Island Thunderscale

Island Thunderscale is an epic ground and flying mount added in patch 8.1 of the Battle for Azeroth expansion. It is a purple-hued storm dragon, a rare reward from Island Expeditions and Jorundall Salvage crates. The mount is a recolored Valarjar Stormwing model with a unique dark-violet color scheme.

According to its mount journal description: "One of the largest species of native dragons on Azeroth. This subspecies feeds almost exclusively on fish. And fishermen." The dragon model stands out with its massive build, powerful wings crackling with electricity and impressive flight animation.

• Rarity — Island Thunderscale is one of the rarest BfA mounts. Its drop chance from expeditions is extremely low, making it a true collector's trophy.
• Unique model — a purple storm dragon with electric effects that stands out among most mounts in the game. The model is based on the Valarjar stormwings but features an exclusive color scheme.
• Ground and flying — the mount works both on the ground and in the air. Speed depends on your riding skill: from +60% on the ground up to +310% in flight
• Paired companion — alongside the mount from Island Expeditions you can obtain the Thundering Serpent Hatchling, a companion that matches the mount.
• Available to all characters — once learned, the mount becomes available on every character on the account.

There are two main ways to obtain the mount: a direct drop from Island Expeditions and buying Jorundall Salvage crates with Seafarer's Dubloons.

Method 1: Direct Drop from Expeditions

1. Head to Boralus Harbor (Alliance) or Port of Zuldazar (Horde).
2. Find the queue NPC: Flynn Fairwind (Alliance) or Captain Rez'okun (Horde)
3. Select "Private Tour" mode for a solo run.
4. Launch expeditions to Jorundall — the mount drops only from the island inhabited by storm dragons.
5. Complete the expedition by collecting Azerite to victory. The mount may appear in the reward upon completion.

Method 2: Jorundall Salvage (recommended)

1. Accumulate Seafarer's Dubloons — the currency earned from Island Expeditions (7–36 per expedition).
2. Find the salvage vendor near the expedition map in Boralus or Zuldazar. For the Alliance — Captain Nightrunner next to Captain Klarisa. For the Horde — Captain Kitt next to Captain Zen'taga.
3. Purchase Jorundall Salvage for 175 Seafarer's Dubloons.
4. Open the crate — the mount may be inside with roughly a 5% chance.

Island Expeditions are three-player scenarios from the Battle for Azeroth expansion in which you set out to uncharted islands in search of Azerite. As of patch 9.1.5 a solo queue is available.

Unlocking

1. Your character must be at least level 10.
2. Arrive in Boralus (Alliance) or Zuldazar (Horde).
3. Complete the BfA introductory quest chain and open at least two footholds on the opposing faction's continent through the War Campaign
4. Complete the tutorial quest "The Azerite Advantage."
5. After this, the expedition map at the NPC on the dock becomes available to you.

Solo Queue

For solo farming, approach the expedition NPC and choose the "Private Tour" option rather than the group queue. This instantly transports you to the island. You can choose any difficulty, including Mythic.

NPC Coordinates

Recommended Approach: Salvage Crate

Buying Jorundall Salvage crates is the most efficient way to obtain the mount. The drop chance from a crate (~5%) is significantly higher than from the expedition itself (<1%).

1. Launch Island Expeditions on Mythic difficulty via the solo queue
2. At max level (80 in The War Within) expeditions are completed in 3–5 minutes
3. Each expedition rewards you with 7–36 Seafarer's Dubloons
4. Once you have 175 Dubloons, buy Jorundall Salvage from the vendor
5. Repeat until you get the mount

Farming Math

On average, you earn about 15 Dubloons per expedition. One crate (175 Dubloons) requires roughly 12 expeditions. At a ~5% drop chance you will need about 20 crates on average, which amounts to around 240 expeditions. At 4–5 minutes per expedition, that is roughly 16–20 hours of farming.

Alternative Approach: Direct Farm

If you prefer to hope for a direct drop:

1. Launch expeditions to Jorundall only.
2. Play on Mythic difficulty — the drop chance is higher at higher levels.
3. Kill the storm dragons on the island, although according to community data, killing specific mobs does not necessarily affect the reward.
4. Be prepared for a long farm — some players report thousands of attempts.

Tips for Speeding Up Expeditions

• Play a tank or a class with high AoE damage — this lets you collect Azerite faster.
• Kill the invading enemies that appear midway through the expedition — they grant a large Azerite bonus.
• Don't waste time clearing the entire island — focus on large Azerite clusters and rare mobs.
• Collect Azerite chests — they provide significant progress.

If you like the storm dragon model, take a look at similar mounts:

• Valarjar Stormwing — a red version of the storm dragon, a PvP reward in Legion
• Felstorm Dragon — a green version with a Fel effect

Both mounts use the same base model but differ in color scheme. Island Thunderscale is the only variant with a purple hue.