Finding the Atocpan Shrine of Depths: What Most Players Miss

You're running through the dense, vertical jungles of Natlan, and suddenly, you see it. That faint, glowing blue lattice through the trees. If you've spent any time in Genshin Impact's 5.0 update, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The Atocpan Shrine of Depths isn't just a landmark; it's a massive payout waiting to happen. But honestly, getting there is half the struggle if you don't know the terrain.

Natlan is different. The movement mechanics, the Phlogiston, the way the map layers on top of itself—it's a lot. Most people just wander around the Tequemecan Valley hoping to stumble into it. Don't do that. You'll waste twenty minutes climbing walls you don't need to climb.

Where is the Atocpan Shrine of Depths exactly?

Location matters. If you open your map and look at the area surrounding the Children of Echoes, you'll see a lot of jagged rock formations. The Atocpan Shrine of Depths sits nestled in the western portion of the Tequemecan Valley. Specifically, it’s tucked into a cliffside area that looks intimidating from below but is actually pretty accessible if you approach from the right waypoint.

Think of it as being south of the "Sulphurous Veins" and west of the main settlement.

I’ve seen people try to glide from the highest peaks in the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. Bad move. You’ll run out of stamina long before you hit the mark. Instead, you want to use the teleport waypoint located on the ridge to the southwest of the shrine. From there, it’s a simple drop-down.

You’ll see the glow. It’s unmistakable. That ancient, hexagonal architecture sticks out like a sore thumb against the rugged, volcanic browns and oranges of the Natlan landscape.

Keys are the real bottleneck

Look, you can find the shrine in five minutes, but if you don't have a Natlan Shrine of Depths Key, you're just staring at a locked door. It's frustrating. I get it.

How do you get them? It’s not like the old days where every random quest gave you one. In Natlan, your primary sources are the Statues of the Seven and the Tablet of Tona.

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• Leveling up your Statues of the Seven by collecting Pyroculi is the most straightforward path.
• The Tablet of Tona (Natlan’s version of the Sacred Sakura or the Onion in Sumeru) rewards keys at specific levels when you offer Pyro Sigils.
• Specific World Quests in the 5.x patches occasionally drop them, but don't count on that for a quick fix.

Basically, if you haven't been grinding your exploration, you aren't getting in. It’s a gatekeeping mechanic, sure, but the 40 Primogems inside make the legwork worth it. Plus, the Sigils you get from the Luxurious Chest inside feed right back into the Tablet of Tona. It’s a loop.

The Saurian trick you need to use

Don't just run there as a human character. Seriously. Natlan is designed for Saurians.

To reach the Atocpan Shrine of Depths efficiently, you should find a Tepetlisaur nearby. Those are the little brown, badger-like guys. Why? Because the terrain around Atocpan is filled with "liquid" rock and vertical crevices. A Tepetlisaur can burrow directly into the canyon walls.

I’ve watched players try to use Kazuha or Wanderer to scale those cliffs. It works, but it's slow. If you possess a Tepetlisaur, you can literally drill through the shortcut paths. There’s a specific spirit way (those glowing lines in the air) nearby that can also shoot you toward the ridge if you’re using the right Saurian or a character like Mualani.

Why this specific shrine matters for your account

Every Shrine of Depths gives 40 Primogems. That's the baseline. But the Atocpan Shrine of Depths is part of the "Exploration Progress" for the Tequemecan Valley.

If you're stuck at 98% exploration and can't find that last bit, it’s almost always this shrine or the underground caves near the Sulphurous Veins. Opening this chest provides a massive bump to your completion percentage.

Beyond the gems, you’re looking at:

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1. 10 Pyro Sigils (huge for the Tablet of Tona levels).
2. 3-star and 4-star artifacts (fodder, mostly, but helpful).
3. Mystic Enhancement Ore.
4. A bunch of Hero’s Wit.

It sounds small, but when you multiply that by all the shrines in Natlan, it’s the difference between hitting soft pity on a banner or coming up short.

Common misconceptions about Natlan Shrines

I hear a lot of chatter about "hidden" requirements. "Do I need to finish the Archon Quest Act II to unlock the Atocpan Shrine?"

No.

You can walk right up to it the moment you step foot in Natlan. The only "requirement" is having the key in your inventory. Some people think there’s a puzzle involved because Natlan is so gimmick-heavy. There isn't. The shrine is just a lock-and-key interaction. If the barrier is up, use the key. If you don't have the key, go find more Pyroculi.

Another weird rumor is that the loot scales with World Level. It doesn’t. A Shrine of Depths chest is static. Whether you open it at World Level 1 or World Level 9, the Primogem count stays the same. The only thing that might vary slightly is the quality of the green/blue weapons, but let's be real: you aren't here for the Cool Steel.

Navigating the verticality of Tequemecan Valley

The geography here is a nightmare if you hate heights. The Atocpan Shrine of Depths is positioned on a mid-level plateau.

If you're coming from the Children of Echoes village, you'll be looking up at a series of tiered cliffs. This is where the Tepetlisaur shines. If you try to climb manually, watch your stamina bar. The heat mechanics in some parts of Natlan can be punishing, though the area immediately around Atocpan is relatively safe compared to the volcano's core.

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Keep an eye out for the orange "Phlogiston" crystals. If you’re using Natlan characters like Kinich or Mualani, you need that energy to keep your traversal skills active. If you run dry, you’re back to the slow, old-school crawl.

Real Talk: Is it worth the trek?

Honestly, yes.

Natlan is huge. It feels bigger than Sumeru sometimes because of how many layers there are. Finding the Atocpan Shrine of Depths early gives you a solid "anchor point" for your exploration. Once you've cleared it, you can stop worrying about that specific corner of the map and move on to the more annoying stuff, like the hidden trials or the local legends that will absolutely one-shot your level 90 Bennett if you aren't careful.

The Tequemecan Valley is actually one of the more beautiful zones in the game. The way the light hits the crystalline structures near the shrine at sunset is... well, it’s peak HoYoverse. Take a screenshot while you’re there.

Actionable Steps for your next session

Don't just wander aimlessly. Follow this sequence to get it done:

1. Check your inventory. Do you actually have a Natlan Shrine of Depths Key? If not, teleport to the Statue of the Seven and see if you can level it up. Or hit the Tablet of Tona and dump your Sigils.
2. Teleport to the southwestern waypoint. This is the one on the high ridge overlooking the valley.
3. Look for the blue glow. It’s visible from quite a distance if your render settings aren't set to "potato."
4. Grab a Saurian. If you aren't confident in your gliding, find a Tepetlisaur nearby to handle the vertical cliffs.
5. Open the chest. 40 Primogems, 10 Sigils. Done.

Once you’ve cleared the Atocpan location, make a note to head toward the Basin of Unnumbered Flames for the next one. They tend to follow a pattern—one per major sub-region.

Natlan's exploration rewards those who understand the Saurian mechanics. If you try to play this like it's Mondstadt, you're going to have a bad time. Use the burrowing, use the grapples, and get those shrines off your checklist early so you can focus on the real challenge: farming those obsidian fragments for the secret room.

The Atocpan Shrine of Depths is a quick win in a region that can sometimes feel overwhelming. Grab your key, find the ridge, and take the loot.

Next Steps for Exploration Mastery

• Farm Pyroculi: Use the resonance stone if you're desperate, but most in Tequemecan Valley are out in the open.
• Max the Tablet of Tona: This is your primary source for keys. Don't hoard your Sigils; they serve no other purpose.
• Mark your map: Use the in-game pins once you find a shrine, even if you don't have a key yet, so you don't have to look up a guide twice.