In a surprising twist for World of Warcraft (WoW), Blizzard’s newest in-game mount, the Trader’s Gilded Brutosaur, has sparked such intense demand that it’s led to a scarcity of WoW Tokens on the auction house. Priced at an eye-watering $90, this mount has quickly become a coveted item, leaving players scrambling to secure it with in-game gold. However, the rush has pushed WoW Tokens – the currency exchange that links real-world money with in-game purchases – into short supply, driving up its price and testing players’ wallets.
The Allure of the Trader’s Gilded Brutosaur
So, what makes the Trader’s Gilded Brutosaur so special, and why are players willing to shell out nearly a hundred dollars for it? This limited-time mount isn’t just a flashy ride. It comes adorned with a 20th Anniversary-themed harness, decorated with gems that represent the game’s long history of expansions. But beyond aesthetics, the Brutosaur offers practical features that make it highly desirable. Riders have access to in-game auction house and mail services while on the go, thanks to the characters Morten and Killia, who accompany the Brutosaur. This level of convenience in WoW is rarely offered, allowing players to buy and sell items and check their mail without returning to a city, which can be a huge time-saver during adventures across Azeroth.
Adding to the frenzy, Blizzard has announced that the Trader’s Gilded Brutosaur will only be available until January 6, 2025. With only a few months left, fans are flocking to secure what could become one of the rarest mounts in the game’s history.
A Mount’s Costly Price Tag
To put its cost into perspective, $90 is equivalent to the deluxe edition of WoW’s latest expansion, The War Within, or about six months of game subscription fees. Though high, many fans argue that the mount is worth the price, given its in-game convenience and likely rarity after it’s removed from sale. Others, however, criticize Blizzard for the steep price, arguing that the company is monetizing what some feel should be a basic feature.
For players unwilling or unable to spend $90 outright, Blizzard offers an alternative method through WoW Tokens. WoW Tokens, which are purchased for $20 and sold on the in-game auction house for gold, can be exchanged for $15 in Battle.net Balance (with Blizzard taking a $5 transaction fee). Players who accumulate enough WoW Tokens can exchange them for Battle.net Balance to buy the mount indirectly. Given the current cost, six WoW Tokens, or around $120 worth of purchases, are needed to obtain the Brutosaur via this route.
A WoW Token Shortage Hits the Auction House
However, this approach has introduced a complication: as demand surges, WoW Tokens on the auction house are drying up. With players buying tokens en masse to fund their Brutosaur purchases, the in-game price of WoW Tokens has skyrocketed. According to a WoW player on Reddit, tokens that recently sold for around 200,000 gold on North American servers are now nearing 400,000, and the price continues to climb.
Quite literally minutes after the new bruto mount was made available
byu/Degenerate_Game inwow
The phenomenon has even prompted a temporary shortage, with some servers reporting a complete lack of WoW Tokens for sale. As redditor arasitar described, “The auction house’s WoW Token right now is out of supplies… probably going to go to 400k in a short bit.” As of publication, the token price on U.S. servers sits at approximately 335,171 gold, meaning the Brutosaur costs around two million gold via auction house Tokens – less than the five million gold required for its original version in 2018 but still a significant investment.
The World of Warcraft Community Reacts
The WoW community’s reaction to the Brutosaur’s price has been mixed. Some players defend Blizzard, noting that previous high-cost mounts have been similarly popular. The original Brutosaur, introduced during the Battle for Azeroth expansion in 2018, sold in significant numbers despite a five million gold price tag. WoW mounts have always been a prized feature, and many players are willing to pay to own a unique mount that symbolizes dedication and wealth.
Meanwhile, Blizzard appears to be benefitting significantly from the craze. As one redditor, Chuckieshere, humorously noted, “This mount probably just made more money than StarCraft 2 for 1/1000th of the effort.”
For Blizzard, the Trader’s Gilded Brutosaur has proven to be a moneymaker, capitalizing on WoW’s dedicated fanbase and their love for rare and extravagant mounts.
