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The award-winning game,Genshin Impact, has delivered engaging stories and interesting characters since its inception. Each new area offers a story that builds upon previous lore, and Natlan is no exception. While there is plenty to appreciate in the main story arc, world quests often have additional lore to offer.
The Shadows of the Mountains world quest provides some interesting lore that will unfold as you go through tasks during the questline. You’ll get some nice rewards, including some primogems, which are always useful. This quest is a little lengthy, but is something you can easily complete during your free time.
How To Get The Shadows Of The Mountain World Quest
Finding this world quest can be challenging. Youshould see the usual blue exclamation pointon your in-game map, but Natlan has more vertical layers than some other areas in Genshin Impact. If you have one of theSulfurous Veins waypointsactivated, they can get you fairly close to your target area.
This particular quest isat the circled location on this map, underneath a large stone outcropping. You’llsee an npc with “???“in place of their name. They may sometimes pace, and you’re able to occasionallysee a speech bubble over their head with the words “Shadow Pin”.
Talk to the npc and offer your helpto accept the quest. There’s awaypoint nearby, so be sure to interactwith it if you haven’t already.
Thequest has two phases. The first phase is titled"Beneath The Crystal Rock”. You’ll get rewards for each completed phase of the questline.
Shadow Of The Mountains: Beneath The Crystal Rock Quest Phase Instructions
The First Lesser Shadow Pin
After talking to the npc, Titu,your map will be updatedwith a new location.You’ll need to meet Titu thereto get a look at the first Shadow Pin.
Follow the path near Tituto get to the target location.Interact with the Tepetlisaurus indwelling icon, theninteract with the golden inscription.
Break all the large crystalsand avoid the smaller ones with red outlines since those will explode if you get near.Kill all the enemies that appearonce you destroy every large crystal.
Once you interact with the golden inscription,you will not be able to change your teammembers. Make sure you feel comfortable with the team you have active at the moment orswap out characters before interacting with the inscription.
If you’d like to know what enemies to expect for this section to plan your party, click “Read More”.
You can expect to fightThundercraven Rifthound Whelps(electro) and aRockfond Rifthound Whelp(geo).
Once you’ve completed everything at the first Shadow Pin,leave the area through the new pathwayand be sure to loot the treasure chest. Your specialTepetlisaurus buddywill be sitting next to the chest.
Keep an eye out for Pyroculiif you haven’t been to some of these areas previously.
The Second Lesser Shadow Pin
To reach the second Lesser Shadow Pin location, you’llfollow the path from the first pin toward the map location. The path is pretty intuitive and easy to follow.
You canuse the Tepetlisaurus indwelling icon to make travel faster, but the path can also be traversed normally. Expect the usual Natlan foes along the way.
You’ll come to adead endwith a couple of enemies guarding the blocked path. Defeat the enemies andremove the rock blockade. There will be barrels of Phlogiston Crystals that you may shoot if you have an archer, which will make quick work of the blockade and keep you safely out of the blast range.
Continue on the pathuntil you reach the second Lesser Shadow Pin. You’ll see the inscription you need to interact with, and anAnemo Hilichurl Rogue that you’ll need to defeat.
Once youinteract with the golden inscription rune, you’ll have some dialogue to go through and will approach the Shadow Pin.Interact with the Tepetlisaurus indwelling icon, thenbreak the rock clusterto reveal a Molten Fissure.
Use the Molten Fissureto search for scattered inscriptions. You’ll encounter someminor enemies and a treasure chestto loot. You’ll want tohead to the lowest section in the marked search zone and dig. You can use Tepetlisaurus attacks on enemies and in circular geo-ripple areas that appear on the ground.
If you’ve done enough digging and vanquished your foes,you should have a couple areas to investigate. They should be close to one another, and pretty noticeable.
Continue along the path, making sure to dig up any special locations that have a geo-ripple around them,until the path changes to a waterway.Indwell a Koholasaurusand follow the waterway.
You shouldfind a small cavern to your right with a lever inside, and a few minor enemies. Show those enemies who’s boss anduse the lever to lower the water.
Once the water level lowers, you’llfind a new small cavern. Enter the cavern anddestroy the crystals embedded in the groundto set off a chain reaction. This will further lower the water level.
you’re able to thendrop down and follow the watery pathto a broken wall. Climb over the wall and continue along the path.
There will be another blocked area, with crystals embedded in the cavern wall. You can hit those to cause an explosion that willremove the rubbleblocking your way.
Collect the treasurefrom the treasure chest directly in your path, andindwell a Koholasaurus. There should be an icon to interact with nearby.
You should now be able tointeract with the inscription, and you canallow the spiritway to carry you to your next destinationonce you’re done. There’ll be another treasure chest at the destination, along with a marked spot to investigate.
Investigate the marked spot to collect a key. This can be used later tounlock a special treasure roomduring further exploration of the area.
Pass through the illuminated doorway with the inscription symbol.Interact with the next inscription, and follow it back to the second Lesser Shadow Pin. Yes, you end up right where you started; you’re not imagining things.
Interact with the Lesser Shadow Pinagain. After some dialogue, you’ll be able todrop down to the lower level.
Using the indwell icon nearby,assume a Tepelitsaurus form.Interact again with the Shadow Pinto repair it and begin a challenge.
Similar to the first Lesser Shadow Pin, you’ll need todestroy the large crystalsand avoid small crystals with red outlines. Defeat any enemies if they appear.
You can stay in Tepetlisaur form for an easy way to get out of the current area, or even use it toget to the next area which is nearby.
Shadows Of The Mountains: Peace To The Slumbering Phase Instructions
After repairing the second Lesser Shadow Pin, a few things happen. You’ll have dialogue and a scene, andyou’ll end up right where you need to beto continue the quest.
In the second phase of this questline, your first order of business is tocheck the newly-discovered crater.
It’s probablybest to use your glidersince we’ve found that if you try to use the indwell Tepetlisaurus icon you can land precariously on one of the many outcroppings and be immediately bumped out of the form, or lose the form mid-tunneling to find yourself suddenly falling.
Once you reach the bottom,interact with the inscription piece and follow itto the stone tablet objective. There should be awaypoint to collect nearby.The stone tablet will be summarized a bit during dialogue, but you can also read the full inscription if you wish.
Continue to followthe golden inscription rune. The crystals in the ground and walls will shift, but you should be able to make it to the destination marker without too much difficulty.
Investigate The First Set Of Crystals
When you’re done following the inscription rune, you’ll be in a completely new area. You’ll need toinvestigate an odd set of crystal blocksthat are tainted with a purple abyssal energy.
Defeat any enemies, and break the set of blocks. You’ll reveal an inscription rune.Interact with the rune, and pay attention to the direction the camera pans. It will help reveal the best path in this area.
Once you investigate the set of crystal blocks,you won’t have the opportunity to change your team. Make sure you have your preferred team active before interacting with the blocks. Also, keep in mind that thecrystalline walls and ground will continue to shiftat times during the remainder of this quest.
You can expect to fight moreThundercraven Rifthound Whelps(electro) during this encounter.
You’ll want tofollow the path on your right, if you’re facing the crystal blocks, to get to them.
Investigate The Second Set Of Strange Crystal Blocks
The second set of strange crystal blocks is easier to deal with. Once you reach them,simply break themandinteract with the golden inscriptionrune.
There won’t be any enemies to worry about with this set of blocks. To get to the third set of blocks, you want totake the path parallel to the objectiveuntil you may reach one of the crystal pillars that moves quite high, like an elevator, at intervals. It’ll get you high enough to climb onto the proper level to reach the third block set.
Investigate The Third Set Of Strange Crystal Blocks
This third set of blocks follows the same pattern as the previous ones.Break the blocks to reveal the inscription, theninteract with the inscription rune.
This time, the inscription will move, andyou’ll need to follow it back to the middle of the room.Defeat all the enemiesthat appear.
Once you reach the middle of the room,you won’t have time to adjust your party. Ensure you have your preferred party active before leaving the third block location. If you’ve struggled with any of the previous encounters during this phase, it might be a good idea to consume some food for attack and defense buffs.
You should expect manyThundercraven Rifthound Whelps(electro) and a largerRockfond Rifthound(geo).
Once you’ve defeated the enemies,interact with the golden inscriptionthat’s in the middle of the room.Remain on the block with the inscription pieceas the ground will shift immediately after interacting. You won’t want to fall off.
Follow your special Tepetlisaurus. It will begin tunneling and will move quickly. You’ll eventually reach what appears to be a dead end, butthere’s a hole in the floorthat you can reach via gliding.
Investigate The Fourth Strange Crystal Blocks
Once youglide to the lower level and meet your little Tepetlisaurus, you’ve found the last set of strange crystal blocks. You’ll never guess what needs to happen next…that’s right,time to wreak some havocon them.
Interact with the golden inscription and followit. You’ll end up right back in the middle of the room where the Greater Shadow Pin is located.
You’ll go through some dialogue scenes, and you shouldchoose to rewrite the storyfor the heroes. When you’re ready, you canspeak with Titu to tell him that you are readyto battle.
Defeat all enemies, talk to the mysterious entity, then talk to Tituagain. You’ll get a small scene when you reach the target location.
The enemies you encounter will be more formidable than those you’ve encountered before during this quest. For the sake of leaving some surprises,the exact nature of the enemies won’t be revealedhere, but the elemental types can be revealed to help you prepare.
ExpectAnemo and Geo aligned enemies.
Congratulations, you’ve finally completed the entire world quest of Shadows of the Mountains!
Rewards For Quest Completion
For completing both phases of the Shadows of the Mountains quest,you’ll receive a Luxurious Chest. This alsocounts toward your reputation progressin Natlan.
Peace To The Slumbering Rewards
Hidden Locked Treasure Room
So,remember the key we foundduring the first phase of the Shadows of the Mountains? This is where you can use the key.
You’ll want togo to one of your newer waypoints; it’ll be designated as “Basin of Unnumbered Flames"when you select the waypoint. The waypoint is just north of the orange lava square on your minimap, and should take you right to the areawhere you repaired the second Lesser Shadow Pin.
You’ll want toglide down to one of the lower levels to gain Tepetlisaurus form, or you’ll have to climb the wall normally if you stay in regular form. You’ll want to climb up the wall with a graffiti sun on it.
When you’ve arrived at the top of the ledge,you should see a small alcovewith the locked room. If you followed the guide and picked up the key, youget the three treasure chestsfound inside.
