Let’s be real for a second. There is nothing more annoying in Genshin Impact than standing in front of a glowing blue gazebo with a Luxurious Chest inside, only to realize you don’t have the key. You've spent the last hour swimming through the underwater trenches of the Court of Fontaine, dodging those aggressive clockwork meka, and now you’re stuck. We’ve all been there. Finding a Shrine of Depths Fontaine isn't just about the 40 Primogems. It’s about the completionist itch that won't go away until that map marker is cleared.
Fontaine is a vertical nightmare—in a good way. Since HoYoverse introduced the diving mechanic in Version 4.0, the "world map" essentially doubled. You aren't just looking at X and Y coordinates anymore; you’re looking at depth. Some of these shrines are tucked away in caves that require you to solve three separate puzzles just to find the entrance, while others are just chilling on a cliffside like they aren't holding the equivalent of a free gacha pull.
How the Fontaine Keys Actually Work
Unlike Mondstadt or Liyue, where keys felt like they were handed out for breathing, Fontaine is a bit more demanding. You can't just stumble into a domain and walk out with a key. You have to earn them through the Fountain of Lucine and the Statue of the Seven.
The leveling system is steep. To get all 10 keys for every Shrine of Depths Fontaine currently in the game, you’re going to need a mountain of Hydro Sigils. You get these by opening chests and through the Hydroculus offerings. Honestly, it's a bit of a grind. If you’re at the Fountain of Lucine near the Opera Epiclese, you’ll notice that keys are rewarded at specific levels—usually every ten levels (8, 18, 28, and so on). The Statues of the Seven also cough them up at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
Don't expect to unlock them all in one afternoon. It’s a marathon.
Scouring the Great Lake: The Underwater Shrines
The underwater shrines are easily the coolest looking ones, but they are also the easiest to walk (or swim) right past. There’s one located in the Elton Trench that basically requires you to dive into the deepest part of the canyon. If you look at your mini-map, it looks like it’s on land. It isn't. You have to descend until the light starts to fade and you see that tell-tale teal glow.
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The Elton Trench Secret
To find this one, teleport to the waypoint south of the Chemin de L'Espoir. Swim north towards the trench. You’ll see some giant Lily-like plants. The shrine is nestled into a rock crevice. It’s quiet down there. Eerie. But the loot is worth the claustrophobia.
Salacia Plain
This one is much easier. It's just north of the Pale Forgotten Glory domain. If you’re farming talent books, you’ve probably seen the silhouette in the distance. It’s sitting in a relatively flat area of the seabed. Watch out for the Bullet Barnacles nearby; they’ll sniped you while you're trying to insert the key if you don't take them out with an armored crab's ability first.
Landlocked: The Surface Shrines of Fontaine
Surface shrines are traditional. No swimming required. Just climbing. Lots of it.
There is a notorious one in the Elynas region of Beryl. Elynas is basically the carcass of a giant dragon, and the geography reflects that. The shrine is located on the western slope. If you teleport to the top of the mountain and glide down, you can’t miss it. It overlooks the sea towards the Romaritime Harbor. It’s actually a great spot for a screenshot if you catch the sunset.
Then there's the one in the Court of Fontaine region. Specifically, it’s north of the city, near the Echoes of the Deep Tides domain. You have to head towards the northernmost cliffs. It’s perched on a high ridge. You’ll likely run into a few Hillichurl Rogue camps on the way. These guys aren't the pushovers the Mondstadt ones are—they’ve got some HP, so be ready for a skirmish.
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Why Everyone Struggles with the Liffey Region Shrine
The Liffey Region was added later, and its shrine is a bit of a trek. It’s tucked away in the northern part of the map, near the New Fontaine Research Institute. This area is messy. Broken bridges, floating water cubes, and ruins everywhere. The Shrine of Depths Fontaine here is located on a hillside that requires some creative gliding.
A lot of players get confused because the terrain is so vertical. You might be standing right "on" the icon on the map, but the shrine is 50 meters above your head. Look for the wind currents or use a character like Wanderer or Xianyun if you have them. It makes life significantly easier.
The Hidden Value: It's Not Just Primogems
We talk about the 40 Primogems constantly, but the Luxurious Chests inside these shrines are the primary source of high-tier artifacts for early-game players and a massive amount of Adventure EXP. Each chest gives you 10 Hydro Sigils.
Think about that loop:
- You turn in Sigils to the Fountain.
- The Fountain gives you a Key.
- The Key opens a Shrine.
- The Shrine gives you more Sigils.
It’s a self-sustaining cycle of progression that helps you max out the Fountain of Lucine rewards, which eventually include a couple of Northlander Billets and even some Crowns of Insight. If you’re ignoring these shrines, you’re essentially leaving talent levels and free weapon crafts on the table.
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Navigation Tips for the Frustrated Traveler
If you’re hunting these down, stop using the default map alone. It’s too flat. Use the official Teyvat Interactive Map provided by HoYoLAB. It has a "layered" feature that shows you exactly which floor a shrine is on.
Another tip: don't go shrine hunting until you have at least three keys. It feels much more productive to do a "shrine run" where you hit several at once rather than teleporting back and forth every time you scrape together enough Sigils for a single key.
Common Misconception: The "Missing" 11th Shrine
People keep asking where the 11th shrine is. There isn't one. As of the current version, there are 10 shrines in Fontaine, matching the 10 keys available. If you see people talking about an 11th, they’re likely confusing Fontaine with a future expansion or a leaked area that hasn't dropped yet. Stick to the 10.
Regional Breakdown for Completionists
- Beryl Region: 2 Shrines. One in the hills, one near the coast.
- Belleau Region: 1 Shrine. High up on the cliffs near the West Slope of Mont Automnequi.
- Court of Fontaine: 3 Shrines. One underwater, two on the northern landmass.
- Liffey/Institute: 2 Shrines. Both are fairly elevated.
- Morte Region/Erinnyes: 2 Shrines. One is near the Loch Urania area, which is notoriously windy and annoying to navigate.
Solving the "Locked" Areas
Some shrines are located in areas that are technically locked behind world quests. For example, if you haven't started the "Ann of the Narzissenkreuz" or "Ancient Colors" questlines, certain parts of the map might be harder to access or obscured by environmental hazards. While no shrine is strictly inside a quest-only domain, the paths to reach them are often much clearer once the main regional quests are cleared.
Actionable Next Steps
To efficiently clear every Shrine of Depths Fontaine, follow this specific order to minimize backtracking:
- Farm the Sigils First: Spend your evening clearing the "Time Trial" challenges and "Seelie" puzzles in the Morte Region. These chests provide the highest Sigil density.
- Level the Fountain to 40: This ensures you have the bulk of your keys ready. Don't forget the Statue of the Seven; it’s a cheaper way to get the first couple of keys.
- Start from the South: Begin at the Romaritime Harbor and work your way North. Hit the Belleau and Beryl shrines first, then dive for the Elton Trench and Salacia Plain locations.
- Save Erinnyes for Last: The terrain around Loch Urania is the most difficult to navigate due to the weather effects. Clear the "Wild Fairy of Erinnyes" quest first to stop the stormy weather, making the flight to the shrine much smoother.
- Mark Your Progress: Use the in-game pin system. Once you open a shrine, delete the pin. There is nothing worse than trekking to a location only to realize you already opened it three months ago.
Once you’ve cleared all ten, you’ll have netted 400 Primogems, 100 Hydro Sigils, and a heap of 4-star artifacts to use as fodder for your better gear. It’s the most efficient way to boost your account's power while exploring the most beautiful nation in Teyvat.