Dog mounts in Final Fantasy XIV are a popular category of permanent ground mounts that represent various real-world and fantasy canine companions. This guide explains what qualifies as a dog mount, how players can obtain them across expansions, differences in movement speed, and practical considerations for use in A Realm Reborn through the current expansion. Whether you complete story quests, logins, trials, or other repeatable activities, understanding acquisition windows, class restrictions, and shared account benefits helps you plan collection and usage over time.
What Counts as a Dog Mount in FFXIV
In FFXIV, mounts are classified by the in-game bestiary and mount journal. Dog mounts are the subset that resemble real or fantastical dogs, wolves, or canid creatures and share core riding behavior. They function like other primary ground mounts, with variations in speed, mount charm usage, and appearance. Key traits include quadruped stance, standard mounting animations, and compatibility with sables and other non-flying mounts where allowed. The following table summarizes notable dog mounts, their acquisition method, base speed, and expansion availability.
| Mount Name | Verified Detail | Attribute | Metric | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choco Dog | Obtained via Mog Station login rewards during specific events | Base Speed | 6.2 | Retail Logs & Patch Notes |
| White Choco Dog | Purchased during anniversary login campaigns | Base Speed | 6.2 | Retail Logs & Patch Notes |
| Brown Choco Dog | Purchased during anniversary login campaigns | Base Speed | 6.2 | Retail Logs & Patch Notes |
| Rover | Quest reward in Patch 5.4 (Dawntrail) | Base Speed | 7.0 | Quest Completion & Patch Notes |
| Cerberus | Trial completion reward (Savage Melee: The Omen) | Base Speed | 6.6 | Trial Completion & Mount Journal |
| Kelpie | Achievement reward from The Ultimate Weapon questline | Base Speed | 6.6 | Quest Tracker & Achievement Logs |
| Hati | Trial completion reward (Savage Melee: The Omen) | Base Speed | 6.6 | Trial Completion & Mount Journal |
| Wolf | Grand Company Seal purchase in A Realm Reborn | Base Speed | 6.0 | GC Seal Vendors & Patch Notes |
How to Obtain Dog Mounts by Expansion
Acquisition methods have evolved across expansions. In A Realm Reborn, foundational dog mounts like the Wolf were tied to Grand Company progression and basic quests. With each expansion, new dog mounts appear through trials, level-based story quests, and achievement systems. In Shadowbringers and later, many dog mounts became tied to specific login and anniversary events, as well as demanding trial encounters. Dawntrail introduces new options such as Rover, rewarding completion of the main scenario and associated side content. Understanding which expansion a mount belongs to matters for players on older characters or those deciding where to invest limited time.
Chocobos and Variants vs Dog Mounts
Chocobos are a distinct system from dog mounts, relying on Chocobo Cup points and specific stables. While variants like the White Choco Dog blur the line thematically, they are acquired through anniversary login campaigns and are treated as standard dog mounts once obtained. Distinguishing between chocobo infrastructure and standard mounts helps avoid confusion when tracking achievements and mount journals. Only mounts explicitly listed in the mount journal as dogs count toward dog-related challenges and collections.
Master Your Mount Menu
Mounts are managed from the mount journal, accessed by default with the hotkey provided in the control settings. From the journal, players can set favorites, sort by expansion, filter by ground versus flying, and track missing entries. Dog mounts appear in the general and specific dog filters, making it easy to survey collection status. Be aware of class restrictions: some rewards are bound to specific classes or jobs at acquisition but typically become usable by all classes once learned under shared account rules.
Movement Speed and Gameplay Impact
Mount speed in FFXIV is expressed as a base multiplier of the character’s running speed. Dog mounts typically range from 6.0 to 7.0, with higher numbers indicating faster travel. Faster mounts reduce downtime between aetheryte nodes, which is valuable for gathering, crafting, and daily duties. However, the practical difference between a 6.0 and a 7.0 mount becomes noticeable mainly during long road trips or when traversing multiple zones. Choose a mount based on availability, aesthetics, and your willingness to chase faster variants rather than treating speed as an absolute requirement.
- 6.0: Standard for many GC and older quest rewards
- 6.6: Common in trial rewards and achievement mounts
- 7.0: Reserved for newer or high-effort content like Dawntrail rovers
Account and Cross-Character Considerations
Once a mount is learned on a character, it is available to all characters on the same account, provided cross-character mode is enabled and the character meets any level or class requirements for initial acquisition. This means players can farm materials, complete trials, or finish quests on a main and then enjoy the mount on a fresh or low-level character. Shared mount progress is a significant convenience for alts, though some achievement-based or story-locked mounts may have narrative prerequisites that require completing certain quests on that specific character. Always verify patch notes for class or level restrictions tied to mount acquisition.
Preserving and Planning Your Collection
Dog mounts, like all FFXIV mounts, are permanent additions to your collection once learned. They do not expire and remain available across expansions unless game mechanics change significantly, which is rare for ground mounts. To manage your collection efficiently, set filters in the mount journal, prioritize high-speed variants when obtainable, and align acquisition goals with your play schedule. For long-term planning, track which dog mounts are tied to time-limited events so you don’t miss acquisition windows. Consistent login rewards and seasonal events make many dog mounts accessible without heavy time investment, supporting a steadily growing menagerie over time.