Revision - mounts and exploration - Xenoblade Genesis Wiki

Overview

Traversing the open world of Roco Kingdom: World is a core part of the gameplay experience. The game requires three distinct mount types to fully explore the Kaluoxi'a Continent: land mounts, water mounts, and air mounts. Early in the game (before approximately level 26 to 30), players must walk everywhere on foot. There is no mount or fast travel available during the first several hours, so the opening stretch of exploration is entirely pedestrian. As the main story progresses, mounts become available through captures, evolution, and quest rewards, gradually opening up the full range of movement options.

Every rideable Spirit has unique riding animations based on its species, giving each mount a distinct personality and feel. Some spirits carry you on their back, others hold you in their arms, and a few even let you sit on top of their head. Spirits that are too small to carry the player use a charming reversal mechanic: instead of the player riding the spirit, the spirit rides on the player, perching on their shoulder, nestling in their arms, or floating alongside them. Each small spirit has its own positioning and idle animations.

Three Mount Types

Roco Kingdom: World divides its mount system into three categories based on terrain. Unlocking all three mount types is essential for reaching every area on the world map.

Flying Mounts

Flying mounts grant the greatest freedom of movement, allowing players to soar above the landscape and reach areas that are completely inaccessible on foot. The entry-level flying mount, the Winter Sparrow (冬羽雀), is given to the player near the start of the game as a starter reward, ensuring that basic aerial exploration is available early. It evolves into the Storm Bird (岚鸟) at level 30, which is essential for reaching elevated and flying areas.

Mount	Chinese Name	How to Obtain	Speed / Stats	Key Features
Winter Sparrow	冬羽雀	Given as starter reward at the beginning of the game	Base flying speed; low stamina consumption	Entry-level flying mount. Excellent stability and low stamina drain. Evolves into Storm Bird at level 30.
Storm Bird	岚鸟	Evolve Winter Sparrow at level 30	Significantly faster than Winter Sparrow	Evolved form of Winter Sparrow. Improved speed and stamina pool. Essential for reaching distant locations and high-altitude zones.
Holy Feather Wing King	圣羽翼王	Complete all seven sections of Chapter 1 plus the chapter boss battle	Premium flying speed	A Wing-type Spirit King. Premium flying mount with superior aerial handling. Chapter 1 completion reward.
Royal Griffin	皇家狮鹫	VIP mount; found at port garrison	240 speed on land; free land/flight switching	Dual-mode mount that seamlessly switches between ground and aerial travel. The 240 land speed makes it competitive as a land mount too.
Wyvern	翼龙	Mid-to-late game acquisition	Top-tier air speed in current version	The highest-performance air mount available. Supports seamless combat transitions from the air without dismounting.

Land Mounts

Land mounts provide a reliable speed boost for covering long distances across plains, roads, and open terrain. While they lack the vertical freedom of flying mounts, land mounts tend to have higher raw ground speed and additional combat utility.

Mount	Chinese Name	How to Obtain	Speed / Stats	Key Features
Sound Speed Dog (Sonic Hound)	音速犬	Evolves from Guardian Dog at level 26; early game acquisition	180 base speed; +50% after evolution (270)	First land mount most players obtain. First-strike bonus triggers 100% damage on the opening hit when initiating combat while mounted.
Big-Head Bone Dragon	大头骨龙	Found in Foul Swamp; standard wild capture	Standard ground speed	Reliable early land mount. Standard ground movement with increased speed across plains and roads.
Ulata	乌拉塔	Spawns near Chenxi Mountain's magic source	Moderate speed with double-jump	A unique land mount with a double-jump ability, allowing it to reach elevated terrain that other land mounts cannot access.
Platinum Unicorn	白金独角兽	Found east of Believer's Village; requires level 40+; use rainbow ball to capture	Top-tier land speed	The highest-tier land mount. Requires significant progression (level 40+) and a rainbow ball for capture.

Water Mounts

Water mounts open up aquatic routes that are otherwise impassable, including rivers, lakes, and ocean areas. They are essential for accessing underwater caves, tidal zones at Obestan Lake, and the hidden Moon Rabbit Dark Harbor.

Mount	Chinese Name	How to Obtain	Key Features
Duck Jiji	鸭吉吉	Obtained through early main story; required capture using stun mechanics	The first water mount most players obtain. Enables water traversal early in the story. Required for reaching many coastal and lakeside hidden areas.
Glass Jellyfish	琉璃水母	Caught in deeper waters; mid-game	A graceful water mount with unique translucent visual effects. Functions similarly to Duck Jiji with slightly different riding animations.
Board Shell (series)	板板壳	Water mount acquisition through standard gameplay	The primary water mount for ocean exploration. Allows traversal across rivers, lakes, and open sea.

Mount Summary by Type

The following table provides a quick reference for all confirmed mounts organized by traversal category.

Category	Mount	Chinese Name	Tier	Notable Trait
Flying	Winter Sparrow	冬羽雀	Entry	Given at start; evolves to Storm Bird at level 30
Flying	Storm Bird	岚鸟	Mid	Evolved form; core flying mount for most of the game
Flying	Holy Feather Wing King	圣羽翼王	High	Wing-type Spirit King; Chapter 1 completion reward
Flying	Royal Griffin	皇家狮鹫	High	VIP dual-mode; 240 ground speed with free flight switching
Flying	Wyvern	翼龙	Top	Best air mount; seamless combat transitions
Land	Sound Speed Dog	音速犬	Entry	180 speed; first-strike 100% damage bonus; evolves at 26
Land	Big-Head Bone Dragon	大头骨龙	Entry	Standard wild capture in Foul Swamp
Land	Ulata	乌拉塔	Mid	Double-jump ability for elevated terrain
Land	Platinum Unicorn	白金独角兽	Top	Level 40+ required; rainbow ball capture at Believer's Village
Water	Duck Jiji	鸭吉吉	Entry	Early story capture; required for water traversal
Water	Glass Jellyfish	琉璃水母	Mid	Mid-game water mount with translucent visual effects
Water	Board Shell	板板壳	Mid	Primary ocean exploration mount

Unique Riding Animations

The Spirit riding system is one of Roco Kingdom: World's most distinctive features. Every rideable spirit has its own set of mount animations that reflect its body type and personality. Some carry the player on their back, others cradle the player in their arms, and certain spirits even allow the player to sit on top of their head. The variety of riding positions means that switching between different mounts is not just a practical choice; it is a visual and emotional experience that changes how the game feels moment to moment.

For smaller spirits that cannot physically carry the player, the game introduces the reverse riding mechanic. Instead of the player mounting the spirit, the spirit perches on the player's shoulder, nestles in their arms, or floats alongside them. Each small spirit has unique positioning and idle animations while being carried, adding personality regardless of size.

Gliding System

The gliding traversal system is available to all players and does not require a specific spirit or item to use. When the player jumps from a high point, they can deploy a glider to coast through the air. The system functions similarly to gliding mechanics found in games like Genshin Impact, providing intuitive air traversal from the moment it becomes available.

Gliding is the primary method for crossing wide gaps between cliffs, descending safely from mountain peaks, and covering horizontal distance without a flying mount. While it does not provide the same freedom as full flight, it serves as a reliable tool for vertical traversal and is available well before players unlock flying mounts.

Compass Mode and Fast Travel

Compass mode is a navigation feature that displays all teleport points within 200 meters of the player's current location. Activating compass mode overlays directional markers on the screen pointing toward nearby fast-travel obelisks, making it easy to find the nearest teleportation point without opening the full map. This is particularly useful in dense or maze-like areas where the minimap alone may not provide enough guidance.

Fast travel points are scattered across the world map as glowing obelisks. Once discovered and activated, a fast travel point allows instant teleportation from anywhere on the map. The Magic Academy serves as the central hub of the fast travel network, connecting all major regions through teleport arrays. Map Mode provides a full overview of discovered points and regions for planning routes.

Co-Riding with Friends

Some mounts support co-riding with friends in multiplayer. Dual-person mounts allow one player to steer while the other rides along. These co-ride mounts are unlocked through multiplayer progression milestones and provide a tangible reward for social play. When riding together, players can trigger hidden story easter eggs and explore areas as a coordinated pair.

Environmental Awareness

Spirits are not merely passive companions while exploring. They exhibit weather-reactive behaviors that bring the world to life. During rainstorms, spirits may seek shelter under trees or rock overhangs. On clear, sunny days, they bask in the warmth and display relaxed idle animations. These behaviors add a layer of immersion that makes the spirits feel like living creatures.

The day-night cycle also influences exploration in meaningful ways. Dark-attribute creatures only appear at night, making nighttime expeditions essential for players who want to complete their spirit collection. Riding mounts unlock access to entirely new areas: water surfaces for aquatic mounts, flying gaps for aerial mounts, and elevated ledges for double-jump land mounts like Ulata.

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