Rare Mount Recolors Added to WoW, With a Twist

Summary

• Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and Golden Ashes of Al’ar are exclusive Chinese WoW mounts reimagined from rare drops.
• These new mounts are obtainable through specific promotions in WoW China starting January 15.
• Blazing Royal Fire Hawk features auspicious clouds while Golden Ashes of Al’ar pays homage to Kael’thas Sunstrider.

World of Warcraft is set to introduce the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and the Golden Ashes of Al’ar as rewards through two exclusive promotions in China. These mounts, while not available in other regions at the moment, are fresh takes on the Pureblood Fire Hawk and Ashes of Al’ar—two of the rarest raid boss drops in the game.

After more than a year of absence, NetEase and Blizzard rekindled their partnership, bringing back beloved titles such as World of Warcraft, Diablo 4, and Overwatch 2 to China. World of Warcraft's return was celebrated with various initiatives, including the creation of a Lightforged Gorehowl statue and the introduction of the Xiao Liu pet, which boasts a teleportation feature.

Now, WoW China is gearing up for another exciting promotion, this time highlighting revamped versions of some of the game's rarest mounts. The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk and the Golden Ashes of Al’ar are reimagined versions of the Pureblood Fire Hawk and the Ashes of Al’ar. These fiery birds will be available through dual promotions exclusive to China starting January 15, and can be used in both modern and Classic WoW.

New Chinese World of Warcraft Promotion Mounts

• Blazing Royal Fire Hawk
• Golden Ashes of Al'ar

At a glance, the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk appears strikingly similar to the Pureblood Fire Hawk, a rare drop from Ragnaros in the Firelands raid of WoW: Cataclysm. However, a closer look reveals several xiangyun, or “auspicious clouds,” embedded within its wings. These symbols, associated with peace, immortality, and good fortune, have been culturally significant in China for over 3000 years. The Golden Ashes of Al’ar, a resplendent version of the Ashes of Al’ar, features a sleek black saddle and flavor text that echoes Kael’thas Sunstrider's iconic line: "The golden Al'ar, beloved pet of Kael'thas Sunstrider, proves that death is merely a setback."

The Blazing Royal Fire Hawk can be obtained through an event called the Treasure Workshop, though specifics about this event are still under wraps. On the other hand, the Golden Ashes of Al’ar is available from Landro’s Loot Box, which costs ¥200, or approximately $27. Each box offers one of eight items, with other high-value rewards such as the X-51 Nether Rocket X-TREME and the Swift Spectral Tiger—a highly sought-after mount from World of Warcraft’s discontinued TCG—also up for grabs. Players can join forces to purchase these loot boxes, earning additional crates by reaching certain spending thresholds.

While the Xiao Liu pet saw an international release, there is currently no indication that the Blazing Royal Fire Hawk or Golden Ashes of Al’ar will be available outside of China. However, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. For now, players from other regions will have to enjoy these magnificent mounts vicariously through images and descriptions.