How to D.R.I.V.E. in Undermine without driving yourself crazy (or having too many wrecks)

If you’ve done more than dip your toes into the new Undermine(d) update for World of Warcraft: The War Within, then you’ve probably tried out the new D.R.I.V.E. system added in patch 11.1. Much like the Skyriding feature introduced in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, D.R.I.V.E. (short for Dynamic and Revolutionary Improvements to Vehicular Experiences) is a momentum-based form of travel designed to move 3-5 times the speed of normal ground mounts. As those of you who played Dragonflight might expect, this new vehicle came with a bit of a learning curve.

So how do you avoid hitting walls in your brand new G-99 Breakneck when you’re basically moving as fast as a speeding dragon along a crowded city street? We have some tips on how to get the most out of your new ride (without getting motion sick).

Learning to D.R.I.V.E.

If you don’t yet have your own car, you’ll need to finish a few quests to unlock it. Work your way through the main Undermine storyline until you receive the quest No More Walkin’ Here from Gas Grimeshank. This will take you to Nanny Talullah at the D.R.I.V.E. shop in west central Undermine. (She’s up on the third floor, on the balcony to your left.)

/way #2346 37.40, 48.86 Nanny Talullah

You’ll want to come here a lot, so take note of the marker on your map. Now pick up the quest License Not Required, which will introduce you to the basics of the system and let you play around with it. Most importantly, it will introduce you to Mobber, your mechanic.

/way #2346 37.71, 47.04 Mobber

You can speak to Mobber both during the quest and after you finish to access the D.R.I.V.E. system pane. Mouse down to the Turbo option and select Wildfuel Mk. 0 to complete this step of the quest, then take a look at your Engine options before you leave.

Improving D.R.I.V.E. control

If you have trouble controlling your car (or it makes you motion sick) you have some options to slow yourself down and get better handling. You will have two engine types to choose from when you first speak to Mobber. The G77C Ultra is a relatively slow engine (you will pick up faster ones later), but if that’s still too much for you, you can swap to the Controlled Cruiser and sacrifice top velocity for improved acceleration. While this is a significant reduction in speed, it should also reduce the visual effects which can cause motion sickness for susceptible players.

If you like the G77C Ultra but want a little more control, you may want to acquire the 22H Slicks tire upgrade for better grip while drifting, and/or the Handcrank turbo option for reduced boosting speed. Both of these items can be found on the Auction House if you don’t have the Engineering skill/patience to acquire them the old-fashioned way.

You can see the rest of the G-99 Breakneck’s customization options here, including custom paint colors and horn sounds which can be unlocked by gaining reputation with the various cartels. (If you’re going to get into D.R.I.V.E. racing, I recommend the Pozzik Standard engine.)

Mobber can also give you a personal Caddy Caller, which will allow you to accept jobs without being in your car. If you still can’t get the hang of the D.R.I.V.E. system even with these modifications, this will let you stick to a regular ground mount while you do jobs for Nanny Talullah.

How to Drift like a pro

Any experienced D.R.I.V.E. operator will tell you that brakes are for suckers. In order to make those tight turns without losing speed, you’re going to need to learn to Drift.

The “how” is fairly simple. To start a Drift, you need to be moving fast and turning before you hit spacebar. If you don’t start the turn first, you’ll simply catch air instead.

Drifting serves two functions while driving in Undermine. First and most obviously, it allows you to change the direction you’re facing without slowing down first. This means that you will need to start the drift before you reach your turn. As soon as you release your Drift, you will zoom off toward whatever target your nose is pointing at, so make you’re turning with your mouse and not your keyboard.

The second function of Drifting is to recharge your Turbo bar. For every half-second you Drift, you will generate 2 Turbo, up to a maximum of 100. (You also regain 5 Turbo for every Kaja’Cola can you drive over, so keep an eye out for those glowing cans in the road.) You need Turbo in order to use your Boost ability, so don’t be afraid to Drift at every opportunity.

Keep in mind that you can only Drift in one direction at a time. While it is tempting to hold your Drift as long as possible, remember to let up for a moment in the middle of an S-curve so you don’t skid into a wall. You should also not attempt to Drift immediately after a boost, since turning can be unpredictable at those speeds.

If you really need the extra Turbo, you can also Drift in a straight line. Because you can only turn in one direction after you start a Drift, turning the other way will cause you to skid forward in the direction you were going last, sometimes for quite some distance.

Remember: if you’re not burning rubber, you’re doing it wrong!

An excuse to D.R.I.V.E.

So why bother learning this new system in the first place? If speeding from quest to quest isn’t enough for you, there are a few other incentives.

First off, you can D.R.I.V.E. inside the Liberation of Undermine raid. It may be a little tricky to find the G-99 Breakneck in your Mounts pane, so I recommend you swap to your raid talent build before you get inside, then drag the zone ability button onto your action bar. (As far as I’m aware, you still can’t use D.R.I.V.E. during boss fights. Sorry.) Party members can also hop in the car with you for a quick ride back to the boss after a wipe.

The second big reason is Trader’s Tender. There are several tasks in the Adventure Guide this month which can be completed by driving around Undermine, such as using your Boost 100 times, collecting 200 Kaja’Cola cans while in your car, and Drifting 1000 times in the city. (I know 1000 looks like a big number, but I got it in less than 4 days.) If you need a more Tender to spend on butterflies and unicorns, then it’s time to get your D.R.I.V.E. on.