Gothic 1 Remake Mount Guide: How to Tame and Ride a Scavenger
If there’s one feature in Gothic 1 Remake that completely caught me off guard, it’s the ability to ride a Scavenger. For years, these loud, awkward bird-like creatures have been one of the most recognizable symbols of the Gothic universe. They were usually the first enemies players encountered outside camp walls, and honestly, most of us never imagined we’d one day be riding one across the Colony.
Yet here we are.
After spending dozens of hours exploring the Valley of Mines, I can confidently say that unlocking a Scavenger mount is one of the best quality-of-life upgrades available during the early chapters. It dramatically cuts down travel time, makes exploration far less frustrating, and gives players a reliable way to escape situations that would otherwise end with a reload screen.
If you’re wondering how the system works and whether it’s worth the effort, here’s everything you need to know.
Why a Scavenger Mount Is More Useful Than You Think
One of the things I immediately noticed in the remake is how much larger the world feels. The original Gothic was already impressive for its time, but Alkimia Interactive has expanded the environment with denser forests, more detailed landscapes, and greater verticality.
The result?
Traveling on foot takes significantly longer than many veterans might expect.
Early in the game, before teleportation options become available, you’ll spend a lot of time running between camps, quest locations, hunting grounds, and merchants. That constant backtracking starts adding up.
A Scavenger solves this problem beautifully.
Benefits of using a Scavenger mount:
- Faster movement across large areas
- Easier escape from dangerous enemies
- Reduced downtime between quests
- More enjoyable exploration
- Better stamina efficiency while traveling
It may not sound game-changing on paper, but after using one for several hours, going back to traveling exclusively on foot feels painfully slow.
How to Start the Mount Quest
The entire mount system revolves around a side quest called “Beak Performance.”
Fortunately, players can begin this quest very early in Chapter 1. You don’t need to join a faction first, and your future allegiance to the Old Camp, New Camp, or Sect Camp doesn’t affect access to the questline.
The key NPC is a beast handler named Cohsel.
You’ll find him living in a small hut located between the Old Camp and the New Camp. His home is intentionally tucked away, making it easy to miss if you’re simply following main quest objectives.
When you first arrive, you’ll immediately know you’re in the right place. The area is filled with domesticated animals, and a saddled Scavenger usually gives away the surprise before Cohsel even starts talking.
Convincing Cohsel to Teach You
This part feels very much in the spirit of classic Gothic.
When you first ask about riding a Scavenger, Cohsel essentially laughs at the idea.
Most players assume that’s the end of the conversation.
It isn’t.
You need to keep pushing the dialogue options and repeatedly express your interest. After enough persistence, Cohsel finally acknowledges that you’re serious and agrees to help.
Of course, nothing in Gothic is ever free.
Before he’ll train you, he demands several materials needed to prepare a saddle and complete the taming process.
Required Materials
Here’s everything you’ll need to gather.
| Item | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Kingstide Plants | 5 | Taming mixture |
| Wolf Pelts | 3 | Saddle crafting |
| Leather Straps | 2 | Mount equipment |
While none of these resources are incredibly rare, obtaining them can still take some time if you don’t know where to look.
Finding Kingstide Plants
Kingstide is one of the newer resources introduced in the remake.
The easiest place to collect it is near the lake by the New Camp. Most plants grow underwater along the shoreline and around submerged rocks.
Thankfully, gathering them isn’t particularly dangerous.
Simply dive beneath the surface and search the lakebed carefully. The plants are usually easy to spot once you know what you’re looking for.
Collect five and you’re done.
Getting Wolf Pelts
This step is slightly more complicated.
Unlike many RPGs, Gothic doesn’t automatically allow players to harvest resources from animals. You first need proper training.
A hunter named Aidan can teach the required skinning skill in exchange for ore and a learning point.
Once trained, head into nearby forests and hunt wolves until you’ve gathered enough pelts.
A small warning from personal experience: don’t underestimate wolves in the remake. They can overwhelm low-level characters surprisingly quickly if you’re careless.
Pull them one at a time whenever possible.
Buying Leather Straps
Leather Straps are by far the easiest requirement.
Most players simply purchase them from merchants in the Old Camp.
The cost is relatively low, making this the least time-consuming part of the quest.
If one merchant doesn’t have them available, check nearby traders and craftsmen.
You’ll eventually find what you need.
Waiting for the Saddle
After delivering all required materials to Cohsel, the process isn’t finished immediately.
He needs time to prepare everything.
This is another detail I genuinely appreciate because it fits the immersive style that made the original Gothic so beloved. Not every task resolves instantly.
The easiest solution is to sleep through a day using a nearby bed.
Once enough in-game time has passed, return to Cohsel.
Unlocking Scavenger Riding
When you come back, Cohsel rewards your efforts by officially teaching the riding skill.
You’ll receive:
- Scavenger Riding ability
- A Scavenger Whistle
- Experience points
- Permanent access to your mount
The whistle acts as your summon item and becomes one of the most useful tools in your inventory.
From this point onward, traveling through the Colony becomes significantly more convenient.
How Mount Summoning Works
Using the mount system is refreshingly straightforward.
Equip the Scavenger Whistle to a quick-access slot and activate it whenever you’re outdoors.
After a short animation, your loyal bird companion arrives.
To mount:
Approach the Scavenger and interact.
To dismount:
Use the same interaction command.
Movement feels surprisingly smooth, and sprinting delivers a noticeable speed increase compared to running on foot.
I honestly expected the mechanic to feel gimmicky, but it quickly became one of my favorite additions to the remake.
Things You Cannot Do While Mounted
To keep the system balanced, the developers added several restrictions.
This prevents players from turning the mount into an overpowered solution for every situation.
No Mounted Combat
You cannot attack while riding.
- No swords.
- No bows.
- No magic.
If danger appears, you’ll need to jump off and fight normally.
The Mount Can Die
Perhaps the biggest limitation is that your Scavenger isn’t immortal.
Strong enemies can kill it.
Creatures such as:
- Snappers
- Orcs
- Shadowbeasts
can quickly tear through its health if you ride into dangerous territory.
Treat the mount as a valuable companion rather than a disposable vehicle.
Camps Cause Problems
Scavengers aren’t exactly comfortable around large groups of people.
Attempting to ride directly into major settlements often results in the creature refusing to cooperate.
Most players simply leave the mount outside camp entrances before continuing on foot.
Indoor Restrictions
The whistle only functions in open environments.
Don’t expect to summon your giant bird inside caves, mines, ruins, or underground passages.
The game will simply block the action.
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Is the Scavenger Mount Worth Unlocking?
Absolutely.
In fact, I’d argue it’s one of the most valuable optional rewards available during the early stages of Gothic 1 Remake.
The quest itself isn’t particularly difficult, and the payoff lasts for dozens of hours.
More importantly, the feature feels surprisingly natural within the world. It doesn’t break immersion or turn Gothic into a completely different game. Instead, it solves one of the biggest frustrations players often experience during lengthy RPG adventures: excessive travel time.
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The Scavenger remains faithful to Gothic’s rough-and-dangerous atmosphere while giving players a practical way to move around the Colony faster.
And let’s be honest.
Riding an oversized Scavenger through the wilderness while wolves chase you is exactly the kind of weird, memorable experience that Gothic has always done better than almost any other RPG series.
If you’re starting a fresh playthrough, make unlocking the Scavenger mount one of your first priorities. Your future self will thank you every time you need to cross the Valley of Mines.
