You're standing in the Ancient Vault - Hunter, staring at a giant glowing orange door that just won't budge. It’s frustrating. You’ve probably already cleared out the scavengers outside, dodged a few traps, and now you’re stuck playing a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek with a bunch of stone circles. This is a classic Enshrouded moment. The game loves to hide its progression behind environmental puzzles that aren't necessarily hard once you see them, but they’re incredibly easy to walk right past when you're distracted by the atmospheric lighting or the threat of something lunging out of the shadows.
Those enshrouded hunter vault buttons are the only things standing between you and Athalan Skree, the Hunter craftspeople NPC who is basically essential if you want to stop wearing rags and start using a decent bow.
Where the Buttons Actually Are
The Hunter's vault is located in the Springlands, tucked away to the northeast of the starting area. It’s one of the first major "dungeons" you’ll hit after securing the Blacksmith. Unlike some of the later vaults that rely on verticality or complex gliding maneuvers, this one is all about observation.
There are three buttons in total. You have to hit them all to drop the magical barrier.
The first one is almost a gimme. As you enter the main chamber where the locked door sits, look to your left. It’s right there on the wall. You can just walk up and interact with it, or hit it with a melee weapon. You'll hear a distinct mechanical "clunk" and see a portion of the runes above the door light up. One down.
Now, for the second one, you need to look up. It’s tucked away on a platform above the main floor. If you head toward the right side of the room (facing the locked door), there’s a staircase. Follow it up. You’ll find yourself on a balcony overlooking the main entrance. The button is mounted on the wall near the ceiling. Honestly, if you don't have a bow yet, you might think you're stuck, but you can actually reach it with a well-placed throwing stone if you’re desperate. Most players just use a basic wooden bow. Aim, fire, and watch the second rune ignite.
The third one is the trickiest. It’s tucked behind a secret-ish area.
Go back down to the ground floor. Look for the small side room or alcove that seems a bit darker than the rest. There’s a pile of rubble and some breakable pots. If you head through the doorway to the right of the main sealed gate, you’ll enter a corridor that loops around. Follow it. You’ll eventually find yourself behind a gated area where the third button is mounted high on the back wall. You’ll need to shoot this one through the gap in the iron bars or from a specific angle in the hallway.
Why the Hunter Vault is a Difficulty Spike
A lot of people struggle here because Enshrouded doesn't give you a waypoint for puzzle elements. It’s not like a modern "hand-holdy" RPG where the buttons glow through walls. You have to look for the visual language of the Ancients: gold trim, circular stone patterns, and that faint orange glow.
If you’re missing a button, check the floor. Sometimes you get turned around.
The Hunter herself, Athalan, is worth the headache. Once you free her, you unlock the ability to craft the Scout set and, more importantly, the Drying Rack. Without the Drying Rack, you aren't getting Dried Fur. Without Dried Fur, your armor progression basically hits a brick wall. It’s a bottleneck.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Running out of arrows: It sounds stupid until it happens. If you go in with three arrows and miss twice, you’re hiking back to base to craft more. Bring twenty.
- Ignoring the traps: The Hunter’s vault has floor spikes. They don’t do a ton of damage, but they stagger you. If you get staggered while a scavenger is charging you, it’s a quick trip back to the flame altar.
- Not using the Grappling Hook: While you don't strictly need it for the buttons, there are loot chests in the upper rafters of this vault that are only accessible if you have the hook equipped.
Beyond the Buttons: Setting Up Athalan
Once you’ve hit the last of the enshrouded hunter vault buttons, the door slides open with a heavy stone grind. Talk to Athalan’s spirit, and she’ll be added to your "Summoning Staff" menu.
When you get her back to your base, don't just stick her in a dark corner. Like all NPCs in Enshrouded, her crafting speed and the complexity of her recipes depend on her "comfort." Build her a dedicated room with a roof, a bed, and some lighting. She’ll eventually ask you to find her loom and other tools spread across the Revelwood, but for now, just focus on the basics.
The Hunter is your primary source for:
- Better Backpacks: Seriously, the small backpack is a godsend for inventory management.
- Arrows: From flint to scrap, she handles the munitions.
- Tanning: Managing animal hides becomes a full-time job in the mid-game.
Finding Success in the Revelwood Transition
Finding the Hunter is the "graduation" from the starting meadows. Once you have her, the game expects you to start moving north toward the Revelwood, where the Shroud gets thicker and the enemies start hitting much harder.
If you found the button puzzle in the Hunter's vault annoying, brace yourself. The Alchemist's vault and the Carpenter's questlines involve significantly more "where is that one hidden switch" gameplay. The trick is to always look for the wire. In many Ancient structures, there are literal glowing lines on the walls or floors that lead from the locked door directly to the switches. If you lose your way, follow the glow.
💡 You might also like: Why the Sky Children of the Light OST is Actually a Technical Masterpiece
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
- Craft a Bow and 20 Arrows: Even if you’re a melee build, you need them for puzzles.
- Locate the Hunter Vault: It's directly east of the "Egerton Terrence" camp area.
- Check the Runes: Look at the top of the vault door. If two circles are glowing and one isn't, you know exactly how many buttons are left to find.
- Clear the Scavengers First: Don't try to solve the puzzle while being pelted by daggers.
- Place the Hunter Near a Fire: Once rescued, summon her immediately at your base to unlock the "Salt" and "Fur" tutorial quests.
Getting through the vault is a rite of passage. Once that door opens, the real game begins, and you'll finally be able to stop worrying about your limited inventory space and start focusing on surviving the deeper Shroud.