Grotto Netherwing Drake Customization Guide
The Grotto Netherwing Drake came back in Patch 10.2 with a full set of appearance options. Here is how to unlock it and every category you can customize.
By:
John Langan
Key Takeaways
- The Grotto Netherwing Drake first appeared on the Trading Post in July 2023 and became a second-chance reward in Patch 10.2, "Guardians of the Dream."
- Patch 10.2 added a new way to earn it: the Dragon Keeping quest, the finale of an optional Emerald Dream storyline.
- The big 10.2 change was full appearance customization; the drake shipped with a body-wide set of Drakewatcher-style options it never had before.
- Real categories include Scale Color plus Chin, Horns, Crest, Tail, Jaw, Back, and Helm, all applied at a Rostrum of Transformation.
- Scale Color offers Teal, Black, Yellow, and Violet variants; the teal option caused a brief acquisition controversy that Blizzard hotfixed.
- Every option is cosmetic and, because the source questline is permanent, the drake and its looks remain collectible today.
Here is how the Netherwing Drake changed in the Emerald Dream patch, and what you can actually customize.
A New Way to Earn It in 10.2
The Grotto Netherwing Drake started life as a Trading Post reward in July 2023, back in Patch 10.1. Players who missed that window were left without a way to add it to their collection, which made it one of the more sought-after skyriding mounts of the Dragonflight cycle.
Patch 10.2 fixed that. The drake returned as the reward for Dragon Keeping, the final quest in an optional storyline tucked inside the Guardians of the Dream campaign in the Emerald Dream zone. It was a straightforward questline rather than a rare drop, so anyone working through the new zone could secure the mount without relying on the Trading Post rotation.
How Customization Works
When the drake first launched, it had zero appearance options; it was a fixed model. The headline of the 10.2 update was that Blizzard rebuilt it as a fully customizable dragonriding mount, in line with the Drakewatcher Manuscript system used by the other skyriding drakes.
To change its look, you visit a Rostrum of Transformation, the dragon-shaped stand found at flight hubs across the Dragon Isles and the Emerald Dream. Open the drake there and each category appears as its own set of models and color swatches. Edits are free and unlimited, so you can rebuild the design whenever you like.
With that interface in mind, here are the pieces you can actually adjust.
The Customization Categories
The revamped drake exposes a broad set of body-part categories, each independent of the others:
- Scale Color: The headline option, with Teal, Black, Yellow, and Violet scale variants that repaint the whole body.
- Chin: Swaps the underside of the jaw between different shapes.
- Horns: Chooses the horn set, from heavier sweeps to sleeker points.
- Crest: Adjusts the ridge running along the head and neck.
- Tail: Changes the tail tip and its trailing shape.
- Jaw: Alters the lower jaw profile.
- Back: Controls the spinal ridge and back detailing.
- Helm: Toggles the headpiece, letting you go bare or armored.
Because the categories are separate, the drake supports a huge range of combinations, which is exactly what players had asked for when the mount was still a single locked appearance.
The Teal Scale Controversy
The customization rollout was not entirely smooth. The drake's default color shifted with the update, and for a period the original teal scales were effectively locked behind Maruuk Centaur renown, even for players who already owned the mount. That drew criticism from collectors who felt they were being asked to re-earn a look they already had, and Blizzard hotfixed the acquisition so the teal variant was accessible again. It is a small piece of Dragonflight history, but it is the reason some guides from that era mention a renown requirement that no longer applies.
FAQ
Is the Grotto Netherwing Drake still obtainable?
Yes. The Dragon Keeping quest in the Guardians of the Dream campaign is permanent, so you can still earn the drake by completing that Emerald Dream storyline.
How do I get the Grotto Netherwing Drake now?
Work through the optional Emerald Dream questline in Patch 10.2 and finish Dragon Keeping. It originally came from the July 2023 Trading Post, but the quest is the reliable modern source.
Where do I customize it?
At any Rostrum of Transformation. Open the drake there and adjust each category, exactly as you would for any other dragonriding mount.
What colors can the drake be?
Its Scale Color category includes Teal, Black, Yellow, and Violet variants, on top of the separate structural options for chin, horns, crest, tail, jaw, back, and helm.
Do the options change how it flies?
No. Every customization is purely cosmetic and has no effect on skyriding speed, stamina, or vigor.
Why do older guides mention a renown requirement?
During the 10.2 launch the teal scales were briefly tied to Maruuk Centaur renown before Blizzard hotfixed it. Guides written in that short window still reference the old gate.
Last reviewed 2026-07-01 against Patch 10.2 Guardians of the Dream. Maintained by WowCarry's WoW team. If you would rather collect drakes the fast way, explore our WoW mount farming services.