Crimson Desert: How to Unlock and Ride the Dragon Mount

The variety of mounts in Crimson Desert is one of the game’s key features, but what players really want to know is how to ride a dragon. It’s not easy — you’ll need to progress through the story, complete a quest, and mount the creature the right way. In this guide, we’ll cover where to find the dragon quest, how to mount it, and how to get the Black Star as your personal mount.

To start the quest Shackles of Fate, you’ll need to reach chapter 9, which takes quite a bit of time. The story will bring you to the Urdav Citadel in Tashkalpa. It’s crucial that your stamina level is at least 5. If it isn’t, you’re better off working on other activities — there’s no point in starting the quest until you’re ready.

Once you begin the quest, you’ll have to pull two spears out of the dragon’s back. But the first challenge is actually getting onto the creature. Make your way to the castle and look for the long bridge. Stand facing north and wait for the dragon to appear. Of course, the quest must be active. If you run into the problem where the dragon doesn’t show up, try restarting the quest.

Your goal is to dive onto the flying beast. The easiest way is to activate falling flight and literally crash into the creature’s face. To grab onto the dragon, you’ll need the Axiom Power ability at level 2, then perform an aerial spin — this takes a good chunk of your stamina. If you pull it off, you’ll land on the dragon’s back.

The Black Star is the dragon you can use as a mount in Crimson Desert, but it will try to throw you off. Hold tight to its back whenever you enter a risky spin. To remove the spears, switch to focus mode and charge up the Focused Power Palm attack. Wait for a bright flash — that’s your cue to strike.

Once you free the dragon, it will recover and the mission will end. But that’s not the end of the story. The Black Star won’t show up until chapter 11. In the new region of Delessia, you’ll need to find the iron dragon, Golden Star. After the fight, a cutscene will play where your old friend comes to help the protagonist. Eventually, you’ll need to visit the Nest of Valor in the Abyss. By this point, you should already be familiar with the location. This is where the Black Star finally becomes Cliff’s ally.

There are a few important things to keep in mind. First, the dragon can breathe fire, which can help you out in battle. Second, you only get to control the lizard for 15 minutes, after which it goes on cooldown for a whole hour. Why it works this way is a mystery — apparently, the developers really didn’t want you flying through all their content at once.