Get Reins of the Dark Phoenix mount

Reins of the Dark Phoenix is an epic flying mount from the Cataclysm expansion. The Dark Phoenix is a majestic bird wreathed in dark flame with a purple-crimson sheen; patch 4.2 gave its model a brighter, more striking look and added density to the silhouette.

The mount is bought from a Guild Vendor for 3,000 gold, but only once two conditions are met: your guild must have the Glory of the Cataclysm Raider (Guild) achievement, and you must be Exalted with your guild. The flavor text plays on the contrast between its name and its temperament: "Despite their dark name, dark phoenixes have a kind and cheerful disposition."

• Guaranteed to obtain: the mount doesn't drop on a random chance — you buy it from a vendor as soon as the requirements are met.
• Striking model: one of the few phoenix mounts in a purple-and-black palette, easy to spot in the air.
• A mark of guild progress: the mount proves your guild cleared the Cataclysm raids with a full roster.
• Account-wide: once purchased, it unlocks on all your characters.
• Low price: 3,000 gold is noticeably cheaper than most vendor mounts.

To buy it you need to satisfy three requirements: the guild achievement, Exalted reputation with your guild, and 3,000 gold.

1. Join a guild that already has the Glory of the Cataclysm Raider (Guild) achievement, or gather a guild group to run the raids.
2. Clear three Cataclysm raids with a guild group: Blackwing Descent, The Bastion of Twilight, and Throne of the Four Winds.
3. Meet the roster rules: a 10-player group needs at least 8 guild members, a 25-player group at least 20.
4. Reach Exalted reputation with your guild.
5. Visit a Guild Vendor in any capital and buy the Reins of the Dark Phoenix.

This is a meta-achievement made up of three guild raid credits — one for each Cataclysm raid.

Roster requirements: a 10-player raid needs at least 8 guild members, a 25-player raid at least 20. The credit counts on any difficulty.

At the current level cap, all three raids can be soloed in a couple of minutes, but the guild credit requires a group, so the real challenge is gathering people rather than killing bosses.

Blackwing Descent: the entrance is on the eastern slope of Blackrock Mountain, on the Burning Steppes side. The entrance platform sits high on the cliff, so you'll need a flying mount.

The Bastion of Twilight: the entrance is at the top of Twilight Citadel in the southwestern part of Twilight Highlands, roughly at 34, 78. A flying mount is required here too.

Throne of the Four Winds: the entrance floats in the air off the southwestern coast of Uldum, roughly at 38, 81. Fly southwest over the sea — the raid hovers in the sky.

Once the achievement is done, you can buy the mount from a Guild Vendor in any capital. Main locations:

• Alliance: Stormwind, Ironforge, the Exodar, Darnassus, Boralus.
• Horde: Orgrimmar, Undercity, Silvermoon, Thunder Bluff.
• Neutral: Shattrath and Dalaran.

Any of them will do — buy from whichever is closest to your character with the required reputation.

To buy the mount you need Exalted reputation with your guild. It builds up automatically as you play normally in a guild group.

• Completing any quests earns guild reputation.
• Running dungeons and raids in a guild group speeds it up.
• Battleground wins in a guild group also count.

With active play, Exalted is reached in a few days. If you've been in your guild for a while, your reputation is probably already maxed.