ESO Mount Speed: Saddle Up for Speed – A Rider’s Guide to Swiftness in Tamriel
Annoyed with slow travel in Tamriel? In The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO), your mount is vital for exploring the landscapes. However, sometimes your ride feels sluggish. Do not worry! This guide covers everything about mount speed in ESO, helping turn your mount into a speedy companion.
Understanding Mount Stats and the Upgrade Grind
Your mount has stats that affect its performance. Here are the core attributes:
- Speed: This determines how fast your mount moves across Cyrodiil or Skyrim.
- Stamina: This is your mount’s energy. More stamina allows for longer speed bursts.
- Carrying Capacity: A higher capacity means you can carry more loot before becoming overburdened.
These stats can be upgraded! Consider it like training your horse, but instead of protein shakes, you’ll be visiting stablemasters.
The Stablemaster Upgrade System: Patience is a Virtue (and Necessary)
To improve mount stats, visit a stablemaster. They are found in major towns. When you talk to a stablemaster, you access the training interface for upgrades on Speed, Stamina, or Carrying Capacity. Here’s the important part:
- 20-Hour Cooldown: You can upgrade one stat every 20 real hours. Yes, this is not a sprint; it’s a marathon.
- Permanent and Cumulative Gains: Each upgrade adds to the previous one. So, every 20 hours, you achieve progress.
- Maximum Upgrade Cap: You can upgrade each stat by 60%. Achieving this requires consistent stablemaster visits over time.
Make visiting the stablemaster part of your routine. Those cumulative gains will eventually change your slow mount into a fast one.
Mount Speed and Character Progression: Account-Wide Mounts, Character-Specific Skills
Now that mounts and speed are tied to your journey through ESO, let’s explore further.
The Level 10 Milestone and Your First Free Ride: The Sorrel Horse
When you reach level 10, the game rewards you with a free mount – the Sorrel Horse. Do not underestimate it; this mount is as fast as others available in Tamriel. It’s reliable and gets you moving swiftly right from the start.
Account-Wide Mount Unlocks vs. Character-Specific Riding Skill
Here’s an important distinction:
- Mount Unlocks are Account-Wide: Once you unlock a mount, it’s available to all characters on your account.
- Riding Skill is Character-Specific: The riding skill is tied to each character. Upgrades do not transfer; each character must train separately.
- Mount Upgrades are Not Transferable: Upgrades are unique to the character that earned them. You cannot pass on your main’s speed boosts to an alt.
Continuous Assault Passive: A Speed Boost for the PvP Enthusiast
If you enjoy PvP and the Assault skill line, unlock Continuous Assault. This passive grants a flat 30% speed boost. This is essential for moving quickly in PvP zones.
Delving Deeper: Factors That Actually Affect Mount Speed
Now, let’s dive into what affects your mount’s speed.
Base Mount Speed: The Starting Line
A fresh, untrained mount in ESO starts with a base speed of 115% of your character’s walk speed. Thus, you are already faster than on foot.
Sprinting: Engaging the Afterburners
Holding sprint while mounted gives a 30% speed boost, making your total speed while sprinting 145%.
The 200% Speed Cap: The Ultimate Limit
ESO has a maximum speed cap of 200%. No matter how many boosts you stack, you cannot exceed this cap. Walking already accounts for 100%. Mount speed enhancements are calculated on that base speed.
Steed’s Blessing: Foot Speed Only, Sorry Mounts
“Steed’s Blessing” increases foot speed only. This does not impact mounted speed. Thus, it’s useless for improving your horse’s speed.
Mount Speed and Other Game Mechanics: What Doesn’t Work
Some skills seem like they affect mount speed, but they actually do not.
Unholy Presence: Move Speed, Not Mount Speed
Effects boosting “movespeed,” like “Unholy Presence,” do not impact mount speed in ESO. They are designed for the character on foot, not mounted.
Flying Mounts: Ground Speed Stays Grounded
Your upgrades for ground mounts do not transfer to flying mounts. Flying mounts have separate speed characteristics while ground upgrades remain for ground travel.
In Summary: Mastering Mount Speed in ESO
Improving mount speed in ESO takes time and effort. Regular stablemaster upgrades are crucial. Understanding mount unlocks and riding skills is key. Knowing which mechanics influence speed saves you from frustration.
Saddle up, visit the stablemaster daily, and prepare to explore Tamriel at a much better pace. Happy riding, adventurer!
