Dragonhawk

:Those who do not gain the dragonhawk's trust soon feel the dragonhawk's wrath.Nightfire
Dragonhawks are flying creatures native to Quel'Thalas and tamed by the blood elves of Quel'Thalas, the forest trolls of Zul'Aman and the Highvale group of high elves. They are deft predators that rend their foes with razor-sharp talons.Dungeon Journal entry for Jan'alai Their scales are smooth and slippery, and few have the skill to ride one without a saddle.World of Warcraft: Sylvanas, pg. 94 Dragonhawks are among the deadliest known predators. They are able to spot prey from great distances, rush in, and rend with both talon and beak.Mount Journal entry for Red Dragonhawk and Blue Dragonhawk In addition, they're capable of breathing fire.Most dragonhawk mobs, npcs and battle pets have a Flame Breath ability.
Dragonhawks liberated from troll enslavement are considered among the most loyal of all their kin.Mount Journal entry for Amani Dragonhawk
==Background==
===Third War===
Dragonhawk riders were high elven and blood elven warriors mounted on a dragonhawk. The fierce warriors of the dragonhawk battalions were 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. The dragonhawk riders followed Prince Kael'thas Sunstrider to Outland and later to his campaign to the Frozen Throne of Icecrown.
===World of Warcraft===
Dragonhawks were introduced to World of Warcraft in the Burning Crusade expansion. They are seen mainly in Eversong Woods, but stronger dragonhawks are found in Tempest Keep, Zul'Aman, and Shadowmoon Valley. 
Dragonhawks are very rare indeed, and they are most often seen in Eversong Woods, home of the blood elves. Beautiful creatures, dragonhawks are sought after by hunters from around the world, even though their stats rarely outshine those of more savage beasts.World of Warcraft The Burning Crusade Official Strategy Guide, pg. 317
==Flight paths==
In Patch 2.4.0, the Isle of Quel'Danas was opened, and dragonhawks are used as the main taxi from the island to the mainland, as well as for bombing runs in the Dead Scar and on the Dawnblade flotilla off the northern coast. In Patch 2.4.3, dragonhawks also replaced the bats at the Silvermoon City and Tranquillien flight paths - which was the original intention for the Quel'Thalas flight paths (around the time when BC was just released, guards would say that the Silvermoon flight master was tending to the dragonhawks).
==Notable==
* Flaps
* Furien's Dragonhawk
* Jan'alai (dragonhawk loa of the Amani trolls)
* Nightfire
* Sagan
* Spooks
* Sunwing
* Manas
==Species==
==As a mount==
A rideable dragonhawk is now available as of 3.0.8 as a reward for completing the Mountain o' Mounts achievement, which requires the player to collect 100 different mounts. The reward is either a Blue Dragonhawk Mount for Alliance, or a Red Dragonhawk Mount for Horde. Both are 280% speed mounts.
In patch 3.2.0, Horde players were also given the Sunreaver Dragonhawk as a reward from the Argent Tournament. It costs 150 Champion's Seal and requires you to be exalted with the Sunreavers.
==As a companion pet==
A Dragonhawk Hatchling is a recently born dragonhawk. These creatures can be purchased in different colors as a companion. They are classified as dragonkin battle pets.
*Blue Dragonhawk Hatchling
*Golden Dragonhawk Hatchling
*Brilliant Phoenix Hawk Feather
*Red Dragonhawk Hatchling
*Silver Dragonhawk Hatchling
==As a hunter pet==
Dragonhawks are a family of Cunning pets in World of Warcraft. Blood elf hunters start with a dragonhawk as their first pet. Dragonhawks share their special ability (although different in appearance) with the wind serpents. They, through their use of their Fire Breath, breathe Fire on the target, increasing magic damage taken by 8% for 45 sec. This ability is very usefull for PvE. They are only found in areas that require the Burning Crusade expansion to enter.
Two new rare dragonhawks were added in patch 5.1.0: Sunwing flies in Burning Steppes, while Manas roams amongst wildkin in southeastern Winterspring.
==In the RPG==
Dragonhawks are vicious flying predators. They are swift and deft, able to crack bones and pierce hides with their mighty beaked jaws. They can be trained as aerial mounts and seem to have a particular affinity with high elves (and now blood elves), and are often trained by them. Majestic and magnificent creatures, dragonhawks and their elf riders, resplendent in lacquered dragonhide armor, make an impressive sight.
This large raptor could carry away a man - on its back, or in its talons. These hawk-like creatures are impressive. Its feathers show brilliant streaks of color on its wings and tail, but its most remarkable feature is its head, which seems like a combination of an hawk and a dragon. Its strong beak gleams wickedly. Straight, colored horns that match its plumage sprout from the beast's head.
As their name implies, dragonhawks resemble a cross between a hawk and a dragon. They look much like large hawks with dragonlike heads and a few other draconic characteristics - long neck, sleek body and large wings. Dragonhawk plumage is brown with touches of blue and red.
Dragonhawks are able predators. They prefer diving attacks, snatching prey in their talons to devour at their leisure. When trained, they readily fight in tandem with a skilled rider.Lands of Conflict, pg. 190Alliance Player's Guide, pg. 205
==Notes and trivia==
*Dragonhawks have varying eye color. In Quel'Thalas, all dragonhawks have blue eyes; in Outland (such as the dragonhawks in Shadowmoon Valley), however, they have green eyes. This is presumably due to a fel-power intake, not unlike what happened to the eye color of their blood elven masters.
*Golden dragonhawks were once prized by dragonhawk breeders in Silvermoon. They stand out at night to predators, making it necessary to gain awareness at an early age.Golden Dragonhawk Hatchling
*The silver dragonhawk is a ferocious species of dragonhawk, often seen diving down on prey from high in the sky.Silver Dragonhawk Hatchling
*Red dragonhawks are mortal enemies with silver dragonhawks but are on pretty good terms with golden dragonhawks.Red Dragonhawk Hatchling
*The Sunreavers of Dalaran select only the swiftest and most formidable of dragonhawks as their mounts.Mount Journal entry for Sunreaver Dragonhawk
*It is unconfirmed whether these colorful eagle-dragon-raptor creatures are dragonkin.World of Warcraft: The Magazine Volume I Issue II, pg. 22
*Before the release of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, dragonhawks were called wind serpents.Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos prerelease dragonhawks.
*As a mount, dragonhawks lack the usual /mountspecial animation.
===Hawkstriders===
*It's not exactly clear or not if the dragonhawks described in the Lands of Conflict and Alliance Player's Guide became the hawkstriders that appear to be more often used as combat mounts by the blood elves rather than the legless dragonhawks that have been introduced into the World of Warcraft.
*It might also be possible the concept of the original dragonhawk was split into two separate creatures that we see today, the hawkstriders and dragonhawks.
==Gallery==
File:Cinder TCG.jpg|A dragonhawk in the Trading Card Game.
File:Nightfire TCG.jpg||Nightfire in the TCG.
File:Kill Command TCG.jpg|Kill Command (Fires of Outland) in the TCG.
File:Jan'alai, the Dragonhawk.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Dragonhawk Rider HS.png| in Hearthstone.
File:Grotesque Dragonhawk HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Shockspitter HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:Spirit of the Dragonhawk HS.jpg| in Hearthstone.
File:DragonHawk.jpg|A dragonhawk in Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne.
File:BTNDragonHawk-Reforged.png|Dragonhawk unit icon in Warcraft III: Reforged.
==Patch changes==
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==See also==
*Dragonhawk rider
*Dragonhawk Rider (Warcraft III)
==References==
==External links==
 
Category:Tamable beasts
Category:Cunning beasts
Category:Magical beasts
es:Dracohalcón