You're standing on a cliff in Erinnyes Forest, the wind is blowing, and you can see that faint, teal glow in the distance. We've all been there. You know it’s a Fontaine Shrine of Depth, and you know exactly what’s inside: 40 Primogems, some Sigils, and the satisfyng thud of a Luxurious Chest opening. But honestly? Getting to some of these is a total pain if you don't know the verticality of Fontaine's map.
HoYoverse really leaned into the "Nation of Hydro" theme by hiding these ancient structures behind underwater caves and high mountain peaks. It isn't like Mondstadt where you just walk across a field. You need keys. You need patience. And you definitely need to know which ones are locked behind world quests before you waste twenty minutes swimming in circles.
Where the Fontaine Shrine of Depth Keys are Hiding
You can't just pick the lock. To crack open a Fontaine Shrine of Depth, you need a specific key. These aren't random drops from mobs. There are two main ways to get them, and both require a massive time investment.
First, the Statue of the Seven. As you offer Hydroculi to the statues across Fontaine, you’ll unlock keys at specific levels. Specifically, levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10. It’s a slow burn. You won't get them all in one afternoon. Then there’s the Fountain of Lucine near the Opera Epiclese. You dump your Hydro Sigils in there, and at levels 8, 18, 28, and 38, you get a key.
If you're counting, that's ten keys for ten shrines. Simple math, but a lot of grinding.
The North Fontaine Circuit
Let’s talk about the easy ones first. Well, "easy" is relative. Up in the Research Institute Region—the place with the floating water cubes—there are a couple of shrines that are mostly just about the climb. One sits near the New Fontaine Research Institute. If you teleport to the waypoint and head northwest, it’s tucked away near the cliffs.
There's another one in the Liffey Region. If you go to the surface area near the Mont Esus East foothills, you'll find it overlooking the water. It’s a great view, honestly. Kind of peaceful until a Clockwork Meka tries to saw your legs off.
Diving Deep: The Underwater Shrines
This is where people get stuck. Fontaine introduced underwater exploration, and they didn't hesitate to put a Fontaine Shrine of Depth at the bottom of the ocean.
One of the most iconic (and frustrating) is in the Elton Trench. You have to dive deep. Like, really deep. It’s sitting in a massive underwater crevice. If you’re just swimming on the surface, you’ll never see the glow. You need to look for the darkest blue spots on your mini-map and just keep diving.
Another one is located in the Salacia Plain. This one is a bit more exposed, but the underwater combat can be a distraction. Pro tip: grab the ability from a nearby Xenochromatic Blubberbeast or Crab before you head over. It makes clearing out any nearby enemies much faster so you can loot in peace.
The "Secret" Cave Shrines
Some of these aren't exactly "outside." For instance, there’s a shrine hidden in the Chemin de L'Espoir area that feels like it’s in a pocket dimension. You have to navigate through some underwater ruins to find the opening. It’s easy to miss if you aren't hugging the rock walls.
Then there's the one in the Elynas region. Elynas is basically a giant corpse of a dragon, which is metal as hell, and the geography reflects that. One shrine is located in the "Internal" area. You have to drop down into the tunnels. If you haven't done the "Ancient Colors" questline with the Melusines, navigating this area feels like a fever dream. Do the quest first. It opens up the map and makes the trek way less confusing.
The Frustration of the Erinnyes Forest
The later patches added the Erinnyes Forest and Morte Region. The Fontaine Shrine of Depth count went up, and so did the difficulty of reaching them.
There is a shrine specifically located east of the Weeping Willow of the Lake. The terrain here is jagged. You’ll be climbing a lot. I’ve seen players try to glide from the top of the mountain, but if you miscalculate your stamina, you're just going to end up drowning in a very shallow pond.
Over in the Morte Region, you’ve got the ruins near the Tower of Ipsissimus. Before the tower sinks (or after, depending on where you are in the "Search in the Algae Sea" quest), the shrine remains on the small islands nearby. It’s one of the most scenic spots in the game, but getting the keys for these late-game shrines means you’ve basically cleaned out most of Fontaine’s side content.
Why People Struggle with the Final Two
Most players hit a wall at 8 out of 10. That's because the final keys are tied to the highest levels of the Fountain of Lucine and the Statue of the Seven. You basically need to collect almost every single Hydroculus in the game to finish the set.
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It’s a completionist’s nightmare.
The rewards, however, are worth it. Beyond the Primogems, each Luxurious Chest inside a Fontaine Shrine of Depth gives you 10 Hydro Sigils. If you’re trying to max out the Fountain for those Crown of Insight rewards, these shrines are the fastest way to do it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't use your keys as soon as you get them if you're low on inventory space for artifacts. It sounds silly, but these chests vomit out a lot of 4-star gear. Also, don't ignore the enemies guarding the shrines. Sometimes there’s a local legend (those super-powered mini-bosses) nearby. If you try to ignore a local legend while opening a shrine, they will one-shot your character while you're in the "opening" animation. It's embarrassing. I've seen it happen.
Strategic Pathing for Efficiency
If you’re starting from zero, don't hunt these one by one. It’s inefficient. Instead, tie your shrine visits to your world quest progression.
- Complete the "Virgil's Struggle" and "Aqueous Tidemarks" quests early. These get you familiar with the underwater mechanics and open up the Institute ruins.
- Focus on the Statues of the Seven in the Court of Fontaine and Belleau regions first. They are the easiest to level up.
- Keep a pin on your map every time you see a shrine but don't have a key. Navigating back is easier than trying to remember which "underwater hole" had the teal glow.
- Use the Fontaine Treasure Compass. While it doesn't point to the shrine itself, it helps you find the chests nearby that contain the Sigils you need to get the keys from the Fountain of Lucine.
The Fontaine Shrine of Depth locations are a testament to how much Genshin Impact has evolved in terms of map design. They aren't just boxes in a field anymore. They are rewards for actually learning the layout of the world.
To wrap this up and get those rewards, start by checking your Adventure Handbook to see how many Luxurious Chests you’re missing. If your count is low, chances are you’ve got a shrine waiting for you. Head to the Elton Trench first if you want the hardest one out of the way, or stick to the Liffey Region for a quick win. Either way, make sure your Hydroculus resonance stone is ready; you're going to need it to find the offerings required for those final few keys. Don't forget to swap to a team with high mobility—someone like Furina for walking on water or Neuvillette for faster swimming—to make the trek across the Great Lake significantly less tedious.