Enchanted Shadeleaf Runestag

Enchanted Shadeleaf Runestag is a ground mount added to World of Warcraft with the release of the Shadowlands expansion (patch 9.0.1). It is a large stag with dark emerald fur, branching antlers entwined with glowing runes, and shimmering blue patterns — one of the Wild Hunt's mounts from Ardenweald. Its description reads: "The Shadeleaf Runestag can gore even a gormling matriarch with its antlers to protect its herd."

The mount is tied to the Night Fae covenant and is granted upon reaching Renown level 39 with that covenant. Additionally, it can be purchased from Elwyn, the Night Fae quartermaster in the Heart of the Forest in Ardenweald, for 40 Grateful Offering and 100 Reservoir Anima.

• A unique Ardenweald model — glowing runes on the antlers, shimmering fur, and the stylized armor of the Wild Hunt. One of the most recognizable Night Fae mounts
• A guaranteed reward for covenant progress — unlike many rare mounts, the Enchanted Shadeleaf Runestag cannot be "missed" through bad luck. You simply need to reach Renown level 39
• Fast ground transport — movement speed of +60% or +100% depending on your riding skill
• Account-wide availability — after patch 9.1.5 and the subsequent warband system changes in The War Within, the mount automatically becomes available to all characters on the account once Night Fae Renown reaches level 80

There are two paths to the mount, and both require joining the Night Fae covenant.

1. Complete the Shadowlands introductory campaign and reach Oribos
2. Go through the introduction to all four covenants and choose the Night Fae — this unlocks access to the Ardenweald zone and the Heart of the Forest
3. Pursue the covenant story campaign, daily quests, switch anima conductors, and take part in seasonal events — all of this grants Renown
4. Reach Renown level 39 — the Enchanted Shadeleaf Runestag mount is automatically added to your collection
5. Alternatively, if you have already accumulated enough currency — visit Elwyn in the Heart of the Forest and buy the mount

Without belonging to the Night Fae covenant it is impossible to obtain the mount, so the first step is to join it.

1. Complete the Shadowlands introductory campaign
2. Go through the introductory quests in all four covenants. After that, the choice opens up
3. In Oribos, approach the Night Fae representative and confirm your covenant choice. This transports you to Ardenweald and unlocks the Heart of the Forest
4. If you had already chosen a different covenant, you can switch: the first switch is instant, while switching back requires completing weekly quests to regain favor

After joining you gain access to daily quests, anima conductors, and Soulbind missions, which provide the bulk of your Renown progress.

Renown is the main currency of covenant progress. Level 39 is the middle of the track, so with regular play the goal is achievable in 5–7 weeks from scratch.

• The weekly quest from the Night Fae — grants a significant boost of Renown
• Daily quests in Ardenweald and other Shadowlands zones — through the anima conductors in the Heart of the Forest. At higher levels, bonus Renown is added for the first turn-in of a quest each day
• The covenant story campaign — each chapter grants Renown levels. It advances once every few weeks as chapters release
• The Castle Nathria, Sanctum of Domination, and Sepulcher of the First Ones raids — the first kill of each boss per week awards a Renown shard
• Mythic+ — one keystone dungeon per week
• Soulbinds and runs into the Maw — missions and quests in Korthia and Zereth Mortis

If you want to buy the mount before Renown level 39 (for example, at 23, when the regular Shadeleaf Runestag is already available), you will need a stock of two currencies.

At character level 90, anima drops abundantly, and the cap of 100 units fills up in one or two play sessions. Grateful Offerings accumulate more slowly — it pays to gather them in parallel with your Renown progress.

• The mount is bound to the covenant — while you are in the Night Fae, you can summon it. If you switch covenants, it remains in your collection but cannot be used. Returning to the covenant permits its use again
• Shared access — with The War Within (11.0), covenant mounts at Renown level 80 become available to all characters on the account in the warband, regardless of covenant. This finally removes the restrictions for alts
• Ground, not flying — in the Shadowlands, dragonriding does not work until specific zones, and the mount itself is a ground mount, so in Ardenweald it serves as the main means of transport
• The model is shared across four variants — the Enchanted Shadeleaf Runestag differs from the Shadeleaf Runestag (Renown 23) only by the added armor and runes. If you already bought the regular version, the Enchanted is its upgraded and final appearance

For a new account / from scratch

1. Level your character through the Shadowlands story line — this is faster than through current content and immediately grants access to all covenant zones
2. In Oribos, choose the Night Fae
3. Complete the covenant story campaign to the end — each chapter adds Renown
4. After finishing the campaign, do the weekly Night Fae quest and the daily quests in Ardenweald
5. Progress to Renown 39 takes roughly 5–7 weeks with moderate play

For an alt with a maxed main

1. Make sure your main character already has high Renown — this activates the leveling boost for alts
2. Run the alt through the abridged version of the covenant campaign (some chapters unlock automatically)
3. In a week the alt catches up 10–15 Renown levels thanks to the bonuses
4. Renown level 39 is realistically reachable in 3–4 weeks