Look, playing Genshin Impact for the first time is overwhelming. You’ve got a massive map, a hundred different icons screaming for your attention, and a quest log that feels like it’s never going to end. But the real meat of the game—the reason people actually stick around for years—is the main story. Getting the archon quest order genshin players need to follow isn’t just about checking boxes; it’s about making sure the plot actually makes sense. If you jump into a random world quest or get distracted by a limited-time event, you might find yourself meeting characters who act like they know you, even though you’ve never seen their faces before. It’s jarring.
The Archon Quests are your "Main Scenario Quests." They follow the Traveler’s search for their lost sibling across the seven nations of Teyvat. Each nation—Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, and Natlan—has its own self-contained arc, but they all feed into the larger mystery of Celestia and the Abyss.
Most people think you can just follow the game's prompts and be fine. Mostly, that’s true. But HoYoverse has a habit of inserting "Interlude Chapters" and "Dainsleif Quests" that are technically optional for the map progression but absolutely mandatory for the emotional payoff. If you skip the "We Will Be Reunited" quest because you’re rushing to get to the Raiden Shogun, you’re going to lose the entire thread of why you’re even traveling in the first place.
Starting Out: The Prologue and Liyue
You start in Mondstadt. It’s the city of freedom, full of wine, dragons, and a tone-deaf bard named Venti. The Prologue (Acts I, II, and III) is pretty straightforward. You deal with Stormterror, meet the Knights of Favonius, and get your first taste of what an Archon actually is. Honestly, Mondstadt feels a bit "standard RPG" at first. Don't let that fool you. The stakes ramp up the second you cross the border into Liyue.
Liyue is where the archon quest order genshin timeline gets its first real meat. This is Chapter I. You’re framed for the "murder" of Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon, and you have to work with the Fatui (specifically Childe/Tartaglia) to clear your name.
The First Major Roadblock
After you finish Chapter I: Act III (A New Star Approaches), the game doesn't immediately shove you toward Inazuma. This is where most players get lost. You must play the quest "We Will Be Reunited." It’s officially labeled as Chapter I: Act IV. This is the first time you see your sibling. It’s the first time you meet Dainsleif, the bough keeper. If you skip this, the transition to the next nation feels hollow.
Dainsleif is the most important character in the game who isn't a god. He represents the lost nation of Khaenri'ah. Every time a new Dainsleif quest drops, the lore community loses its collective mind because he provides the "real" history that the Archons are too scared to talk about.
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The Inazuma Shift and the Interludes
Inazuma (Chapter II) is a massive difficulty spike. Not just in terms of enemies, but in tone. The nation is under a lockdown. The Raiden Shogun is confiscating Visions. It’s a story about eternity, grief, and revolution.
Here is the thing about Inazuma: it’s short. Maybe too short. You go from meeting the resistance to fighting a literal god in what feels like a few hours. Because of this, the Interlude Chapters become vital. After you finish the main Inazuma arc, you’ll see a quest called "The Crane Returns on the Wind." It features Shenhe and the rebuilding of the Jade Chamber in Liyue. While it’s technically an Interlude, it bridges the gap between the isolation of Inazuma and the academic mystery of Sumeru.
Don't Ignore the Chasm
Before you even think about stepping foot in the rainforests of Sumeru, you have to go underground. The Chasm: Underground Mines hosts the quest "Requiem of the Echoing Depths." This is another Dainsleif chapter. It is arguably one of the saddest stories in the game, dealing with the curse of the inhabitants of Khaenri'ah. Without this context, the Traveler’s motivations in later chapters seem weirdly shallow. You need to see the cost of the gods' war.
Sumeru: The Peak of Writing?
Many veterans will tell you that the Sumeru arc (Chapter III) is where Genshin Impact truly found its voice. It’s long. It’s incredibly dense. It involves a "groundhog day" time loop in the city of Sumeru that genuinely messes with your head.
The archon quest order genshin flow in Sumeru is Acts I through VI. You’re dealing with the Akasha system—basically a magical internet that steals people's dreams—and a group of sages trying to manufacture their own god.
- Act I & II: Arrival and the Sabzeruz Festival loop.
- Act III & IV: Venturing into the desert to find the truth about King Deshret.
- Act V: The massive climax where you take down a giant mechanical god.
- Act VI: The "Caribert" quest.
"Caribert" is another one of those "side" Archon quests that is actually the most important thing you’ll play all year. It reveals the origins of the Abyss Order. It’s dark. It’s personal. It changes how you view every interaction with the "villains" of the game.
Fontaine and the Trial of the Century
Then comes Fontaine (Chapter IV). This is the land of Justice and Hydro. The structure here is unique because it’s heavily focused on courtroom drama. You’ll spend hours in the Opera Epiclese, debating Furina, the Hydro Archon, and trying to solve a prophecy that says everyone in Fontaine will eventually dissolve into water.
The emotional core of Fontaine is Neuvillette and Furina. The order here is very linear (Acts I through V), but the sheer volume of dialogue is massive. Unlike earlier regions where you could sort of "vibe" through the story, Fontaine requires you to pay attention to the evidence. If you stop halfway through to go farm artifacts, you’ll forget the specific clues needed for the final act’s massive twist.
And believe me, the twist in Fontaine is the biggest the game has ever pulled. It redefines what it means to be an "Archon."
Why the Order Actually Matters for Gameplay
It’s not just about the story. HoYoverse gates specific gameplay features and weekly bosses behind these quests.
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- You can't fight the Raiden Shogun weekly boss without finishing Chapter II.
- You can't access certain parts of the Sumeru desert without progress.
- Most importantly, many "Quick Start" options for events still spoil the story.
If you use the "Quick Start" button for a limited-time event in Natlan while you're still stuck in Liyue, the game will give you a warning. Listen to it. The game will teleport you to a new area and characters will reference events you haven't lived through yet. It ruins the pacing.
Current State: Natlan (Chapter V)
As of now, we are in Natlan, the nation of War and Pyro. This is where the archon quest order genshin currently sits. Natlan introduces "Saurians"—dinosaur-like companions—and a completely different movement system. To get here, you have to have finished the Fontaine arc.
The story in Natlan is currently unfolding. It deals with the "Night Kingdom" and a cycle of resurrection that keeps the nation’s warriors fighting against the Abyss. It feels much more action-oriented than the philosophical debates of Fontaine or the dream-logic of Sumeru.
Actionable Steps for New and Returning Players
If you're staring at a messy quest log, here is exactly how to fix it:
- Check your "Interlude" status: Open your Quest Menu. If you see an "Interlude Chapter" available (like the Wanderer’s story "Inversion of Genesis"), do it immediately. These aren't filler; they are character-defining chapters that resolve plot points from the main acts.
- Prioritize the Bough Keeper: If a quest mentions Dainsleif, drop everything else. These quests move the "real" plot (the one about your sibling and the end of the world) forward.
- Don't skip the "Story Quests" for Archons: While things like "Zhongli’s Story Quest: Act II" or "Raiden Shogun’s Story Quest: Act II" are technically in a different menu tab, they often unlock the weekly bosses you need to level up your talents. Specifically, Raiden’s second quest is basically the true ending to the Inazuma Archon arc.
- Read the descriptions in the Archive: If you’ve been away for a while, go to the Paimon Menu -> Archive -> Travel Log. You can re-read the summaries and even replay the audio of past Archon Quests. This is vital before starting a new nation.
- Wait for the "All-Clear": Before moving from one nation to the next, check if there’s a world quest that seems suspiciously well-produced (like the "Aranyaka" questline in Sumeru). While not Archon quests, they provide the cultural context that makes the Archon quests hit harder.
The lore of Teyvat is a puzzle. If you miss a piece in the archon quest order genshin provides, the final picture won't make sense. Take it slow. The game isn't going anywhere, and the "climax" of the story is still years away. You have time to experience it the right way.