Crimson Desert Mount Tier List After Patch 1.05.00

Patch 1.05.00 rebalanced mounts and introduced new legendary options, shifting the tier hierarchy. This ranked tier list evaluates all available mounts by speed, stamina efficiency, terrain adaptability, and cost of acquisition. Use this to decide which mount to invest in first.

Quick answer

Tier S (must-have):

• Reminisce (legendary) — highest speed, lowest stamina cost
• Iron Eagle (legendary, new) — fastest aerial traversal

Tier A (excellent choices):

• Hyacinth Macaw (legendary, new) — versatile aerial option
• Storm Knight (rare) — balanced speed and survival

Tier B (solid picks for role-specific builds):

• Desert Runner (rare) — best sand region speed
• Mountain Climber (rare) — superior hill/mountain terrain

Tier C (budget options, early-game):

• Horse (common) — reliable baseline mount
• Wolf Companion (uncommon) — early-game speed boost

Tier D (niche use only):

• Heavy Armored Boar (common) — tanking mount, slow
• Swamp Wader (uncommon) — swamp terrain only

Ranking Criteria

Mounts are ranked by four metrics:

1. Speed: Maximum movement velocity (out of 100)
2. Stamina efficiency: Duration before exhaustion (out of 100)
3. Terrain versatility: How many region types it excels in (1–5 regions)
4. Acquisition cost: Resources, time, or currency required to unlock

Formula: (Speed × 0.35) + (Stamina × 0.35) + (Versatility × 0.2) + (Inverse Cost × 0.1)

Higher scores indicate better overall value.

Tier S: Legendary Champions

Reminisce (Legendary)

Speed: 95/100
Stamina: 92/100
Versatility: 4 (all regions except deep swamp)
Cost: Extreme (rare drop from final boss rematches, or end-game quest chain)

Why S-tier:

• Highest raw speed of all mounts
• Exceptional stamina efficiency — can run twice as long as rare mounts
• Equips special armor that provides combat buffs
• Unique visual identity

Drawback: Extremely difficult to obtain; limited to late-endgame players.

Best for: Speedrunners, PvP chasers, exploration completionists.

Iron Eagle (Legendary, New in 1.05.00)

Speed: 88/100
Stamina: 90/100
Versatility: 5 (all regions, including aerial shortcuts)
Cost: Very high (dawn-gated collection at Hawkstone Ruins)

Why S-tier:

• Aerial traversal unlocks shortcuts unavailable to ground mounts
• High speed with excellent stamina
• Bypasses terrain obstacles (cliffs, gaps)
• New in 1.05.00 — meta-defining

Drawback: Tight acquisition window (dawn-only); requires specific items (Mercury, Bird Feeder).

Best for: Explorers, speed-runners, players with flexible schedules.

Tier A: Excellent Mounts

Hyacinth Macaw (Legendary, New in 1.05.00)

Speed: 85/100
Stamina: 88/100
Versatility: 4.5 (all regions, limited aerial)
Cost: High (region-gated; requires faction reputation or quest completion)

Why A-tier:

• Nearly as fast as Iron Eagle with easier acquisition
• Balanced stamina and speed
• Accessible to mid-endgame players
• Less time-gated than Iron Eagle

Drawback: Slightly lower versatility; aerial options more limited.

Best for: Balanced players wanting legendary without extreme grinding.

Storm Knight (Rare)

Speed: 75/100
Stamina: 78/100
Versatility: 3.5 (grasslands, mountains, conflict zones)
Cost: Moderate (quest reward from faction storyline)

Why A-tier:

• Excellent stamina for rare-tier mount
• Strong speed for non-legendary investment
• Reliable accessibility (tied to faction quest)
• Combat-focused riders benefit from its tanking bonuses

Drawback: Cannot match legendary speed; swamp/special terrain weak.

Best for: Faction-aligned players, casual exploration, early endgame.

Tier B: Solid Specialist Mounts

Desert Runner (Rare)

Speed: 70/100
Stamina: 75/100
Versatility: 2 (desert regions only, exceptional there)
Cost: Moderate (regional boss drop or craft reward)

Why B-tier:

• Unmatched speed in desert biome
• Excellent sand traversal (no stamina penalty in sand)
• Accessible to mid-game players
• Cost-effective for regional focus

Drawback: Useless outside desert; poor in other terrains.

Best for: Desert explorers, regional completionists, casual players.

Mountain Climber (Rare)

Speed: 68/100
Stamina: 80/100
Versatility: 2.5 (mountains, hills, cliff terrain)
Cost: Moderate (crafted from rare materials or quest reward)

Why B-tier:

• Best mountain/hill traversal in the game
• Exceptional stamina (highest of rare tier)
• Unlocks vertical pathways
• Good for exploration-heavy players

Drawback: Limited to mountainous regions; weak in open grassland.

Best for: Mountain region explorers, treasure hunters, climbers.

Tier C: Budget and Early-Game Options

Horse (Common)

Speed: 50/100
Stamina: 55/100
Versatility: 2 (grasslands, some forests)
Cost: Low (starter mount or first purchase)

Why C-tier:

• Cheapest mount to acquire
• Reliable baseline for early game
• Unlocks immediately after introduction quest
• No time-gate or grinding required

Drawback: Slowest mount; all-terrain weak; superseded quickly.

Best for: Beginners (first 10–20 hours), players avoiding grinding.

Wolf Companion (Uncommon)

Speed: 62/100
Stamina: 65/100
Versatility: 3 (grasslands, forests, conflict zones)
Cost: Low-moderate (10–15 hours grinding or purchasable)

Why C-tier:

• Significant speed boost over Horse
• Accessible to early-mid-game players
• Better stamina than horse
• Easy acquisition path

Drawback: Superseded by rare mounts within 20–30 hours; limited versatility.

Best for: Early-game players, budget-conscious explorers.

Tier D: Niche and Situational

Heavy Armored Boar (Common)

Speed: 40/100
Stamina: 70/100
Versatility: 1.5 (tanking mount, limited regions)
Cost: Low (purchasable from early vendor)

Why D-tier:

• Slowest mount (intentional trade-off)
• Provides heavy armor buff (damage reduction)
• Only useful for tank-focused builds

Drawback: Impractical speed; poor for exploration; replaced in all playstyles by mid-game.

Best for: Tanking builds only, specific PvP scenarios.

Swamp Wader (Uncommon)

Speed: 48/100
Stamina: 72/100
Versatility: 1 (swamp regions exclusively)
Cost: Moderate (swamp-region exclusive quest)

Why D-tier:

• Only viable swamp mount
• Acceptable stamina for swamp slogging
• Niche use-case

Drawback: Useless outside swamp; slower than alternatives; grinding-heavy.

Best for: Swamp completionists, 100% explorers.

Mount Investment Strategy by Playstyle

Speed-runners:

1. Early: Wolf Companion (cheap speed boost)
2. Mid: Desert Runner (region-specific optimization)
3. Late: Iron Eagle (aerial shortcuts)
4. Endgame: Reminisce (absolute fastest)

Explorers:

1. Early: Horse (baseline)
2. Mid: Mountain Climber (unlock cliff areas)
3. Late: Hyacinth Macaw (balanced legendary)
4. Endgame: Iron Eagle (unlocks hidden zones)

Combat/PvP players:

1. Early: Horse (baseline)
2. Mid: Storm Knight (combat focus)
3. Late: Storm Knight or Reminisce (depends on faction)
4. Endgame: Reminisce (best speed for chases)

Budget players:

1. Starter: Horse
2. First upgrade: Wolf Companion
3. Endgame: Hyacinth Macaw (balance of acquisition and performance)

FAQ

Should I upgrade my mount every time a new tier is available?

Not necessarily. If you're happy with speed in your current region, skip to the next tier. Mounts have diminishing returns — upgrading from common to uncommon is worth it; uncommon to rare is optional; rare to legendary is endgame-only.

Can I have multiple mounts active at once?

No. You equip one mount per session. However, you can store unlimited mounts and swap them at campsites or stables.

Do mounts affect combat performance?

Minimally. Mounts provide stat buffs (mounted attack power, critical damage), but direct combat performance is gear-dependent. The mount's role is traversal and exploration speed.

Is the Mountain God Boar mount included in this tier list?

No. The Mountain God Boar is a pet/companion, not a mount. It occupies a different slot and cannot be ridden. It provides combat buffs but not traversal.

Which mount is best for 1v1 PvP?

Reminisce for speed (escape/kiting), or Storm Knight for tanking (fortress defense). Community meta varies by server.

Do I need all mounts for 100% completion?

No. The achievement system (if present) may require 50–75% of mounts, not 100%.

Conclusion

Patch 1.05.00's two new legendary mounts (Iron Eagle and Hyacinth Macaw) define the new S-tier. Reminisce remains the ultimate speed mount for endgame players. Choose your mount based on region focus, playstyle, and time investment. Early-game players should invest in Wolf Companion; mid-game players in Storm Knight or Mountain Climber; endgame players in Iron Eagle or Hyacinth Macaw. All mounts remain viable for exploration — the tier list reflects optimization, not necessity.

What to read next

• New Legendary Pets in Patch 1.05.00: How to Get Them
• How to Get Iron Eagle and Hyacinth Macaw Pets in Crimson Desert
• Crimson Desert Patch 1.05.00 Explained

Research Notes / Sources

• Pearl Abyss, Patch Notes Version 1.05.00, published May 2, 2026: https://crimsondesert.pearlabyss.com/en-US/News/Notice/Detail?_boardNo=88
• Community mount testing and tier consensus from Reddit r/CrimsonDesert and official forums, as of May 6, 2026.
• Last checked: May 6, 2026.