Vicious War Mechanostrider

Vicious War Mechanostrider is an Alliance ground mount, first added in patch 6.2.0 and a staple of the seasonal PvP pool ever since. The model is based on the classic dwarven mechanostrider, but it is fitted with massive armor, exhaust pipes, and a rotating "Critter Crusher 9000" turret that fires at the small creatures around it.

The mount is account-bound once used and available to all Alliance characters. If you mail it to a Horde character, it automatically turns into a Vicious War Kodo — a handy way to get both versions from a single earned Vicious Saddle if you have characters on both factions.

The first reason is collectible value: unlike purely seasonal PvP mounts (each season has its own), the "Vicious" line is sold by the same vendor permanently and fills a noticeable gap in the Alliance collection.

The second reason is the versatility of the reward: a single Vicious Saddle can be exchanged for any mount on display, including the Vicious War Kodo for the Horde, so the mechanostrider often becomes the "safe" purchase with your first saddle.

The third is aesthetics: the model reads recognizably, fits the technological look of Stormwind and Ironforge, and pairs well with engineering outfits.

Finally, it is steady motivation for rated PvP: even if you are not chasing the elite seasonal set, the very process of earning a Vicious Saddle raises your rating and skill.

For the mount itself, the formal requirements are minimal: level 10, the "Apprentice" riding skill, and being Alliance (or mailing it to a Horde character if you want the Kodo version). However, to obtain the Vicious Saddle you need a level 90 character ready for rated activities in the current season.

You will need PvP gear with the required resilience level, a working specialization template, and a stable group or partner for 2v2 or 3v3. For rated 10v10 battlegrounds (RBG / Blitz), the party is assembled through Group Finder. The rating needed to start progress is 1400 (Combatant), but you are allowed to accumulate points already from Recruit rank at a rating of 1000 or higher.

The mount is purchased from Necrolord Sipe in the Old Town of Stormwind for one Vicious Saddle. The saddle is awarded automatically by mail after you have received the main seasonal mount and once again filled the seasonal PvP progress to 100%. An alternative method is the "Alliance Veteran" achievements (75, 150, and 300 wins in rated battlegrounds), with each tier granting one Vicious Saddle.

1. Level an Alliance character to 90 and assemble a current PvP set.
2. Open the PvP interface (the H key) and choose an activity: 2v2, 3v3, Solo Shuffle, or rated battlegrounds (including Blitz).
3. Reach a rating of 1400 in any activity to earn Combatant rank — from this moment on, wins start to noticeably fill the seasonal progress bar.
4. Fill the bar to 100% (2400 points). The first time, this grants the seasonal mount of the current season, not the Vicious Saddle — remember this threshold.
5. Keep winning in rated activities: after the bar resets, each new fill to 100% delivers one Vicious Saddle by mail.
6. Open your mail, collect the Vicious Saddle, and fly to Stormwind, to the Old Town, to Necrolord Sipe.
7. In the vendor's display, select the Vicious War Mechanostrider and confirm the purchase for the saddle.
8. Use the mount once so it is added to the account collection. If you also want the Vicious War Kodo, buy a second saddle and mail the mount to a Horde character.

The fastest way to fill the bar is rated battlegrounds and Blitz: forty wins close out 100% of the progress, whereas in 2v2 it takes around 240 wins. At the Combatant stage, resilience is not yet critical, so use the low-rating window to quickly push through the bulk of the points.

Play a class with high value to the group (a healer, a reliable DPS with crowd control) — you get into the queue faster, and wins come more steadily. If you are clearing Vicious Saddles systematically, consider a parallel run at the "Alliance Veteran" achievements: each tier (75, 150, and 300 RBG wins) grants an additional saddle on top of progress, so the rewards effectively stack.

Finally, do not ignore the weekly PvP quests and events — they do not speed up the bar directly, but they grant Marks of Honor and trial tokens that close gaps in gear and raise your win rate.