The War Within Algarian Stormrider Pre-Purchase Mount
A retro look at The War Within pre-purchase reward: the Algarian Stormrider skyriding mount, which editions granted it, and how to get it now.
By:
John Langan
Key Takeaways
- The mount rewarded for pre-purchasing The War Within was the Algarian Stormrider, a storm-gryphon, not an "Algarian Gryphon".
- It was a Skyriding (dynamic flight) mount, the first non-dragon mount able to use the dragonriding skill track.
- Only the Heroic and Epic Editions granted the mount. The Base Edition included the character boost and Trader's Tender, but no mount.
- Anyone who bought a qualifying edition could ride it immediately on pre-purchase, on any character level 10 or higher, months before the 2024 launch.
- The Epic Edition alone added 3 days of Early Access, 30 days of game time, the Squally pet, and a storm gryphon toy.
- Pre-purchase has long since closed. The Algarian Stormrider now sells on the Battle.net Shop as a standalone mount.
Here is how the pre-purchase reward actually worked, and what each edition put in your collection.
The Algarian Stormrider, Not a Gryphon
When Blizzard opened pre-purchase for The War Within, the headline reward was the Algarian Stormrider, a crackling storm-gryphon whose feathers spark with elemental energy. Some early write-ups called it the "Algarian Gryphon," but that name never existed in the game. The mount was added back in Patch 10.1.7 during Dragonflight, which is why players could ride it the moment they pre-purchased, well ahead of the expansion itself.
What made it stand out was its flight style. The Algarian Stormrider used Skyriding, the momentum-based dynamic flight system, making it the first feathered mount able to bank, dive, and boost through the same skill track as the dragonriding drakes. It handled like a Dragon Isles drake while wearing a gryphon's silhouette.
Which Editions Rewarded the Mount
The pre-purchase came in three tiers, and the mount was not part of every one. Reading the tiers correctly mattered, because the cheapest edition did not grant the Stormrider at all.
| Edition | What it included |
|---|---|
| Base Edition | The expansion, an Enhanced Level 70 Character Boost, and 500 Trader's Tender. No mount. |
| Heroic Edition | Everything in Base, plus the Algarian Stormrider mount, the Stormrider's Attire transmog set, and 750 Trader's Tender. |
| Epic Edition | Everything in Heroic, plus Beta access, 3 days of Early Access, 30 days of game time, the Squally pet, a Sandbox Storm Gryphon toy, a Deepdweller's Earthen Hearthstone effect, and 1000 Trader's Tender in total. |
With the tiers laid out, the practical takeaway was simple: the Stormrider started at the Heroic Edition, and the collector extras stacked on top at Epic.
Skyriding, Storm Races, and Customization
The Algarian Stormrider was more than a static reward. Riding it unlocked a set of storm races, a short course tour that rewarded upgrades to the Stormrider's Attire transmog, turning it into the Thundering Stormrider's Attire for players who completed the tour.
The mount was also unusually customizable. At a Rostrum of Transformation you could reshape its color, plumage, and gear across four base variants and dozens of individual options. That customization is a deep topic in its own right, so if you want the full breakdown of every category, explore the Stormrider's customization options in our dedicated preview.
Can You Still Get the Algarian Stormrider?
Yes, though not the way this announcement described. The pre-purchase window for The War Within closed once the expansion matured, and the mount was later separated from the editions and placed on the Battle.net Shop as a standalone purchase. If you missed the 2024 pre-purchase, buying it directly from the Shop is now the path, and it rides identically to the version early adopters earned. Because it uses Skyriding rather than steady hover flight, it also stays useful across current content, not just the expansion it launched with. If mount collecting is your goal, you can also browse WoW mount boosting services to round out your stable.
FAQ
Was the mount called the Algarian Gryphon or the Algarian Stormrider?
Its real name is the Algarian Stormrider. It is a storm-gryphon in appearance, which is where the "gryphon" nickname came from, but "Algarian Gryphon" was never an in-game entity.
Did every pre-purchase edition include the mount?
No. Only the Heroic and Epic Editions granted the Algarian Stormrider. The Base Edition included the Level 70 boost and Trader's Tender but no mount.
Could you use the mount before the expansion launched?
Yes. Because the mount had been added in Patch 10.1.7 during Dragonflight, it was usable immediately after pre-purchase on any character level 10 or higher, long before the 2024 launch.
What made the Algarian Stormrider special compared to other flying mounts?
It used Skyriding, the momentum-based dynamic flight system, so it could dive, bank, and boost. It was the first non-dragon mount able to do this, and completing its storm races upgraded a matching transmog set.
What extra rewards came with the Epic Edition?
On top of the mount and transmog from the Heroic tier, the Epic Edition added Beta access, 3 days of Early Access, 30 days of game time, the Squally pet, a Sandbox Storm Gryphon toy, and a hearthstone effect.
Is the Algarian Stormrider still obtainable today?
Yes. After the pre-purchase period ended, Blizzard moved the mount to the Battle.net Shop as a standalone purchase, so you can still add it to your collection.
Last reviewed 2026-07-01 against Patch 11.0.2 The War Within. Maintained by WowCarry's WoW team.