Ancestral Motif Leads Drop Rate Rare?

Meesha1170

Started working on the ancestral motifs in the antiquities system and I was surprised and kind of disappointed that the ancestral motifs don’t seem to drop for my main crafter character.

Guides indicate these come from treasure map chests in base game zones and after tracking down loads of these types of chests I have not obtained a single ancestral motif chapter. In fact I had a vastly easier time tracking down most of the Master and Ultimate leads and these are supposed to be Simple Green leads. Anyone experiencing the same or have any tips on how to actually get these by farming them?

Drathly

Just to be sure, you open treasure chests that are linked to a treasure map ? Not basic, overland ones ?

I personnaly get an ancestral motif in approximetaly half the treasure chests I open, so it seems strange to me

Meesha1170

Drathly wrote: »

Just to be sure, you open treasure chests that are linked to a treasure map ? Not basic, overland ones ?

I personnaly get an ancestral motif in approximetaly half the treasure chests I open, so it seems strange to me

Yes, I am only depending on the chests a treasure map leads me to. It’s truly baffling. I’m thinking I might have to do this on another toon.

LadyLethalla

I get leads very infrequently - in fact it seems like, if I already got one of the two in the zone I'm more likely to get that one again than the one I don't have.
I really hope they don't do this again; it's such a slow, painful process.

spartaxoxo

I think they only drop in base game zones. It also seems to only drop one piece in a particular area.

General_Zeranth

They drop very very infrequently. It took me 17 maps just to get the ones tied to Stros M'kai. -_- But on a good note they do drop two at a time when you do get them so each zone has two you get from one lead.
They're only vanilla zone maps though.

AlnilamE

It doesn't matter what toon you do it on, the leads are account-wide.

I use whichever character is currently working on the "loot 1000 chests" achievement.

tomofhyrule

There's only two that could possibly drop from each base zone, except Khenarthi which has four. It used to be bugged where you'd get both at once, but they fixed it to only drop one if it drops at all. If you have them both from a zone, you'll want to start looking in another zone.

Starter 1: Axes/Helmets
Starter 2: Belts/Staves
Tier 1: Bows/Chests
Tier 2: Boots/Maces
Tier 3: Daggers/Shoulders
Tier 4: Gloves/Swords
Tier 5: Legs/Shields
(EP zones might have switched the last two sets)

You can dig up multiple copies as well, but remember to dig it up before you go hunting for more so you have a chance of getting a second.

Also I think these leads all are set to not expire.

Now the new set coming out tomorrow (Ancestral Reach) is supposed to be a bonus reward for digging things in the Reach, but I haven't tested it myself.

Meesha1170

Yeah, I think I will just do this on alternate toons to see if I have better luck. Since the time of my post I tried buying a few treasure maps from guild traders on the same toon I was using. That didn’t seem to work either but I don’t know if maybe the treasure maps had to have been procured after the antiquities update dropped or not.

PizzaCat82

I've done over 100 chests between all 3 factions, Its easier to just buy the motifs from the traders since other people are having an easier time of it.

Sylvermynx

I had around 20 maps across both accounts, both PC megaservers. I got two leads from every one of those chests. Since then.... a couple leads from about 20 chests.

Good thing I don't have any interest in those styles.

DragonRacer

General_Zeranth wrote: »

They drop very very infrequently. It took me 17 maps just to get the ones tied to Stros M'kai. -_- But on a good note they do drop two at a time when you do get them so each zone has two you get from one lead.
They're only vanilla zone maps though.

Not anymore. That was a glitch and ZOS fixed it in a recent patch. No more double-lead drops on motifs.

DragonRacer

Meesha1170 wrote: »

Yeah, I think I will just do this on alternate toons to see if I have better luck. Since the time of my post I tried buying a few treasure maps from guild traders on the same toon I was using. That didn’t seem to work either but I don’t know if maybe the treasure maps had to have been procured after the antiquities update dropped or not.

No, all treasure maps - those existing before and after the chapter update - work for this. I know because I hoarded a ton of maps before Greymoor released and then went on a massive hunt. They dropped leads for motifs and furnishings, etc.

method__01

to get Ancestral Elf Staves i went to Khenarthi’s Roost about 20 times with treasure map
found 0

i finally bought the page and not planning to visit Khenarthi for the next decade

General_Zeranth

DragonRacer wrote: »

General_Zeranth wrote: »

They drop very very infrequently. It took me 17 maps just to get the ones tied to Stros M'kai. -_- But on a good note they do drop two at a time when you do get them so each zone has two you get from one lead.
They're only vanilla zone maps though.

Not anymore. That was a glitch and ZOS fixed it in a recent patch. No more double-lead drops on motifs.

Oof thanks for the heads up there! Glad I got mine done already. >->

Meesha1170

DragonRacer wrote: »

Meesha1170 wrote: »

Yeah, I think I will just do this on alternate toons to see if I have better luck. Since the time of my post I tried buying a few treasure maps from guild traders on the same toon I was using. That didn’t seem to work either but I don’t know if maybe the treasure maps had to have been procured after the antiquities update dropped or not.

No, all treasure maps - those existing before and after the chapter update - work for this. I know because I hoarded a ton of maps before Greymoor released and then went on a massive hunt. They dropped leads for motifs and furnishings, etc.

Oh good, glad to know old treasure maps can still work.

Vildebill

If you just want the motif and don't want to hunt treasures it's far easier to just buy it. Drop rates are pretty low, maps aren't that cheap, and it takes time.

I wanted to get the motifs the map way at first, but got tired of it pretty fast.

Meesha1170

Vildebill wrote: »

If you just want the motif and don't want to hunt treasures it's far easier to just buy it. Drop rates are pretty low, maps aren't that cheap, and it takes time.

I wanted to get the motifs the map way at first, but got tired of it pretty fast.

Yeah, I may do this. I was just hoping to check off the antiquities list too but with it being this difficult I may just go the route you suggested or just let it be one of those things that I get over a prolonged period of time.