Normal flying in TBC Classic costs about 800 gold at level 70 — 700 gold for Expert Riding from a flight trainer, plus roughly 100 gold for the flying mount. Epic flying is the real wall: 5,000 gold for Artisan Riding, plus around 200 gold for a swift flying mount, so budget about 5,200 gold total. Riding-skill discounts from faction reputation reduce both.
Flying costs at a glance
| Purchase | Requirement | Cost |
| Expert Riding (150% flight) | Level 70 | ~700g |
| Normal flying mount | Expert Riding | ~100g |
| Artisan Riding (280% flight) | Level 70 | ~5,000g |
| Swift flying mount | Artisan Riding | ~200g |
- Total for normal flying: roughly 800 gold. That is the number most players are actually asking about.
- Total for epic flying: roughly 5,200 gold. The skill is the cost; the mount is pocket change by comparison.
- Reputation discounts apply. Exalted with the faction selling the skill or mount trims a meaningful slice off both the riding book and the mount, so check your standing before you buy.
- Both are trained at level 70. There is no early unlock and no partial-flight option below that.
- Riding trainers sit in Shattrath City, plus Honor Hold (Alliance) and Thrallmar (Horde) in Hellfire Peninsula.
How to buy flying, step by step
- Hit level 70.
- Fly or ride to a flight trainer — Shattrath is the neutral option, Honor Hold or Thrallmar work for your faction.
- Buy Expert Riding (~700g) to unlock flight at 150% speed.
- Buy a flying mount from the vendor next to the trainer (~100g).
- Later, when you can afford it, return for Artisan Riding (~5,000g) and a swift flying mount (~200g) for 280% speed.
Why does epic flying cost 5,000 gold?
It is the expansion's gold sink. Artisan Riding is deliberately priced as a long-term goal, not something you buy the week you ding 70. Most players fund it with daily quests, gathering professions, and a few weeks of consistent farming rather than one lucky drop.
Do I need epic flying, or is normal enough?
Normal flying is enough for questing, gathering and getting to raids. Epic flying mainly buys you time — herb and ore routes get noticeably faster, and outdoor PvP objectives become much easier to contest. If gold is tight, take the 800g option immediately and treat 5,000g as a project.
What's the fastest way to earn the gold?
Outland dailies plus a gathering profession is the reliable combo. Herbalism and Mining routes through Nagrand, Sholazar-style dense zones and Netherstorm pay steadily, and daily quest hubs stack up predictably. Flipping raid mats on the auction house works too, but it swings.
Are there flying mounts that don't cost gold?
Yes — the Netherdrakes from the Netherwing faction are earned through reputation and quests rather than bought outright, though you still need the riding skill trained. That grind is long, which is why many players treat it as a separate goal from getting basic flight unlocked.
If the 5,000 gold wall is what's actually blocking you, PewPewShop can help with the parts around it — Classic riding-skill help starts at 60% Mount from EUR 50 and 100% Mount from EUR 55, and Netherdrake Mounts Bundle from EUR 679.15 covers the drake collection end. Everything is handled by vetted human players — coaching and play-together progression help, no bots, no cheats.