If you’re looking for an Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora guide, chances are you just want to know when you get your Ikran, the flying animal that has been as much of a star of the franchise as the Na’vi themselves. In Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, getting your Ikran changes the verticality of zones and deeply impacts gameplay for the better. Traversal that was absolutely fun becomes something extraordinary, and the combat with the RDA becomes more varied and dynamic as you switch to sky battles. Here is everything you need to know about the Ikran in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
When do I get my Ikran?
You bond with the Ikran after the “Take Flight” quest. In it, you ascend a rookery and allow an Ikran to choose you. After ascending the spiraling and floating rocks, you’ll attempt to make contact with an Ikran a few times before it finally accepts you and you form your bond. From there, you’ll unlock the skill tree specific to the Ikran. Here, you’ll be able to learn skills like fishing while flying close to water or attacking RDA helicopters once they’re stunned and bringing them down with one of the coolest combat animations in the game.
Get BWT in your inbox!
Get BWT in your inbox!
If you’re not familiar with the Ikran from the films, that’s okay because Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora does a phenomenal job of outlining what the Ikran are and just how special their connection to the Na’vi is. The game features a bonding ceremony and always takes into consideration your Ikran as you unlock more of the map.
How do I call my Ikran?
With a controller, pressing up on the d-pad allows you to call for your Ikran at any time. Granted, where they land may not always be in your view. To adjust for some pretty bad landing patterns, in Guided mode, there is a marker at the top of your HUD where waypoints and the compass are housed to allow you to locate them.
But just standing on the ground and calling your Ikran isn’t the most fun you can have. Instead, jumping from something ridiculously high and calling for your Ikran is. There is no greater feeling in the game than blowing up a RDA research balloon and jumping off the edge with the explosion behind you while your bird picks you up. The animation itself is breathtaking, but more importantly, working this specific connection into the game highlights how in tune the Ikran is to you and you to it.
Are the Ikran the only mount in the game?
No! The direhorse is unlocked after the “Wandering Clan” quest when you meet the Zeswa. A nomadic people, the Zeswa use shorter bonds with the direhorses to get around the Upper Plains quickly. This means that when you see a direhorse anywhere in the wilds of Pandora, you can approach it, soothe it, and then ride it. However, the bond with an Ikran is treated with an amount of sanctity that makes it unique, especially since it’s made for a lifetime.
What are the Ikran’s favorite foods?
Your Ikran will get a refilled food meter from just about every food you’re allowed to feed it. However, if you choose their favorite food, you’ll see benefits like reduced stamina costs or the energy just lasting longer. As such, it’s best to keep their two favorites on hand: fish and eggs.
For an easy supply of eggs, each day cycle the chef in the Aranahe Hometree will gift one to you. For fish, you can use the “Aerial Fishing I” skill and collect fish as you skim the water.
Can I rename my Ikran?
Nope, if you chose “Floof” or “Carol” for the bit, well, you’re stuck. When you get your Ikran, you’ll get the option to customize them. You pick their skin pattern and name—the latter of which are selecting from a list of pre-made names that include things like “Telisi” (my birdy’s name) or “Fury” and of course the aforementioned “Floof.” The choice is yours but you don’t get to change it later.
How do the Ikran connect to the story?
One of the largest elements of the anti-colonialist story in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is confronting the RDA and its exploitation and destruction of the land. For you, your first direct connection to another living being through Eywa is your Ikran, and as you spend more time with them and pet them—yes, pet them—your Ikran is your foundation. The reality is that even if you don’t need a direct connection to become invested in stopping the RDA and its destruction of the land, well, you have one.
Additionally, early on in the main quest line, you witness someone lose their Ikran, grieve them, and keep their memory alive as you continue to see them throughout the game. It’s touching overall but also adds impact to the second main clash with the RDA as you fight against them with the Zeswa. Here, you see how the RDA has been capturing, killing, and disrupting the burial grounds of different fauna across the Upper Plains and work to stop it. By drawing a personal connection with your Ikran, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora makes your fight with the RDA as personal as it is for the Zeswa.
Avatar: The Frontiers of Pandora is available December 7, 2023 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
