Mounts in DragonSword: Awakening do a lot more than move you across the map quickly. Each one carries a traversal ability that opens routes you cannot reach on foot, and unlocking extra copies of a mount, called replicas, layers permanent bonuses onto every Familiar you own. Chase the right ones during your opening hours and you gather resources, clear exploration objectives, and skip a punishing amount of late-game backtracking.
Quick answer: Prioritize the Robust Stag Beetle first for shared stamina, buy the Sandstorm Skywolf and finish “The Captain’s Scheme” for the underwater dash, then work toward the Squirrel (climbing), Bright Crotit (Novice Mercenary Rank), and Griffin (Elite Mercenary Rank).
Early-game mount priority and unlock requirements
Here is the fast reference before the details. Two of these mounts are available almost immediately, while the last two are gated behind Mercenary Rank and become mid-to-late unlocks even though you can start farming their requirements right away.
| Mount | How to unlock | Key benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Robust Stag Beetle | Starter mount; replicas via emblems, mining, and a King of Marmets quest | +10% stamina to all mounts per replica |
| Sandstorm Skywolf | Buy with Gold; second variant from “The Captain’s Scheme” | Underwater Dash for every mount |
| Squirrel | Defeat 100 squirrels | Climbing Jump for faster vertical scaling |
| Bright Crotit | Reach Novice Mercenary Rank; second variant needs 200 Bird Eggs | Improved aerial exploration |
| Griffin | Reach Elite Mercenary Rank; second variant needs 30 World Bosses | Advanced aerial traversal |
Robust Stag Beetle: your stamina backbone
The Robust Stag Beetle is the first mount handed to you, and it stays relevant for the entire game because its replica upgrades increase stamina for every mount you own, not just the beetle. Each unlocked replica grants a universal +10% stamina boost, so this is the single system that improves your whole collection at once.
Sandstorm Skywolf: fast ground travel and underwater dash
The Sandstorm Skywolf is the quickest way to speed up overland travel early on. You can purchase the base version straight from the menu once you save up 300,000 Gold, which makes it one of the easiest upgrades to plan toward.
The real value arrives with the second variation. Completing the early story quest “The Captain’s Scheme” grants every mount and Familiar an Underwater Dash, which cuts down the time spent collecting submerged treasures and crossing rivers. The quest itself only takes a few minutes of focused main-story progress.
Squirrel: the climbing specialist
The unlock sounds odd, but the Squirrel turns into one of the most useful exploration mounts thanks to its Climbing Jump. The ability adds height while climbing and reduces stamina drain on vertical surfaces, which makes mountain faces and tall structures far faster to scale.
To claim it, defeat 100 squirrels. They are small, fast, and quick to flee, so lock-on targeting paired with a ranged or projectile weapon is the reliable approach. Start hunting them the moment you spot them in forests and wooded trails, since the count takes a while and you will want it done by the time your Mercenary Rank catches up.
Bright Crotit: earned through Mercenary Rank
The Bright Crotit is a bird-like mount handed to you automatically once you reach Novice Mercenary Rank, so it comes through progression rather than exploration. Its second variation is the grind: you need to collect 200 Bird Eggs hidden on rooftops, scaffolding, towers, tree branches, and mountain peaks.
Nesting sites refresh with the day and night cycle, so you can revisit the same spawn points repeatedly to farm eggs over time. Note that goose eggs do not count toward the 200, so only gather standard Bird Eggs. Beginning the egg hunt early spares you a heavy late-game grind.
Griffin: the late-tier aerial unlock
The Griffin sits at the top of this list even though it unlocks last. You gain the base version at Elite Mercenary Rank, and it delivers high-tier aerial traversal that justifies planning toward it well ahead of time. Its second variation requires defeating 30 World Bosses.
World Bosses reset on a daily schedule and reappear at fixed arenas across the map. Clearing whichever bosses are available during your normal play means the count is well underway by the time you hit Elite Rank, instead of forcing a dedicated grind at the end.
Where to farm ore, eggs, and bosses
The collectibles behind these mounts are spread naturally across Orbis, and several respawn, so a few habits keep progress moving without dedicated grinding trips.
| Requirement | Where to find it | Respawn note |
|---|---|---|
| Ore deposits (300 for beetle) | Cliffsides, caves, mountain paths | Refreshes with day/night cycle |
| Bird Eggs (200 for Crotit) | Tree branches, rooftops, towers, scaffolding, peaks | Nests refresh over time; geese don’t count |
| Squirrels (100 for Squirrel) | Forests and wooded trails | Use lock-on plus ranged weapons |
| World Bosses (30 for Griffin) | Designated boss arenas across the map | Resets daily |
Tip: because ore nodes, eggs, and bosses all cycle back, treat productive routes as farming loops you return to rather than one-time stops.
How to confirm a mount or replica unlocked
Every mount and its variations live in the Familiar Codex, sorted by species. Open the Codex and check the entry to confirm progress: each mount lists a “How to Obtain” line (for example, “Defeat Squirrels (100/100)” or “Complete The Captain’s Scheme”) and an Abilities tab showing the granted skill and its cooldown. When a counter reaches its cap or a quest shows complete, the mount and its passive become active for your whole roster.
The biggest early mistake is saving collectibles for when you “need” them. Mine ore on sight, take out squirrels whenever they appear, and check every elevated structure for eggs. Doing this while you follow the main story means the Robust Stag Beetle, Sandstorm Skywolf, Squirrel, Bright Crotit, and Griffin come online steadily, instead of leaving you a wall of grinding right before the endgame.
