The Ankoan Waveray is a majestic, ray-like creature whose sleek, azure form and graceful, gliding movements embody the deep connection between the Ankoan and the sea. Its luminous fins, elegant silhouette, and the sense of freedom it conveys make it a favourite among collectors who appreciate mounts with a serene, oceanic aesthetic. The flavour text speaks to its origins: "The Ankoan have been battling the naga for years, and with a natural affinity for the sea, training the local wildlife was a natural strategy." For Alliance players who value prestige and a connection to Nazjatar's resilient defenders, this mount is a true trophy — a symbol of your dedication to the Ankoan cause.
Introduced in patch 8.2.0 "Rise of Azshara", the Ankoan Waveray is a testament to the enduring alliance between the Ankoan people and the creatures of the deep. This mount isn't simply handed out — it's a symbol of trust earned through weeks of dedicated service to one of Nazjatar's most resilient factions. What makes this particular mount stand out in a collector's roster is its unique cross-faction nature: while only Alliance characters can purchase it, the Waveray becomes available to your entire account, allowing Horde players to enjoy this elegant sea creature on their main characters. For collectors who appreciate mounts with a story and a meaningful acquisition path, the Ankoan Waveray represents a journey of loyalty and persistence beneath the waves of Nazjatar.
The Ankoan Waveray is purchased from Artisan Okata in Nazjatar for 250 Prismatic Manapearls after reaching Exalted reputation with the Waveblade Ankoan faction. This is a 100% guaranteed acquisition — there is no RNG involved, no rare spawns to camp, and no low drop rates to overcome. Simply earn the required reputation and currency, then buy the mount.
The vendor is located in the Alliance hub of Mezzamere in Nazjatar. Use the following coordinates:
The mount is Bind-on-Pickup when purchased, and once learned, it is added to your account-wide collection. Importantly, while only Alliance characters can purchase this mount, it is usable by both factions once learned — making it a valuable addition for Horde players who have an Alliance alt.
Before you can begin earning reputation with the Waveblade Ankoan, you must first unlock the Nazjatar zone. This requires progressing through the Battle for Azeroth endgame campaign.
Step 1 – Unlock World Quests
You will need to reach level 50 and become Friendly with the three main zone factions of your faction:
Once you have World Quests unlocked, head to your faction's ship in the Port of Boralus. Look for the quest to start the Nazjatar campaign. The starting NPC is:
Follow the questline, and you will quickly arrive in Nazjatar. Complete approximately 9 quests to finish the introduction. Once Magni Bronzebeard arrives, it is time to start his quest chain, beginning with Essential Empowerment. You will head to the Chamber of Heart in Silithus, then to Neltharion's Lair in Highmountain. Complete the scenario, return to the Chamber, and you will unlock essences for your Heart of Azeroth.
After completing this, you will be sent back to Nazjatar. Follow the available quests until you unlock world quests in Nazjatar. At this point, you will have most features of the zone unlocked and can begin earning reputation with the Waveblade Ankoan.
Once Nazjatar is unlocked, you can begin earning reputation with Waveblade Ankoan. Below are the most effective methods, ranked by efficiency.
World quests in Nazjatar award reputation with the Waveblade Ankoan. Each world quest typically grants 75 reputation, and they refresh throughout the day. The Waveblade Ankoan Emissary is the single largest source of reputation — completing 4 world quests when this Emissary is active rewards 1,500 reputation. Always prioritise this when it appears (roughly once every 7–10 days).
In your faction hub, you will find daily quests from your followers. These quests typically involve killing a certain number of enemies or collecting items, and they award 75–150 reputation each. Complete them every day.
Mardivas Lab is a special summoning platform unlocked during the Nazjatar campaign. To participate, you need a Lesser Benthic Arcanocrystal, which randomly drops from mobs in Nazjatar. Once inside the cave (/way 60.71 32.41), you can summon a powerful elemental. Each week, a quest is available that awards 500 reputation for completing the summon. Make sure to do this weekly.
Two recurring events in Nazjatar grant reputation:
Killing rare elites in Nazjatar awards a small amount of reputation — typically 50–75 reputation per kill. While not a primary source, if you are farming rares for Prismatic Manapearls, the reputation adds up over time.
Completing the Nautical Nuisances of Nazjatar pet battle achievements is an excellent one-time source of reputation. The first time you defeat each elite pet battle enemy, you will receive an item that turns in for 250 reputation. Note that BFA pet battles scale to your pet levels, so you can win with full level 1 teams — making this accessible even to players who do not normally engage with the pet battle system.
Contract: Ankoan can be purchased from the Auction House. When active, it grants 10 reputation for every Battle for Azeroth world quest you complete, regardless of zone. Over a week of regular world questing, this adds up to hundreds of extra reputation. Contracts last for 7 days and can be reapplied.
Mrrl is a mysterious murloc trader who sometimes appears in Nazjatar. To see his special wares, you must equip an Azsh'ari Stormsurger Cape (a random drop from Nazjatar rares or world quests). Occasionally, Mrrl sells a Shadow-Cloaked Shell that turns in for 250 reputation. Check Mrrl daily if you have the cape.
In addition to Exalted reputation, you will need 250 Prismatic Manapearls to purchase the Ankoan Waveray. These pearls are earned from nearly all activities in Nazjatar:
By the time you reach Exalted reputation, you will almost certainly have accumulated far more than 250 Prismatic Manapearls. If you are short, focus on world quests and rare hunting — pearls drop frequently.
As there are limited ways to earn reputation each day, it is essential to take advantage of reputation buffs whenever possible. Below are the most effective bonuses:
Pro tip: Stack multiple buffs when possible. For example, a Human character during BFA Timewalking with the Darkmoon Faire buff active will earn reputation at an accelerated rate, saving you days of grinding. Save your Emissary turn-ins and bulk world quest completions for these windows.
Farming a reputation to Exalted is a marathon, not a sprint. The right addons can help you track your progress, optimise your daily routine, and ensure you never miss an Emissary or world quest.
Pro tip: Use World Quest Tracker to filter only Waveblade Ankoan world quests. This saves time and ensures you never miss a daily reputation opportunity.
