Enkanomiya is weird. Honestly, there isn't a better word for it. When HoYoverse dropped the 2.4 update, nobody really expected a giant, floating Greco-Roman ruin hidden beneath the ocean floor of Inazuma. But here we are. If you’re trying to tackle The Subterranean Trials of Drake and Serpent, you aren't just doing another world quest. You're basically excavating the most depressing, beautiful, and lore-heavy graveyard in Teyvat.
Most people get stuck because the mechanics here don't work like the rest of the game. You've got this massive artificial sun called the Dainichi Mikoshi, and if you don't understand how to flip the switch between Evernight and Whitenight, you’re going to spend three hours running in circles around a wall that doesn’t actually exist in the "wrong" time of day.
Getting Down There (The Entry Tax)
You can't just stumble into Enkanomiya. You have to earn it through the "Still Water's Flow" quest, which involves bothering Tsuyuko on Watatsumi Island. It’s a bit of a trek. You’re hunting down key sigils, activating altars, and eventually jumping into a literal whirlpool. It feels like a leap of faith.
Once you land, the game hits you with a massive sense of scale. The atmosphere is heavy. It's quiet. Unlike the upbeat tunes of Mondstadt or the epic orchestration of Liyue, Enkanomiya sounds like a memory that's fading away. The Subterranean Trials of Drake and Serpent acts as your primary onboarding process for this entire ecosystem. It’s the quest that teaches you that in this land, light is a tool, not just a cosmetic effect.
The World-Building You Probably Missed
The lore here is dense. We’re talking about a civilization that existed before the Archons even took their seats. They called it Byakuyakoku. They were trapped in the dark, hunted by Dragonheirs of the Depths—those annoying Bathysmal Vishaps—until a god named Orobashi (the big snake skeleton you see on Yashiori Island) saved them.
Orobashi created the Dainichi Mikoshi. It’s an engineering marvel in the game’s universe, designed by a guy named Abrax. But there's a dark side. The people of Enkanomiya eventually started worshipping the "Sunchildren," who were basically puppet kid-kings controlled by corrupt nobles. When you’re running through these trials, you’re literally walking through the ruins of a society that collapsed under its own isolation and internal rot. It’s bleak, but it makes the puzzles feel like they actually matter.
Why the Sun Switch Matters
The core mechanic of The Subterranean Trials of Drake and Serpent revolves around the Golden Bridle. You need this item to talk to the ghost (or Sinshade) named Aru.
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Here is the thing: some platforms and chests only appear in Whitenight. Others only show up in Evernight.
- During Whitenight, the Dainichi Mikoshi glows bright gold. Shields and barriers of light are active.
- During Evernight, the world turns a deep, ghostly purple. You can see "Sinshades" (the ghosts of the long-dead citizens) and interact with blue light mechanisms.
It’s a constant back-and-forth. If you see a shimmering blue haze blocking your path, it means you need to switch to Whitenight to make it vanish. If you see a yellow "Daylight Shield," switch to Evernight. It sounds simple, but when you're deep in the Evernight Temple or the Serpent's Heart, the verticality of the map makes it a nightmare if you don't plan your route.
Navigating the Three Great Trials
Aru isn't just a friendly ghost; he's a gatekeeper. He tells you that to prove you’re the "Hero," you have to collect three fragments of the Reins of Revival. This is where the quest splits, and you have to visit three distinct locations: The Narrows, The Evernight Temple, and The Serpent's Heart.
The Narrows is usually the first stop. It’s crumbly and full of mechs. You’ll find yourself hitting triangular mechanisms—basically giant stone tuning forks—to move walls. Just remember: if the mechanism looks broken, you’re probably in the wrong "time" phase. Hit the switch, change the sun, and the mechanism will magically repair itself.
Then there's the Evernight Temple. This place is a labyrinth. You’re dealing with a lot of those aforementioned Vishaps here. Pro tip: bring a healer. The "Primal Construct" enemies and the Vishaps have moves that drain your energy or hit through shields. It’s not just about the puzzles; it’s about surviving the environment.
The Serpent's Heart is the most "Temple of Doom" part of the whole thing. You’ll find a circular room with blue transparent curtains. There are symbols on the floor and on the curtains. You have to walk through the curtains in the specific order shown by the marks on the ground. It’s a logic puzzle that actually feels like a ritual. It’s a nice break from just "hit the glowing thing with a sword."
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The Final Showdown: The Bathysmal Vishap Herd
Once you bring the fragments back to Aru, you get to descend into the heart of the Dainichi Mikoshi. This leads to the climax of The Subterranean Trials of Drake and Serpent.
You’re fighting two massive Vishaps at once: Bolteater and Primordial.
They jump around. They shoot energy orbs. They try to drain your Burst.
The biggest mistake people make here is focusing on just one. If you kill one and take too long to kill the second, the first one might jump back into the fight with a fraction of health. You kind of have to weave your damage between them. Also, watch out for the wall-climbing move. They’ll hop onto the stone pillars around the arena. If you have a claymore user or someone like Zhongli, you can break the pillars to knock them down for a massive stun window. If you don't break those pillars, they will just rain down projectiles on you while you stand there looking silly.
What This Quest Actually Changes
Completing this quest doesn't just give you Primogems and a sense of accomplishment. It fundamentally changes the map. You unlock the ability to toggle the day/night cycle at will, which is required for almost every side quest in the zone, including the "Lotus Eater" quest and the collection of the 56 Key Sigils.
It also unlocks the "Bathysmal Vishap Herd" world boss. You’ll need to farm this guy if you ever plan on leveling up characters like Shenhe or Yae Miko. So, getting good at this fight during the quest is actually a solid investment for your future roster.
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Actionable Steps for a Smooth Run
If you’re about to dive in, or if you’re currently stuck, keep these things in mind to save your sanity.
Check your Sigils early. Enkanomiya is littered with Key Sigils (Levels I through V). These aren't just for chests. Many are required to unlock the pathways needed for the trials. If you see one on your mini-map, grab it immediately. You'll regret backtracking later.
Bring a diverse team. You want a Geo character for shield-breaking and pillar-smashing. You want a healer because the "Corrosion" and energy-drain mechanics in this zone are relentless. A cryo or hydro character is also great for freezing the Vishaps, who are surprisingly fast for giant lizards.
Don't ignore the ghosts. After you finish the main trials, Enkanomiya stays populated with Sinshades. Many of them have "hidden" world quests that don't show up on your map with an exclamation point. Talk to everyone. This is where the best stories (and more Primogems) are hidden.
Mark the Sun Switches. While the map shows some, there are dozens of "Dainichi Mikoshi" activation points. Some are hidden behind rubble. When you find one that isn't on the main path, mark it with a pin. There is nothing worse than needing to change the time and realizing the nearest switch is a three-minute glide away because you forgot where the "secret" one was.
Enkanomiya is a one-of-a-kind experience in Genshin Impact. It’s lonely, haunting, and mechanically distinct. By the time you finish the trials, you’ve essentially mastered a mini-game of light and shadow that defines one of the most unique chapters in the game's history.
To make the most of your time in the depths, start by clearing the perimeter of the Dainichi Mikoshi to unlock all the teleporters first. This makes the back-and-forth travel between trials significantly less tedious. Once those are active, focus on the Serpent's Heart puzzles first, as they provide the best practice for reading the environmental cues you'll need for the rest of the zone.