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Overview

Blackstar is the legendary flying dragon mount in Crimson Desert and the most powerful mount in the game by a significant margin. With 2,500 base HP, 1,000 Defense, and 50 Attack, Blackstar dwarfs every other mount in the game in raw stats. It is the only flying mount that players can permanently unlock, granting the ability to soar across the entire continent of Pywel from above. Blackstar is unlocked at the end of Chapter 11 in the main story, after roughly 50 to 60 hours of gameplay focused on story quests.

Unlike horse mounts, which are permanent and can be summoned freely at any time, Blackstar operates on a cooldown system. Players can ride the dragon for approximately 15 minutes before it departs, followed by a 50 to 60 minute real-time cooldown before it can be summoned again. Despite this limitation, the ability to fly over terrain, bypass obstacles, and rain fire on enemies from above makes Blackstar the single most impactful mount in the game.

Base Stats

The stat display shows Speed, Acceleration, Handling, and Jump Power all at 1, but these numbers are misleading for a flying mount. In practice, Blackstar's flight speed is faster than any horse at full gallop, and its aerial maneuverability allows it to cover vast distances in seconds. The 2,500 HP pool is five times higher than the highest horse (Rokade at 600 at Level 1, 840 at Level 5), and its 1,000 Defense makes it nearly invulnerable to standard enemy attacks.

Stat Comparison

Below is a comparison showing how Blackstar compares to the three legendary horses and the Misthorn Branhok:

Blackstar's only weakness relative to some ground mounts is its lower Attack stat (50) compared to the Misthorn Branhok's 163. However, Blackstar compensates with fire breath abilities that deal area damage from the air, which is far more effective in practice than ground-based melee attacks.

How to Unlock

Unlocking Blackstar requires progressing through the main story to the end of Chapter 11. The process involves two major story milestones:

• Chapter 9 (Shattered Stars): You first encounter the dragon at the Palace of Urdavah. During this aerial sequence, your character must have Stamina Level 5 to survive, as the required maneuver instantly drains 200 points of Stamina. If your Stamina is too low, this section will be extremely difficult.

• Chapter 11 (Master of a Forgotten Land): After approximately 50 or more hours of gameplay, you reach the climax of this chapter. You must defeat the Golden Star, a mechanical dragon boss, and acquire the fragment of the Golden Star. As the creature falls, a witch called the White Crow appears and grants you permanent control of the dragon Blackstar at the Nest of Valor.

After completing the unlock sequence, Blackstar becomes a permanent mount that you can summon for the rest of the game, subject to its 15-minute ride time and cooldown cycle.

Summoning and Controls

Summoning Blackstar works differently from horses:

• How to Summon: Jump off a cliff or elevated ledge, then use your whistle (press Down on the D-Pad). Blackstar will swoop in and catch you mid-air. You cannot summon Blackstar while standing on flat ground.

• Flight Duration: You can fly for approximately 15 minutes per session before Blackstar automatically departs.

• Cooldown: After the 15-minute flight ends, Blackstar enters a 50 to 60 minute real-time cooldown before it can be summoned again.

• Restriction: Blackstar cannot be summoned inside the Abyss realm. You must use ground mounts for Abyss content.

Combat Abilities

Blackstar provides powerful aerial combat options:

Fire Breath is the most devastating ability, capable of wiping out entire groups of enemies in seconds. However, it drains Stamina rapidly, so monitor your Stamina bar to avoid depleting it mid-fight. Fireballs are more efficient for picking off individual targets or softening enemy groups before switching to Fire Breath for cleanup.

Flight Mechanics

Flying on Blackstar opens up Crimson Desert in ways that ground mounts cannot:

• Altitude: You can fly high into the sky, well above the highest mountains. This provides an unmatched vantage point for scouting terrain, locating objectives, and planning routes.

• Speed: In level flight, Blackstar moves faster than any horse at full gallop. Using the dive-bomb technique by tilting the stick down increases speed even further, making it the fastest method of travel in the game.

• Terrain Bypass: Mountains, rivers, walls, and other obstacles that block ground mounts are irrelevant when flying. Blackstar can cross the entire map in a fraction of the time a horse would need.

• Dismount Strategy: You can fly over an enemy camp, dismount Blackstar mid-air, and land directly in the fight. Combine this with aerial fire attacks to soften enemies before engaging on foot.

Why Blackstar Is Gated Behind Chapter 11

Pearl Abyss intentionally delayed the dragon mount until very late in the story to prevent it from trivializing the open-world exploration that defines the first 50+ hours of gameplay. If players had access to Blackstar early, they could bypass entire regions, skip difficult terrain, and avoid ground-level encounters that the game is designed around. By locking Blackstar behind Chapter 11, the developers ensured that players experience the full scope of Pywel's world on horseback before gaining the power of flight.

Tips

• Make sure you have Stamina Level 5 before reaching Chapter 9. The aerial sequence with the dragon requires it, and being under-leveled here creates a significant difficulty spike.

• Save your 15-minute flight sessions for meaningful activities. Use Blackstar for long-distance travel to remote objectives, clearing difficult outdoor encounters, or scouting areas you have not explored.

• Use Fireballs (R1) for Stamina-efficient combat and save Fire Breath (R2) for large groups where the area damage justifies the Stamina cost.

• The dive-bomb technique (tilt stick down) is the fastest way to travel. Gain altitude, then dive toward your destination for maximum speed.

• Keep a ground mount registered at stables for use during Blackstar's cooldown period and inside the Abyss where Blackstar cannot be summoned.

• Blackstar pairs well with a Royler or other legendary horse as your secondary mount. Use Blackstar for long hops and Royler for ground exploration during the cooldown.