Most games nowadays sport huge maps that can be a pain to explore and traverse. Luckily, some titles offer various mounts to get from area to area without much trouble. Mounts are also called upon to put clever spins on earlier games, making already fun titles that much more engaging to play and explore.
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But when it comes to game mounts, which ones are the best? Here are some of the best game mounts based on their function, how intuitive they are when controlled by players, and their impact on the games they are introduced or included in.
7Torrent – Elden Ring
WhileElden Ringis a more recent title, Torrent has to be placed in the best mounts as far as modern gaming is concerned. Torrent provides players ease of movement and traversal as they explore The Lands Between, which is a massive open world.
Players can summon Torrent almost anywhere on the map, and possess a double jump and a dash: these are vital movement options that can be used to jump over terrain, discover new areas,and even during combat. In some boss fights, Torrent becomes essential as a quick hit-and-run tool, especially against dragons and some mobs that can overwhelm players who aren’t paying attention. Given thatFromSoftware gamesare notorious for limiting players' movement, having Torrent is a godsend that provides Tarnished with a great fight or flee option.
6Roach – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt’s faithful steed, Roach is a reliable mount inThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. She allows Geralt to travel across Velen, Novigrad, and Skellige without much trouble. Roach can be summoned almost anywhere by whistling and is always just a couple of paces away from Geralt.
She can also be upgraded by equipping her with saddles, blinders, saddlebags, and trophies. These help her become faster, less likely to be spooked by monsters, improves Geralt’s carrying capacity, and provide a bonus combat passive whenever Geralt is in combat. Whether tracking down targets or monsters in the wilderness orgallivanting across regionsto complete quests, Roach is essential for getting to where Geralt needs to be.
5Agro – Shadow Of The Colossus
InShadow of the Colossus, the hero Wander is tasked to bring down towering behemoths that are scattered across the Forbidden Land. Agro is Wander’s faithful horse that is pivotal in tracking down the various colossi. When Wander zeroes in where the next colossus is, Agro is there to bring him to the destination.
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When facing a colossus, Agro acts as Wander’s legs that allow him to get close to the colossi by galloping with all its might. Once Wander manages to jump onto them and strike at their weak points, it’s only a matter of time until the colossus is put down, and Wander calls Agro to get to the next target.
4Epona – The Legend Of Zelda
As far as longevity is concerned, few mounts in games can hold a candle to Epona, Link’s majestic and trusty mare. First appearing inThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Epona has been seen inother mainline Zelda gameslikeMajora’s Mask,Twilight Princess,Breath of the Wild, and even in non-canon games likeHyrule Warriors.
Summoning Epona requires Link to perform Epona’s Song. This calms Epona and allows Link to ride her. In previous games, Link becomes invulnerable when he is riding Epona, while Link can only attack using his Bow. Other games allow Link to wield swords while on Epona, and Epona herself can trample enemies due to her large frame. When Link needs a horse, Epona is always his constant companion.
3HM Slaves – Pokemon
Pokemonduringthe earlier generationswere taught Hidden Machines (HMs) that they can use to help their trainer traverse bodies of water, travel to cities, and solve certain puzzles within their respective regions. While mostPokemoncan become HM Slaves (Pokemon designated to learn purely HM moves), one Pokemon stands above the rest.
Bibarel is considered to be the most versatile Pokemon since it can learn a total of six Hidden Machines (HMs) that it can use in battles and when exploring or puzzle-solving. This includes Cut, Strength, Surf, Waterfall, Dive, and Rock Smash. Being a Water / Normal Type, Bibarel gets Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) whenever it uses either one of these HMs during combat. The only HM Bibarel can’t learn is Fly, but that’s a given since Bibarel can’t and shouldn’t be able to fly.
2Chocobo – Final Fantasy
TheFinal Fantasyfranchise’s premier mount and mascot, the Chocobo is the recurring huge bird species that is recognized by its yellow or golden feathers and its signature cry. They were first introduced inFinal Fantasy 2and have been inall subsequent gamessince.
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In various games, Chocobos are usually domesticated and used as horses. They are hefty and strong birds that are used to pull carriages and wagons. In combat, they are excellent mounts since they are mobile and surprisingly fast. As far as whichFinal Fantasygame has the best Chocobo, the Gold Chocobo fromFinal Fantasy 7gets the nod among other iterations since it gives players who breed it access to one of the strongest Summon Materia: The Knights of the Round.
1Yoshi – Super Mario Bros.
Yoshi is hands down the most iconic mount in gaming. As the dinosaur partner of Mario, Yoshi has been a constant companion who always has Mario’s back whenever he’s off to his escapades.
Hailing from Yoshi’s Island, Yoshi is a dependable ally who Mario and his allies can ride in key areas in manySuper Mariotitles. Offensively, Yoshi can shoot out his tongue to grab a minion, essentially eating them. In some cases, the devoured enemy gets transformed into an egg that he can use as a projectile. If Yoshi eats non-enemy items like fruit, the eggs can hatch intodifferent Power-Upsthat Mario can use to bolster his power.
When Mario is riding Yoshi, his jump is significantly enhanced. Yoshi can do his patented Flutter-Jump that lets him walk on air for a brief time. Yoshi’s popularity has made it possible for him to have a multitude of games where he is the main character and has adventures of his own.
