Who knew that a simple moose mount could cause so much trouble. However, one moose mount is causing some serious controversy these days in World of Warcraft. Known as the Grove Warden, this moose has managed to divide the community like the red sea and has spawned enough forum posts to circle the globe. So what is is about this particular mount that has caused such a stir in the player base? Read onward as we take a look at the Grove Warden and the current controversy surrounding it.

The Grove Warden

The Grove Warden, for those not in the know, is a brand new mount that was recently added to the game. In an attempt to reward players for raiding accomplishment, this mount is only available to players who can successfully defeat Archimonde on Heroic or higher difficulty. Currently one of the most difficult boss fights in the game, this is no small achievement.

Unlike other mounts that came from raid bosses, it was also announced that the Grove Warden would be available for only a limited time. The best guess is that the mount will be removed just before or as Legion is released. This means that players would be unable to go back and collect the mount later, after the boss becomes far easier to defeat. While there is a chance that the mount will eventually appear re-skinned in the Blizzard Store, it has yet to be confirmed by developers.

The Moose Mess

The difficulty of obtaining this mount combined with the limited time availability have worked hand in hand to create the current controversy. The Grove Warden is, without a doubt, strictly a prestige mount. It is not intended for every player to have, but only for a select few that have the ability to complete the required challenges.

This has caused the WoW community to divide into two very distinct camps; those who believe that this kind of mount is perfectly acceptable and those who believe that this kind of mount is the worst kind of unfairness. Both sides are passionate about this Moose and compromise in this situation seems to be just a word in the dictionary.

Those who are pro-limited Moose mount love the idea of working hard for an item that will distinctly tell everyone of your accomplishments. Those on the opposing side believe that this limitation feels elitist and really is a slap in the face to the more casual player. They believe that more ways should be available to obtain the Grove Warden or that it should not longer be a limited edition so that more players can enjoy the mount.

A Matter of Prestige

While there are valid arguments to both sides of this debate, this author firmly believes that the Grove Warden should be left in place as a limited time, difficult to obtain mount. In fact, it would be nice to see more mounts, pets, or other items rewarded for players who have put time and effort into the game and not just for raiding. PvP, questing, Pet Battles, and more should all be equipped with their very own rewards for excellence.

This is likely to offend more than a few people, I may even be called an elitist. However, the fact of the matter is; I am as casual as they come. I have more chances to hit the lottery than obtain the Grove Warden mount. I would love to have it, but it just isn't possible in my current raiding situation, which mostly involves me spending a lot of time facepalming during LFR sessions. I can't earn the mount and that is totally fine, because it is totally okay to reward players for completing a difficult task.

A great example of this requires a visit to the past to Zul'Aman. This Troll themed instance was home to the Amani Battle Bear. The only way to obtain this bear mount as to push through the instance at an almost impossible speed. It took a good group and a lot of practice, but getting the bear was a huge rush, a visible token that you had done something awesome. The bear was eventually re-skinned and made available for the masses, but mounting up on that original bear still brings a sense of supreme satisfaction.

Being rewarded for achieving something formidable in game should not be punished just because not everyone can complete that particular task. I for one will never own anything PvP related because I am totally inept in that area of game play. That doesn't mean PvP should be made easier or another path should be opened for me to obtain the rewards, it means I should either suck it up and PvP my heart out or find another aspect of the game that I can excel in.

As for the Grove Warden mount, let it be a matter of prestige. Participation trophies are never as cool as those that are actually earned. Besides, if the past is any indication, this “limited” mount will probably show up re-skinned in the Blizzard Store or as a reward or drop in Legion for all to enjoy. Put the rage to rest and congratulate your fellow players on a job well done and their fancy new mount instead.