Overview
Raptors are reptilian combat mounts in Crimson Desert that specialize in speed and agility. They are the fastest ground mounts in the game, capable of outrunning horses in sprint bursts, and their quick movement enables hit-and-run combat tactics that no other mount type can replicate. While their direct combat power is lower than bear mounts, raptors excel at rapid engagement and disengagement, making them ideal for skirmishing.
Raptors are found primarily in open terrain areas, with the Sand Raptor native to the Red Dunes of the Crimson Desert region being the fastest variant. Their movement-related special abilities set them apart from other mount types, and their agility makes them especially effective in desert environments where their speed bonuses activate.
How to Tame a Raptor
Wild raptors can be tamed through encounters in open terrain areas. The taming process follows the same general mechanics as horse taming:
Locate a wild raptor in the overworld. Raptors spawn in open plains, desert regions, and rocky highlands depending on the variant.
Approach the raptor carefully. Unlike bears, raptors are skittish and may bolt if you approach too aggressively.
Run up to the raptor and press the interact button to mount it, triggering the taming minigame.
During the minigame, move your left stick or press direction keys in the opposite direction the raptor is facing until the taming bar fills.
Successfully complete the bar to permanently tame the raptor as your mount.
Raptors can also be purchased from specialized beast handlers in certain regions. The Delesyian Swift, for example, is available from a beast handler vendor in the Delesyia region rather than through wild taming.
Raptor Mount Variants
Three raptor variants are available across Pywel:
Mount | Speed | Combat | Stamina | Ability | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sand Raptor | 90 | 40 | 55 | High burst speed; double sprint in desert biomes | Wild taming in Red Dunes hunting grounds |
Delesyian Swift | 85 | 35 | 65 | Enhanced agility enabling sharp turns without speed loss | Purchase from Delesyia Beast Handler |
Frost Raptor | 75 | 45 | 70 | Leaves ice trail that slows pursuing enemies | Pailune Hunter quest chain reward |
The Sand Raptor is the standout variant with a speed rating of 90 and a unique double sprint ability in desert biomes. This makes it the fastest ground mount in its home region by a wide margin. The Frost Raptor trades speed for utility, leaving a trail of ice that slows pursuers, which is valuable in the hostile Pailune environment.
Sprint Mechanics
All mounts in Crimson Desert have a sprint ability governed by their stamina bar. Raptors have unique sprint characteristics that set them apart:
Sprint activation: Hold the sprint button (similar to the player character's sprint) to engage the raptor's high-speed mode.
Stamina consumption: Sprinting depletes the raptor's stamina bar. When empty, the raptor slows to a normal pace until stamina recovers.
Desert biome bonus: The Sand Raptor gains double sprint duration in desert terrain, effectively making its stamina last twice as long in its native environment.
Sharp turns: The Delesyian Swift maintains full speed through sharp turns, unlike most mounts that slow down when changing direction.
Stamina upgrades: Players can upgrade mount stamina capacity through the skill tree, which has dedicated nodes for improving mounted combat abilities and mount handling.
Combat Use
Raptors are optimized for mobile hit-and-run tactics during mounted combat. The rider attacks while the raptor executes rapid engagement and disengagement maneuvers:
Rapid engagement: Use the raptor's speed to close distance quickly, deliver a burst of attacks, then sprint away before enemies can retaliate.
Kick attacks: Raptors can perform kick attacks against adjacent enemies, providing a small amount of supplementary damage.
Elemental synergy: Like all combat mounts, raptors become significantly stronger when riders apply elemental infusions to their weapons.
Skirmishing: Against large groups, circle the enemy formation at sprint speed, picking off isolated targets rather than engaging the full group.
Raptors are not designed for sustained melee brawls. Their low combat rating means they deal less damage per hit than bears or direwolves. Their strength lies entirely in their ability to control the pacing of engagements through superior speed.
Raptor vs. Other Combat Mounts
Attribute | Raptor | Bear | Horse |
|---|---|---|---|
Speed | Very High (75-90) | Low (40-50) | Medium-High (60-80) |
Combat | Low-Medium (35-45) | Very High (75-90) | None (rider only) |
Stamina | Medium (55-70) | High (65-85) | Variable (50-80) |
Best For | Speed, hit-and-run | Heavy combat | Exploration, jousting |
Tips
Use the Sand Raptor as your primary mount when exploring the Crimson Desert and Red Dunes regions. Its desert biome double sprint makes long-distance travel extremely fast.
The Frost Raptor is excellent for retreating from combat. Its ice trail slows pursuers, buying time to heal or reposition.
In combat, avoid standing still on a raptor. Their low combat stats mean you will lose a prolonged melee exchange against mounted bear riders or strong enemies.
The Delesyian Swift is the best general-purpose raptor thanks to its agility bonus. Buy it from the Delesyia beast handler when you reach that region.
Raptors pair well with ranged weapons. Their speed allows you to maintain distance while firing bows or hand cannons.