The Unsuccessful Prototype Fleetpod is a delightfully quirky, insect-like construct that looks like it rolled right off a First Ones' assembly line—and perhaps it should have stayed there. Its awkward, multi-legged design and slightly off-kilter mechanical shell hint at its "unsuccessful" nature, making it a fun and unique addition for collectors who appreciate the eccentric side of Zereth Mortis. The flavour text playfully admits its flaws: "The First Ones were masters of creation, but even they had their off days. This particular prototype was deemed 'too wobbly' for mass production." For players who enjoy a crafting journey that includes a hidden room, a mini-game, and a bit of exploration, the Unsuccessful Prototype Fleetpod is a charming and rewarding mount.
Introduced in patch 9.2.0 "Eternity's End", the Unsuccessful Prototype Fleetpod is crafted at the Protoform Repository. While the core crafting process is standard, obtaining its schematic requires you to solve a unique puzzle room hidden deep within the Resonant Peaks. You will need to unlock the room, gather Cosmic Energy, and navigate a small snail-based mini-game to grab the pattern. For those who love a good puzzle mixed with their crafting, this mount is an excellent target.
The Unsuccessful Prototype Fleetpod 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 Tools of Incomprehensible Experimentation from the raid boss.
Before you can begin your journey to obtain the Unsuccessful Prototype Fleetpod, 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
Securing the Schematic: Unsuccessful Prototype Fleetpod is the most involved part of this journey. It's not just sitting in a chest; you will have to meet strict research requirements, charge up a teleporter, and successfully complete a short mini-game.
1. Prerequisites: Before you can even think about the schematic, you must have researched specific nodes in the Cypher Console. If you haven't already, unlock both Aealic Understanding and Metrial Understanding. Additionally, you must have finished the A Means to an End achievement, which is earned by completing the 6th chapter of the Zereth Mortis campaign.
2. Unlocking the Room: Next, you need to unlock the hidden chamber containing the schematic. Head to the very top of the Resonant Peaks—you can get there by using the Locus Shift teleportation system or simply by flying. Look for a triangular building guarded by two Cradle Keepers. Walk around to the back side of this building; right in the middle, you'll spot a clickable rune (see the images below). Clicking this rune is the key to unlocking the Camber Alcove room.
3. Cosmic Energy: Now, before heading to the unlocked room, you must gather at least 60 Cosmic Energy. This resource is required to operate the Locus Shift teleporters. While in the Resonant Peaks, a progress bar will appear on your screen. You can fill it by slaying creatures and collecting the glowing white orbs they leave behind. Alternatively, you can absorb energy slowly by standing inside the glowing white pools scattered around the area.
4. Navigating the Teleporters: With 60 energy in hand, make your way to the Gravid Repose, which is located very close by in the Resonant Peaks. Look for the triangular archway guarded by another Cradle Keeper and head down into the cave.
Inside the Gravid Repose, interact with the central Locus Shift and select the Interior Locus Arrangement. Once you arrive in this new room, ignore the teleporter in the center and instead walk to the one located behind it.
5. The Snail Mini-game: Interact with the second Locus Shift in the back of the room and select the Camber Alcove Arrangement. You are now in the room you unlocked earlier! Inside, you will see an Inert Prototype surrounded by multiple Sodiate Dust Piles. Interact with the Inert Prototype to start a mini-game where you are shrunk down and placed inside a small snail vehicle.
You will move at a constant, slow speed. Your goal is to guide the snail through five glowing rings around the room while avoiding the Sodiate Dust Piles. Hitting a dust pile will slow you down further; if you hit three of them, you will be ejected from the vehicle and forced to start over. Successfully passing through all five rings will eject you and spawn a Prototype Schematic treasure on the floor. Loot it to obtain your Schematic: Unsuccessful Prototype Fleetpod! To exit, use the Locus Shift to go to the Arcae Locus, and then take the central teleporter back to the Gravid Repose.
Mini-game
Schematic
Before you can head to the Protoform Repository, you need to gather the specific reagents for this mount. Alongside the standard Genesis Motes and Helicid Lattice, you will also need to hunt down a drop from a raid boss.
You will need the Tools of Incomprehensible Experimentation. This item has a low drop chance off of Lihuvim, the 7th boss of the Sepulcher of the First Ones raid. It can be looted on any difficulty.
As of patch 10.1.5, you can easily solo queue for all Shadowlands LFR wings. To do so, travel to Oribos and speak to the NPC Ta'elfar to queue up. Ta'elfar is located in the Enclave section of Oribos, very close to the Necrolord recruiters. Lihuvim is in the "Cornerstone of Creation" section of LFR, but you must first defeat Dausegne and the Prototype Pantheon before you can reach him.
You will need to acquire a Helicid Lattice. Your fastest route is to simply buy one from the Auction House. If you want to save gold and farm it manually, you can try your luck killing Helicid mobs around Zereth Mortis, though the drop rate is quite low.
Finally, you need a stockpile of 300 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 Unsuccessful Prototype Fleetpod!
Farming this mount involves a mix of weekly questing, Cypher research, and solving the puzzle room in the Resonant Peaks. These addons will help you navigate and track your progress.
Pro tip: Use HandyNotes to mark the Resonant Peaks building on your map. The rune is easy to miss if you don't know exactly where to look on the back side of the structure.
