Dire wolf



Dire wolves (or direwolves) are especially large and powerful wolves. Many, if not all, dire wolves appear to be native to Draenor. Dire wolves serve as the mounts of orcish raiders and can also be summoned by far seers as spirit wolves.

The orcs at Thunderlord Stronghold in the Blade's Edge Mountains in Outland keep a pack of dire wolves as mounts, sentries and friends, as do the nearby Bloodmaul clan of ogres.

Dire wolves were once thought to be extinct except in the far north. They are highly sought by those preparing for winter. The smoky direwolf is believed to reside mostly in the north and hates weddings. Cautious by direwolf standards, the dustmane can only be coaxed to ride with something it considers special.

As a mount

 * Horn of the Dire Wolf can be purchased from in Orgrimmar at a cost of  upon reaching  with Orgrimmar, or if one's character is an orc.
 * Infernal Direwolf is rewarded from Glory of the Hellfire Raider.
 * Riding Harness can be crafted by Leatherworkers.
 * Smoky Direwolf has a chance to be found in Invader's Forgotten Treasure.
 * Mag'har Direwolf

Trivia

 * Alzzin the Wildshaper, a satyr druid in Dire Maul, uses Dire Wolf Form

In the RPG
Dire wolves look like normal wolves, but these creatures are nearly twice the size. These powerful beasts, 8-9 feet long and weighing 600-800 pounds, are the most well-known orc mounts. As tall as a man, these great wolves have long tusked jaws that look like they could snap an iron bar. They have burning red eyes. Dire wolves are mottled gray or black in color. Dire wolves thrive in the northern regions of Kalimdor and in Mulgore. Though they can be trained as vicious combatants, most will avoid humans and other races, preferring to hunt down game. Untamed dire wolves hunt and fight much like their smaller brethren. Any substantial opposition will cause a pack to break off, looking for easier prey. Trained dire wolves will attempt to bite at vulnerable tendons in the legs or try to pierce the necks of opposing mounts. Dire wolves are efficient pack hunters that kill anything they catch. Orcs have always been enthralled with the creatures' cunning and strength, and train them as their preferred mounts. Dire wolves prefer to attack in packs, surrounding and flanking a foe when they can. Orcs sometimes use these fearsome monsters as mounts, preferring them to warhorses for their dexterity and ferocity.

Speculation
Darkwolves may have been domesticated dire wolves.