The Wild Hunt at a glance
The Wild Hunt unlocks a terror bird mount in RuneScape: Dragonwilds, making travel across terrain faster. The main task is straightforward: meet Vannaka in Fellhollow, defeat three nature spirits, and bring him their primordial hearts. Finding the spirits is the part that benefits most from a route.
This secondary quest follows Vannaka's efforts to preserve Fellhollow's fading nature spirits. According to the RuneScape: Dragonwilds Wiki, their decline is connected to Imaru's reign over the region. Collecting their hearts is part of Vannaka's attempt to safeguard them.
The wiki lists these requirements and preparation recommendations:
| Quest detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Quest giver and region | Vannaka, in Fellhollow |
| Access requirement | Progress through Withering Heights far enough to enter Fellhollow |
| Main collection objective | Three primordial hearts from three nature spirits |
| Recommended preparation | Good armor, weapons, and food |
| Quest type | Secondary quest |
You do not need to finish all of Withering Heights before starting. The relevant milestone is gaining access to Fellhollow. Once you can enter the region, finding Vannaka and preparing for the spirit fights are the next priorities.
Where to start The Wild Hunt
Speak to Vannaka west of Cathan's location in Bleakfields Valley, within Fellhollow. Both the wiki and a YouTube quest walkthrough place him there. Use Cathan as your reference point when orienting yourself, then look west for the quest giver.
A second video walkthrough describes Vannaka near a camp beside a broken section of wall in southern Fellhollow, close to a branching road. These nearby features provide additional landmarks if you are searching on foot.
Vannaka explains that the region's nature spirits are fading and asks you to hunt them for their primordial hearts. Your targets resemble white, glowing terror birds. Remember that appearance before heading out: it gives you a recognizable target once you reach the willow groves.
Before leaving Vannaka:
- Finish the introductory conversation so you know the collection objective.
- Bring your preferred combat equipment and enough food for three encounters.
- Plan your search around western Fellhollow's willow groves.
- Keep track of the hearts you actually collect after each fight.
The objective concerns specific nature spirits. Focus on their spectral appearance and willow-grove habitat when choosing targets, rather than treating every birdlike creature you encounter as part of the quest.
Nature spirit locations and combat
The RuneScape: Dragonwilds Wiki places the spirits exclusively in willow groves in or around western Fellhollow. The video walkthroughs also associate the encounters with ponds or small lakes, making water near the willows a useful search cue.
One YouTube route walkthrough visits the following three locations. Use this as a search sequence; the named landmarks are more useful than sweeping the entire western region without a plan.
| Search stop | Landmark described in the walkthrough | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| First spirit | A small lake in the willow area | A glowing, terror-bird-shaped spirit near the grove |
| Second spirit | Northwest of the Druid's Circle, in Ember Wood | Another nature spirit around the local willow habitat |
| Third spirit | Dragon's Run | The remaining spirit needed for the three-heart objective |
These descriptions identify search areas rather than precise coordinates. Once you reach a landmark, inspect the nearby grove and water's edge for the white glow. The creature's appearance helps narrow the search when several enemies are present.
For combat preparation, the second YouTube walkthrough reports that the spirits have power level five and can be defeated carefully with power level four equipment. That is practical combat guidance, rather than a stated requirement for accepting the quest. If fights feel difficult, improve your preparation before continuing.
The same walkthrough reports that any weapon and damage type can work against the spirits. It also warns that nearby undead may join the fight. This makes awareness of the surrounding area useful even when the spirit itself seems manageable.
A simple encounter routine keeps the hunt organized:
- Check the surrounding area before engaging, especially for nearby undead.
- Use a weapon you already handle confidently; no special damage type is identified as necessary.
- Defeat the spirit and collect its primordial heart before moving on.
- Check your heart total after each encounter so you know when the initial objective is satisfied.
Collecting the item matters as much as winning the fight. After the third encounter, confirm that you have three hearts before beginning the trip back to Vannaka.
Primordial hearts and quest completion
The initial hunt requires three primordial hearts. The wiki, MetaForge's written quest steps, and both video walkthroughs agree on that objective. You obtain them by defeating the three nature spirits and then returning to Vannaka.
There are two discrepancies worth understanding before you interpret a database total or assume the quest has ended:
| Detail | Published descriptions | How to use the information |
|---|---|---|
| Initial collection | The wiki, MetaForge's steps, and the videos specify three hearts | Collect three for Vannaka's first delivery |
| Database item total | MetaForge's required-item summary displays six hearts | Do not substitute that summary for the explicit three-heart objective |
| Final progression | Videos describe the mount unlocking after Vannaka's conversation; MetaForge lists another heart-delivery step | Finish the dialogue and check whether an objective remains |
Return to Vannaka with the three hearts and complete the conversation. Both video walkthroughs present this exchange as the point at which the terror bird mount becomes available. Avoid leaving partway through the dialogue, since the reward is associated with completing that exchange.
However, MetaForge's quest entry includes a further instruction to bring a Primordial Heart to someone interested in the wild hunt. Its entry does not name the recipient. If your game still displays that instruction, follow the remaining objective rather than assuming the earlier delivery completed every step.
The six-heart summary also does not establish that the first hunt needs six separate kills. Start with the clearly stated three-heart task, hand those hearts to Vannaka, and use the objective displayed afterward to determine your next action.
Terror bird mount reward and controls
The practical reward is access to a terror bird mount for faster travel. After completing Vannaka's exchange, look for the mount action in the lower-right action menu. The YouTube control walkthrough describes that menu location and gives the following inputs.
| Input method | Summon action |
|---|---|
| PC keyboard | Hold Alt |
| Xbox controller | Hold Y |
| Switch controller | Hold X |
These are hold inputs, so a quick tap may not perform the summon. Hold the appropriate button briefly and check the binding shown by your game if your controls differ. The controller labels describe the input device used in the walkthrough.
Mount durability is especially important when choosing where to ride. The other YouTube walkthrough reports that the mount disappears immediately when it takes damage. Account for nearby enemies before using it to cross a dangerous area.
If you have returned the hearts but cannot find the mount action, check three things: whether you finished Vannaka's conversation, whether an objective remains, and whether you are holding the correct input. Those checks address the documented dialogue, progression, and control details without assuming a particular bug.
FAQ
What does the runescape dragonwilds the wild hunt quest unlock?
It unlocks access to a terror bird mount, which helps you travel across terrain faster. The video walkthroughs show the reward becoming available after returning three primordial hearts to Vannaka and completing his conversation.
Where is Vannaka?
Vannaka is west of Cathan in Fellhollow's Bleakfields Valley. A video walkthrough additionally describes his surroundings as a camp near a broken wall and branching road in the southern part of the region.
How many primordial hearts should I collect?
Collect three for the initial delivery to Vannaka. MetaForge's item summary displays six, but its written objective specifies three, matching the wiki and walkthroughs. Check the quest's next instruction after handing in the first three.
Where should I search for nature spirits?
Search willow groves in western Fellhollow, especially around small lakes and ponds. A video route visits a lake among the willows, an area northwest of the Druid's Circle in Ember Wood, and Dragon's Run.
Do I need a special weapon?
The combat walkthrough reports that any weapon and damage type can work. Bring dependable equipment and food, and watch for undead joining the encounter. Power level four equipment is reported as workable against the power level five spirits with careful play.
Why does the terror bird disappear?
One quest walkthrough reports that taking any damage immediately dismisses the mount. When that happens around enemies, account for the incoming damage before trying to continue your journey mounted.
