In Diablo 4's vast, dark world of Sanctuary, traversing the sprawling landscapes on foot can feel tedious-especially when you're hunting demons, completing quests, or exploring hidden dungeons across fractured peaks, scorching deserts, and tangled swamps. A mount is not just a cosmetic upgrade; it's a game-changer that boosts your movement speed, saves time, and adds flair to your adventure. Unlike some other open-world games, mounts in Diablo 4 Items aren't available from the start. They require progression, but the process is straightforward once you know the steps. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to unlock and obtain your first mount, plus how to get more unique mounts later.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Unlocking Mounts

Before you can saddle up, you must meet two core prerequisites-progress through the main story or reach a specific level (if you skip the story). Blizzard designed mounts to unlock mid-game, ensuring you first experience Sanctuary on foot and grow familiar with its dangers.

For players following the main campaign: You need to complete Acts I, II, and III of the story. These acts take you through key regions, introduce core characters, and build up to the events of Act IV, where mounts become available. You can't rush to Act IV early; the game locks it until you finish the first three acts, even if you reach the capital city of Kyovashad early on.

For players who skip the story (available after your first playthrough): You don't need to complete the campaign. Instead, you must reach level 25. Once you hit level 25, a priority quest will automatically appear, guiding you to unlock your mount. This is a great option for seasoned players who want to jump straight into endgame content with a mount.

A crucial note: Once you unlock mounts on one character, all other characters on your account (in both Eternal and Seasonal Realms) get access to mounts automatically. You only need to complete the unlock process once per account-which saves time if you want to play multiple classes.

Step-by-Step: Unlocking Your First Mount

Whether you follow the story or skip it, the final step to unlock mounts revolves around the "Mount: Donan's Favor" quest. This quest is the key to getting your first steed, and it's quick to complete once it becomes available.

If you're following the story: After finishing Acts I-III, you'll start Act IV. Early in Act IV, you'll complete a short main quest called "A Master's Touch," where you meet Donan at the Cathedral of Light in Kyovashad. After speaking with Donan, the "Mount: Donan's Favor" quest will unlock as a priority quest.

If you skipped the story: Once you reach level 25, the "Mount: Donan's Favor" quest will pop up automatically. Head to the stable in Kyovashad-marked by a horse icon on your map-and speak to Oskar, the stable master.

Completing the quest is simple: All you need to do is talk to Oskar. When you speak to him, select the option "I'm a friend of Donan's" (if prompted). Oskar will thank you, explain how mounts work, and reward you with your first free mount-the "Reins of the Old Nell Steed," a basic brown horse. Congratulations-you can now ride your mount anywhere in Sanctuary (except inside dungeons).

How to Get More Mounts (Beyond the First Free One)

The Old Nell Steed is just the beginning. Diablo 4 has over 90 mounts in total, with 46 available in stables and more from various in-game sources. All mounts are purely cosmetic-they don't boost speed or performance-but they let you personalize your journey.

Buy from stable masters: After unlocking mounts, you can purchase additional basic steeds from stable masters in major cities (like Kyovashad, Caldeum, and Zarbinzet). The "Reins of the Grey Steed" and "Reins of the Mottled Steed" each cost 20,000 gold-an affordable price once you've accumulated some in-game currency.

Battle Pass rewards: Seasonal Battle Passes often include exclusive mounts and mount cosmetics. For example, Season 10's Battle Pass offers mounts like the Grave Horn and Beast of the Red Griffin through the Beasts Reliquary, which you can unlock by progressing through the Battle Pass tiers.

Challenges and events: Some mounts are rewards for completing tough challenges. For instance, the Bloody Liquid Steed is a rare reward for defeating Uber Lilith (Echo of Lilith) for the first time. You can also get mounts from Hell Tide events-gather Aberrant Cinders to open Tortured Gifts of Mysteries, which have a chance to drop mounts like the Pale Steed and Marsh Roan Steed.

Random drops: A few mounts drop randomly from powerful enemies or chests. The Decaying Steed, for example, can drop from Treasure Goblins-though you'll need a bit of Diablo 4 Gold for sale luck, as goblins often teleport away if you don't defeat them quickly.

Premium shop: Blizzard's in-game premium shop sells exclusive mount bundles, like the Fantasia Mount and Endurance Mount. These are optional purchases, but they offer unique designs you can't get from other sources.

Pre-order and deluxe editions: If you purchased the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition of Diablo 4, you'll get exclusive mounts (like the Light Bearer) as a pre-order bonus, which are available once you unlock the mount feature.