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Genshin Impact Sumeru desert chess puzzle guide

Place the five chess pieces into their slots to unlock the “Apocalypse Lost” world quest

The Sumeru desert chessboard puzzle at night Image: Hoyoverse via Polygon
Julia Lee (she/her) is a guides producer, writing guides for games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Genshin Impact. She helped launch the Rift Herald in 2016.

Genshin Impact’s patch 3.4 added more to Sumeru’s desert, including a chessboard puzzle. As you run around the Desert of Hadramaveth, you’ll notice the giant glowing chessboard in Safhe Shatranj. Approaching the blue glowing spots will prompt you to insert chess pieces, which you can find in the new desert area. Collecting and placing all five chess pieces will start the world quest “Apocalypse Lost.”

You should actually find these pieces in treasure chests as you complete “The Dirge of Bilqis” and “The Falcon’s Hunt” world quests. After completing “The Dirge of Bilqis,” the falcon quest line will become available the next real-world day. You will not be able to get all five chess pieces until you do part of “The Falcon’s Hunt.” If “The Dirge of Bilqis” did not unlock upon opening the game after the 3.4 update, you probably still have to complete the prerequisite quest, “Golden Slumber.”

You can skip these chests as you do the quests, but you will see them as you walk through the tombs and caverns the quests take you through, so you might as well stop and grab them.

Once you complete “The Fallen Falcon” (the world quest after “The Falcon’s Hunt) and place the five chess pieces in Safhe Shatranj, “Apocalypse Lost” will start. A sixth chess piece will also spring up in the middle of the board.

After the six chess pieces are up, there are also additional “activation devices” for each piece, found around the map. Each of these devices will float away as you approach them, so just keep following them until you can grab it. There are seven activation devices, and matching them to their respective chess piece will reward a Remarkable Chest for each. Completing all seven will give you the “La Luna Rossa” achievement.

We list out the locations for each of the chess pieces and their activation devices below.


Genshin Impact Sumeru chess piece locations

Border Fort chess piece location

Ayaka stands in front of a treasure chest in a sandy temple Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

You’ll likely find the Border Fort piece first, as you complete “The Dirge of Bilqis.”


King Deshret’s Pillar chess piece location

Ayaka stands near a treasure chest in a sandy cavern Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

King Deshret’s Pillar piece is around in a cavern that you’ll also see while doing “The Dirge of Bilqis.”


Soulferry chess piece location

Zhongli stands in front of an empty spot in a desert tomb Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

The chest will appear on the diamond on the floor. (We already claimed it before taking this screenshot.)


Khaj-Nisut chess piece location

Zhongli stands in an empty tomb Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

Again, the chest will be on the diamond above as you explore this deep dungeon.


Temple of Gurabad chess piece location

Zhongli stands in front of a treasure chest in a dark cave Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

You’ll be able to get this chest just out in the open after taking down the serpent in “The Falcon’s Hunt.”


Genshin Impact Sumeru chess piece activation device locations

Border Fort activation device location

Zhongli approaches a floating device near Aaru Village Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

This device is near Aaru Village in plain sight.


King Deshret’s Pillar activation device location

Zhongli approaches a device while inside a technological tomb Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

This device is underground. You can take the Teleport Waypoint north of the mausoleum and head south to find it quickly.


Soulferry activation device location

Zhongli approaches a floating mechanism in a temple Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

Again, this one is underground. You can quickly find it by teleporting to the waypoint north of the star marker on the map above and just running south.


The Mausoleum of King Deshret activation device location

Zhongli approaches a device on the edge of a giant tomb Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

This device is just at the main entrance of The Mausoleum of King Deshret.


Khaj-Nisut activation device location

Zhongli approaches a ruined temple as a device floats away from him Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

This device is on the edge of the entrance at Khaj-Nisut, right after you ride the four-leaf points towards it.


Deshret’s Glass Goblet activation device location

Zhongli approaches a mechanical device in the center of a sandstorm Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

This device is right at the Teleport Waypoint in Mt. Damavand, where you’ve already been for the world quest.


Temple of Gurabad activation device location

Zhongli approaches a device at the top of the stairs of a temple Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Hoyoverse

This device is at the entrance to the Temple of Gurabad, overseeing the chessboard.

The next level of puzzles.

Take a break from your day by playing a puzzle or two! We’ve got SpellTower, Typeshift, crosswords, and more.

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