Traversing the Spheres

Speak with Firim in his cave at 35.2, 45.6 in Zereth Mortis to obtain Firim's Spare Forge-Tap. This item can also be obtained from the World Quest 'Materials of Creation' — if you already completed the quest, you can still get the Forge-Tap from Firim as an NPC item.

You must face the stone orb directly when using the Forge-Tap — if you are facing away from the orb, even while standing next to or on top of it, the item will report nothing found. The item has a surprisingly long range when aimed correctly, so position yourself facing the orb and spam the item. Not every orb will yield a result, so move to the next nearby orb if nothing happens after several attempts.

Use the Forge-Tap on flower-covered orbs. Try the orb at 62.6, 67.9 (on the flower-covered orb) or climb above the cave entrance at 34.62, 46.79. The drop rate at the cave entrance location may require multiple attempts — the first and second casts may yield nothing before the Pollinated Extraction drops.

Use the Forge-Tap on orbs in the grassy areas near where you first zone into Zereth Mortis. Try the location at 56.4, 81.8, or alternatively at 34.62, 46.79 above the cave entrance. Multiple casts may be needed before Serene Pigment drops.

Head to 48.86, 70.53 and use the Forge-Tap on orbs in that area to obtain Unstable Agitant.

Use the Forge-Tap on orbs near the 44.9, 31.8 area to obtain Energized Firmament. The desert areas around 43, 29.9 are also worth trying as the sand-covered zones yield multiple material types.

Use the Forge-Tap on orbs in the sandy desert areas. Try at 52.68, 29.51 or 59.08, 24.36 to obtain Incorporeal Sand. The desert zone around 43, 29.9 broadly yields this material.

Use the Forge-Tap on orbs near vespoid enemies on the east side of the zone, which has the most orbs to tap. Try the cluster around 64.2, 59.2 to obtain Honeycombed Lattice.

Head to 48.57, 59.17 or 64.12, 59.24 and use the Forge-Tap on the orbs nearby to obtain Volatile Precursor. This material can take a large number of casts — up to approximately 30 attempts on orbs in the area — before it drops.

This is the most difficult material to obtain. Head to 32.81, 40.36 precisely. Use the Venthyr Door of Shadows ability or a glider to climb up onto the large orb at that location, then use the Forge-Tap while standing on the orb. Moving even a few steps away on the same orb can prevent the item from dropping, so spam the Forge-Tap from that precise spot to obtain Wayward Essence. Try also 36.2, 71.1 facing North-East while standing inside the sphere, accessible via Door of Shadows.

Head to 46.29, 68.4 and use the Forge-Tap on orbs in that area to obtain Empyrean Essence. Additional nearby locations to try are 44.94, 66.71 and 44.33, 73.61.

If any materials remain, use the Forge-Tap on orbs at 48.8, 93.8 in the Catalyst Gardens at the bottom of the map, at 42.8, 59.8, at 39.19, 38.24, at 35.2, 44.31, at 56.8, 76.26, and at 68.8, 67.8 on orbs with white flowers. Once all ten proto-materials are collected the achievement completes and you receive the Mortis Mover toy.