War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
War stories, articles & game guides
Gamer
Tribute
2026
Expeditions,
War Stories &
Culture
“Ahh, you must be the promised patrol. Your timing couldn’t be better. I have urgent need of an extra pair of hands. We have a Drakkari prisoner who’s been sent here to undergo questioning. Before the interrogation begins, I require assistance in the creation of a truth serum. Creating a truth serum is tricky business, demanding keen instincts, perfect timing, and improvisation at every step.
Let me know when you’re ready, Night Elf. And remember, timing is everything!”
-Alchemist Finklestein
Alchemist Finklestein at Heb’Valok wants you to assist him in the creation of a truth serum. When you are ready to begin, you are to speak to him and follow his instructions.
You will be able to choose one of these rewards:
You will receive:
Upon completion of this quest you will gain:
Quest Giver: Alchemist Finklestein — Heb’Valok, Zul’Drak [35, 52]
Objective: Assist Finklestein in creating a truth serum by collecting 6 ingredients from his stockroom shelves and adding them to his cauldron, one at a time.
Quick Facts
How the Minigame Works
After accepting the quest, speak to Finklestein again and select “I’m ready to begin…” He calls out one ingredient at a time via raid boss whisper text. You have roughly 30 seconds per ingredient to locate it on the stockroom shelves, grab it, and run back to the cauldron to add it. After 6 successful ingredients, the serum is complete.
If you miss a timer on any ingredient, the quest fails and you must start over. You can abandon and re-accept by talking to Finklestein again.
Lab Layout
Finklestein’s lab has two stockrooms branching off the main cauldron room. Facing the cauldron with the entrance behind you:
Ingredient Location Tables
The most important thing to know is which room to run to. Floor items are easy to spot; shelf items require familiarity. Shelf/case data is as follows below, cross-referenced with room assignments.
| Ingredient | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Hairy Herring Heads | Crates on the floor |
| Muddy Mire Maggots | Grain sacks on the floor |
| Seasoned Slider Cider | Barrels on the floor |
These three are the easiest. If Finklestein calls for one of these, grab it from whichever room you’re closest to.
| Ingredient | What to Look For | Right Room Location |
|---|---|---|
| Icecrown Bottled Water | Thin blue bottles | Case 1, Shelf 2 |
| Knotroot | Large brown thorny roots | Case 1, Shelf 4 (bottom) |
| Pickled Eagle Egg | Large white eggs | Case 1, Shelf 2 |
| Pulverized Gargoyle Teeth | Small brown sacks | Case 1, Shelf 2 |
| Speckled Guano | Short bluish-gray jars | Case 2, Shelf 4 (bottom) |
| Spiky Spider Eggs | Spider egg sacks | Case 4, Shelf 3 |
Since these exist on both sides, check the right room first (it’s closer to the cauldron).
| Ingredient | Case | Shelf |
|---|---|---|
| Abomination Guts | 4 | 3 |
| Blight Crystal | 2 | 3 |
| Chilled Serpent Mucus | 1 | 3 |
| Crushed Basilisk Crystals | 2 | 4 (bottom) |
| Frozen Spider Ichor | 3 | 3 |
| Ingredient | Case | Shelf |
|---|---|---|
| Amberseed | 1 | 3 |
| Ancient Ectoplasm | 1 | 3 |
| Crystallized Hogsnot | 1 | 3 |
| Ghoul Drool | 3 | 4 (bottom) |
| Shrunken Dragon’s Claw | 3 | 3 |
| Trollbane | 4 | 3 |
| Wasp Wings | 1 | 3 |
A few ingredients have conflicting room assignments across sources:
| Ingredient | Original Claims | Source Conflicts |
|---|---|---|
| Putrid Pirate Perspiration | Both rooms | Multiple sources place it in the Right room only |
| Withered Batwing | Both rooms | Some sources list Left only; others list a Right room location |
| Prismatic Mojo | Left only (original) | Some sources say both rooms; others say Left only |
| Raptor Claw | Left only (original) | Some sources say both rooms; detailed shelf mapping places it in the Left room but at a different case/shelf than the original claims |
These discrepancies may reflect server-specific variations or changes between patches. When in doubt, check both rooms.
Efficiency Tips
Troubleshooting
Story Context
Finklestein is creating a truth serum to interrogate a Drakkari prisoner. This fits the broader Zul’Drak narrative of the Argent Crusade gathering intelligence on both the collapsing troll empire and the encroaching Scourge. The quest flavor text emphasizes that “true alchemy” requires improvisation and quick thinking, which is exactly what the minigame tests.
This is the only Troll Patrol task that never rotates. Every other captain offers one of three random quests; Finklestein always assigns this one.
Explore Zul’Drak’s hidden easter eggs, lore mysteries, and connections across Warcraft history in Vikstone’s Zul’Drak Chronicles, along with the complete quest storyline.
Vikstone's War Journal“We have a Drakkari prisoner awaiting questioning,” Finklestein said. “I require assistance creating a truth serum. Keen instincts, perfect timing, improvisation. Let me know when you’re ready.”
My body was not ready.
The alchemist barked ingredients while I scrambled through his stockrooms. Knotroot. Seared frog. “Quickly!” Pickled eagle egg. “It’s thickening!” Crystallized scales. Wasp wings. Each one on a different shelf, each one needed now.
My gauntlets knocked vials. I nearly grabbed the wrong fungus twice. Finklestein’s voice followed me like a drill sergeant’s, allowing no pause, no hesitation.
The final ingredient hit the cauldron just as the mixture began to set.
“You’ve done it,” Finklestein said, examining the clear liquid. “The intelligence gathered from that troll will undoubtedly be of great value.”
I left the laboratory with my hands still shaking. Give me a battlefield any day.
The truth serum was clear, and Vikstone’s hands were still shaking. But if all four captains reported in under twenty minutes, Commander Kunz has something rare waiting: actual praise in Congratulations!
