Look, we've all been there. You’re scanning the cliffs of the Mountain Village in the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot, Lara is shivering in the rain, and you’re one egg short of completing the "Egg Poacher" challenge. It’s annoying. It's especially annoying because unlike the GPS Caches or the Relics, these bird nests don't just pop up on your map when you stand near them. You need the Tomb Raider Egg Poacher map—officially known in-game as the Mountain Village Treasure Map—to actually see where the loot is hidden. But here’s the kicker: the game doesn't just hand it to you. You have to raid a specific optional tomb to get it, and if you miss the entrance during your first climb up the mountain, you’ll be backtracking for an hour.
Honestly, the Mountain Village is the most vertical, confusing hub in the entire game. It's a literal maze of zip lines and craggy waterfalls. Most players end up running in circles near the campfire, looking at the greyed-out icons on their UI and wondering why the "Egg Poacher" challenge remains at 4/5.
Where the Hell is the Mountain Village Treasure Map?
To find the map that reveals the eggs, you need to head toward the Tomb of the Unworthy.
If you’re at the Village Plateau base camp (the one where Roth is resting after the wolf attack), you need to head north. You’ll see a massive waterfall. Don't just stare at it. You have to use the climbing axe to scale the wall nearby. Once you reach the upper ledge, there’s a bridge that looks like it’s held together by luck and spit. Cross it. You’ll find a cave entrance blocked by a crate hanging from a crane. This is the Tomb of the Unworthy.
📖 Related: Uma Musume Just an Acupuncturist No Worries: What This Viral Meme Actually Means for Your Training
The puzzle inside is actually pretty simple compared to later ones. You basically just have to light a torch, burn some bodies (classic Lara), and tip a platform so you can jump to the chest. Inside that chest isn't just gold or salvage—it’s the Tomb Raider Egg Poacher map data. The moment you open it, your in-game map will populate with icons for every collectible in the zone.
It changes everything. Suddenly, those five elusive nests are marked with distinct white icons. You don't have to guess anymore.
Why Everyone Struggles with the Egg Poacher Challenge
The challenge itself is a bit of a jerk. You need to find five bird nests and "interact" with them to steal the eggs. Simple, right? No.
The problem is the verticality. One nest is perched on a roof that you can only reach by jumping from a specific ledge two levels up. Another is tucked behind a rock face near the waterfall that you’d never see unless you were specifically looking for a way to fall to your death. Without the map, you’re basically playing "Where's Waldo" with brown pixels on a brown background.
✨ Don't miss: Elite Dangerous: Why This 1:1 Scale Milky Way Still Scares and Thrills People
The Specific Nest Locations You’re Probably Missing
Even with the map, some of these are tricky.
- The Roof Nest: This one is on the roof of a hut near the waterfall. You can't climb the walls of the hut. You have to get to the higher ledge where the zip line starts and drop down onto it. If you miss the jump, you’re hiking back up.
- The Cliffside Perch: This nest is located on a tiny outcropping near the area where you first find the climbing axe. It’s hidden by the perspective. Most people walk right past it because the camera is focused on the path ahead.
- The High Ledge: Near the Tomb of the Unworthy entrance, there’s a nest on a high wooden platform. If you’ve already cleared the tomb and got your Tomb Raider Egg Poacher map, this one should be glowing on your survival instinct view.
Mastering Survival Instincts and Map Reading
In the 2013 reboot, your "Survival Instinct" (the Q key or LB/L1) is your best friend. But it has limits. Before you get the treasure map, the nests don't glow unless you are practically standing on top of them. This is why getting the map early is the "pro move."
If you’re a completionist, you’re also looking for the GPS caches. The map you find in the Tomb of the Unworthy covers those too. It’s the ultimate "clear the zone" tool.
📖 Related: Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Chica: Why the Sequel's Bird is Still a Total Nightmare
A lot of people ask if they can come back later. Yes. You can. Tomb Raider uses a "Metroidvania" style of world design. If you don't have the gear—like the rope arrows or the reinforced knife—to reach a certain area, just keep playing. You can fast-travel back to any campfire later in the game. In fact, it’s often easier to finish the Egg Poacher challenge after you have the rope ascender, because you can zip around the map way faster.
The Frustration of 99% Completion
There is nothing worse than finishing the game and seeing 99% on your save file. Usually, it’s because of this exact map. People forget that "Challenges" like Egg Poacher, Silencer (shooting alarms), or Illumination (lighting statues) aren't always explicitly tracked on the main map until you find that specific region's treasure map.
If you are stuck, check your map and filter for "Challenges." If it says 4/5 and there are no icons left, it means you haven't actually found the map in the Tomb of the Unworthy yet. Go back to that waterfall. Find the cave.
Expert Tips for Navigating Mountain Village
- Look Up: The developers loved putting things on roofs. If you’re at ground level, you’re missing half the content.
- Check Under Bridges: Several collectibles in this zone are tucked under the wooden walkways.
- Burn Everything: If you see white cloth or a crate, burn it. Sometimes maps or relics are hidden behind "burnable" barriers that don't look like doors.
- The "Map Man" Glitch: Occasionally, the map icon for an egg won't disappear even after you've taken it. Don't panic. Check your sub-menu. If the counter says 5/5, you’re good, even if the ghost icon remains on the 3D map.
The Tomb Raider Egg Poacher map isn't just a luxury; it's a necessity for anyone who doesn't want to spend three hours staring at cliff faces. Get to the Tomb of the Unworthy as soon as you have the climbing axe. It’ll save you a massive headache and let you get back to what the game is actually about: Lara Croft surviving impossible odds and becoming the survivor we know she is.
Actionable Next Steps for 100% Completion
- Fast Travel to the Village Plateau: This is your primary hub for the Mountain Village.
- Locate the Northern Waterfall: Head toward the massive flow of water at the back of the map.
- Enter the Tomb of the Unworthy: Use your axe to climb the wall to the left of the falls, cross the bridge, and solve the elevator puzzle to claim the Treasure Map.
- Toggle Survival Instinct: With the map in your inventory, pulse your survival instinct to see all five nest locations highlighted in gold through walls and terrain.
- Clean Up the Remaining Challenges: While you’re there, use the map to find the remaining 15 GPS caches and the statues for the "Illumination" challenge to fully clear the zone before moving on to the Base Exterior.