Possibilities for the Pandaren mount

While we still don't know exactly what the pandaren mount is going to be, that has not stopped the internet from speculating. Malchome over at mmo-report.com thinks that the pandaren mount should be a keg cart pulled by some sort of mule or yak. Epic versions could be more intricate, much like the goblin trikes gain complexity as their quality increases. There is a wonderful little mock-up drawing of the keg cart in the post as well. I love the idea as a mount in general, not even just for pandaren, especially with the Brewfest connection.
Personally, I believe the pandaren mount is going to be some sort of frog or amphibian. We don't have many of those types of creatures as mounts in WoW, and it gives the artists a chance to do some really cool ornamental graphics on some sort of creature. There is a Chinese symbol for prosperity called the Chan Chu, a three-legged frog creature that carries a coin in its mouth, that could be adopted to be the pandaren mount. Giant Chan Chu frogs might share the land with the pandaren, much like the kodo beasts roam the plains of Mulgore with the tauren.
Not only does the Chan Chu symbolize prosperity but also protection. Couldn't you easily see an epic armored frog bounding across the battlefield? He could toss his little coin as an idle animation. Plus, the mount is universal enough to allow all other races to ride them, much like the kodo, and could come in lots of colors and styles. His jump would obviously be awesome.
No matter what the pandaren mount ends up being, it will most likely be interesting and fun. With the spectacular work being done on the pandaren themselves, wondering what their mount companions will be is only that much more intriguing. What do you think the pandaren mount will be? What do you think of the keg cart idea or the Chan Chu frog?
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria is the next expansion, raising the level cap to 90, introducing a brand new talent system, and bringing forth the long-lost pandaren race to both Horde and Alliance. Check out the trailer and follow us for all the latest MoP news!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Mists of Pandaria
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
goldeneye Feb 21st 2012 3:34PM
I second the Yak. Now how will they be called in the Warcraft-verse?
mwhyte Feb 21st 2012 3:54PM
Yes the Yak is what is in the drawing for the mount.
VioletArrows Feb 21st 2012 8:17PM
Aaaand you got your wish.
Ikatsu Feb 22nd 2012 6:03AM
hooray, I'm a happy panda now... Even though my monk will be a human.
focusdave01 Feb 21st 2012 3:25PM
I like the frog idea as well! Guess we will have to wait and see!
Noyou Feb 21st 2012 4:50PM
An epic frog. The jumping animation would rock. The /mount special could be it whipping it's tongue out :P
sjamesclarkson Feb 21st 2012 3:30PM
A giant salamander or komodo dragon would be epic. Frogs too!
Theloransas Feb 21st 2012 3:35PM
I think they should like go into a meditative state and float above the ground.
Prelimar Feb 21st 2012 3:34PM
rickshaws are great, but a bit too uncomfortably close to old stereotypes. i like the frog idea for all the reasons stated, but also think it could also apply to fu-dogs/lions, so that's a possibility. the recent dragon mount makes me wonder if chinese-style dragons will be it.
what about rolling around on a brew barrel?
Ginny Feb 21st 2012 3:36PM
Awww, you guys are making me feel like I'm some sort of decent artist or something.
I should really do a better mock up of the Yak/Keg combo mount.. Sketch is okay and all, but I don't feel like it gets my idea across so well.
Prelimar Feb 21st 2012 3:37PM
now that i've seen the pics from MMO champion, i'm digging the yak idea.
Septane Feb 21st 2012 3:38PM
As I said before, Pandaren that choose Alliance will just roll like a ball and have no mount. Pandaren that choose Horde, will have beautifully decorated rickshaws pulled by a teams of Gnomes.
Adam Feb 21st 2012 3:37PM
Rickshaw....pulled by rabbit people.
OldSkoolNerd Feb 21st 2012 3:46PM
ricksha pulled by a kobold
Chetti Feb 21st 2012 3:44PM
oooh both of those ideas are good ones, leaning more toward the frog though. The keg cart however would be a nice addition to brewfest, maybe for coins like the bird mount was for valentine's.. since you know, rng hates some of us in the holiday mount drop dept (no kodo. no ram. sad priest).
I think, in general, we're going to see more asian themed mounts like the heart of the aspects. Different colors like all the drakes. Or other chinese dragon types. Maybe some bugs, but since the enemy we're going to be fighting is an insect of some sort, I don't think we'll be riding them. :p I really can't wait to see what march has in store for us. :)
Miacoda Feb 21st 2012 3:46PM
Yaaaaaaaaak!
Lionssoul Feb 21st 2012 3:47PM
Im guessing turtles they come from a giant turtle island and Blizzard is notorious for recoloring existing modles. But i hope its something cooler
Noyou Feb 21st 2012 4:55PM
I don't think they would use the same model for turtles. For one, it would have to be bigger. second, if a turtle moved at 100% speed, it would look bad. If they go turtle, I think it would be a giant tortoise or huge sea turtle. Not the cute one the Kalu'ak ride. But yeah, if they go yak, I think they can just use the kodo frame.
ElrithCC Feb 21st 2012 5:23PM
They are not notorious for giving brand new races reskinned models as mounts, all but the worgen as I recall had brand new mount models.
Cephas Feb 21st 2012 5:42PM
@ElrithCC
You do not recall correctly. The Gilnean horse mounts are just the Vanilla horse model, BUT the reason why they didn't get new models was because Worgen originally just supposed to have Running Wild. Assuming Pandaren don't have something like that, I would expect their mount to be a new model.