The Heartbond Lupine is a beautiful, ethereal wolf mount whose spectral form and luminous, rune-covered pelt make it one of the most striking creatures born from the Protoform Synthesis system in Zereth Mortis. Unlike the aggressive predators you might expect, this lupine carries a serene, almost protective aura. The flavour text hints at its unique bond: "These loyal beasts were crafted to protect the souls of the departed, and they carry a deep connection to the magic of the First Ones." For collectors who appreciate the more mystical and elegant side of the First Ones' creations, the Heartbond Lupine is a magnificent and highly rewarding mount to add to your collection.
Introduced in patch 9.2.0 "Eternity's End", the Heartbond Lupine is crafted at the Protoform Repository. While the core crafting process requires the usual unlocking of the Cypher Console, obtaining the specific components for this mount sends you on a hunt for a specific mob in a cave and a search for a hidden musical crystal near the waterfalls of the zone. For players who enjoy a crafting journey that takes them across the map and into hidden corners of Zereth Mortis, this mount is an excellent target.
The Heartbond Lupine mount is crafted via the Protoform Synthesis system in Zereth Mortis. To craft it, you will need to combine the following materials:
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 the drop chance for the schematic and the specific spawn point for the musical crystal.
Before you can begin your journey to obtain the Heartbond Lupine, 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
Your first step toward crafting is acquiring the Schematic: Heartbond Lupine. Fortunately, you won't need to complete any complex puzzles for this one—it drops from a specific mob in the wild. Head to the Lupine Cave in Zereth Mortis and hunt down the Maw-Frenzied Lupine. The drop isn't guaranteed, but the good news is that the mob respawns incredibly quickly (roughly every minute). You can simply camp the cave and keep killing it until the schematic finally drops.
Before you can head to the Protoform Repository, you need to gather the specific reagents for this mount. Alongside the standard Genesis Motes and Lupine Lattice, you will also need to hunt down a rare drop for the Crystallized Echo of the First Song.
You will need to find a Crystallized Echo of the First Song. This elusive item typically spawns near the waterfalls surrounding the Sepulcher of the First Ones raid entrance, though one can also be found east of the Catalyst Gardens. A helpful trick to locating it is to turn your in-game sound on; the crystal emits a faint, melodic musical tone that will guide you right to it.
Possible spawn locations:
To provide the body for your new mount, you will need a Lupine Lattice. The most hassle-free way to get this is to simply check the Auction House and buy one. If you prefer to save your gold and farm it yourself, you can hunt down the various Lupine mobs scattered around Zereth Mortis. Be warned, however, that the drop rate from these mobs is quite low, so it may take a while. The primary areas where these wolves roam are circled in red on the map below.
Finally, you need a stockpile of 500 Genesis Motes. Since these are Bind-on-Pickup, you have to farm them yourself from the mobs of Zereth Mortis. A very efficient location to do this is the blue portal area, where Devourers spawn endlessly and friendly automa NPCs assist in taking them down quickly.
After you have gathered all of the required materials, head over to the Protoform Repository. You can now craft your Heartbond Lupine!
Farming the Heartbond Lupine involves a mix of weekly questing, Cypher research, and hunting down specific mobs and items in the open world. These addons will help you navigate and track your progress.
Pro tip: Use HandyNotes to mark the Lupine Cave on your map. If you are farming the schematic, you can leave your character there and simply check back periodically while doing other activities in the zone.
