The Curious Crystalsniffer is a charming, crystal-seeking vombata whose unerring ability to locate buried treasures makes it one of the most endearing mounts from the enigmatic realm of Zereth Mortis. Its crystalline hide, inquisitive nature, and the way it sniffs out precious gems make it a favourite among collectors who appreciate mounts with a unique, treasure-hunting personality. The flavour text speaks to its peculiar talent: "Most vombata enjoy tunneling through the ground, but these sniffers seem to have an unerring ability to locate crystals buried deep underground and will congregate around large deposits." For collectors who value prestige and the satisfaction of crafting a mount through the Protoform Synthesis system, this curious creature is a true trophy — a symbol of your dedication to uncovering the secrets of the First Ones.
Introduced in patch 9.2.0 "Eternity's End", the Curious Crystalsniffer is a crafted mount obtained through the Protoform Synthesis system in Zereth Mortis. Unlike many mounts that drop from bosses or can be purchased outright, this one requires a significant investment of time and resources: unlocking the Protoform Repository, obtaining a rare schematic from the Sepulcher of the First Ones raid, and gathering three distinct crafting materials. The journey spans multiple activities across Zereth Mortis, from daily quests and world bosses to rare hunting and treasure gathering. For players who enjoy structured progression and the satisfaction of creating something truly unique, the Curious Crystalsniffer offers a rewarding and memorable goal.
The Curious Crystalsniffer is crafted at the Protoform Repository in Zereth Mortis. To craft it, you will need to gather three specific materials: 400 Genesis Motes, 1 Crystallized Echo of the First Song, and 1 Vombata Lattice. However, before you can craft the mount, you must complete several prerequisites: unlock the Protoform Synthesis system, obtain the schematic, and gather all the required materials. This is a 100% guaranteed acquisition once you have everything — there is no RNG involved in the crafting itself, only in obtaining the schematic and materials.
Before you can begin your journey to obtain the Curious Crystalsniffer, you must first gain access to Zereth Mortis. To get there, you must have completed Chapter 2 in the 9.1 (Korthia) campaign. The last quest required is Charge of the Covenants. After it is completed, you should get a popup to start the Zereth Mortis (9.2) campaign. You get a portal to Zereth Mortis on the top floor of Oribos after completing the quest This Old Waystone, which is part of the campaign.
If you leave Zereth Mortis before completing that quest, you can speak to Tal-Inara in Oribos to return.
To unlock Protoform Synthesis, you must complete up to the end of Chapter 3 in the 9.2 campaign. You will receive the quest Cyphers of the First Ones, which unlocks the Cypher Console. The Cypher Console is powered by Cyphers of the First Ones, a currency earned from various activities in Zereth Mortis.
How to earn Cyphers of the First Ones:
To unlock the Protoform Repository, you must progress through the Cypher Console research tree. The total cost and time investment is significant, so plan accordingly:
The Protoform Repository is located at the following coordinates:
Protoform Repository
Protoform Repository
To craft the Curious Crystalsniffer, you first need the Schematic: Curious Crystalsniffer. This schematic is found inside the Sepulcher of the First Ones raid, specifically in the Halondrus boss encounter area.
Important Details:
/way 63.18 51.92 — Schematic location in the second room of the Halondrus encounter.
Schematic location
Schematic location
Next, you will need a Crystallized Echo of the First Song. These are mostly found near the waterfalls surrounding the Sepulcher of the First Ones raid entrance, but there is also one east of the Catalyst Gardens. If you have sound enabled, you should hear faint musical tones playing from it, which can help you locate it.
Possible spawn locations:
You will need 1 Vombata Lattice. These are purchasable on the Auction House, which is the fastest method if you have the gold. If you prefer to farm it yourself, it has a low drop chance from Vombata mobs in Zereth Mortis, such as Grasslands Vombata or Sorranos.
You will need 400 Genesis Motes. These drop from most mobs in Zereth Mortis, making them relatively easy to accumulate through normal gameplay. However, you must farm these crafting reagents yourself as they are Bind-on-Pickup and cannot be traded or purchased.
Recommended farming spot: Devourers spawn regularly from the blue portal, and the automa NPCs in the area will help you kill them. This location allows for rapid kills and efficient Mote collection.
After you have gathered all of the required materials — 400 Genesis Motes, 1 Crystallized Echo of the First Song, and 1 Vombata Lattice — head over to the Protoform Repository at /way 68.5 30.1. Interact with the repository and search for "Curious Crystalsniffer." Once you've found it, click "Create" to craft your new mount. Congratulations!
Farming the Curious Crystalsniffer requires navigating Zereth Mortis efficiently, tracking rare spawns, and gathering materials. The right addons can help you stay organised and save time.
Pro tip: Use HandyNotes: Shadowlands to see all rare and treasure locations on your map. Combine it with RareScanner for audio alerts when something spawns nearby, and use TomTom to navigate to the Crystallized Echo spawn points efficiently.
