How do mounts work in Build an Ant Empire?

Take an ant that is not placed in your nest to the Mount Trainer, the cowboy ant in the middle of the map near the Item Shop, and train it. If it succeeds the ant becomes a mount you can ride; if it fails the ant is gone for good, and rarer ants have a lower success rate — flying ants lower still, and OP ants fail most of the time. Mounts only make you move faster — they do not change your income — but they make the Vine climb much easier, and winged ants hover. A trained mount does not go back into the nest. Use a spare duplicate such as a Golden Ant or Wheel Ant, never your best worker; the Snail pet can also be ridden without risking an ant.

The Snail pet can, so it is a mount option that does not risk an ant.

What happens to the ant if training fails?

It is lost permanently. The game shows a "You failed" message and the ant does not come back.

Do mounts make my ants work faster?

No. A mount only moves you around faster; it does not change your colony's income.

Which ant is the best mount?

The Wheel Ant for its look, and winged ants because they hover (though they are harder to train). Any spare ant works.

Can I put a mount back in my nest?

No. A trained mount stays a mount; unequipping it does not return it to the nest.

Build An Ant Empire - Mounts

Any ant can become a rideable mount at the Mount Trainer — if training succeeds.

What are mounts?

A mount is an ant you ride to get around the map faster. The Mount Trainer turns an ant into a mount, but training can fail and the ant is then lost. Mounts do not earn food; they make the Vine climb and grabbing event coins much easier.

Key terms:Mount Mount Trainer Vine Full glossary

Mount Trainer – Build an Ant Empire — Mount Trainer

Riding an ant

Training failed

Rules

Talk to the Mount Trainer (cowboy ant) while holding an ant that is not placed in the nest.
Any ant can become a mount, but rarer ants have a lower success rate — and the trainer warns that flying ants have an even lower chance.
Cheap ants usually succeed first try; four $25M Roller Ants in a row and about 40 OP ants have all failed.
If training fails, the ant is gone for good — use spare duplicates, never your best worker.
A mount moves you around faster and makes the Vine climb easy. Winged ants hover.

More detail in the mount training guide.

Seen in these videos

How to train a mount

Pick up the ant you want to ride. It must not be placed in your nest — take it out of its slot first.
Go to the Mount Trainer, the cowboy ant near the Item Shop in the middle of the map.
Choose "I want to train this" and confirm. A short training animation plays.
If training succeeds, you are riding the ant straight away. If it fails, the game says so and the ant is gone.

Success and failure

The trainer warns that all ants have a chance to become mounts, rare ants have a lower success rate, and if training fails you lose the ant. Both outcomes are common: a Golden Ant can be lost on the first try and the next one succeed; cheap ants, Wheel Ants and even a winged Celestial have succeeded; four Roller Ants in a row and dozens of OP ants have failed. Flying ants have an even lower chance.

The game does not show the exact odds, so there is no safe way to train an ant you cannot afford to lose. Use duplicates and spare low-rarity ants.

Which ant to ride

The Wheel Ant is the favourite — an ant that already has wheels is a natural ride. Winged ants such as the Starwing let you hover, though not fly freely. Any ant works, so choose a cheap duplicate of one you like the look of. The Snail pet can be ridden too.

Riding makes you faster around the map, which helps with Strawberry Coins and especially the Vine climb — a mount can ride straight up the beanstalk.

Mount ideas

Cheapest and safest: a spare Common or Uncommon — if it fails you lose almost nothing.
Best looking: a duplicate Wheel Ant, the most popular mount.
Hover mount: a winged ant such as the Starwing Ant, if you ever have a spare.
Pet mount: the Snail pet can be ridden without risking an ant at all.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How do mounts work in Build an Ant Empire?: Take an ant that is not placed in your nest to the Mount Trainer, the cowboy ant in the middle of the map near the Item Shop, and train it. If it succeeds the ant becomes a mount you can ride; if it fails the ant is gone for good, and rarer ants have a lower success rate — flying ants lower still, and OP ants fail most of the time. Mounts only make you move faster — they do not change your income — but they make the Vine climb much easier, and winged ants hover. A trained mount does not go back into the nest. Use a spare duplicate such as a Golden Ant or Wheel Ant, never your best worker; the Snail pet can also be ridden without risking an ant.
Can pets be ridden?: The Snail pet can, so it is a mount option that does not risk an ant.
What happens to the ant if training fails?: It is lost permanently. The game shows a "You failed" message and the ant does not come back.
Do mounts make my ants work faster?: No. A mount only moves you around faster; it does not change your colony's income.
Which ant is the best mount?: The Wheel Ant for its look, and winged ants because they hover (though they are harder to train). Any spare ant works.
Can I put a mount back in my nest?: No. A trained mount stays a mount; unequipping it does not return it to the nest.