Jousting Jousting is a form of combat introduced with the Argent Tournament , using the vehicle game mechanics . It is the vehicle used the most in all of World of Warcraft at the moment , and opinions differ on it between hating it because of the difficulty , to loving it because of the fact that it is a challenging event , and that gear and class do not make a difference ; only skill makes a difference in jousting . Jousting basics . All jousting mounts share the requirement that the character have a lance equipped . Argent Lance , Alliance Lance , and Horde Lance all qualify . Additionally , the character must have accomplished particular goals to gain access to jousting mounts . The jousting mounts introduced to day provide a specific set of abilities : All known jousting mounts to date share the first five abilities , although the amount of damage caused can vary . Some jousting mounts do not have the Duel ability , having been provided for specific quests . The Argent Tournament . Justicar Mariel Trueheart directs players to the pavilion for their respective faction . Once there , they are entered into the Argent Tournament rolls as an Aspirant . Aspirants . The task of an aspirant is to practice the mechanics of jousting . These mechanics are introduced with the quests , and , and they are continued with . Other tasks assigned aspirants include defeating a number of Scourge forces in the field , and retrieving weapons suitable to knights . During this time , the aspirant is permitted to ride a Quel ' dorei Steed or Sunreaver Hawkstrider . Upon completing a number of quests against inanimate targets , the character is then challenged to defeat an Argent Valiant . Note that the Quel ' dorei Steed and Sunreaver Hawkstrider are only available to Aspirants . Valiants . Upon defeating the valiant , the character is promoted to the ranks of the valiants , representing their racial city , and are eligible to complete quests for tokens to advance to the rank of champion . They are eligible to joust with their race ' s favored mount . Where Aspirants are tasked to practice upon targets , Valiants face live foes . While valiants are still tasked to retrieve weapons and defeat Scourge , they also amongst themselves , and face in the field . As a valiant completes quests , they earn Valiant ' s Seal s , much like aspirants did . Upon completing enough ( proving their ability ) , a valiant is challenged to defeat an Argent Champion . Champions . Upon defeating the Argent Champion , the character is awarded the rank of Champion ( of their city ) , and may thereafter continue to use their race ' s jousting mount at the Argent Tournament . ( This is a 10 point Achievement . If the character is with their race ' s faction , they earn the achievement " Exalted Champion of ( their city ) " , and earn a corresponding title . Once ranked as a champion , they are offered further quests for Champion ' s Seal s , which are turned in to vendors as currency for tabards , pets , mounts , and a variety of gear . Champions face most of the same foes as valiants , but more difficult . They continue to and . At the Court of Bones , they are expected to commanders of the Boneguard forces . Additionally , champions may choose to qualify with other races of their faction , gaining the ability to ride their mounts , and eventually gaining the title of Champion to the other cities and access to the other race ' s tournament vendors . Jousting Foes . There are three varieties of foe to test one ' s mettle against : valiants , champions , Boneguard forces , and other players . Valiants and champions . Valiants and champions are NPC foes of the respective level . Each faction has a separate Valiant ' s Ring near their pavilion . There is a combined Ring of Champions to the southwest of the coliseum , where champion level foes may be found . In each case , the character initiates combat with the NPC by selecting the dialog option . Valiants will start the fight with a single level of Defense . Champions start with three levels . It is recommended that the character stack their own Defense buff to the limit before starting a match with a valiant or champion , as no additional levels are added at the start of the match . Aside from the levels of Defense , Champions are able to restore levels of defense faster than Valiants , and are generally quicker to respond . Once a character has defeated valiant or champion , they are not permitted to challenge that race ' s representatives for an hour ( real time ) . Boneguard . The Court of Bones is home to the Boneguard legion , which an Argent Crusade force is countering . The character is sent there to face off against several varieties of forces . The character is given access to a Campaign Warhorse , with significantly greater HP , and much greater damage done , than the tournament mounts have . The boneguard forces : Other players . The Argent Tournament mounts offer the option to " duel " another player . This places the two characters in the same situation as if they were facing an NPC valiant or champion , but with an actual mind behind the opponent . An excellent way to try out new strategies , or just compare jousting abilities . Jousting strategies . Defense is very important . At high levels , you take very little damage , at low levels , quite a bit . A primary objective is to keep your defense buffs stacked to the maximum possible , while lowering your foe ' s as much as possible . Against NPCs , the general pattern is that the NPC will alternately close with you and " thrust " ' , and retreat to range and both use " shield breaker " and " charge " , returning to close range . An elementary strategy to use against them is to wait for the NPC to open range between you , use Shield - Breaker and close range again before your foe has time to charge you . This works to keep your foe from building up stacks of Defense , or to provide a brief opening of lower defense before he is able to restore it . A more advanced strategy , once you see your foe opening range , is to do the same , and to " charge " the moment range is wide enough to permit it . Charge does the same " remove a stack of Defense " effect that Shield Breaker has , but also does more damage . Under the effects of charge , you will continue past your foe for a few seconds . While you cannot stop during this period , you CAN turn . Turning both keeps the range between you and your foe from increasing , and it causes your foe to take more time to orient on you . With practice , you can rein in your mount such that you are too close to your foe for him to charge you back , AND far enough that you can get in a " Shield Breaker " attack off as well . NPC valiants and champions will head in a random direction , when they are trying to gain range against you . During time when you are " thrusting " against each other , you can lead your foe back towards the center of the ring simply by backing up . An incidental advantage to this is that if your opponent decides to open up range again while you are backing up , you are already opening range for your next charge .