Mounts & Travel

Traversing the vast and often dangerous lands of Gloria Victis efficiently is crucial for survival, resource gathering, and engaging in dynamic PvP encounters. Mounts provide a significant speed advantage, while understanding the various travel mechanics can save you precious time and even your life.

Acquiring Your First Mount

Your journey to mounted travel begins with obtaining a trusty steed. There are several paths to acquiring a mount, each with its own requirements and benefits.

Purchasing a Mount

Starter Mounts: For new players, the most straightforward method is to purchase a basic mount from a Stable Master located in your faction's capital city (e.g., Dunfen for Midlanders, Mereley for Ismirs, Audunstede for Sangmar). These mounts are relatively inexpensive and provide a good starting speed boost.
Advanced Mounts: As you progress, you can find Stable Masters in various towns and outposts who offer higher-tier mounts with better stats (speed, stamina, health). Keep an eye out for special event vendors or faction quartermasters who occasionally sell unique mount skins or breeds.
Currency: Mounts are primarily purchased with Silver, the standard in-game currency. Ensure you have enough saved up before approaching a Stable Master.

Taming Wild Mounts

For the more adventurous, taming wild horses offers a challenging but rewarding alternative. This method requires specific items and a bit of luck.

Gathering Supplies:
- Lasso: Craftable at a Tanner's Workbench using Tanned Leather and Plant Fibers. You'll need several, as they can break during taming attempts.
- Horse Feed: Can be crafted at a Farming Station using Grain and Water, or sometimes found as loot from certain NPCs or chests.
Locating Wild Horses: Wild horses typically roam in specific zones, often in open plains or forested areas away from major roads. Common locations include the Greenwood Hills (Midland), Frozen Steppes (Ismir), and Sunken Mountains (Sangmar) borders. Look for small herds.
The Taming Process:
1. Approach a wild horse cautiously.
2. Equip your Lasso and target the horse.
3. Use the Lasso ability. A mini-game will initiate where you need to maintain a green bar by moving your mouse to counter the horse's movements.
4. If successful, the horse will be temporarily stunned. Immediately use Horse Feed on it.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the horse is successfully tamed. The number of attempts varies.
6. Once tamed, the horse will appear in your inventory as a Tamed Horse Whistle. Use this item to summon your new mount.

Mount Management & Care

Your mount isn't just a vehicle; it's a companion that requires care to perform optimally.

Mount Durability: Mounts have durability, which decreases when they take damage (from falls, combat, or environmental hazards). If a mount's durability reaches zero, it will be dismounted and become unusable until repaired.
Repairing Mounts: Visit any Stable Master to repair your mount for a small Silver fee. You can also use Mount Repair Kits, which are craftable or sometimes found as loot.
Mount Stamina: Sprinting on your mount consumes stamina. When stamina is depleted, your mount will slow to a walk. Allow your mount to rest or use Mount Stamina Potions (craftable at an Alchemy Workbench or purchased from vendors) to replenish it.
Mount Equipment: You can equip your mount with various items to improve its stats:
- Saddles: Increase stamina regeneration and maximum stamina.
- Bridles: Improve turning speed and acceleration.
- Barding: Provides additional health and damage reduction for your mount.
These items can be crafted by Artificers or found as rare drops.

Fast Travel & Other Movement Options

While mounts are excellent for general travel, Gloria Victis offers other methods to quickly move across the map.

Teleportation Shrines

Activation: Throughout the world, you'll find Teleportation Shrines. Interacting with a shrine for the first time will activate it, allowing you to teleport to it from other activated shrines.
Usage: To use a shrine, simply interact with it and select your desired activated destination from the map. There is a small Silver cost associated with each teleport.
Strategic Placement: Shrines are strategically placed near major cities, resource nodes, and contested areas. Activating as many as possible is crucial for rapid deployment and quick escapes.

Caravans & Wagons

Occasionally, you may encounter player-driven Caravans or static Wagons that offer a form of slow, protected travel. These are less about speed and more about transporting goods safely or moving with a group.

Caravans: These are player-organized events, often used to transport valuable resources between locations. Joining a caravan can be a good way to travel with protection, but be aware that caravans are prime targets for enemy ambushes.
Wagons (Static): Some larger settlements or resource outposts may have static wagons that, when interacted with, offer a slow, automated journey to a nearby major city. These are safe but very slow.

Swimming & Environmental Hazards

Swimming: Your character can swim across bodies of water, but this is significantly slower than land travel and consumes stamina. Mounts cannot swim across deep water and will dismount you if you attempt to force them.
Fall Damage: Be mindful of cliffs and steep drops. Both you and your mount can take significant fall damage, potentially leading to dismount or even death.
Terrain Effects: Different terrain types can affect your movement speed. Swamps and rocky areas will slow you down, while roads and open plains allow for faster travel.

Mastering the art of mounted travel and understanding the various movement options available will significantly enhance your Gloria Victis experience, allowing you to react faster, gather more efficiently, and dominate the battlefield.