While dire wolves are always formidable foes and are intimidating creatures by nature, they become even more terrifying when intelligent races train them to be used as combat mounts. War horses are fierce and powerful due to their size and stamina, but a dire wolf can attack alongside its rider, using the distractions its rider provides to deliver fierce strikes of its own. These wolves are decorated in thick metal splint armor that provides ample protection, but costs a great deal more than armor for a humanoid. It costs nearly as much as a set of plate mail to make armor for a wolf, so it is often saved for the elite guard. Enemies know that when an armored wolf is charging into combat, they need to fear its rider even more than the mount, despite the wolf's ferocity.