You’re standing in the middle of a vast, silent desert. The sun just dipped below the horizon, and for a second, the Great Sand Sea looks like it’s made of spilled ink. Then you see it. A cluster of jagged rocks jutting out of the dunes like broken teeth. This is where most players start to realize that Assassin’s Creed Origins isn't just about stabbing tax collectors in the neck. It’s about something way older.
The stone circles in AC Origins are basically the game’s way of making you stop and look up. They aren't just collectibles. They are a link between Bayek—a grieving father—and the stars that his son, Khemu, used to love. Honestly, if you ignore these, you’re missing the emotional spine of the entire game. Plus, you’re missing out on some of the best gear in the game, but we’ll get to the Isu armor later.
Why the Bayek and Khemu Connection Hits So Hard
Most open-world games give you "map markers" just to keep you busy. This feels different. Every time you interact with a stone circle, you get a memory fragment. It’s just Bayek and Khemu talking. No combat. No political intrigue. Just a dad teaching his kid about the gods through the constellations.
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It’s personal.
Ubisoft did something smart here. They used these locations to ground the "Origins" part of the title. We see the birth of the Brotherhood's philosophy not in a dusty book, but in the way a father explains the world to his child. When you’re aligning the stars in the mini-game, you’re literally seeing the world through their eyes. It’s quiet. It’s meditative. And in a game where you spend 80% of your time covered in blood, these moments of silence are heavy.
Finding the Stone Circles AC Origins Locations
You can’t just stumble onto all of these. Some are tucked away in corners of the map you’d never visit otherwise. There are 12 in total. The first one, Amun, is basically handed to you in Siwa as part of the quest "Bayek’s Promise." The rest? You’ve got to hunt.
The Heavy Hitters in the Desert
The Great Sand Sea is home to a couple of these, and man, it’s a trek. You’ll find the Goat Fish stone circle here. It’s isolated. If you’re not careful, the heat haze will start making you see things—flaming bushes, falling fish—before you even reach the rocks.
Then there’s the Qattara Depression. This place is a nightmare to navigate if you’re just wandering, but the Osiris circle is nestled in the north. The scale of the landscape makes Bayek look like an ant. It really drives home the "ancient" feel. You aren't just in Egypt; you’re in a version of Egypt that already feels old to the people living in it.
The Outliers
Don't forget the Faiyum region. You’ve got the Taweret and Pisces circles there. Faiyum is lush compared to the rest of the map, so the vibe is totally different. Instead of harsh sand, you’ve got greenery and water nearby.
- Amun (Siwa) - The starting point.
- Apis (Isolated Desert) - Way out in the southwest.
- Goat Fish (Great Sand Sea) - Pure desert vibes.
- The Divine Lion (Iment Nome) - Near the border.
- The Great Twins (White Desert Oasis) - Beautiful at night.
- Hathor (Ka-Khem Nome) - On an island, easy to miss.
- Horus (Uab Nome) - High up, great view.
- Osiris (Qattara Depression) - Deep in the lowlands.
- Pisces (Faiyum) - Near the coast.
- The Scales (Uab Nome) - Another high-altitude one.
- Serqet (Iment Nome) - Tucked away in the dunes.
- Taweret (Faiyum) - Look for the hippos nearby.
The Mechanical Payoff: The Sphinx and the Isu Armor
Okay, let’s talk about why people actually do this besides the "feelings." Once you finish all 12 stone circles in AC Origins, you have to head back to Giza. Specifically, you’re looking for the Great Sphinx.
Most people think the Sphinx is just a landmark. It’s not. There’s a small hole in the back—yeah, the "Sphinx's butt" joke is unavoidable here—that leads underground. If you’ve finished the circles and collected 50 Silica (that glowing yellow rock found in tombs), you can activate the ancient mechanism.
This triggers a holographic display that is pure sci-fi. It’s the "Ancient Civilizations" stuff that Assassin's Creed loves. The reward? The Isu Armor. It doesn’t give you extra stats, but it looks like something out of Destiny or Tron. It glows. It has a metallic sheen. In a world of linen wraps and leather sandals, it makes Bayek look like a god. Or a time traveler.
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The Reality of Ancient Egyptian Astronomy
Is any of this real? Sorta.
The developers at Ubisoft Montreal clearly did their homework. They consulted with historians like Dr. Garry Shaw and used the Description de l'Égypte (the massive record from Napoleon's expedition) to get the vibe right. While the specific "mini-game" of aligning stars is a gameplay mechanic, the Egyptians were obsessed with the heavens.
They used the stars for everything—farming cycles, building pyramids, and religious timing. The "Decans" (groups of stars) were used to tell time at night. When Bayek talks about the "Goat Fish" or "The Scales," he’s using terminology that reflects how the Ptolemaic period blended Egyptian and Greek star-lore. It’s a messy, beautiful cultural crossover.
Why Some Players Struggle
Honestly, the hardest part isn't finding the circles. It's the Silica.
If you want that Isu Armor, you have to be a loot goblin. Every tomb you enter, you need to be spamming your Animus Pulse. Look for the yellow glows. If you rush through the main story and ignore the tombs, you’ll reach the Sphinx with all the stars aligned but zero "batteries" to turn on the machine. It’s frustrating.
Pro tip: Go to the Desheret Desert. There are tombs there (like the Tomb of Seth-Anat) that are absolutely loaded with Silica. It’s a bit of a hike, but it’s faster than scrounging for one or two pieces in the smaller Siwa tombs.
The Emotional Ending of the Quest
When you finally finish "Bayek's Promise," it’s not a loud ending. It’s quiet.
Bayek reflects on Khemu. He accepts the loss, or at least finds a way to carry it. It’s one of the few times a collectible quest actually pays off emotionally. It turns the map from a checklist into a graveyard and a sanctuary all at once.
You aren't just a gamer finishing a task. You’re a man finishing a conversation with a son who isn’t there anymore. That’s why Origins is still considered by many (myself included) to be the peak of the "new" Assassin's Creed style. It has a soul.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re jumping back into Egypt or playing for the first time, don't rush. Here is how to handle the stone circle grind without burning out:
- Don't do them all at once. If you try to marathon all 12 locations in one sitting, you’ll get bored. The desert is big, and camel riding is slow. Match the circles to the level of the region you’re currently in.
- Prioritize the "Uab Nome" and "Desheret Desert" tombs. You need that 50 Silica. Most players get to the end and realize they only have 20. Start hoarding early.
- Wait until night. It sounds obvious, but the constellations are easier to see and the lighting in the game is way more dramatic. It makes the "align the stars" mini-game feel much more immersive.
- Check the map borders. Ubisoft loves hiding these right on the edge of the "desynchronization" zones. If you see a weird rock formation on your HUD that looks like a circle, even if it’s in the middle of nowhere, go check it.
- Listen to the dialogue. If you’re a skipper, stop. The dialogue between Bayek and Khemu is some of the best writing in the franchise. It gives context to Bayek’s rage in the main story.