Main Walkthrough

Prerequisites: Complete A Plumbing Problem, repair the bridge to Barren Wasteland

Reward: None

Unlocks: The Third Chemistry Test

The southeast of Moonbury Island is looking pretty rough, and there's likely some former chemistry to blame. Before you can check it out, though, you'll need to gain access to the Barren Wasteland. This requires gaining Approval Badge 3 and completing A Plumbing Problem. You'll then need to gather 5,000 G, 2,000 Wood, and 1,575 Rocks to fix the bridge into the region.

Once you've fixed the bridge you can explore Barren Wasteland, which is quite a bit more dangerous than Meadow Range or Glaze Iceberg. Head south through the area then west, towards the Heart of Barren Wasteland Fast Travel point. You'll start running into Koblin Generals down here, so either pull out your Axe or just tread lightly. Just past the Heart of Barren Wasteland Fast Travel point you'll hit a cut scene...


... and, unsurprisingly, there's a pool of noxious chemicals nearby. This triggers the Drake Aloe quest, and Forrest will suggest you speak to Myer. Hunt the mayor down (likely in or around Town Hall) and he'll explain the situation surrounding the pool. He'll give you a journal describing a cave entrance near a square-shaped stone. You need to find this cave.


Head back north through Barren Wasteland and explore the northwest passage through the area. The pathway you're looking for is the first to the south of the North of Barren Wasteland Fast Travel point. At the end of the path you'll come to the square-shaped rock, and there's a heap of boulders just north of it. 

Check the boulders, then zip back to Moonbury Town and look for Forrest. He's usually hanging out near his Ranger Station. He'll consult with Runeheart about making some pickaxes for the rangers, and you get to find the necessary materials:
  • You'll need eight Razor Fins. Razor Fins are dropped by Ironfins, the sand-swimming monsters found only in the far south of Barren Wasteland. They're a pain in the butt to fight, so this part might take a while. Dodge their attacks until they tire and surface before you strike. There are only two of them on any given day so you'll need to revisit this part of Barren Wasteland four times.
  • You'll also need five pieces of Moonite. Moonite is found inside the larger rocks located sporadically throughout Barren Wasteland.


Take these materials to Runeheart in or around the Hearts and Sparks Shop. She'll tell you to come visit the next day. Visit Hearts and Sparks between 10:00 and 18:00, on any day but Friday, after you've had a snooze. Runeheart will give you an Ironfin Pickaxe to pass off to Forrest. Hunt him down around the Ranger Post or his house and he'll enlist Bubble in removing the heap of rocks.

Behind the rocks you'll find what appears to be an old, abandoned laboratory of sorts called Barren Chasm. Check the floor for three pieces of documentation, then on the table to the right for one more. This will allow you to read a note, seemingly ending the quest... though, in truth, not quite.


Head home and sleep. The next day a rowdy rabble will be gathered in Town Hall, headed by Matheo, and they'll demand information on what happened. Things get cleared up, however, and everyone decides to pitch in and help repair the problem in the cave. Head back to Barren Chasm to consult with Opalheart a bit, then check the water beside the machine that needs fixing for some samples.

Head home and Research the Drake Aloe. Wind is the bottom-left icon, Earth is the bottom icon, Fire is the middle and top-middle icons, and Water is the top-right icon. This will allow you to craft Glowing Purified Water, which can only be done using Fire materials. Oof. You're going to need to upgrade your Cauldron to at least the third level to have enough materials to get the job done. Here are some suggestions for creating the Glowing Purified Water:

  • First off, you'll need Bitter-Tasting Sap to fill in the isolated squares on either side of the template. You'll get this form of Sap from the trees in Meadow Range.
  • Next, place a Timber Fruit at the bottom of the template. Timber Fruits are dropped by Blossom Shooters on Glaze Iceberg.
  • Place two Razor Fins on the left side of the template, one on top of the other. Razor Fins are dropped by Ironfins in the far south of the Barren Wasteland.
  • Place a Cold Bloom down the middle of the template, beside the two Razor Fins. Cold Blooms are found in the south of Glaze Iceberg, and are unlocked via the quest Cold Bloom.
  • Set a Gold Nugget in the top-right corner of the template. Gold Nuggets can be found in the smaller rocks of Barren Wasteland, or the larger rocks of Glaze Iceberg.
  • Last, fill in the three-square space on the bottom-right corner of the template with a Desert Datura. Desert Daturas grow in the east of Barren Wasteland.

Take the resulting Glowing Purified Water to Myer, likely at Town Hall. This will trigger a cut scene back at Barren Chasm. The townsfolk will pull together to fix the machine in the cave, bringing the Drake Aloe near the Heart of Barrel Wasteland Fast Travel point back to life. You can now harvest the stuff at your leisure.

Head back home and have a sleep after all that work. The next morning you'll receive some guests, and you'll unlock The Third Chemistry Test.