Embarking on your journey to train horses in Black Desert Online (BDO) can be a rewarding, albeit complex, endeavor. This guide aims to demystify the process, offering insights from the basics of acquiring a horse to advanced training techniques that will set you apart. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to optimize your stable or a newcomer curious about the equestrian aspects of BDO, you’ll find valuable information here to enhance your horse-training experience.
The Allure of BDO Horses: More Than Just Transportation
Horses in BDO are far more than mere conveyances; they are a significant investment and a symbol of a player’s dedication. They offer unparalleled mobility across the vast continent, crucial for efficient questing, trading, and exploring. Beyond utility, owning and training a high-tier horse provides a sense of accomplishment and can even be a lucrative venture. The intricate systems of breeding, leveling, and skill acquisition mean that every player’s horse is a unique reflection of their time and effort.
Getting Started: Acquiring Your First steed
Before you can embark on the path of horse training, you first need a horse. There are several ways to acquire one:
1. Wild Horse Capture
This is often the first method new players experience. Head out to one of the many wild horse capture locations scattered across the map. You’ll need a Captureప్రత్యেকk (obtained from stable keepers) and some bait. The mini-game involves timing your ropes and resting the horse to avoid scaring it away. It’s a classic BDO experience, often filled with both frustration and triumph.
2. Purchasing from the Horse Market
For those seeking a specific tier or a horse with pre-existing stats, the Horse Market is your best bet. Here, players list their trained horses for sale. Prices vary wildly based on tier, level, skills, and potential. Patience and a keen eye are essential to snagging a good deal.
3. Breeding
Once you have a pair of horses, you can engage in breeding. This allows you to combine the talents of two horses to potentially create a stronger offspring. Successful breeding is key to obtaining higher-tier horses and can be a strategic long-term goal for dedicated trainers.
Understanding Horse Tiers and Taming
BDO horses are categorized into tiers, ranging from Tier 1 (the most basic) to Tier 10 (the rarest and most powerful). Higher-tier horses generally have better base stats and a greater potential for learning advanced skills. Taming wild horses is the primary way to acquire lower-tier steeds, with the chance of encountering higher tiers increasing with your character’s Taming skill level.
The Fundamentals of Horse Training
Once you have your horse, the training begins. This involves a cycle of leveling, skill acquisition, and stat improvement.
Leveling Your Horse
Horses gain experience through various activities:
- Active Riding: Simply riding your horse around the world grants experience. The longer and further you ride, the more experience gained.
- Training Activities: Engaging in specific training mini-games at stables, such as the Horse Training mini-game, offers direct experience.
- Using Training EXP Items: Certain items can provide a direct boost to your horse’s experience.
As your horse levels up, it gains stat points and has a chance to learn new skills.
Horse Skills: The Key to Performance
Skills are what truly differentiate horses. From basic skills like Sprint and Quick Ride to advanced abilities like Drift, Drift, and Instant Accel, each skill enhances your horse’s utility and speed.
Key Skills to Aim For:
- Sprint: Essential for basic speed.
- Drift: Allows for sharp turns without losing much momentum.
- Instant Accel: A crucial burst of speed that can be chained with other skills.
- Sideways: Enables rapid lateral movement.
- Charge: A powerful forward dash.
- Quick Stop: Allows for immediate braking.
- Fearlessness: Prevents the horse from being startled by monsters.
The ultimate goal for many trainers is to acquire the Tier 9 Pegasi (Arduanatt and Doom) and the Tier 10 Dream Horse (Khayadun). These legendary mounts possess unique, powerful skills that significantly boost travel and combat efficiency. Acquiring these often involves a rigorous process of awakening or exchanging higher-level horses.
BDO horse training screen showing various learned horse skills like Sprint, Drift, and Instant Accel
Advanced Training Techniques and Strategies
As you progress, you’ll want to employ more strategic methods to optimize your horse’s training.
Skill Training and Gambling
When a horse levels up, it has a chance to learn a new skill or improve an existing one. This is where the “gambling” aspect comes in. You can use special items called Skill Change Coupons to reroll a specific skill, hoping for a more desirable one. This can be an expensive but necessary process to achieve a perfect set of skills. Some players recommend stopping training at certain levels to maximize the chances of learning specific skills. For instance, focusing on learning Drift and Instant Accel early can significantly speed up the leveling process.
The BDO Horse Training Route System
To maximize experience gain, players have developed efficient bdo horse training routes. These routes typically involve circular paths in large, open areas where you can continuously gallop, drift, and use acceleration skills without needing to stop or change direction drastically. This constant engagement of movement skills maximizes EXP gain per hour. Some popular routes include areas around Stonetail Horse Cauture Grounds or specific roads in Valencia. Learning how to how to train horse skills bdo effectively on these routes is paramount.
Breeding for Better Stats and Skills
Breeding isn’t just about getting a higher tier; it’s also about inheriting desirable stats and skills. Higher-level horses with more learned skills have a better chance of passing those traits down. Understanding the genetics, though not explicitly detailed by the game, is something players learn through extensive experimentation and community knowledge sharing. This makes dedicated breeding a complex, long-term strategy for achieving the ultimate horse.
Acquiring BDO Horse Training Gear
To further enhance your training efficiency, consider using specialized gear. Certain equipment, like horse training gear bdo sets, can offer passive buffs to training experience gain or reduce the stamina consumption of your horse. These items can be obtained through various in-game activities or purchased from other players.
The Dream Horses: Arduanatt, Doom, and Khayadun
The pinnacle of BDO horse training lies in obtaining the legendary Dream Horses.
Tier 9: Arduanatt and Doom
These horses are awakened from Tier 8 coursers. The awakening process is lengthy and resource-intensive, requiring specific materials and a high level of Patience.
- Arduanatt (Pegasus): Known for its aerial abilities, capable of gliding across large distances.
- Doom: A fiery steed with powerful offensive capabilities and increased speed.
Tier 10: Khayadun
The ultimate horse in BDO, Khayadun, is obtained through a further, even more challenging awakening process from either a Tier 9 Arduanatt or Doom. It boasts unparalleled speed and unique skills that make it a true game-changer.
Utilizing Your Trained Horses
Beyond their role in faster travel, highly trained horses can be used in several ways:
Imperial Horse Delivery
You can register high-level horses at the Imperial Horse Delivery NPC for valuable rewards, including Crown Stones and special horse gear. This is a consistent way to make silver from your training efforts.
Competitive Training Events
BDO occasionally hosts training events and races where players can pit their best horses against each other. These events offer bragging rights and unique rewards.
Mounts for Combat and Grinding
With the right skills, your horse can even assist in combat, allowing for hit-and-run tactics or providing a swift escape. This is particularly useful for players who prefer a more mobile grinding style.
Tips for Efficient Horse Training
- Utilize Training EXP Buffs: Always be aware of any available EXP buffs, whether from events, meals, or value packs.
- Train Multiple Horses: If possible, train several horses simultaneously to maximize your active training time.
- Join a Guild: Some guilds offer passive buffs that can aid in training.
- Community Resources: Engage with the BDO community. Forums, Discord servers, and YouTube channels are treasure troves of information, including optimal
bdo horse training wagonsetups and detailed guides on specific training challenges. - Patience is Key: Horse training in BDO is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistent effort over time yields the best results.
Mastering horse training in BDO is a journey filled with incremental progress and significant milestones. By understanding the core mechanics, employing efficient strategies, and leveraging community knowledge, you can cultivate an exceptional stable of horses that will serve you well in all your adventures across the Black Desert. Remember that the pursuit of the perfect horse is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.
