Get Curious Slateback mount

Curious Slateback is an epic ground mount added in patch 11.2 "Ghosts of K'aresh" of The War Within expansion. The mount drops from the Wriggling Pinnacle Cache, which you receive for completing the weekly world quest Ecological Succession.

• Unique model — slatebacks have a distinctive appearance that sets them apart from familiar mounts. Their massive shell and stocky build make them instantly recognizable
• Current content — the mount is tied to the "Ecological Succession" activity from patch 11.2, where you restore the ecosystem of K'aresh. Earning the mount comes with engaging gameplay
• Account-wide — once learned, the mount becomes available on every character on your account
• No special achievements required — unlike many patch 11.2 mounts, the Curious Slateback is not tied to achievements or lengthy quest chains. You simply need to complete the weekly quest and wait for luck

The mount drops from the Wriggling Pinnacle Cache — the reward for the weekly world quest "Ecological Succession" on K'aresh. The drop chance is approximately 7–8% (about 1 in 13), so it may take several weeks to obtain the mount.

Prerequisites

1. A level 80 character
2. Complete chapter 4 of the K'aresh campaign
3. Complete the introductory Oasis quest chain, which you can pick up from Om'talad

1. Head to K'aresh and reach the Oasis — the eco-dome in the northeastern part of the map
2. Pick up the weekly world quest Ecological Succession at the Oasis console
3. Fill the progress bar to 100% by completing various activities in the Oasis (details below)
4. Once the quest is complete, you automatically receive the Wriggling Pinnacle Cache
5. Open the cache — with a small chance, it will contain the Curious Slateback
6. Use the item to learn the mount

The weekly "Ecological Succession" quest requires you to fill the progress bar to 100%. Here are all the available activities and the progress percentage each one grants.

Repeatable quests from experts (up to 20% each)

The main source of progress. Pick up repeatable quests from the specialists in the Oasis — Ve'nari, Botanist Alaenra, and Hemet Nesingwary. Each completed quest grants up to 20% progress.

Fishing — catching hydrobites (1% per catch)

Head to the bodies of water in the Oasis and fish. Each hydrobite you catch grants 1% progress. There is no limit on attempts, which makes fishing a reliable way to top up the missing percentage.

Collecting data from drones (3–4% each)

Small data-collection drones are scattered throughout the Oasis. Interact with them to gain 3–4% progress per drone.

Watering plants (3% each)

Find watering cans and water the plants in the Oasis. Each plant you water adds 3% to your progress.

Digging up soil (3% each)

Look for patches of dug-up soil and interact with them to gain 3% progress.

Talking to merchants (2–8%)

Speak with the visiting merchants in the Oasis. Depending on the dialogue choices you make, you will gain between 2 and 8% progress.

Killing rare creatures (up to 20%)

Find and kill rare staarbs in the open space to gain a significant amount of progress.

In addition to the chance at the mount, the cache contains the following rewards:

• Gear — Veteran-level items (the first two caches per week)
• Valorstones — currency for upgrading equipment
• Resonance Crystals — additional currency
• Restored Coffer Key — for opening coffers in dungeons (the first four caches per week)
• Carved Ethereal Crests — for upgrading equipment
• Pets — the cache may contain various companions, such as the Azure Beetle, Copper Beetle, Turquoise Siphonmite, Dainty Cosmic Ray Calf, and others

Efficiently filling the progress bar

The optimal order of actions for quickly completing the weekly quest:

1. Pick up all available repeatable quests from the experts in the Oasis
2. Complete the quests — this will grant the bulk of your progress
3. Collect all data drones along the way
4. Water any plants you encounter and dig up soil patches
5. Talk to the visiting merchants
6. If you are short of 100%, top up with fishing, which is available in unlimited quantity

A single completion of the weekly quest takes 15–30 minutes once you know where the activities are. Given a drop chance of about 7–8%, it may take you anywhere from 1 to 15 or more weeks to obtain the mount. On average, the mount drops within 10–13 attempts.

Progress on multiple characters

The weekly "Ecological Succession" quest can be completed on every level 80 character who has unlocked access to the Oasis. This lets you open several caches per week and increases your chances of obtaining the mount.