New World Aeternum: How to Get the Hippocampus Swimming Mount

The Depths of Aeternum update finally added underwater exploration and swimming mounts. The Hippocampus (Seahorse mount) is the first aquatic mount available to players.

Note: Verified as of July 2026. Check official patch notes for updates.

Requirement

• Riding Skill: Level 200.
• Expansion: Must own Rise of the Angry Earth & Depths of Aeternum.
• Quest: Complete “Breath of the Sea” (Main Story Quest in Reekwater).

Location: The Drowned Capital

The wild Hippocampus spawn in the newly expanded sunken ruins south of Reekwater.

1. Fast Travel to the “Siren’s Stand” shrine.
2. Swim south-east into the deep water (you will now automatically dive instead of drowning).
3. Look for Kelp Forests. The mounts hide in the tall grass.

Taming Minigame

Taming a Hippocampus is different from horses or wolves.

1. Approach: Use “Stealth Swim” (Crouch while swimming).
2. Bait: You must craft Algae Paste (Cooking Lvl 150) to lure them.
   • Recipe: 10 Seaweed, 5 Fish Oil, 1 Cooking Oil.
3. The Minigame: When you mount, the Hippocampus will dive and surface rapidly.
   • Hold Space when it dives deep.
   • Release Space when it surfaces.
   • Keep the tension bar in the green.

Stats

• Speed: +30% Swim Speed (Base), +50% (Max Level).
• Ability - “Jet Stream”: Dash forward underwater, consuming stamina. Knocking back small aquatic mobs.

Note: You cannot use weapons while mounted underwater, but you can gather underwater nodes (Coral, Deep Iron) without dismounting if you have the perk.