You arrive at the edge of the Sea of Fog and everything just... disappears. If you’ve played through the Inazuma expansion, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The Thru the Mists Genshin Impact questline isn't just another checklist of tasks for Primogems. It is a genuine test of patience, a psychological deep-dive into grief, and honestly, one of the most mechanically frustrating things HoYoverse has ever designed. But that’s why we love it, right?
Most players stumble into Tsurumi Island expecting another tropical paradise like Watatsumi. They get hit with a thick, gray wall of nothingness instead.
This isn't like the Dragonspine sheer cold where you're just managing a bar. This is about being literally lost. If you step off the path, the fog swallows you and spits you back at a waypoint. It feels personal. It feels like the island itself doesn't want you there. That’s the brilliance of the world-building here—the environment is the antagonist.
The Reality of the Thru the Mists Genshin Impact Questline
The quest is a multi-day commitment. You can't speedrun this. It’s a four-day real-world time-gated slog that forces you to live with the consequences of your actions on the island. You meet a kid named Ruu. He seems nice. He’s lonely. He wants to sing for a bird. Typical RPG stuff, you think. Then you start digging into the actual lore of the Thunderbird, Kapatcir, and the ritual of the island.
It gets dark. Fast.
The "Particularly Particular Author" quest starts it all off. You’re just a glorified courier for Sumida, an NPC in Inazuma City who wants to enter a writing contest. She’s kind of a trope—the eccentric novelist—but she’s the catalyst for sending you into a place that hasn't seen the sun in centuries. When you first find Ruu, the island feels alive. There are people everywhere. They’re preparing for a festival. But as you progress through the Thru the Mists Genshin Impact stages, you realize the "people" aren't exactly what they seem.
Day One: The Illusion of Life
You’re tasked with making offerings to perches—these gnarled, spooky trees that hold the fog in place. You touch the tree, three feathers fly away, and you have to hunt them down using Elemental Sight. It sounds simple. It’s not. The Rifthounds, those annoying wolves that bypass your shields and make your whole team bleed, are everywhere.
I remember the first time I did this. I thought my Zhongli shield made me invincible. I was wrong. Corrosion is a brutal mechanic, especially when you’re trying to navigate through zero visibility. By the time you finish the three perches—at Autake Plains, Shirikoro Peak, and Chirai Shrine—the fog lifts. You feel a sense of accomplishment. You head back to Sumida, proud of yourself.
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Then you wake up the next real-world day and the fog is back.
Why the Time-Gate Actually Works
Most modern games want you to consume content as fast as possible. Genshin usually follows that rule, but Tsurumi Island is different. The Thru the Mists Genshin Impact quest requires you to return on Day 2 ("Octave of the Maushiro"), Day 3 ("The Sea of Fog and the Rite of the Trees"), and Day 4 ("The Sun-Wheel and Mt. Kanna").
By forcing the player to wait 24 hours between chapters, the game simulates the repetitive, cyclical nature of the island's curse. Ruu is stuck in a loop. Every time you come back, the "people" have forgotten you. They’re re-enacting the same day over and over. It creates this eerie sense of deja vu. You start to recognize the NPCs. You see the tragedy unfolding before it actually happens.
The Mystery of the Maushiro
On the second day, you get a gadget called the Peculiar Pinion. It’s basically a feather from the Thunderbird. This thing is the key to everything. You use it on bird statues (Stormstones) to trigger illusions or reveal hidden clues.
This is where the gameplay shifts from "fetch quest" to "archaeological mystery." You aren't just clearing fog anymore; you're uncovering the history of a civilization that was wiped out because of a massive misunderstanding between a god and a child.
Mechanics That Will Make You Pull Your Hair Out
Let’s talk about the puzzles. The Shirikoro Peak underwater ruins are a nightmare if you don't like relay stone puzzles. You’re connecting these electric currents across gaps, often while being harassed by Ruin Sentinels.
The Thru the Mists Genshin Impact experience is defined by these moments of "where the heck am I?"
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- The Fog Reset: If you stay in the thick fog for too long without standing near a glowing stone lamp, you get warped back. It’s a mechanic designed to induce claustrophobia.
- The Stone Slates: There are seven hidden slates around the island. Finding them requires a guide or about six hours of aimless wandering. They unlock a secret in the ruins beneath Chirai Shrine, providing some of the best lore drops in the game regarding the ancient civilization that preceded the current Seven Archon system.
- Star-Shaped Gems: These are hidden behind walls that can only be broken by using the Peculiar Pinion. They lead to a massive mural that hints at Celestia and the upside-down nature of Teyvat’s world.
Honestly, the rewards are decent, but the real prize is the Luxurious Chests hidden in places you’d never think to look. Like the one hidden behind a fake wall in the middle of a flooded hallway.
The Tragedy of Ruu and Kapatcir
You can't talk about Thru the Mists Genshin Impact without talking about the ending. It’s widely considered one of the saddest stories in the game.
Kapatcir, the Great Eagle (or Thunderbird), wasn't an evil deity. She was just... lonely. She liked Ruu’s singing. She promised to see him again. The people of Tsurumi Island, in their misguided attempt to appease the "god," sacrificed Ruu. They thought blood was what she wanted.
When Kapatcir returned and saw the blood of the boy she loved on the sacrificial altar, she went nuclear. She wiped the entire island off the map and cursed it to repeat that day of the ritual forever. Every time you see a ghost or a "projection" of an NPC, you’re looking at a person who died in agony centuries ago.
When you finally bring Ruu to Seirai Island to "see" the bird (or what's left of her power), the music shifts. It’s a hauntingly beautiful melody. The fog finally clears—for good this time.
How to Prepare for the Final Push
If you’re still working through this, don't rush. The Rifthounds are the biggest threat. Since they deal Corrosion damage, your health drops regardless of your defense.
- Bring a Healer: This is non-negotiable. Barbara, Kokomi, or Jean are lifesavers here. Shields won't save you from the bleed effect.
- Electro Characters are Key: Many of the puzzles and the "Stormstones" that keep the fog away require Electro to activate. Fischl or the Raiden Shogun make this much easier.
- Check the Map: The "invisible" walls and paths can be tricky. If you see a glowing purple bird statue, use your Feather gadget. Always.
Common Misconceptions About Tsurumi Island
A lot of people think the fog stays forever. It doesn't. Once you finish "The Sun-Wheel and Mt. Kanna," the island is clear. You can finally see the sky. It’s actually a beautiful, albeit desolate, place once the gloom is gone.
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Another mistake? Ignoring the "Ghost" NPCs that appear after the main quest is over. These ghosts, like Boatman or Chise, have their own mini-quests. Completing them gives you a massive amount of Primogems and a final sense of closure for the spirits trapped on the island.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you want to 100% this area, you need to do more than just the main Thru the Mists Genshin Impact story.
Start by hunting the 10 "Remarkable Chests." These give you furniture blueprints for your Serenitea Pot. They only appear on certain days and in certain spots, often guarded by tough enemies.
Next, focus on the murals. There are six of them. They tell a story that predates the Archon War, linking Tsurumi to other ancient sites like Enkanomiya and the Chasm. It suggests a unified human civilization that once spanned the whole world.
Finally, find the ghost named "Boatman" near the eastern shore. He will give you clues about other ghosts who need help moving on. Helping them all triggers a final cutscene where the "golden boat" takes the spirits away. It’s the true ending to the Tsurumi saga.
Stop treating this like a chore. Tsurumi Island is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. It’s meant to be uncomfortable. It’s meant to be confusing. When the fog finally lifts and you see the ruins of a forgotten culture under a clear night sky, you realize that the struggle was the whole point. Go back to the island tonight. Bring a healer. And maybe listen to the music for a change. It’s worth it.
Next Steps for Your Journey:
- Check your inventory for the Peculiar Pinion; if you don't have it, you need to finish Day 1 of the questline.
- Visit the Shirikoro Peak underground ruins to find the first of the three Star-Shaped Gems.
- Ensure your team has at least one dedicated healer to counter the Rifthound Corrosion before heading into the Autake Plains.