rewards for arena players. Having it in your collection instantly shows that the character reached the "Elite" tier and completed one of the toughest PvP challenges
• Completing the BfA seasonal proto-drake collection — four mounts of one model in four color schemes make up one of the most striking matching collections in the game. The black iron variant is the final touch
• A unique black color scheme — among all the proto-drakes in World of Warcraft, the black-iron version appears only on the Season 4 BfA reward. No other model in the game repeats this palette
• Maximum flight speed — the mount flies with the same stats as any other flying mount. Its speed depends solely on your riding skill and the zone's flight buffs
• Eternal reward status — the mount is no longer available after the season ends. Everyone who obtained it in its time keeps it forever as a non-reobtainable item

The Corrupted Gladiator's Proto-Drake was awarded for completing the achievement Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 4. This means the mount could only be obtained during a limited period — during the 4th PvP season of Battle for Azeroth, which lasted from January 22, 2020 (the start of patch 8.3.0 "Visions of N'Zoth") until the release of Shadowlands in November of that year.

1. During BfA's 4th PvP season, reach a rating of at least 2400 in 3v3 arena. This rating grants the "Elite" rank
2. While holding the "Elite" rank, win 50 3v3 matches. Only those wins earned at a current rating of 2400 or higher count
3. After the 50th win, the achievement Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 4, the "Gladiator" title, and the mount Corrupted Gladiator's Proto-Drake are automatically unlocked
4. The mount is automatically added to the account-wide collection and becomes available to all characters

The rules for obtaining the Corrupted Gladiator's Proto-Drake are based on the "Elite" rank mechanic introduced in Battle for Azeroth.

What the "Elite" Rank Is

The "Elite" rank is the top tier of the rating system, which unlocks automatically upon reaching 2400 rating in 3v3 arena. As long as the character holds this rank, all wins in the chosen mode count as "elite" — that is, they count toward progress on the achievement Gladiator: Battle for Azeroth Season 4.

The Elite "Drop" Threshold

If your rating falls below 2375, the "Elite" rank is removed. Wins earned below this threshold do not count toward the 50-win counter. To resume progress, you must raise your rating back up to 2400.

It is wins that count, and not necessarily consecutive ones. At the same time, to stay at the 2400 mark, a player has to play dozens of additional matches to compensate for losses. In practice, 50 wins at the "Elite" rank mean from 100 to 200 matches played at a high level of competition.