Dusky Waycrest Gryphon Mount Guide

The Dusky Waycrest Gryphon is a shadowy, silent hunter whose dark plumage and piercing eyes embody the mysterious, forested lands of Drustvar. Its sleek form, powerful wings, and stealthy nature make it a favourite among collectors who appreciate mounts with a dark, atmospheric aesthetic. The flavour text speaks to its deadly purpose: “Common to the dark forests of Drustvar, these gryphon are silent and swift. Their prowess at operating on their own or as mounts lends them to be used for ambush and shock tactics.” For Alliance players who value both elegance and lethality, this gryphon is a true prize — a creature of shadow and speed, perfectly suited to the witch-haunted woods of Drustvar.

Introduced in patch 8.0.1 “Battle for Azeroth”, the Dusky Waycrest Gryphon stands as one of the most prestigious rewards offered by the Order of Embers — a mount reserved for those who have proven their dedication to purging the corruption that plagues Drustvar. Unlike random drops or rare spawns, this mount is a guaranteed reward for reaching Exalted with the Order of Embers, a testament to your service to the people of Drustvar and the fight against the dark forces that threaten them. While the journey to Exalted requires patience and consistent effort, the reward is one of the most striking gryphon mounts in the game — a companion that will soar with you through the shadowed skies of Drustvar and beyond. For collectors who value reliability over RNG, this mount is a perfect and ambitious goal.

• Added in patch: 8.0.1 “Battle for Azeroth”
• Mount type: Flying
• Source: Reputation vendor (guaranteed reward)
• Faction: Alliance only
• Requirements: Level 50, Exalted with Order of Embers
• Cost: 90,000 gold (reduced by reputation discounts)

How to Get Dusky Waycrest Gryphon

The Dusky Waycrest Gryphon is purchased from Quartermaster Alcorn in Drustvar, after reaching Exalted reputation with the Order of Embers. The base cost is 90,000 gold, but this is reduced based on your reputation level — at Exalted, the final price is 81,000 gold. 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 gold, then buy the mount.

The vendor is located in Drustvar, a zone steeped in history and mystery. Use the following coordinates:

/way Drustvar 37.8, 49.0 – Quartermaster Alcorn

The mount is Bind-on-Pickup when purchased, and once learned, it is added to your account-wide collection. It requires Apprentice Riding (level 1 riding skill) to use.

Beginning Your Reputation Journey – World Quests and Beyond

Getting Exalted with the Order of Embers is primarily achieved through World Quests. These are unlocked at level 50 and currently require you to have completed Uniting Kul Tiras, which requires reaching Friendly reputation with the Proudmoore Admiralty, Storm's Wake, and Order of Embers.

Starting out, it is best to run through the main story questline of the Drustvar zone. This can be initiated from the Scouting Map in Boralus. As you progress through the zone, you will also find side quests that provide reputation. The main storyline alone will get you to Friendly or Honored, providing a solid foundation for the rest of the grind.

Daily World Quests – Your Steady Reputation Income

World quests within Drustvar award reputation towards the Order of Embers. Each world quest typically grants 75 reputation, and they expire and are replaced by new ones throughout the day. Some world quests may award more (up to 150 reputation for elite or dungeon quests), so always check your map for available opportunities.

Additionally, a Faction Assault can occasionally appear within Drustvar. These assaults provide additional world quests and a conclusion quest that award reputation. When an assault is active, prioritise completing it — it is a limited-time source of bonus reputation.

Emissaries – The Quickest Path to Reputation

Emissaries appear in the lower corner of your world map and represent one of the Battle for Azeroth factions. Each Emissary lasts for 3 days, meaning you can have up to 3 Emissaries available at once. Completing 4 World Quests related to the Emissary faction will complete the Emissary, and you can then hand it in for 1,500 reputation with that specific faction.

When the Order of Embers Emissary appears (usually once every 7–10 days), make sure to complete it. This is the single largest source of reputation for the Order of Embers outside of the initial questline.

Supplementing Your Reputation – Alternative Sources

Beyond world quests and emissaries, there are several alternative methods to earn Order of Embers reputation. While slower, they can supplement your daily grind.

• Contracts – Passive Reputation: Contract: Order of Embers is crafted by Scribes and can be purchased from the Auction House. You can have one contract active at a time. A contract gives you a bonus 10 reputation for each Battle for Azeroth World Quest you complete, regardless of the zone or faction. Over a week of regular world quests, this adds up significantly.
• Mission Table: At your faction’s ship in the Port of Boralus, you will find your Mission Table. Missions rotate randomly and can occasionally provide missions that award reputation tokens for Battle for Azeroth factions, including the Order of Embers. Check your mission table daily and prioritise reputation missions when they appear.
• Island Expeditions – Dented Coin: Completing Island Expeditions gives you a low chance of receiving a Dented Coin, which can be turned in for 250 reputation and is repeatable. You can also purchase these coins for 100 Seafarer's Doubloons from Captain Klarisa near the Island Expedition table in Boralus. This method is expensive in terms of Doubloons but useful if you have a surplus.

Island Expeditions – Farming Doubloons for Reputation

Island Expeditions are a Battle for Azeroth feature where teams of three players compete against either AI-controlled enemies (PvE mode) or another team of players (PvP mode) to collect Azerite. The first team to reach the required Azerite total wins. Expeditions are available at three difficulty levels: Normal, Heroic, and Mythic. Higher difficulties offer better rewards but also present stronger enemies and more challenging mechanics.

Each expedition takes place on a randomised island — such as Crestfall, Jorundall, Rotting Mire, Havenswood, Snowblossom, Skittering Hollow, or Dread Chain — and the enemy types vary from run to run. Regardless of which enemies appear, you will earn Seafarer's Doubloons upon completion.

To queue for an Island Expedition, speak to the Expedition Map located in your faction's port:

• Alliance: Port of Boralus – /way 66.2 32.6

You can queue for Normal and Heroic difficulties with a partial group; the system will fill the remaining slots. However, Mythic and PvP difficulties require a fully premade group. For efficient farming, it is recommended to form a group of three players who can clear expeditions quickly on Heroic or Mythic difficulty.

Seafarer's Doubloons – Your Currency for Reputation Boosts

Seafarer's Doubloons are the primary currency for all Island Expedition rewards. If you have completed the quest chains, local quests, and do not want to wait for resets, earning Doubloons is an infinite method of farming reputation. You can farm Doubloons indefinitely and purchase Dented Coins with them, providing you with a steady stream of reputation gains.

You earn Doubloons from:

• Completing an Island Expedition – regardless of whether you win or lose
• Bonus objectives – hidden treasures, rare mobs, and events on the island
• Higher difficulty levels – Mythic expeditions award significantly more Doubloons than Normal

You can also increase your Doubloon gains by advancing a perk tree located on your faction's ship in the port. This perk tree offers permanent bonuses that increase the amount of Doubloons you earn from each expedition. Investing points early pays off quickly over many runs.

Maximising Your Reputation – Buffs and Bonuses

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:

• Darkmoon Faire: The Darkmoon Faire is in town starting on the first Sunday of every month. You can ride the rollercoaster or carousel to gain the WHEE! buff, which increases reputation (and experience) gains by 10% for 60 minutes. You can also buy a Darkmoon Top Hat for 10 Darkmoon Prize Tickets to apply this buff without travelling to the Faire.
• Human Racial Trait: Human characters have the Diplomacy racial, which increases all reputation gains by 10%. Since the Order of Embers is an Alliance faction, this bonus applies directly to all Human characters farming this reputation.
• Timewalking Events – Sign of Azeroth: While the Battle for Azeroth Timewalking Event is active, you will gain the Sign of Azeroth buff, granting 50% bonus reputation from quests and creature kills. This is the most powerful reputation buff available and can dramatically shorten your grind. Plan your reputation farming around these events when possible.

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.

Essential Advice and Common Pitfalls

• Complete the main storyline first: The Drustvar questline rewards thousands of reputation. Completing it should be your first priority before focusing on world quests.
• Use a contract early: The Contract: Order of Embers is relatively cheap on the Auction House and provides passive reputation while you do any world quests in Kul Tiras or Zandalar. Over a week, this adds up to hundreds of extra reputation.
• Check mission tables daily: Reputation missions appear randomly. Even if you are not actively playing alts, logging in to send followers on reputation missions takes only a minute and provides free reputation.
• Save Emissary turn-ins for reputation buffs: If you complete the 4 world quests for the Order of Embers Emissary but do not turn it in immediately, you can wait for a reputation buff event (like BFA Timewalking or Darkmoon Faire) to increase the reward. The bonus applies at turn-in, not at completion.
• Don't ignore Island Expeditions: While the drop rate for Dented Coins is low, they are a repeatable source of reputation. If you enjoy Island Expeditions, this is a nice bonus.
• Be patient: Reaching Exalted takes several weeks of consistent world quests. Set a daily routine (10–15 minutes) and stick to it. The mount is guaranteed, so every day brings you closer.
• This mount is Alliance only: The Dusky Waycrest Gryphon is only available to Alliance characters. Horde players cannot purchase this mount.

Useful Addons for Reputation Farming

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.

• World Quest Tracker: Shows all available world quests on a single panel. Helps you quickly see which Order of Embers world quests are up without opening the map.
• HandyNotes – Battle for Azeroth (plugin): Displays world quest locations, rare spawns, and treasure chests on your map. Essential for efficiently completing world quests.
• TomTom / Paste: Quickly set waypoints to world quest locations, rare mobs, and vendor coordinates.
• SavedInstances: Tracks which characters have completed which Emissaries and world quests. Useful if you are farming reputation on multiple alts.
• Rarity (optional): While not directly related to reputation, Rarity can track the mount once you purchase it — a nice way to mark your achievement.
• Leatrix Plus: Quality-of-life improvements like auto-repair, auto-sell junk, and faster interactions — small time savers that add up over a long reputation grind.

Pro tip: Use World Quest Tracker to filter only Order of Embers world quests. This saves time and ensures you never miss a daily reputation opportunity.