Best Horses

Overview

Horses are the primary mode of transportation in Crimson Desert, and choosing the right mount can make a significant difference in both exploration and combat. The game features five standard horse breeds and three legendary horses, each with distinct stat profiles, unique skills, and different playstyles. Whether you need a speedy steed to cross the vast open world of Pywel or a battle-hardened war horse that can absorb punishment during boss encounters, this guide breaks down every breed and ranks them from best to worst.

All horses can be obtained through taming in the wild, purchased from stables, or stolen from NPCs. Legendary horses are found at fixed locations and require at least Stamina Level 6 to tame successfully. Every horse levels up through a trust system that unlocks new skills as the bond between rider and mount deepens.

Horse Tier List

The following tier list ranks every horse breed in the game based on overall usefulness, taking into account speed, survivability, combat performance, skill set, and availability. Horses in higher tiers outperform those in lower tiers in most situations, though some breeds excel in niche roles.

Royler and Camora share the S tier because they dominate their respective roles so thoroughly that no other horse comes close. Royler is the undisputed fastest horse with the highest stamina, while Camora hits harder and absorbs more damage than any other mount. Rokade sits in A tier as an excellent tank, though its lower speed compared to Royler and lower offensive output compared to Camora keep it just below the top spot.

Legendary Horses

The three legendary horses are Pywel steeds of legend, each found at a specific lake in the world. They all require at least Stamina Level 6 from your skill tree to tame, and they have significantly higher stats than any standard breed. Once tamed, they can be registered at any stable and summoned as your active mount.

Royler (White Legendary Horse)

Royler is widely considered the single best horse in the game for most players. Its combination of the highest stamina (315) and the fastest movement speed (Level 4) among all horses makes it the premier choice for traversal. Where other horses run out of breath and slow to a walk, Royler can maintain a gallop across entire regions without stopping.

What truly sets Royler apart is its signature skill, Consecutive Instant Acceleration, which unlocks at trust Level 5. This ability lets you boost your speed twice after performing a drift, stacking on top of the standard Instant Acceleration that other legendary horses also learn. The result is a burst of speed that no other mount can match, making Royler unbeatable for covering long distances quickly.

Location: Royler is found by a lake near the Snowgrass Hearth campsite in the Silverwolf Mountains, in the Pailune region north of the City of Hernand. Look just below the letter "P" in Pailune on your map. This is the earliest legendary horse you can access, though the cold environment in Pailune drains your health during the taming attempt. Bringing cold resistance or warm clothing is recommended.

Base Stats:

Camora (Red Legendary Horse)

Camora is the ultimate combat horse, boasting the highest attack (27) and defense (100) stats of any mount in the game by a wide margin. These numbers make the Back Kick ability hit noticeably harder than on other horses, and incoming damage from enemy attacks is reduced far more than with any other mount. If you plan on engaging in mounted combat regularly, especially against bosses or large groups of enemies, Camora is the horse you want.

Camora shares the same skill tree as Rokade (minus Consecutive Instant Acceleration), learning Dash, Drift, Back Kick, Sprint, Lateral Movement, Water Sprint, Instant Acceleration, and Swimming III as it levels up. Its combat advantage comes purely from its stat distribution rather than unique abilities.

Location: Camora grazes in the Redtree Forest in the southern Crimson Desert region, near the Red River in the Tashkalp area on the eastern edge of Pywel. The warm climate here means you will not deal with any environmental hazards during the taming process, making Camora arguably the easiest legendary horse to tame from a comfort standpoint.

Base Stats:

Rokade (Black Legendary Horse)

Rokade is the tankiest horse in the game, sporting the highest health pool (600) of any mount. This massive HP pool means Rokade can take a beating during combat without getting incapacitated, which is especially valuable during prolonged fights where your horse is taking consistent damage. For players who prefer a durable mount that will not fold under pressure, Rokade is the clear choice.

While Rokade's attack (15) and defense (65) are respectable, they fall short of Camora's dominant combat stats. Its stamina (240) and movement speed (Level 3) are also lower than Royler's, placing Rokade in a middle ground between speed and combat power. Think of Rokade as a reliable war horse that excels at staying alive rather than dealing damage or covering ground quickly.

Location: Rokade is found by a lake near the Spire of Insight in the Steel Mountains area of Grace Estate, southeast of the City of Hernand. The terrain here is mountainous but does not apply any significant environmental debuffs.

Base Stats:

Standard Horse Breeds

Standard horse breeds roam the wilderness of Pywel and can be tamed, purchased from stables, or stolen from NPCs. While none of them can match the legendary horses in raw stats, they are available much earlier and each has its own strengths that may suit certain playstyles during the early and mid game.

Elantrima

Elantrima is the standout among standard breeds, with the highest base health (600) of any non-legendary horse, matching Rokade's HP. It also has solid stamina (255) and good handling, making it a dependable mount for players who have not yet tamed a legendary horse. Elantrima is described as a breed notable for its unique markings and thick fur covering its lower legs, traditionally used for festivals and parades. Its practical advantage is an extra inventory slot for carrying goods, which is useful for players who do a lot of trading or gathering.

Base Stats:

Skills: Dash (Lv. 2), Drift (Lv. 3), Back Kick (Lv. 3), Lateral Movement (Lv. 3), Sprint (Lv. 4), Swimming III (Lv. 5), Quick Start (Lv. 5), Double Jump (Lv. 5).

Priden

Priden is the verticality specialist among standard breeds. While its movement speed (Level 1) and acceleration (Level 1) are on the slower side, Priden compensates with respectable health (400) and a unique skill set that includes both High Jump and Double Jump at Level 5. These abilities let Priden reach elevated areas and shortcuts that other horses simply cannot access, making it a strong pick for players focused on exploration of mountainous or vertically layered terrain.

Base Stats:

Skills: Dash (Lv. 2), Drift (Lv. 3), Back Kick (Lv. 3), Sprint (Lv. 4), Swimming III (Lv. 5), Quick Start (Lv. 5), High Jump (Lv. 5), Double Jump (Lv. 5).

Brianto

Brianto is a sleek, well-built breed historically prized as a racehorse. It has high speed relative to other standard breeds (Movement Speed Level 2), but this comes at the cost of the lowest base health (300) and stamina (150) among all horses in the game. Brianto serves as Damiane's default mount when you unlock her in Chapter 3, so many players will use one early on without needing to tame it separately.

Despite its reputation as a racer, Brianto is easily outclassed by Royler in every speed-related stat. The low health pool also makes it vulnerable during mounted combat, as it can be incapacitated quickly by stronger enemies. Brianto is a solid early-game horse but falls off once you gain access to legendary breeds.

Base Stats:

Skills: Dash (Lv. 2), Drift (Lv. 3), Back Kick (Lv. 3), Sprint (Lv. 4), Swimming III (Lv. 5), Quick Start (Lv. 5), Instant Acceleration (Lv. 5), Consecutive Instant Acceleration (Lv. 5), Double Jump (Lv. 5).

Numont

Numont is one of the wild horse breeds found roaming across Pywel. It can be tamed, purchased from stables, or stolen from NPCs. Numont is a general-purpose breed without any standout strengths or weaknesses, placing it squarely in the middle of the pack among standard horses. It is one of the four tameable breeds required for the Harmonious Hooves horse challenge, which asks you to ride each standard breed for over 100 meters.

Herspia

Herspia is the very first horse you ride in the game, given to you during the Prologue mission "New Journey" as you travel to the City of Hernand. It is a standard breed that does not offer anything fancy but is reliable enough for early transportation. Herspia has average speed and notably weak endurance; you will often find yourself walking beside your mount because she has run out of stamina. While functional as a starter horse, most players will want to upgrade to a better breed as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Full Stat Comparison

The table below compares the base stats of every confirmed horse breed in the game. Legendary horses are highlighted in the top three rows. Stats are listed at their base values before any horse equipment bonuses are applied.

Note: Herspia and Numont base stats are not fully documented in currently available sources. Their stats fall in the standard breed range, generally below those of Elantrima and Priden.

Legendary Horse Skills Comparison

All three legendary horses share a core set of skills but differ in a few key areas. The table below shows which skills each legendary horse learns and at what trust level they unlock.

Royler is the only legendary horse that learns Consecutive Instant Acceleration, and it also unlocks Instant Acceleration earlier (Level 3 instead of Level 5). This gives Royler a clear edge in travel speed that compounds over long distances.

Where to Find Each Legendary Horse

All three legendary horses spawn at specific lakes in the open world. They are always present at their spawn point and do not despawn or require any prerequisite quest to appear. You can attempt to tame them as soon as you reach their location, though having enough stamina is critical.

How to Tame Legendary Horses

Taming a legendary horse follows the same process as taming any wild horse, but legendary horses buck harder and drain your stamina much faster. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

1. Invest in stamina. You need at least Stamina Level 6 in your skill tree before attempting to tame a legendary horse. Running out of stamina during the taming minigame throws you off the horse and forces you to start over.

2. Approach carefully. Sneak up on the horse using crouch to get close without startling it. This gives you a better chance of mounting it before it bolts.

3. Mount the horse. Run up to the horse and press the ride button to mount it. The taming minigame begins immediately.

4. Move opposite to the horse. During the minigame, keep your camera fixed behind the horse and hold the movement input opposite to the direction the horse is facing (hold S on keyboard or pull back on the left stick). The easiest method is to simply hold backward the entire time.

5. Fill the progress bar. Continue fighting the horse's movements until the circular progress bar fills completely. Once full, the horse is tamed and registered to your stable.

Taming tips:

• For Royler, the cold climate in the Pailune region chips away at your health throughout the attempt. Equip cold resistance gear or bring warming items to offset the debuff.

• For Camora, the warm Redtree Forest has no environmental hazards, making it the most comfortable legendary taming experience.

• If you fail a taming attempt, the horse stays in its location. You can try again immediately without waiting.

• Stamina-boosting food or elixirs consumed before the attempt can provide extra insurance against running dry.

Horse Leveling and the Trust System

Every horse in the game has a trust level that ranges from 1 to 5. As trust increases, the horse unlocks new skills and becomes a more capable mount. Trust is essentially the horse's bond with Kliff, and it grows through three main activities:

• Riding: Simply traveling on your horse builds trust over time. The more you ride a particular mount, the faster it levels up.

• Feeding: Open your inventory while mounted and feed your horse items like Hay, Sugar Beet, Sugar Cubes, or other food items horses enjoy. You can build trust through feeding up to three times per day.

• Petting: Focus on your horse (CTRL on keyboard or LB on controller) and press the pet button (R). There appears to be a daily limit on how much trust petting provides, so combine it with riding and feeding for the fastest results.

A mix of all three methods will level your horse relatively quickly. The key milestones are:

Prioritize reaching trust Level 4 on your main horse as soon as possible, since Sprint is the single biggest upgrade to your travel speed. Level 5 adds useful utility skills but the core mobility improvement happens at Level 4.

Horse Equipment

Horses have five equipment slots that can be filled with gear purchased from Saddlery shops in major cities or earned through Contribution shops. To equip gear, stand near your active horse, open your inventory, and switch to the mount inventory tab (R2 on controller). Each piece of equipment provides different stat bonuses:

Better equipment can be unlocked by reaching maximum trust with merchants in various cities. Bardings are also available through Contribution shops in exchange for Contribution points earned by completing bounties and leveling up town Contribution levels. Investing in good horse equipment can noticeably improve even a standard breed's performance.

Mounted Combat Tips

Mounted combat in Crimson Desert lets you fight from horseback using both your character's weapons and your horse's abilities. Mastering this system is especially important during boss fights and large-scale encounters where fighting on foot would leave you vulnerable. Here are the most important tips for effective mounted combat:

1. Choose the right horse for the fight. Camora is the best combat mount thanks to its 27 attack and 100 defense. If you expect a tough fight, switch to Camora before engaging. Rokade is a strong alternative if you prioritize survivability over damage.

2. Use Back Kick aggressively. Back Kick is your horse's primary attack and hits enemies directly behind you. Ride past groups of enemies and trigger Back Kick as you pass through for hit-and-run damage. On Camora, this ability deals significantly more damage than on other mounts.

3. Equip a Champron for Flurry Slash. The Flurry Slash skill only activates when your horse has a Champron equipped. This is a charge attack that can deal solid damage during mounted rushes.

4. Keep your horse healthy. Feed your horse Hay, Sugar Beet, or Sugar Cubes from your inventory while mounted to restore health. Horse Tonic pushes health to the extreme and lets your horse endure otherwise deadly blows. Horse Stimulant maximizes stamina for extended chases or escapes.

5. Use Drift for repositioning. Drift lets you make sharp turns at high speed without losing momentum. This is essential for circling around bosses and avoiding frontal attacks.

6. Dismount strategically. You do not have to fight an entire battle from horseback. Use your horse to close distance, deal some damage with mounted abilities, then dismount for precise melee or ranged combat when needed.

7. Heal at stables when convenient. If your horse is injured (visible coat damage or sitting on the grass after summoning), visit any stable and select "Retrieve and Heal Horse" to fully restore it for a small fee in Copper or Silver Coins.

Recommended Horses by Playstyle

Different players prioritize different things. The table below matches each playstyle to the best horse choice:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Own Multiple Horses?

Yes. You can tame and register multiple horses at stables throughout the world. Switch between them by visiting any stable and selecting which horse you want as your active mount.

Do Legendary Horses Respawn If You Fail to Tame Them?

Yes. If you run out of stamina and get thrown off during a taming attempt, the legendary horse stays at its spawn location. You can try again immediately.

Is It Worth Upgrading from Herspia Early?

Absolutely. Herspia's weak endurance becomes a noticeable limitation as the game opens up. Even taming a wild Elantrima or Priden is a significant upgrade. Once you reach Stamina Level 6, prioritize taming Royler for the biggest quality-of-life improvement in the game.

Which Legendary Horse Should I Tame First?

Royler is the recommended first legendary horse because speed and stamina benefit every aspect of gameplay. Camora and Rokade are better reserved for players who already have a fast horse and want a dedicated combat mount. Since Royler is located in Pailune, which is accessible relatively early, it is also the most convenient legendary horse to reach.

Can Standard Horses Beat Legendary Horses with Equipment?

Horse equipment helps close the gap, but legendary horses benefit from the same equipment slots. A fully equipped standard breed will always be outperformed by a fully equipped legendary horse in the same stat category. That said, a well-equipped Elantrima can be surprisingly durable, rivaling Rokade in raw HP.

See Also

• Mounts - Complete guide to all mounts and vehicles in the game

• Horse Taming - Detailed guide on how to tame wild horses

• Mounted Combat - In-depth breakdown of the mounted combat system

• Horse Items - Full list of horse equipment and consumables

• Horse Challenges - All horse-related challenges and rewards

• Royler - Individual article for the white legendary horse

• Rokade - Individual article for the black legendary horse

• Camora - Individual article for the red legendary horse

• All Mounts Comparison - Side-by-side comparison of every mount type