Dungeons & Dragons 15 Best Exotic Mounts

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Dungeons & Dragons 15 Best Exotic Mounts

In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, players can ride just about anything into battle. Leave your horses behind for these amazing beasts! The world of is home to a menagerie of wondrous animals. While these worlds are also home to plain riding horses, why would anyone want to mount up on a riding horse when you've got so many other fantastic options? Leave riding on horses for the real world. We're playing a classic tabletop game here, not a historically accurate medieval simulator. There are tons of awesome options for mounts whether your character is good, evil, or somewhere in between. That being said, the most attractive of them come with a hefty price tag and, usually, a lengthy time investment. So be prepared to pony up for your local dungeon master. Updated by Kristy Ambrose on February 24th, 2021: Anyone who plays MMORPGs will tell you that a big part of character customization revolves around your mount. D&D players aren't collecting sables full of vanity pets like their World of Warcraft counterparts just yet, although it might be an interesting angle for a backstory, the demand still exists. Depending on the module and the DM, virtually anything is possible. Whether it's a mount far battle or when there's traveling to be done, here are a few unique and exotic choices to show off to your fellow adventurers. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY

Camel

The desert dwellers go to this steed. Camels may not be the flashiest option on the menu, but they are exotic in their own right. More than that, they are cheap with a usual price of 50 gp. Their speed of 50 feet is only 10 feet slower than a riding horse, and they can carry just as much weight. Whether you're not in any special hurry or you're traversing a deadly dry environment, camels are the most practical of exotic mounts. Besides, who would ride a horse when you can ride a camel for cheaper?

Giant Salamander

It's a flashy and colorful mount that can swim or climb and breathe both water and air, so the Giant Salamander is an ideal choice for adventurers that are covering a wide variety of terrain. , like Bards or Warlocks, would also appreciate this mount just for shock value alone. They can mimic other colors similar to a chameleon. It can also help you in combat, with a nasty bite that has to +3 bonus to the attack and does 2d4+2 damage.

Elephant

Here's a proper combat monster. If you're looking for something , the elephant will likely be the most readily available exotic option. The Player's Handbook (PHB) recommends a cost of 200 gp though. Furthermore, the elephant's enormous size prevents it from coming along in any cramped dungeon corridors. Deficits aside, the elephant does have 76 hit points and a melee attack with a +8 to hit that deals 3d10 + 6 bludgeoning damage. In other words, you probably won't have to worry about road bandits.

Worg

If you're looking for a conversation partner, the Worg will serve you well. There are a couple of caveats though. Firstly, most of them only know their only language as well as Goblin. Second, they have an evil temperament and are quick to turn on you if they feel they've been mistreated. Since they are evil creatures, mistreatment could be something as minor as not allowing the Worg to feast on the lifeless bodies of your enemies. These things aside, the Worg serves well as a mount. Its bite attack can knock creatures prone and it has Advantage on perception checks involving hearing or smell.

Hippogriff

While its origins may have been lost to time, the hippogriff is known by many as a capable mount and trustworthy ally. With the legs of a horse and the wings and forelimbs of an eagle, the hippogriff is a magnificent creature to behold. Hippogriffs are the easiest flying mount to train in the game, assuming you can find one. The creatures are incredibly rare . Despite its rarity, the hippogriff does not serve well as a combat mount due to its low hit point pool and AC. However, its flying capabilities and advantage on perception checks using sight make it the perfect mount for scouting ahead of the party.

Warforged Charger

Warforged by Wayne Reynolds warforged and human spellcaster The addition of the Warforged in the Ebberon campaigns has created new possibilities for more than just playable races. The Warforged Charger is designed for the battlefield and has some combat abilities. They are built more like bulls than horses, with short thick necks and broad foreheads . They have hands and feet and can stand upright as much as they can run on all fours. A creature like this can be a member of the party as well as a mount but is only available in certain modules.

Griffon

If hippogriffs are the prey of the skies, griffons are the predators. Griffons share the same eagle-like forequarters of hippogriffs, but their hindquarters are composed of the muscular body of a lion. If you're interested in a flying mount that will serve you in battle, the griffon is your first option. They have nearly 60 hit points, a flying speed of 80 feet, Advantage on perception checks, and a savage multi-attack. Unlike hippogriffs, however, if a griffon is to be used as a mount it must be trained from birth. Wild griffons are far too bestial in nature to obey the commands of another. As a result, obtaining a griffon mount is both expensive and time-consuming. However, it's certainly worth the wait.

Unicorn

The well-known ivory horned unicorn lays claim to domains such as an enchanted forest, abandoned ruin, or serene pond. The gods placed unicorns on the material plane as guardians of their secrets, combatants of their enemies, and agents of their miracles. As a result, any unicorn you encounter . Convincing it to become your trusty steed is about as likely as defeating a dragon with your bare hands. It's also limited to gender and race. Only human or elf females can ride a unicorn.

Earth Golem

Provided that you possess the proper amulet and the golem doesn't have anything else to do for another master, it can serve as a mount. They aren't always explicitly listed as mounts, however, so this might depend on the environment and ultimately, the DM. The Earth Golem can perform a variety of functions along with being a mount. It can also open doors, carry or move heavy objects, and perform other uncomplicated tasks. This isn't a combat pet, but it is a heavy creature that can do damage with simple headbutts, or should it fall on someone.

Catoblepas

You can find the Catoblepas in Volo's Guide to Monsters. It is a truly horrific creature that blends warthog, hippopotamus, buffalo, and dinosaur parts together. Any body of water in which a Catoblepas makes its home becomes a breeding ground for rot, decay, and disease. The creature's stench alone is enough to poison most people, and one glare from its baleful eyes can end a life as simply as blowing out a candle. On top of all this, a blow from the club at the end of its tail is capable of stunning the most stalwart foes. The Catoblepas only has a speed of 30 feet, so it won't be getting you anywhere fast. . The keys to taming such a vile creature as a mount are held only by the minds of those who share an equally sinister nature.

Pegasus

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Pegasus is a creature born of the gods. Furthermore, they share in the intelligence and sentience of humanoids, making them incapable of being tamed in the traditional sense. Instead, a pegasus chooses its own master, though they aren't above being persuaded by those pure of heart and deeds. If you succeed in such an effort, congratulations. Pegasi swear a life-long bond of companionship with any master they deem worthy. The Pegasus is the fastest flying mount in the game with a flying speed of 90 feet.

Shark

It would be so cool to be able to ride a shark, and that's why . The shark can only be used by aquatic creatures in nautical environments, but if you're headed for the briny deep anyway or a place like Saltmarsh, it could make perfect sense. Sharks come in a variety of sizes starting with medium and going all the way up to giant, depending on the size of your character and how much your DM will tolerate. They have skills like Keen Sense and Altertness, along with a nasty biting attack depending on the size.

Nightmare

A pegasus put through the torture of having its wings sheared from its body is transformed into the dreaded Nightmare. The Nightmare retains its 90-foot flying speed while gaining fire resistance as well as the ability to confer this resistance to anyone riding it. Furthermore, the nightmare's attacks deal an extra 2d6 fire damage and it is capable of traveling into the ethereal plane in an instant. Only the most loathsome of people would use such a twisted monster as their mount. Perhaps one of them plays in a D&D group near you.

Wyvern

If you've ever wanted to mount a dragon, a wyvern is the closest you'll get to doing so. Though they may not share the humanoid intelligence of their dragon cousins, this is exactly what makes wyverns perfect candidates for being tamed as mounts. While training a wyvern from the egg is likely to yield the best results, wyverns are capable of being tamed when fully grown. The wyvern's deadliest feature is the stinger at the end of its tail. This stinger is capable of delivering a deadly poison that deals 7d6 poison damage on a failed DC 15 constitution saving throw. If you also take into account the wyvern's 80-foot fly speed, it's clearly the best mount for the hybrid use of combat and transportation. They do share blood with the all too egotistical dragons, though, so don't be surprised if you're ever betrayed.

Monstrous Spider

Not just big or huge, but monstrous, and capable of carrying both a rider and some luggage. The spider can move over a variety of terrain and perhaps even over its own webbing over certain distances, plus it's fast, making it . Its exact skills and abilities will depend on the environment and your DM. That is, provided that nobody in your party is too squeamish, but maybe you're the type of player that likes to get a reaction.