Raptor

File:Raptors.png

File:Raptormounts.jpg

Raptor mounts at Sen'jin Village.

There are several types of creatures called raptors in the Warcraft universe.

Azeroth raptors

Raptors are large, aggressive theropods (this means, they stand upright on two large hind legs in a bird-like fashion). Trolls use a variety of raptors as a mount. Raptors are found in Durotar, the Barrens, Wailing Caverns, Wetlands, Arathi Highlands, Un'Goro Crater, Stranglethorn Vale, and Dustwallow Marsh. Raptors seem to be very intelligent for beasts. They wear feathers and beads, and in the Barrens (where the smartest raptors are said to dwell) they have a settlement of mud huts decorated with bone ornaments called Raptor Grounds.

Raptors come in many colors, from green-striped red to yellow-striped turquoise. A raptor’s tail extends straight out, held aloft by an intricate structure of bony supports, thus allowing its weight to be carried entirely by the back legs. Raptors weigh about 600 pounds and use a combination of speed, grasping forearms, large teeth, and hind legs with ripping talons. They hunt by running at prey, leaping, and ripping with their rear talons as they claw and bite. A raptor has a relatively large brain for a dinosaur, and its pack hunts with cunning tactics.Template:Cite

The savage ferocity of Kalimdor's raptors has enthralled the Darkspear trolls since their arrival. They consider a raptor to be the truest form of a hunter, and as such, the tamed Darskpear Raptor is their mount of choice. A tamed raptor is truly a fearsome beast, as a skilled troll is able to channel the reptilian steed's savagery to suit the rider's will. A tamed raptor is also one of the most auspicious signs of status amongst the trolls; many have died trying to tame these swift and deadly hunter beasts, and to possess one indicates great station.[1]

The raptors of Raptor Ridge once joined forces with Rhonin in the struggle against Sintharia at Grim Batol.

Outland raptors

The raptor colors of Outland.

File:RaptorOutlandRed.png

In World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, Outland is inhabited by another type of raptor found in the Netherstorm and Blade's Edge Mountains. Their coloration and body shape is quite different from the raptors of Azeroth, as they feature very bright coloration, glowing eyes, and sharp spikes ridging their spine and tail.

Avian raptors

File:Dragonhawk.JPG

A dragonhawk — current dragonhawks used by the blood elves are drasticly different though.

Some lizards remarkable akin to the common raptor also have the ability to fly. The most common example of these are the flying mounts used by the blood elves and high elves known as dragonhawks. The physiology of the current dragonhawks known to exist make them seem to be more akin to a snake or dragon instead of a raptor.

Birds

Raptor is also the name of a group of birds such as the owl (predatory birds).

Types

• Ravasaur - Large, social raptors dwelling in the Un'Goro Crater.
• Sunscale Screecher - These raptors can screech for assistance, causing other raptors in the vicinity to aggro their opponents. They are common in the Barrens. These raptors appear to have an interest in silver.
• Dragonhawk

Biology

• Wild raptors come in various colors ranging from pink to turquoise.
• Raptors more closely resemble the fictionalized dinosaur of Jurassic Park fame in both shape and intellect rather than actual Velociraptors, though wild ones are more sleek than mounts.
• Level 30 riding raptors are larger than wild raptors.
• Level 30 riding raptors have a large curved horn protruding horizontally from their forehead.
• Level 30 riding raptors have small fins growing from the tops of their head and hips.
• Level 30 riding raptors come in violet with blue stripes, turquoise with yellow stripes, and emerald with yellow stripes.
• Epic riding raptors are slightly larger than level 30 riding raptors.
• Epic riding raptors are usually decorated with colorful armor and feathers.
• Epic riding raptors come in blue, olive, orange, black (PvP reward), and green ( [Swift Razzashi Raptor]).

Traits

• Raptors are hostile predators.
• Raptor corpses are skinnable.

Type
Cunning
Diet
Abilities
Basic	Special	Exotic	Bonus

As a hunter pet

• Raptors come in a wide variety of bright colors, making them popular to use. Their special ability, [Savage Rend], causes a 15 second bleed effect on the target, making raptors of special interest for hunters that want to prevent enemies from slipping into [Stealth].

Patch changes

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As Non-Combat Pets

Introduced in patch 3.2, there are 8 new Raptor Mini-Pets. Most of then are fairly hard to obtain. The following list has their name and the location they are obtained in. Note that the mobs marked as rare have a 100% drop rate, but are obtained from rare spawn mobs.

•  [Darting Hatchling]- Dropped by Dart (rare)- Dustwallow Marsh
•  [Deviate Hatchling]- Dropped by Deviate Guardian, Deviate Ravager (0.1% Drop Rate)- Wailing Caverns
•  [Gundrak Hatchling]- Dropped by Gundrak Raptor (0.1% Drop Rate)- Zul'Drak
•  [Leaping Hatchling]- Dropped by Takk the Leaper (rare)- The Barrens
•  [Obsidian Hatchling]- Sold by Breanni (Unlimited Supply- 50g)- Dalaran
•  [Ravasaur Hatchling]- Dropped by Ravasaur Matriarch (rare)- Un'Goro Crater
•  [Razormaw Hatchling]- Dropped by Razormaw Matriarch (rare)- Wetlands
•  [Razzashi Hatchling]- Dropped by Razzashi Raptor (1% Drop Rate)- Zul'Gurub

Epic mount

The epic raptor is buyable at Sen'jin Village. The PVP raptor is the Black War Raptor. The  [Swift Razzashi Raptor], a prized epic mount, is an extremely rare drop from Bloodlord Mandokir in Zul'Gurub.

The raptor dropped from the bloodlord is sage green on top, and a more yellow green on the bottom. It has red armor and teal feathers to accent it. It is also a 0.01% drop, so as stated above, it is extremely rare.

External links

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