Natlan is loud. Between the literal lava flows, the neon-graffiti aesthetics of the Children of Echoes, and the constant threat of a Koholasaurus bumping you into the water, it’s easy to get distracted. But if you’ve played Genshin Impact for more than a week, you know the drill. You see a glowing, turquoise-blue gazebo locked behind a barrier, and your brain immediately switches to "Primogem mode." These are the Shrine of Depths Natlan locations, and honestly, they are the best way to bump your pull savings for Mavuika or whoever else is currently draining your wallet.
The thing about Natlan is that it isn’t flat. Not even a little bit. If you’re looking at a 2D map and wondering why you’re standing on a brown patch of dirt with no shrine in sight, it’s usually because the thing is five hundred feet above your head or tucked into a volcanic crack that requires a specific Saurian ability to reach.
Getting the Keys is Half the Battle
You can’t just pick the lock. This isn't Skyrim. To crack open a Shrine of Depths Natlan, you need keys, and the game is pretty stingy with them. Most players get stuck because they expect the keys to just drop from random chests. They don't.
Basically, you have two main avenues. First, you’ve got the Statue of the Seven. As you offer up those Pyroculi—which, let’s be real, are a pain to find without a resonance stone—you’ll hit specific milestones that grant a key. The second way is through the Tablet of Tona. This is Natlan's version of the Sacred Sakura or the Onion in Sumeru. You dump your Pyro Sigils into it at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, and as the level goes up, keys pop out.
It’s a slow burn. Don’t expect to open all ten shrines the second you step foot into the Land of War. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re missing a key, check your Pyroculus progress. Usually, that’s the culprit.
The Tequemecan Valley Shrines
Let’s talk specifics. The Tequemecan Valley is where most people start their journey, and the shrines here are relatively straightforward, provided you aren’t afraid of heights. There’s one perched right on the cliffs overlooking the Sulfurous Veins. If you teleport to the waypoint on the high ridge to the west, you can usually just glide down.
But here’s the kicker. Natlan’s verticality means "gliding down" often involves dodging those pesky flying enemies that want to knock you out of the sky.
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Another one sits tucked away near the Basin of Unnumbered Flames. If you’re coming from the Stadium, you’ll head north. It’s sitting there on a plateau, looking all dignified while the local Tepetlisauri are busy digging holes nearby. Honestly, the Tequemecan ones are the "freebies." They get much harder after this.
Why Everyone Gets Lost in Coatepec Mountain
Coatepec Mountain is a nightmare for your sense of direction. It’s all layered. You have the surface, the mid-level ridges, and then the deep underground caverns where the Scions of the Canopy like to hang out.
One Shrine of Depths Natlan is located on a high bluff in the Ancestral Temple area. The easiest way to get there isn't climbing. Seriously, don't climb. Use a Yumkasaur. These green, frog-like creatures have a grappling hook ability that makes vertical traversal actually fun instead of a chore. If you find the right grapple points, you can zip up to the shrine in seconds.
There’s also a shrine tucked into the Toyac Springs region. This area is gorgeous, but the terrain is deceptive. You’ll find a shrine sitting on a cliffside near the water. It’s technically part of the lower Coatepec transition. If you’re looking at the map, it’s south of the main springs. The view from this one is incredible, especially at sunset when the water starts to glow.
A Quick Reality Check on Rewards
Is it worth the trek?
- 40 Primogems per shrine.
- 10 Pyro Sigils (huge for the Tablet of Tona).
- A bunch of 4-star artifacts that you'll probably just use as fodder.
- The sheer satisfaction of clearing a marker off your interactive map.
When you add it up, that's 400 Primogems for all ten. That’s two and a half pulls. In the grand scheme of a gacha game, it’s a lot of work for a small reward, but those 40 gems are often the difference between getting a 5-star and staring at a "0" on your screen.
The Mount Totolan Struggles
As of the later patches, the map expanded into the more rugged, mountainous regions. Mount Totolan has a Shrine of Depths Natlan that specifically tests how well you’ve mastered the Saurian mechanics.
You’ll find one situated on a jagged peak that’s almost impossible to scale with a standard character like Kazuha or Wanderer because of the weird invisible ceilings and jagged edges. You almost have to use a Saurian. The game design here is intentional. HoYoverse wants you to play with their new toys.
I’ve seen people complain on Reddit that the shrines are "bugged" because they can't reach them. They aren't bugged. You just need to possess a nearby creature. If you see a Saurian resting near a cliff, that’s the game’s way of giving you a hint. "Hey, use this guy."
Tips for Completionists
If you’re trying to 100% Natlan, the shrines are non-negotiable. But don't just rush them.
First, make sure you have the teleports unlocked. There is nothing worse than dying to a random Elite enemy and having to run halfway across the map because you forgot to touch a waypoint. Second, keep an eye out for "local specialties" around the shrines. Often, these spots are surrounded by rare flowers or minerals that you’ll need for leveling up Natlan characters like Kinich or Mualani.
Also, a weird tip: check your brightness settings. Some of the shrines in the more volcanic, ash-heavy areas of Natlan can blend into the grey-orange background. They glow blue, but in the midday Natlan sun, that glow gets washed out.
The Logistics of the Sigil Grind
You need those keys. To get those keys, you need sigils. To get sigils, you need chests.
It’s a feedback loop. You find a Shrine of Depths Natlan, which gives you sigils, which helps you level up the Tablet of Tona, which gives you another key for the next shrine. If you find yourself one key short, stop looking for the shrine and start looking for the "Time Trial" challenges or those "Manitou" (the little graffiti spirits) puzzles. Those are the fastest ways to bulk up your sigil count.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Don't use your keys on the wrong region. This sounds stupid, but every region (Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, etc.) has its own specific keys. A Natlan key will only work on a Natlan shrine.
Another mistake? Ignoring the Saurian spirits. In Natlan, the "spirits" you follow aren't Seelies; they are Manitou. Many of these lead you directly to ridges or caves that overlook a shrine. If you see a little graffiti guy waving at you, follow him. He’s usually going somewhere better than where you were headed.
Lastly, don't ignore the underground. Natlan has a surprising amount of subterranean space. If the shrine icon is bright on your mini-map but the ground is empty, look for a cave entrance. The "Layered Map" feature added in the 4.0 updates is your best friend here. Switch between levels to see if the icon shifts.
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Actionable Steps for Your Map Clear
- Prioritize the Statue of the Seven: Get it to at least Level 5 immediately. This usually secures your first two keys.
- Dump Sigils Fast: Don’t hoard your Pyro Sigils. Hit the Tablet of Tona every time you pass the Stadium. The rewards at early levels are generous.
- Capture a Saurian: Don't try to climb the cliffs of Coatepec manually. Use the grapple or the mountain-climbing abilities of the local Saurians to save stamina.
- Mark Your Map: If you find a shrine but don't have a key, mark it with a specific icon. Don't rely on your memory; the terrain is too repetitive to remember every single cliffside.
- Check the "Gift of the Realm": Sometimes event rewards or specific world quests in the "Tale of Selected Echoes" series provide access to areas where shrines are hidden. Complete the main tribal quests first.
The hunt for the Shrine of Depths Natlan is basically a tour of the nation's best vistas. Take your time, enjoy the music, and keep your Saurian handy. You'll have those 400 Primogems in no time.