Reins of the Black Dragon Turtle

Reins of the Black Dragon Turtle summon one of the eight racial ground mounts of the pandaren. It is a massive black turtle with an imposing shell that, according to the Mount Journal description, is prized by the pandaren for its heavy carrying capacity and steady gait. The item was added in patch 5.0.4 of the Mists of Pandaria expansion and remains a relevant way to tick off one of the easiest entries in the mount collection in TWW (11.1, 2026).

Technically it is an ordinary ground mount with no flying or swimming, but thanks to its laughable price and accessibility it is practically a must-have for every collector. Combined with achievements for mount count, the turtle helps you progress toward rewards like Mythic: Lords of Dread and other tiers of the collection.

• An almost free addition to your collection. The cost is just 1 gold, and the mount itself counts toward the shared mount tally.
• A unique model. The dragon turtle looks unlike anything outside the line of pandaren mounts and fits in well in city zones.
• A foundation for an expanded collection. Once you buy the black version, you already know the route and the reputation, so you can later pick up the Reins of the Great Black Dragon Turtle for 2000 gold.
• Useful for new-character tasks. Apprentice Riding becomes available at level 10, so the turtle can serve as a first mount if you have already built up reputation on a main character.

To buy the mount you need one of two conditions, plus the basic level and riding requirements.

• Race — pandaren. Any pandaren of the Alliance or the Horde can buy the mount from their faction's vendor with no reputation restriction.
• Exalted with the relevant pandaren faction. Non-pandaren of the Alliance must reach Exalted with Tushui, and non-pandaren of the Horde with Huojin.
• Character level — 10. The minimum level for using the mount was lowered in patch 9.0.1.
• Riding skill — Apprentice. The standard requirement for a ground mount with +60% speed.

Reaching the vendors is extremely simple: both stand in the capitals. The pandaren factions open up alongside the main content, and reputation is fastest through Pandaria's daily quests and the posthumous markers of the Order of the Cloud Serpent.

1. Determine your starting conditions. If you play a pandaren, go straight to step 4. Otherwise, check your reputation with the relevant faction through the reputation window.
2. Prepare your reputation. For the Horde this is Huojin, for the Alliance — Tushui. The most efficient way to cap reputation is through the daily quests in the Shrine of Two Moons and on the Timeless Isle. The reputation experience bonus from the standard-bearers of the Order of the Cloud Serpent speeds the process up by roughly a factor of two.
3. Fly to your faction's capital. Use any quick means of travel: a hearthstone to Orgrimmar or Stormwind, a portal from your garrison, or your hearth.
4. Make your way to the vendor.
   • Horde: Orgrimmar, Valley of Honor, coordinates approximately 71, 34. Turtlemaster Odai stands near the turtle pen next to the Huojin base.
   • Alliance: Stormwind, Eastern Earthshrine, coordinates approximately 82, 68. Scrollkeeper Mushu is by the pond where the Tushui dragon turtles rest.
5. Buy the Reins of the Black Dragon Turtle. The item costs 1 gold. Right-click it in your bag so the mount is added to your Mount Journal.
6. (Optional) Buy the remaining colors. The same vendor offers three more ordinary variants: the Reins of the Brown Dragon Turtle, Reins of the Blue Dragon Turtle, and Stack of Papers dragon turtle for 1 gold each. The large versions cost 2000 gold apiece.

• Work on the whole line at once. If you are non-pandaren, a single Exalted grind opens access to all four base turtle colors from one vendor. Don't stop at the black one — that's +4 mounts to the tally for one visit.
• Combine it with the Timeless Isle dailies. The island's daily chest and elite mobs give fast reputation with the pandaren of both sides on the appropriate characters.
• Use a comrade banner. The Order of the Cloud Serpent banner and items like the Grievous Gladiator's Mooncloth Gloves increase reputation gain with the pandaren factions in Pandaria's zones.
• Don't forget the large versions. If you have a spare 2000 gold, grab the Reins of the Great Black Dragon Turtle in the same session — it's a separate mount in the collection.