Get Deathrunner mount

Deathrunner is an epic ground mount added in patch 9.2 "Eternity's End" of the Shadowlands expansion. It is a red progenitor stag created through the Protoform Synthesis system in Zereth Mortis. According to its in-game description, "these wild stags find peace only on the run — through the lands of Death, or between them."

The Deathrunner belongs to the progenitor stag family and shares its model with three other mounts: the Anointed Protostag, the Pale Regal Stag, and the Sundered Zerethsteed. It stands out with its rich red coloration and golden runic patterns.

• Guaranteed acquisition — the Deathrunner schematic is awarded for completing the "A New Architect" quest chain. You don't have to rely on a random drop — just finish the chain and gather the materials
• Unique model — a red progenitor stag with an elegant running animation. Among the four stags of this type, the Deathrunner stands out with its vivid coloration
• Available to all characters — once learned, the mount appears in the collection on every character on the account
• Zereth Mortis theme — the mount fits perfectly into the aesthetic of the zone of the First Ones and underscores your connection to the secrets of the Makers
• No raid farming required — unlike many Shadowlands mounts, creating the Deathrunner doesn't require repeatedly running a raid. The rare reagent is awarded by a quest

To create the mount, you need to unlock the Protoform Synthesis system, obtain the schematic, and gather the materials.

1. Complete the first three chapters of the Zereth Mortis campaign (the "Secrets of the First Ones" achievement)
2. Research the Metric Comprehension talent at the Cypher Console in the Enlightened Hold
3. Complete the "The Last Sigil" quest chain, which begins with the "In Search of Tahli" quest from Elder Amir (coordinates 63.9, 40.8)
4. Wait for the daily reset
5. Complete the second quest chain, "A New Architect," which begins at Tahli (coordinates 70.2, 28.6)
6. As a reward for the Schematic Reassimilation: Deathrunner quest, you receive the schematic and all the materials needed for the first creation
7. Head to the Automa Interface in the Protoform Vault and create the mount

Protoform Synthesis is the crafting system for mounts and pets in Zereth Mortis. To unlock mount creation, you must complete several stages.

Step 1: The Zereth Mortis campaign

Complete the first three chapters of the 9.2 campaign. This opens access to world quests, weekly quests, and the Cypher Console in the Enlightened Hold. Access to Zereth Mortis becomes available after completing the "Surge of Covenant" quest from the 9.1 campaign (Korthia) — then a portal opens on the upper floor of Oribos.

Step 2: The Cypher Console

The Cypher Console is located in the Enlightened Hold and uses the Cyphers of the First Ones currency. You need to research two talents in sequence:

1. Dealic Comprehension — unlocks pet creation and basic access to the system
2. Metric Comprehension — unlocks mount creation and the quest chains for obtaining schematics

Cyphers of the First Ones are earned through world quests, chests, and rare enemies in Zereth Mortis.

Step 3: The quest chains

After researching Metric Comprehension, two quest chains open:

1. "The Last Sigil" — begins at Elder Amir. Includes roughly 6 quests
2. "A New Architect" — the continuation, begins at Tahli after the daily reset. Completing this chain unlocks mount crafting and awards the Deathrunner schematic

Note: you must wait for the daily server reset between the two chains.

Three components are required to create the Deathrunner.

Genesis Mote (450 units)

Genesis Mote is the basic resource that drops from practically any mob in Zereth Mortis. They stack up to 5,000, so they take up only one bag slot.

Where to farm:

• The Fields of Beginnings (coordinates 42, 74) — high mob density and fast respawns
• Any world quest in the zone — mobs drop motes along the way
• Devourer invaders throughout the zone

With active farming, 450 motes are gathered in 30–60 minutes. By simply running Zereth Mortis content, you'll accumulate the required amount naturally over a few days.

Tools of Incomprehensible Experimentation (1 unit)

Tools of Incomprehensible Experimentation is a rare reagent required for all Protoform Synthesis mounts.

Sources:

• The "A New Architect" quest — guaranteed to award one on the first run of the chain. This is enough to create the Deathrunner
• Lihuvim — the seventh boss of the Sepulcher of the First Ones raid (any difficulty, ~6% chance)
• Oleura's Cache — purchased with Cyphers of the First Ones, low chance to contain the reagent

The item is account-bound and unique (maximum 3). One from the quest is enough for the Deathrunner.

Cervid Lattice (1 unit)

Cervid Lattice is a lattice that determines the form of the creature being created.

Sources:

• The "A New Architect" quest — awarded together with the schematic on the first run
• Stags in Zereth Mortis — low drop chance from the zone's deer-like mobs
• The Protoform Vault — can be found in a chest in the Vault
• The Auction House — if you don't want to farm, buy it at the Auction House

Once all materials are gathered and the schematic is obtained:

1. Head to the Protoform Vault (the entrance is in a cave at coordinates 68.5, 30.1 in the western part of the Locus-Walker's Index)
2. Find the Automa Interface — the NPC for crafting mounts
3. Select the Deathrunner schematic from the list of available ones
4. Make sure your bags contain all three components: 450 Genesis Motes, 1 Tools of Incomprehensible Experimentation, 1 Cervid Lattice
5. Click "Create" — the mount appears in your inventory
6. Use the item to add the mount to your collection

First visit

1. Make sure you have completed the second chapter of the 9.1 campaign (Korthia), including the "Surge of Covenant" quest
2. After completing it, you will be offered to start the 9.2 campaign — accept the starting quest
3. Follow the story chain that takes you to Zereth Mortis
4. Complete the introductory quests and unlock the Enlightened Hold

Quick access (after unlocking)

After completing the "The Old Lighthouse" quest in the 9.2 campaign, a permanent portal to Zereth Mortis appears on the upper floor of Oribos. Use it for instant travel.

Order of actions

At max level (80 in The War Within), all Zereth Mortis content is cleared quickly. The optimal plan:

1. Complete the three chapters of the 9.2 campaign — at level 80 this takes about an hour
2. Start saving up Cyphers of the First Ones: do world quests, open chests, kill rare mobs
3. Research Dealic Comprehension, then Metric Comprehension at the Cypher Console
4. Complete the "The Last Sigil" chain, wait for the reset, complete "A New Architect"
5. Obtain the schematic and materials from the quest — create the mount

How much time it takes

With focused farming at level 80, the entire process takes 3–5 days:

• Day 1 — the Zereth Mortis campaign (three chapters) and the start of gathering Cyphers of the First Ones
• Days 2–3 — accumulating Cyphers and researching talents at the Console (Dealic + Metric Comprehension)
• Day 4 — the "The Last Sigil" chain
• Day 5 — the "A New Architect" chain, obtaining the schematic and creating the mount

The actual time depends on how fast you accumulate Cyphers of the First Ones — researching the talents requires a certain amount of this currency.

Farming Cyphers of the First Ones

Cyphers are needed to research talents at the Console. The main sources:

• World quests — each gives 4–8 Cyphers
• Chests — scattered throughout Zereth Mortis, give 2–5 Cyphers each
• Rare enemies — give 3–6 Cyphers on the first kill of the day
• Puzzles — interactive objects in the zone reward Cyphers