Reins of the Black Dragon Turtle

Reins of the Black Dragon Turtle is a ground mount from Mists of Pandaria (patch 5.0.4), available to non-pandaren of both factions after reaching Exalted with the corresponding pandaren faction: Huojin for the Horde or Tushui for the Alliance. It is a massive black dragon turtle with a heavy shell and amber eyes — visually the same mount as the paired racial item Reins of the Black Dragon Turtle, which pandaren can obtain without any reputation requirement.

The key difference of version 91008 is that it is sold by both pandaren vendors in the capitals, so non-pandaren of either side can complete the collection through the standard reputation grind. In The War Within (11.1, Season 2) this line remains one of the most accessible and inexpensive: once you have maxed out the reputation, the mount costs just 1 gold and stays on your entire account.

• Cheap collection filler. After Exalted the mount costs 1 gold and adds to your overall mount counter, helping with achievements like A Horde of Hoofbeats.
• Four mounts for one grind. The same vendor offers three more color variants for 1 gold each: green, red and purple dragon turtles. A single Exalted unlocks the entire base line.
• A unique model. The dragon turtle is larger than the usual riding turtles and stands out among standard ground mounts, especially in its dark coloration.
• Access to the larger versions. Alongside the regular turtles, the same vendor stocks the Reins of the Great Black Dragon Turtle for 2,000 gold — a large model with updated animation that also counts toward the collection.
• A tie to pandaren lore. Huojin and Tushui are the two pandaren philosophies that split between the factions after the events of the Wandering Isle. The mount serves as a symbol of your allegiance to the chosen side of the pandaren heritage.

To buy the mount you must meet several conditions:

• Character level: minimum 10 (a formal requirement nowadays)
• Riding skill: Apprentice Riding — the basic skill is enough
• Race or reputation — one of two:
  • Play as the pandaren race (either faction)
  • Reach Exalted with the Tushui faction — for the Alliance
  • Reach Exalted with the Huojin faction — for the Horde
• Gold: 10 gold

Reputation with the pandaren factions is earned through daily quests in the capitals, completing Pandaria story quests, and wearing the corresponding tabard in dungeons.

The mount is sold by two merchants — one in each of the main faction capitals. Note: the Alliance and the Horde can only access their own merchant, but with the appropriate reputation their wares are identical.

Alliance — Stormwind

Merchant: Old Whitenose. Located in the pandaren camp by the Eastern Earthshrine, in the northern part of Stormwind, next to the Mage Quarter and the Canals.

Horde — Orgrimmar

Merchant: Turtlemaster Odai. Found in the pandaren camp in the center of Orgrimmar's Valley of Honor, next to the pond and the training area.

The pandaren Tushui and Huojin are among the easiest reputations in the game to farm at max level.

Method 1. Faction Tabard and Dungeons

The main and recommended method. From your faction's agitator in the pandaren camp you receive a tabard:

• Alliance — Tushui Tabard from Disciple Jusi
• Horde — Huojin Tabard from Adherent Hanjun

In any dungeon, from classic to modern, all reputation earned while wearing the tabard goes to the chosen pandaren faction. At max level the old dungeons clear in a couple of minutes, so a few runs through the dungeon finder will cap the reputation in an evening or two.

Method 2. Pandaren from Scratch

If you create a new pandaren character, keep in mind: on the starting zone of the Wandering Isle you have not yet chosen a faction, but once you pick a side you immediately gain access to all racial mounts with no reputation requirement. This is the fastest way for collectors to complete the collection.