Dragonhawk rider

Dragonhawks riders (sometimes called as hawkriders and simply as dragonhawks) are swift flying unit mounted by high elven and blood elven warriors. The fierce warriors of the dragonhawk battalions are often the first into combat, picking apart the enemy ranks and surrounding enemy towers with dense fog so that reinforcements can strike unhindered by enemy defenses.Warcraft III The riders are depicted with a shield and a lance, but they can also act as archersArthas: Rise of the Lich King, chapter 19 and bombardiers.
==History==
Dragonhawk riders participated in the Third War when the undead Scourge led by the death knight Arthas Menethil invaded Quel'Thalas. Sylvanas Windrunner commanded a group of dragonhawk riders that attacked the Scourge shortly before the Ranger-General's demise.
When the Scourge entered the perimeter of Silvermoon City, the dragonhawk riders from the city attacked the gargoyles with frenzied speed. During the fight, they were healed by High Priest Vandellor and priestess Liadrin. Despite this, the riders were outnumbered.Blood of the Highborne
Following the end of the Third War, several units were seen accompanying Prince Kael'thas. On Northrend, a group of dragonhawk riders and foot rangers attacked Arthas following his escape from Lordaeron. The elves were eventually killed as Arthas was aided by Anub'arak and his nerubians.The Return to Northrend (WC3 Undead) Arthas raised the dead elves into undeath.Arthas: Rise of the Lich King, chapter 23
After Kael'thas betrayed Quel'Thalas and took control of Quel'Danas, several dragonhawk riders could be seen guarding the place and fighting against the Shattered Sun Offensive.
==Known==
*Dragonhawk Rider
*Dawnblade Hawkrider
*Shattered Sun Bombardier
==In the RPG==
They are the high elf and blood elf version of windriders.
===High elf dragonhawk rider===
Dragonhawk riders are high elf magi who take the fight to the air. The high elves use these mounted warriors as support troops, nullifying ranged fighters and battlements with their spells. They are resplendent in gold and blue armor, each helm worked in stylized wings above each ear. They bear lances and pat their majestic dragonhawk mounts in preparation for battle. Dragonhawk riders are elite aerial warriors. As magi, dragonhawk riders tend to stay above the battle, using their spells to befuddle enemies and disable potentially dangerous foes. A favorite tactic of dragonhawk riders is to cast fog cloud over enemy battlements, rendering their long-ranged attacks useless. Dragonhawk riders also use aerial shackles to disable flying opponents.Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 188
===Blood elf dragonhawk rider===
Known as the dragonhawks of Quel'Danas, the blood elves' deadly dragonhawk units are trained to scour the infested ranges of Quel'Thalas. From the aeries of the island refuge of Quel'Danas, these elite windriders seek intruders and report on the movements of troops through the scarred forests. Battle with the dragonhawks is a sudden, confusing, and swift move to find shelter from rending talons and razor sharp arrows. The blood elves use aerial tactics and minor spell strikes from the sky to tear through their foes like a fierce wind. They often defend themselves and their mounts with mage armor before engaging in battle.Lands of Conflict, pg. 113 Aquel'Luer'Thala is the commander of the dragonhawk riders of Quel'Danas.
==Speculation==
Dragonhawk Masters and Ayren Cloudbreaker may be dragonhawk riders.
==Gallery==
File:HighElfDragonHawk.png|High elf Dragonhawk Rider unit in Warcraft III.
File:DragonHawk.jpg|Blod elf Dragonhawk Rider unit in Warcraft III.
File:BloodHighElfDragonHawk.jpg|Comparison between high elf and blood elf dragonhawk riders in Warcraft III.
File:BTNDragonHawk.png|Dragonhawk Rider unit icon in Warcraft III.
File:Dragonhawk Rider HS.png| in Hearthstone.
==References==
 
Category:NPC occupations