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Dragon Mount - Version 42 vs Version 43
May 23, 2026, 03:49 PM
Added internal wikilinks
Jun 8, 2026, 10:10 PM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
11Overview22Blackstar is the dragon mount in Crimson Deserta rideable flying wyvern (two legs and two wings) that becomes available as players progress through the main story. Blackstar sits at the top of the mount progression alongside the ATAG (All-Terrain Armored Gear), granting genuine aerial flight across the open world of Pywelfire-breathing attacks against ground targets, and acrobatic aerial maneuvers.44Like the ATAG, Blackstar is available for a limited duration rather than being a permanent mount like the horse. Once summoned, Blackstar remains active for approximately 15 real-world minutes, after which it departs and enters a 50-minute real-time cooldown. This strict limitation is intentional. Pearl Abyss Director of Marketing and PR Will Powers has noted that flying mounts are limited because the world contains "tons of hidden corners" that would not be visible from the air, encouraging players to explore on foot or by ground mount.77Dragon riding is one of the most spectacular mechanics in Crimson Desert. Players can mount and fly dragons across the continent of Pywel, engaging in devastating aerial combat with fire breath attacks and dive-bombing runs. The primary dragon mount is the Blackstar, a legendary creature that becomes available in the late game. Several other wyvern and drake variants also exist throughout the world, each with distinct abilities.99Dragon riding fundamentally changes how players interact with the open world. Once airborne, you can cross vast distances in seconds, bypass terrain obstacles entirely, and rain destruction on enemy encampments from above. The system introduces a unique risk-reward dynamic through stamina management and summon cooldowns that prevent the dragon from being an unlimited resource.1111How to Unlock Blackstar1313Blackstar is obtained exclusively through the main story and cannot be missed. The unlock happens across two chapters, with the first encounter occurring in Chapter 9 and permanent access granted in Chapter 11. Reaching Chapter 11 typically requires approximately 50 or more hours of gameplay for players who focus primarily on the main story.1515The Blackstar dragon is unlocked through the main story and cannot be missed. Players first encounter the Blackstar during Chapter 9: The Sage of the Desert, roughly 50 hours into the campaign. However, the dragon is not rideable at this point. You must progress further until Chapter 11: Truth and Reality, specifically the quest Foreboding Shadow: Whispers in the Wind, where you permanently acquire the Blackstar as a summonable mount.1818During the acquisition sequence, you need to latch onto the Blackstar while it flies overhead. The process works as follows:2020Wait for the Blackstar to swoop close to your positionJump and begin gliding toward the dragonActivate your Axiom Force (grapple) to target the dragon's backImmediately press the jump button to perform an Aerial Maneuver and mount the dragonOnce mounted, press and hold the "Resist" prompt to tighten your grip whenever the dragon dives or rolls2222Important: You need your Stamina attribute at level 5 or higher before attempting this sequence. The Aerial Maneuver costs 200 Stamina points, and failing the mount due to insufficient stamina will force you to retry the encounter. Invest in Stamina upgrades early if you anticipate reaching this chapter.2424Chapter 9: First Encounter2626Players first encounter Blackstar during Chapter 9: The Sage of the Desert (the Shattered Stars quest chain). Kliff travels to the palace of Urdavahwhere he finds the wounded dragon with a spear lodged in its body. In a cutsceneKliff pulls the spear out, but Blackstar does not become rideable at this point.2828Shortly after, players must return to Urdavah and ride Blackstar for the first time. This is a scripted taming sequence with specific requirements and mechanics.3030Stamina Requirement3232Before attempting to board Blackstar, players need their Stamina attribute at Level 5 or higher. The boarding sequence requires 200 Stamina points for an Aerial Maneuverso having insufficient Stamina makes it impossible to complete the objective. If Stamina is too low, players should level it up by resting at camp or using attribute points before returning to Urdavah.3434Taming Sequence3636The taming sequence plays out as follows:3838Position yourself on the battlements. At Urdavah, use the "Wait" option when prompted. This spawns Kliff on the battlements with Blackstar flying nearby.Jump and glide toward Blackstar. When the dragon passes close enough below, jump off the battlement and glide toward it.Grapple onto its back. Activate the Axiom Force (grapple) to target Blackstar's back. Immediately press the jump button to perform an Aerial Maneuverwhich costs 200 Stamina.Resist while mounted. Once on Blackstar's back, press and hold the "Resist" button prompt to tighten Kliff's grip whenever the dragon dives and rolls.Use Focused Force Palm. When prompted, activate Focus and press and hold the Force Palm button until it charges. When a bright glow appears on Blackstar's back, target it and release the button. This purifies the corruption affecting Blackstar.4040After the purification, Blackstar is calmed, but it does not become a permanent mount yet. Players must wait until Chapter 11 for full access.4242Chapter 11: Permanent Unlock4444Blackstar becomes a permanent mount during Chapter 11: Truth and Reality (the Foreboding Shadow quest chain, specifically the quest Whispers in the Wind). This chapter takes players to Delesyiawhere they face the Golden Star boss, a colossal mechanical dragon.4646Once Golden Star's health is depleted, Blackstar swoops in to aid Kliff during the final aerial sequence. After the battle, when players return to the Nest of Valor (a location first visited during Chapter 9), Blackstar becomes permanently available as a mount. The acquisition is automatic and tied to an unmissable cutscene. There is no way to accidentally skip obtaining Blackstar.4848Summoning and Controls5050How to Summon5252Blackstar is summoned from the mount selection wheel:5454Controller: Hold D-pad Down to open the mount selection wheel, then select the dragon with the Right Stick.PC (Keyboard): Hold the H key to open the mount selection wheel and select the dragon.5656Blackstar can be summoned anywhere in the open world of Pywel where there is sufficient space. However, the dragon cannot be summoned inside the Abyss realm.5858Duration and Cooldown6060Once summoned, Blackstar is active for approximately 15 real-world minutes. After the active period ends, Blackstar departs and enters a 50-minute real-time cooldown before it can be summoned again. Both the active duration and the cooldown are measured in real-world minutes, not in-game time. There does not appear to be any in-game method to reduce the cooldown timer.6262ParameterValueActive DurationApproximately 15 minutes per summonCooldown50 minutes (real-time) after dismissalCooldown ReductionNone available; the cooldown is fixedSummon LocationAny outdoor area with enough open sky6464The long cooldown makes the Blackstar a strategic resource rather than a permanent travel option. Plan your dragon summons around major objectives such as fortress assaults, world boss encounters, or long-distance travel across regions.6565Flight Controls6767Blackstar's flight is controlled through the left stick (controller) or WASD (keyboard) for directional movement, combined with the camera for altitude adjustments.6969Altitude control is tied to the camera angle. Tilting the camera upward while pressing forward causes Blackstar to climb, while angling the camera downward puts the dragon into a dive. Diving builds speed significantly, making it useful for covering ground quickly or setting up a strafing run before pulling back up. There is no dedicated ascend or descend button; altitude is handled entirely through camera orientation and forward momentum.7171To landpress Square (PlayStation) or X (Xbox) while flying. Blackstar descends to the nearest flat surface and touches down, allowing Kliff to dismount. Landing does not dismiss Blackstar or start the cooldown timer. The dragon remains on the ground and can be remounted until the 15-minute active period expires.7474Blackstar is automatically dismissed if the player enters the Abyss. Since the dragon cannot operate within the Abyss realm, transitioning into that area ends the active session and starts the 50-minute cooldown immediately. Players should be mindful of nearby Abyss portals when flying at low altitude to avoid wasting remaining active time.7676Dragon Combat7878Blackstar is not simply a transport; it functions as a fully combat-capable mount with its own attack suite. While mounted, players have access to devastating aerial attacks that can clear entire enemy encampments from the air.8080Combat Controls8282Input (Controller)Input (PC)ActionNotesR1 / RBLeft ClickFireballLaunches individual fireballs at targets below. Can be fired in rapid succession. has a lock-on function for targeting multiple enemies.R2 / RTRight ClickFire BreathContinuous stream of fire that sweeps across the ground. Devastates groups of enemies and spreads the Burn status effect.Left StickWASDFlight DirectionControls the direction of flight. Smooth aerial movement across the entire open world.Circle / B (x2)DodgeKey (x2)Barrel Roll / FlipEvasive aerial maneuver to dodge incoming projectiles and magical missiles. Press the dodge input twice for a quick mid-air roll.Square / XCLandDescends to the nearest flat surface. Blackstar remains on the ground and can be remounted. Does not start the cooldown timer.Camera Up / DownMouse Up / DownAltitude ControlTilt the camera upward while moving forward to climb. Angle the camera downward to dive. Diving increases flight speed for strafing runs.L2 + R2 / LT + RTN/ADive BombRapid descent attack dealing massive area damage on impact. The highest-damage option but requires careful positioning to avoid crashing into terrain.L2 / LTN/AAscendGain altitude directly. Useful for repositioning before starting an attack run.L3 / Left Stick pressN/ASprintBurst of speed for rapid aerial traversal. Drains stamina while active.8484Stamina Management8585Both Fireballs and Fire Breath consume staminabut stamina regenerates even while airborne. This means players can sustain aerial combat for extended periods as long as they pace their attacks and allow stamina to recover between bursts. The barrel roll evasion also costs stamina, so players should avoid spamming dodges if they want to keep attacking.8787Dive-bombing is also an effective speed technique. Pointing the camera downward and diving toward the ground builds significant momentum. Players can pull up at the last moment to convert that speed into a fast horizontal sweep, which is useful for both rapid repositioning and lining up devastating low-altitude strafing runs across enemy camps. Alternating between short climbs and steep dives creates an efficient rhythm that covers ground faster than level flight while keeping stamina costs manageable.8989Attack Descriptions9191AttackDescriptionFire Breath (Area)Blackstar swoops down to smother the land in fire, dealing area damage to ground targets. Effective for clearing groups of enemies and outlaw camps.Fireballs (Precision)Blackstar spits individual fireballs for more precise, targeted attacks. The lock-on function allows targeting multiple enemies in sequence before releasing a volley.Swooping DiveBlackstar dives toward ground targets, spewing flames before pulling up for a quick exit. Useful for hit-and-run tactics against fortified positions.9393Outlaw camps and slaver strongholds that previously required careful ground-level infiltration can be devastated from the air. Preview coverage described how players became "a dragon-riding bounty hunter," swooping into camps and raining fire before escaping skyward.9494Strategic Usage9696Because of the 50-minute cooldown, Blackstar should be reserved for moments where aerial power makes the biggest difference. Many players consider the dragon the "ultimate nuclear option" for clearing difficult encounters. Some recommended uses:9898Fortress assaults: Rain fire on enemy fortifications from above before landing to mop up survivors. Positions that would take extended ground combat to breach can be softened in seconds.World bossesUse Fireballs to deal sustained damage from a safe position above ground-based attacks. This is especially useful against bosses with dangerous melee ranges.Outlaw camps and strongholds: Camps that previously required stealth or prolonged combat can be devastated from the air. Fly in, unleash Fire Breath, and pull away before enemies can respond.Rapid traversalCover vast distances quickly during the 15-minute active window. Blackstar is significantly faster than any ground mount, making it ideal for reaching distant objectives.Story set pieces: Certain late-game sequences involve aerial combat against other flying threats, making the dragon essential for those encounters.100100Golden Star Boss Fight102102The most prominent aerial encounter involving Blackstar is the Golden Star boss fight. Golden Star is a colossal mechanical dragon (an artificial construct, not a biological creature) located at Marni's Masterium in the Delesyian Territory.104104Fight Context106106Golden Star is encountered during the "Master of the Forgotten Lands" quest. Marnia scientific genius, cloned his own consciousness to create an AI entity called H.A.L.L. The experiment went wrong and H.A.L.L. took command of a flying fortress threatening Pywel. To stop H.A.L.L. Kliff must retrieve a power core hidden inside Golden Star.108108Fight Phases110110Phase 1 (Ground Combat): Golden Star circles above the arena, using fire breath that activates pylons. These pylons dispense EMP bombs that the player fires from an arm-mounted cannon to bring Golden Star crashing down. While grounded, players attack with melee combos until it reboots and takes flight again. Fire tornadoes and missile barrages threaten the player throughout.112112Phase 2 (Aerial Chase): After taking sufficient damage, Golden Star retreats and flees. Kliff clings to it, triggering a mid-air chase sequence. Blackstar joins the pursuit, attacking Golden Star from afar while the player continues to deal damage. This three-way aerial sequence is described as "more of a set piece than other boss fights" and represents one of the game's most cinematic encounters.114114Golden Star's Attacks116116AttackEffectFire BreathAimed at the player's position. Causes knockdown on hit.Explosive Fire RainRains fire across the ground, creating multiple explosion zones.Fire TornadoesSummons fiery tornadoes that lift and damage players caught in them.Missile BarrageLaunches missiles across the arena.Screaming AttackDeafens and disables player movement temporarily.118118Golden Star is vulnerable to electrical damage due to its mechanical composition. Players can exploit this weakness with lightning-wreathed arrows or electrical abilities.119119Appearance121121Blackstar is a large, grey-colored winged beast with a traditional fantasy dragon silhouette. Anatomically, it is a wyvernit has two hind legs and wings but no front legs, following the classic fantasy distinction. It is a living, organic creature, visually distinct from the mechanical Golden Star boss (a colossal clockwork dragon built by dwarven engineers). In one trailer scene, Kliff's organic dragon is shown chasing the mechanical Golden Star alongside the ATAG mechcreating a dramatic contrast between natural and engineered creatures.124124Wyverns vs. Dragons126126Crimson Desert distinguishes between wyverns and dragons as separate creatures. Wyverns have two hind legs and wings but lack front legs, following the classic fantasy distinction. Dragons in the game world are four-limbed creatures with a more traditional anatomy. Blackstar, the rideable flying mount that Kliff uses, is technically a wyvern. Some preview outlets use the terms interchangeably, but 's mount guide explicitly noted the anatomical distinction: the creature Kliff rides has "no front legs," identifying it as a wyvern. Whether players can also ride proper dragons has not been confirmed.128128Mount Progression130130Blackstar sits within a broader mount progression system that unlocks different creature types as the player advances through the story.132132Mount TypeCategoryKey FeatureHorseGroundStarting mount; charging and drifting mechanicsWolfGroundSpeed-based traversalBearGroundCombat-ready mount with claw maul attacksRaptorGroundSpeed-focused mount for rapid overland traversalDragon (Blackstar)AerialFire breath and aerial combat; 15-minute active / 50-minute cooldownATAGGround / HoverMachine gunlock-on missiles, jump jets, EMP; fuel-limited134134All mounts have their own attributes including movement speedhealth points, and attacks that can be leveraged during combat. Mounts actively engage in combat alongside Kliff. Mounted combat allows Kliff to add his own weapon strikes while the mount performs its own attacks independently.135135Other Flying Creatures137137Beyond Blackstar and the Golden Star mechanical dragon, the game features additional airborne threats. A small fleet of mechanical flying creatures resembling pterodactyls has been shown in gameplay footage, and a giant serpent-like creature described as "brimming with energy" is another aerial encounter.139139Trailer Appearances141141Dragon riding has been shown across several official videos:143143VideoContentFeatures Overview #1Dragon riding showcased as part of traversal options in January 2026Release Date TrailerScene of Kliff's organic dragon chasing Golden Star alongside the mechFeatures Overview #2Mount combat including dragon shown in February 2026Golden Star Quest GameplayNine-minute video from October 2025 showing aerial chase phase with Kliff's dragon145145No hands-on demo at gaming events included dragon riding. The Summer Game Fest 2025 and Gamescom 2025 sessions focused on the Calphade Rebellion questline and did not feature the Blackstar segment.146146Lore148148The existence of wyverns and other flying creatures ties into Crimson Desert's blend of medieval fantasy and advanced technology. The biological wyverns represent the traditional fantasy elements of Pywel, while Golden Star and the mechanical pterodactyls come from the technological side of the world, created by the genius inventor Marni. The floating realm known as The Abyss features sky islands accessible via aerial traversal, though whether Blackstar is specifically required to reach them has not been confirmed.150150Tips152152Make sure your Stamina is at Level 5 or higher before reaching the Chapter 9 taming sequence at Urdavah. If it is too low, the Aerial Maneuver will be impossible to perform.During the taming sequence, hold the Resist prompt firmly whenever Blackstar dives and rolls. Releasing too early will throw Kliff off.Save Blackstar for high-value targets. With a 50-minute cooldown, using the dragon to clear a single outlaw camp is rarely worth it unless the camp is particularly difficult.Pace your Fireballs and Fire Breath to manage stamina. Stamina regenerates in the air, so alternating between attacking and gliding keeps you airborne longer.Use the Fireball lock-on function to target multiple enemies before releasing a volley for maximum efficiency.Blackstar cannot be summoned inside the Abyss. Plan accordingly when transitioning between Pywel and the Abyss.The dragon is significantly faster than any ground mount, making the 15-minute active window useful for covering large distances even outside of combat.Dive toward the ground to build speed, then pull up at the last moment for a fast horizontal sweep. This technique is useful for covering distance quickly and for lining up strafing runs against enemy positions.Press Square (PlayStation) or X (Xbox) to land the dragon without dismissing it. Landing lets you dismount for ground combat while keeping Blackstar available for takeoff again until the 15-minute timer runs out.Watch for Abyss portals when flying at low altitude. Entering the Abyss automatically dismisses Blackstar and starts the 50-minute cooldown, which can waste remaining active time if triggered accidentally.Track the real-time cooldown mentally. If a major story battle is approaching, avoid summoning the dragon for casual exploration beforehand.The Blackstar makes clearing exploration challenges trivial, since you can fly directly to hard-to-reach areas that would otherwise require climbing or puzzle-solving.Pair the dragon with elemental infusions on your weapons for maximum mounted combat effectiveness.Gain altitude before starting an attack run. Higher altitude gives you more time to aim fire breath and fireballs before needing to pull up, and it keeps you out of range of most ground-based ranged attacks.After clearing most enemies from the air, land near a group of survivors to finish them off with melee attacks. Blackstar stays active on the ground, so you can remount and take off again if you need another pass.154154Always invest in Stamina upgrades before Chapter 9. Stamina level 5 is the minimum, but higher levels give you more fire breath attacks per flight session.Use the dragon primarily for large-scale encounters like sieges and world boss fights where the area damage pays off the most.Fire Breath is most efficient against tightly packed enemy groups, while Fireballs are better against scattered or solo targets.Stamina regeneration continues during flight, so pace your attacks rather than dumping all your stamina at once. Short bursts of fire breath followed by gliding recovery maintain sustained damage output.156156See Also158158MountsATAG (Battle Robot)HorsesGolden StarMounted CombatAxiom ForceKliffMain StoryThe AbyssExploration and TraversalGlidingBear MountsRaptor MountsATAG Mech160160Naram's Horn Cooldown Refresh162162The dragon mount runs on a one-hour real-time cooldown between summons, which is the longest cooldown of any combat tool in the game. Naram's Horn is the item that fully refreshes this cooldown, and once you have a steady supply you can ride the dragon far more often than the base rate allows.164164How to Craft Naram's Horn166166Naram's Horn is crafted at a witch under the "special formulas" tab. The blueprint drops from any special ancient-site dispatch. The ingredients per craft are feathers, stallite (mined from any cave), and three Dragon Claw Horn per craft. Dragon Claw Horns come from the Tinkerton Dig Site dispatch, which returns 3 horns per run. That dispatch is unlocked through the Delessian researcher story flow.168168Patch 1.0401 Quick-Slot Fix170170Patch 1.04 unintentionally removed the dragon from the quick-slot menu on the directional pad. For roughly a day after that patch shipped, players who had already unlocked Blackstar through How to Unlock the Dragon could not find the dragon in the summonable mount list, and the usual summon flow through the Mounts quick slot did not work. This affected every player who had reached the dragon unlock in the main story, regardless of how far they had progressed beyond it.172172The 1.0401 hotfix returns the dragon to the quick-slot menu. Any player who unlocked the dragon prior to Patch 1.04 will see it back in their summonable mount roster after installing the hotfix, with no need to repeat the Taming Dragon questline or any earlier unlock step. The underlying unlock flag was preserved throughout the patch issue; only the quick-slot UI entry had been removed, and restoring it immediately makes the dragon summonable again.174174Default Mount After the Hotfix176176On the first login after the hotfix, the quick slot defaults to whichever mount the player unlocked most recently rather than returning to the dragon or to a previously preferred mount. Players who have kept pace with new legendary unlocks since reaching Blackstar will see that newer mount occupy the default slot, and they will need to scroll the quick-slot cycle to the dragon before summoning it.178178There is currently no setting to pin the dragon as the default quick-slot mount. A future update is expected to introduce configurable default behavior, which would let players who use the dragon most often keep it in the default slot regardless of what was unlocked after it. Until then, cycling the quick slot to the dragon each session is the expected workflow.180180For context on where the dragon fits among the wider roster of rideable creatures, and which other summonable mounts were similarly restored by the hotfix, see the Legendary Mounts Guide and the general Mount Equipment article. Summoning the dragon itself is still gated by the real-time cooldown and space requirements described in the Summoning and Controls section above.182182Summoning the Dragon184184After unlocking the Blackstar, you can summon it by holding Down on the D-Pad to open the mount wheel, then selecting the dragon with the Right Stick. The Blackstar has strict availability windows:186186ParameterValueActive DurationApproximately 15 minutes per summonCooldown50 minutes (real-time) after dismissalCooldown ReductionNone available; the cooldown is fixedSummon LocationAny outdoor area with enough open sky188188Aerial Combat Controls189189While riding the Blackstar, you have access to a unique set of aerial combat abilities. The dragon's attacks consume stamina, but stamina regenerates passively even while airborne.191191ActionInputEffectFireballR1 / RBLaunches a targeted fireball at ground enemies; moderate stamina costFire BreathR2 / RT (hold)Sustained stream of fire that scorches a wide area below; high stamina drainDive BombL2 + R2 / LT + RTRapid descent attack dealing massive area damage on impactBarrel RollL1 + direction / LB + directionEvasive maneuver to dodge incoming projectiles or attacksAscendL2 / LTGain altitude; useful for repositioning before attack runsSprintL3 / Left Stick pressBurst of speed for rapid traversal; drains stamina193193The fire breath attack is particularly devastating against clustered enemy groups and can spread the Burn status effect across targets. Fireballs are better for precision strikes against individual enemies or world bosses.194194Dragon Mount Variants196196Beyond the Blackstar, several other flying mounts exist in Crimson Desert. Each variant has different stats and abilities:198198MountSpeedCombatStaminaAbilityHow to ObtainBlackstar (Abyssal Dragon)909560Void breath that bypasses all resistances; full aerial combatChapter 11 main story rewardHighland Wyvern806050Full flight control with dive-bomb ground attacksDragon Ridge Wyvern Egg quest reward in PailuneEmber Wyvern757540Fire breathing from sky; scorches terrain creating hazard zonesRare spawn in Crimson Desert Volcanic RiftsStorm Drake857045Lightning breath that chain-damages enemy groupsTame atop Tesla Ruins during storm events200200The Blackstar is the most powerful flying mount overall, but its long cooldown means keeping a secondary wyvern variant available can be strategically beneficial. The Highland Wyvern in particular is accessible earlier in the game through the Dragon Ridge quest in Pailune, making it a solid option while waiting for the Blackstar cooldown.
