Conan Exiles DLC: Riders of Hyboria – Riding & Cavalry

On 5 December 2019, Funcom released the Riders of Hyboria Pack, a DLC that fundamentally reshaped the world of Conan Exiles. It accompanied one of the game’s biggest free updates – the introduction of the riding and cavalry system. With this pack, movement became a central pillar of the game. Where footslogging and arduous journeys once ruled, horses suddenly opened up new dimensions of mobility, combat and exploration.

The Riders of Hyboria Pack is therefore far more than a cosmetic add-on. It stands for freedom. It brought not only new mounts and armour, but also a sense of scale, adventure and control over your surroundings. For the first time, players could traverse the lands of Hyboria on horseback – a moment many consider a turning point in the history of Conan Exiles.

With this DLC, Funcom blended aesthetics, functionality and speed with finesse. It crowned a year of experimentation – and opened the gate to a new era in the Exiled Lands.

Conan Exiles riding: introduction to the Riders of Hyboria DLC

Riders of Hyboria introduced riding as a core gameplay element. Players could tame, raise, equip and deploy horses in combat. This fundamentally changed the game’s rhythm: travel became faster, fights more strategic, and exploring the world more exciting.

The DLC complemented the system with exclusive cosmetic content that deepened the experience. New saddles, horse armour, clothing and weapons gave riders a clear visual identity. Whether desert warrior, nomad or noble knight – everyone could shape their mounted persona to taste.

Horses also added a new social dimension. On multiplayer servers, players met up for races, organised cavalry units, or hosted riding tournaments. The riding system quickly became a fixture of the game – and the Riders of Hyboria Pack provided the perfect foundation.

Conan Exiles horse armour & saddles: builds for speed and protection

A key highlight of the DLC is the new horse armour. It comes in multiple styles inspired by the various cultures of Hyboria.

The light riding armour, made from leather and cloth, emphasises agility and flair. It suits players who value speed and prefer scouting or hunting. The medium and heavy options, by contrast, focus on protection and presence. Particularly striking is the Turanian variant, with metal plates and blue fabric accents, making horse and rider feel like a single unit.

The saddles also offer impressive variety. There are variants geared towards stamina, speed and balance. Players can decide whether to outfit a nimble mount or a hulking warhorse. Every combination noticeably changes the riding feel, adding a tactical layer.

This level of customisation made horses in Conan Exiles more than mere transport – they became companions and symbols of status and identity.

Rider armour & weapons in the Riders of Hyboria DLC

Alongside horse gear, the Riders of Hyboria Pack introduced a range of new armour and weapons for the player. These designs reflect the cultures of the horse tribes, feared across Hyboria for their mobility and martial prowess.

The rider armours are practical yet stylish, combining leather, metal and fabric to deliver protection with elegance. Especially notable is the Poitain armour – a blend of knightly aesthetics and barbaric pragmatism. It offers solid defence and pairs perfectly with the pack’s heavily armoured horses.

The DLC also added new weapon sets, including curved blades, lances and shortswords suited to mounted combat. Animations were crafted to flow seamlessly with riding movements. The result was a fresh combat dimension: swift attacks from the saddle, precise strikes as you ride past, and tactical control of distance.

This mix of armour and weaponry created an authentic cavalry feel that continues to delight players.

Decorations for nomads: tents, banners and rider camps in Conan Exiles

Riders of Hyboria also expanded the game with thematically fitting decorations. Tents, campfires, banners and horse statues can be placed in settlements or rider camps. These objects capture the atmosphere of a nomadic lifestyle – on the move, free and unbound.

Many of these items tell stories of wanderers and warriors living in the borderlands. Combined with other DLCs, such as the Savage Frontier or Treasures of Turan Pack, they create striking visual contrasts between settled cultures and the peoples of the steppe.

Particularly popular are the new banners and standards, perfect for clan symbols. They give riders a shared identity and reinforce the game’s social aspect.

Cavalry combat mechanics in Conan Exiles: PvE and PvP balancing

The introduction of mounts brought major changes to the combat system. The DLC arrived not only with new equipment, but with revised balancing as well. Horses now have their own hitboxes, stamina and attack values.

Fights became more dynamic: you can loose arrows while riding, wield lances at full gallop, and trample or skewer foes with precise charges. Funcom aimed for realistic movement without overcomplicating controls. The outcome is an intuitive system that works in both PvE and PvP.

With the Riders of Hyboria Pack, players also gained cosmetic variants of mounts, including different coat colours and patterns. This personalisation further cemented riding as a core aspect of the game.

Lore and atmosphere: what horses mean in Hyboria

In the world of Conan, horses symbolise freedom and power. From the nomadic riders of the Hyborian plains to the noble warriors of the western kingdoms, they stand for mobility, prestige and the art of war.

The Riders of Hyboria Pack brings this cultural backdrop into the game. Its equipment and decorations reflect different riding traditions, while the music and borderland landscapes provide a fitting stage.

Players can forge their own riding nation – from desert tribes racing across dunes on swift horses to armoured knights asserting dominance with lance and sword. This variety makes the DLC a bridge between the game’s diverse cultural styles.

Technical implementation of mounts: performance, animations & integration

Technically, the Riders of Hyboria Pack was one of Funcom’s biggest challenges to date. The riding system required new animations, collision models and physics adjustments. Despite the complexity, the integration proved impressively stable.

Horses move fluidly, respond precisely to commands, and behave believably at different speeds and across varied terrain. The new equipment is rendered without noticeable performance loss. The saddle and armour textures are among the most detailed in the game.

Even on consoles, riding remained smooth, earning both the update and the DLC wide acclaim.

Verdict on the Riders of Hyboria DLC: freedom on four hooves

The Riders of Hyboria Pack is a watershed in the history of Conan Exiles. It delivered not just new content, but a new way to experience the world. With it, Hyboria became bigger, faster and more alive.

Players who once trudged through the wasteland could now ride, fight and journey as the legends of Conan describe. The DLC amplifies that feeling with style, variety and atmosphere – from humble nomad to armoured knight.

If you want to feel the boundless freedom of the steppe, Riders of Hyboria is a must-have. And with your own Conan Exiles server from 4Netplayers, you can enjoy the experience in full depth. Host tournaments, form cavalry regiments, or roam the wilds together – free, proud and indomitable, just as Hyboria demands.

Rent your own Conan Exiles server now