Tired of seeing your character stand idle while you’re away from the keyboard? In the sprawling world of Black Desert Online, every moment can be an opportunity for progress. Horse training is a rewarding life skill that turns your AFK time into a productive and profitable venture. But to truly maximize your gains, you need the perfect path. Finding the best BDO horse training route is the key to leveling your mounts efficiently, safely, and with minimal fuss. This guide will show you the most reliable routes and strategies to turn your stable into a legendary dynasty.
The ideal training route isn’t just about the distance; it’s a careful balance of safety, consistency, and efficiency. A poorly chosen path can lead to your wagon getting stuck on a rock for eight hours, or worse, destroyed by a wandering monster. We’re here to make sure that never happens.
What Makes a Great Horse Training Route in BDO?
Before we dive into specific locations, it’s crucial to understand the principles of a perfect autoloop. When selecting or creating your own route, always look for these four essential qualities. A route that ticks all these boxes will ensure your AFK sessions are smooth and productive.
Absolute Safety
The number one priority is that your route is 100% safe. This means it should be entirely within a “Safe Zone,” typically inside a major city’s walls. In these areas, you are protected from monster attacks and aggressive players (PvP). There is nothing more frustrating than coming back to your computer to find your character dead and your progress halted for hours.
Minimal Obstacles
The BDO autopathing system is powerful, but it’s not perfect. Sharp turns, small objects, fences, rocks, and even certain inclines can cause your horse or wagon to get stuck. The best routes are on wide, clear roads with gentle turns. The less the AI has to navigate, the lower the chance of an error that stops your movement.
Sufficient Length
An effective loop needs to be long enough to allow for continuous, uninterrupted travel. A path that is too short involves frequent turning, which slows down your overall speed and reduces the experience gained per hour. A longer, smoother loop maximizes the time your mount spends at top speed, which is when it gains the most experience.
Low Player Traffic
While less critical than safety and obstacles, choosing a route with lower player traffic can prevent minor issues. In heavily congested areas, other players’ wagons and mounts can sometimes cause slight pathing deviations or collisions. Routes in less-populated cities or on the outskirts of towns often provide a clearer path.
The Top BDO Best Horse Training Routes Revealed
With the core principles in mind, let’s explore the community’s most trusted and effective AFK training routes. These paths have been tested by thousands of players and have proven to be reliable for long, uninterrupted sessions.
The Valencia City Loop: The Gold Standard
When it comes to pure, uninterrupted safety, nothing beats the Valencia City loop. The entire city is a massive safe zone, and the wide, circular main road provides a perfect, obstacle-free circuit. This is the top recommendation for anyone who wants to set up their training and have zero worries, especially for overnight sessions.
- How to Set It Up: Open your map while inside Valencia City. Find the large, circular road that runs just inside the city walls. Place your first waypoint (ALT + Right-Click) on the northern part of this road and your second on the southern part. Ensure both points are directly on the main road. Create the loop, and your character will travel a long, safe circuit indefinitely.
- Pros: Absolutely 100% safe from all threats. The route is long, wide, and virtually impossible to get stuck on.
- Cons: Valencia is remote, so it can be an inconvenient home base for players focused on other activities.
Expert Tip from Dr. Sarah Miller, Equine Behaviorist: “The key to successful AFK leveling is consistency. A route like the Valencia City loop removes variables. The horse maintains a steady pace without the stop-and-start of navigating complex terrain, which is optimal for steady experience gain over long periods.”
The Duvencrune Circuit: The Modern Favorite
Duvencrune, the capital of Drieghan, has become a favorite training hub for good reason. The city is a large safe zone with well-defined, wide roads that make for a fantastic and reliable loop. It’s also a central location for many other in-game activities, making it a convenient base of operations.
- How to Set It Up: Start near the central market and stable keeper. Open your map and place a waypoint on the main road at the western exit of the city. Place your second waypoint on the main road at the far eastern side of the city. As long as you keep the waypoints on the main thoroughfare, the path will be smooth and clear.
- Pros: Very safe and reliable. Duvencrune is also a popular hub for wild horse catching, making it a great all-in-one location for trainers.
- Cons: It can be slightly more crowded than Valencia, but pathing issues are still extremely rare.
The Heidel to Velia Path: The Classic Beginner’s Route
For players just starting their horse training journey, the road connecting Heidel and Velia is a classic choice. It’s a relatively straight and clear path that many trainers have used over the years.
- How to Set It Up: Place a waypoint on the road just outside the main gate of Heidel and the second waypoint on the road just before the bridge into Velia.
- Pros: A very straightforward and easy path to set up for new players.
- Cons: This route is not in a safe zone. While the main roads are generally free of monsters, there’s a small but non-zero risk of being attacked by world bosses, event monsters, or other players. It’s a decent choice for daytime AFK where you can check in periodically, but the city loops are superior for overnight training.
Solo Riding vs. Wagon Training: Which is Better?
A common question for aspiring trainers is whether to level one horse at a time or use a wagon. The answer depends entirely on your goals. When deciding on bdo horse training wagon or solo, you need to weigh speed against capacity.
Solo Riding: Leveling a single horse by riding it directly is the fastest way to level that one horse. You can use mount-specific gear like stirrups and saddles, and the horse’s own skills like Sprint and Instant Accel will increase its travel speed, leading to faster experience gain. This is the best method if you are focused on getting a specific horse to max level as quickly as possible.
Wagon Training: A wagon, such as the popular Merchant Wagon or the high-end Forest Path Wagon, allows you to connect and level up to four horses simultaneously. While the wagon’s overall speed is slower than a solo horse, the total experience gained across all four mounts is significantly higher over the same period. This is the undisputed best method for leveling multiple horses for breeding, Imperial Delivery, or building your stable. The experience is split among the horses, so each one levels slower, but your overall productivity is quadrupled.
For most trainers looking to make a profit and progress their life skill, the wagon is the way to go.
A Forest Path Wagon moving along a BDO horse training route at night.
Essential Tips to Maximize Your Horse Training XP
Choosing the best BDO horse training route is only half the battle. To truly maximize your efficiency, you need to stack as many Mount EXP buffs as possible. Every percentage point adds up, shaving hours off your training time.
- Trainer’s Clothes: Silver Embroidered Trainer’s Clothes are a must-have. Enhancing them to +2 or +3 provides a significant Mount EXP boost.
- Buffs and Elixirs: Always use scrolls, elixirs, and food that provide Mount EXP buffs. The [Mix] Time-Training Elixir, Elixir of Training, and a Seafood Cron Meal are great places to start.
- Riding Crop: Equipping a riding crop can increase your wagon’s movement speed, leading to more distance traveled and more experience gained.
- Wagon Wheels: If you are using a wagon, enhancing the wagon wheels is one of the most effective ways to increase its base speed.
- Life Skill Mastery: Higher Training Mastery provides several benefits, including an increase in the Mount EXP you gain.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is AFK horse training profitable?
Yes, absolutely. Leveling horses to 15 and selling them via Imperial Horse Delivery is a steady source of silver and materials for Dream Horse attempts. Leveling high-tier horses to 30 and selling them on the horse market can also be very lucrative.
How long does it take to level a horse in BDO?
The time varies greatly depending on the horse’s tier and your stacked Mount EXP buffs. A Tier 8 horse can take approximately 40-50 hours of AFK wagon training to reach level 30 with standard buffs.
Can my horse die while AFK training?
If you follow the recommended routes inside city safe zones like Valencia or Duvencrune, your horse is 100% safe. If you train on open roads, there is a small risk from monsters or other players.
What’s the best wagon for horse training?
The Forest Path Wagon is the best-in-slot wagon. It has high base stats and, most importantly, an unlimited lifespan, meaning it never needs to be repaired or replaced. For beginners, a Merchant Wagon is a cheap and effective alternative to start with.
How do I set up an autoloop?
Open your map (M). Hold the ALT key and Right-Click on the map to place a waypoint. Place at least two waypoints to define your path. Then, click the “Set Auto-loop Path” button (a green rotating arrow icon) in the navigation menu that appears. Press ‘T’ to begin autorunning.
Your Journey to Mastery Starts Now
Becoming a master horse trainer in Black Desert Online is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, dedication, and a smart approach to AFK activity. By choosing a safe and efficient route like the circuits in Valencia or Duvencrune, you eliminate the risks and ensure every hour you’re away is an hour of progress. The debate over using a bdo horse training wagon or solo is central to your strategy, but for overall stable growth, the wagon is unparalleled.
Stack your buffs, hitch your horses, and set your path. With the right knowledge and the best BDO horse training route, you’ll be on your way to earning billions in silver and creating the finest mounts in the entire realm.
