In the Mountains

• The Frostbearing Tree Offering System
• The Peak of Vindagnyr domain
• The Cryo Hypostasis boss

Start Location

The quest can be started by talking to Iris at the Dragonspine Adventurer Camp.

Iris' location

Additional context

Steps

1. Investigate the strange ice
   • The ice is located just south of the first Teleport Waypoint from the Dragonspine Adventurer Camp, near a Frostarm Lawachurl.
   • Use the nearby Scarlet Quartz on the ice shard 4 times to thaw it.
   • Activate the Orb. This also unlocks the Frostbearing Tree Offering System.
2. Continue upwards to investigate
3. Thaw all the shards out (1/3)
   • Entombed City - Outskirts (2nd waypoint south from Dawn Winery's Statue of The Seven)
     • Activate the device and watch the Warming Seelie move between the 5 Cryo Monuments, then use Cryo attacks to activate them in the same order.
     • Open the Precious Chest and defeat the enemies that spawn afterward:
       • Wave 1:
         • Ruin Guard ×2
       • Wave 2:
         • Ruin Grader ×1
       • A snowstorm begins at the start of the fight that accelerates Sheer Cold. During the fight, only 1 of the 4 Ruin Braziers will be active at any one time.
     • Follow the Warming Seelie down into the cavern and guide it to its court.
     • Free the second Warming Seelie by using Pyro to melt the ice near the stele with Ancient Carvings, then guide it to its court to access a Scarlet Quartz and Exquisite Chest ×2.
     • Use the nearby Scarlet Quartz on the ice shard 4 times to thaw it, then activate the Orb.
       • The 2 Ruin Graders in the room will activate at low health, but defeating them is not necessary to progress the quest.
       • The barrier near the Ancient Carvings will disappear, revealing a passage that leads outside. This passage will be the only way to access this cave again after completing this quest.
   • Starglow Cavern (waypoint southwest of Peak of Vindagnyr domain)
     • Head east from the waypoint, glide down, and follow the strange blue flowers into the cavern.
     • Complete the Time Trial Challenge at the bottom of the cavern. This consists of four waves that must be cleared in 3 minutes:
       • Wave 1:
         • Cryo Hilichurl Shooter ×2
         • Cryo Hilichurl Grenadier ×1
       • Wave 2:
         • Cryo Hilichurl Shooter ×3
         • Cryo Samachurl ×1
       • Wave 3:
         • Cryo Hilichurl Shooter ×2
         • Cryo Samachurl ×2
       • Wave 4:
         • Cryo Abyss Mage ×3
       • During this challenge, icicles will continually fall from above. It is recommended to find the three Warming Seelies and guide them to the courts before attempting the challenge.
     • Use the nearby Scarlet Quartz on the ice shard 4 times to thaw it.
     • Activate the Orb after thawing the ice.
4. Head for Dragonspine's summit
   • Go to the Statue of The Seven and head southwest into the cave with the ice spikes.
   • Follow the Warming Seelie at the hilichurl camp to reach the Skyfrost Nail subarea.
5. Thaw all the shards out again
   • This time, each of the 3 shards only requires one hit from a Scarlet Quartz. It is recommended to use a Bow character for convenience.
   • Thaw out the first shard
     • Defeat the 3 Defense Mechanisms to access the Scarlet Quartz near the inactive Ruin Guard.‍^{[Might be the 2 nearest, since defeating the third unlocks a chest]}
     • Use the Scarlet Quartz to melt one of the floating shards.
   • Thaw out the second shard
     • Head up the slope to the arena with the Frostarm Lawachurl.
     • Defeat the Frostarm Lawachurl to access the Scarlet Quartz, and a Precious Chest, Exquisite Chest, and Common Chest.
       • The Lawachurl will summon Cryo Hilichurl Shooters and Cryo Hilichurl Grenadiers as reinforcements, all of which will despawn when it is defeated.
       • Use Pyro to keep the torches lit to reduce Sheer Cold.
     • Use the Scarlet Quartz to melt another of the floating shards.
   • Thaw out the third shard
     • Follow the Warming Seelie from the Lawachurl's arena to an Anemo Monument on the cliff above.
     • Activate the Anemo Monument, then ride the wind current and use the Anemo rings to reach a hilichurl camp. It is not necessary to defeat the hilichurls.
     • Use the Scarlet Quartz in the hilichurl camp to melt the last floating shard.
   • Activate all the Orbs revealed by the broken shards.
6. Investigate the area below
   • Drop down and open the Luxurious Chest with the red aura.
   • This will also grant access to the Peak of Vindagnyr domain.
   • Precious Chest ×2 and Exquisite Chest ×1 can be found near the entrance of the domain.
7. Report back to Iris
   • The Cryo Hypostasis boss will become available after this step.

Gameplay Notes

• At each stage, exactly enough Scarlet Quartz is provided to melt the ice shards. Pyro attacks alone will not work.
  • When these Scarlet Quartzes are used to melt an ice shard, they will not respawn until the shard is fully melted. However, they will respawn quickly if the Scarlet Quartz effect is consumed for another purpose (e.g., while attacking an enemy).
  • All attacks from characters with the Scarlet Quartz effect active are able to melt the ice shards. This includes Bow and Catalyst attacks, and any type of Elemental attack (not only Pyro).
• Completing this quest will grant the Visitors on the Icy Mountain achievement Skyfrost Nail.
• Climbing to the top of Skyfrost Nail after it's restored will grant the Wonders of the World achievement Sky High.

Dialogue

Quest Description

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At the adventurer camp, Iris informs you that there seems to be some bizarrely hard ice blocking the paths into the mountains...

(Talk to Iris, after completing Low-Temperature Warning)

Iris: This is a sticky situation, indeed...

How are things here on Dragonspine?

Iris: On this mountain? Well, I can only say that it's more dangerous than any other place in Mondstadt.

Iris: Apart from the harsh conditions, this mountain is also home to some strange... ice.

Iris: It is incredibly hard to break, and will not melt when exposed to fire.

Iris: Worst of all, a few roads have been blocked by this ice.

Iris: Quite a few of our expedition teams have been forced to turn back after being blocked by ice barricades that they could not get around.

Iris: *sigh* I wonder when we're going to find a way to get rid of that ice...

I'll have a look at it.

Iris: You're just going to have a look, right? If so, I remember that there was a large slab of ice of that kind on the mountain's outer boundaries. Who knows what's frozen inside it...

Iris: You could have a look around there, but remember, it's best not to come this way again.

(Talk to Iris again, optional)

So, tell me about the ice.

Iris: If you'd just like to have a look at the ice, you can just go to the place that I mentioned. For your own safety, don't go any further into the mountain.

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(Approach the Frostbearing Tree)

Paimon: What a huge block of ice... Can you see what's stuck inside?

Paimon: Huh, what's up with all this blue grass around here? So strange...

(After thawing the ice)

(The blue orb flies up towards the mountain's summit)

(A new Frostbearing Tree sprouts out of the ground)

Paimon: Eek! That thing just flew up into the air... Looked like it was going towards the mountain's summit.

Paimon: Shall we go and have a look around? Or should we go back and ask someone about the situation?

(Upon reaching the area leading to the summit)

Paimon: S—S—So cold... P—Paimon's turning into a Paimon popsicle!

Paimon: Wh—What's... going on here...

Paimon: W—We should go back and ask around at the camp in the foothills...

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Step Description

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The cavern leading up to the summit has been blocked by a mysterious air current that renders it impassible. Head down to the camp in the foothills to ask around. Perhaps someone might have a clue as to your next course of action.

(Report back to Iris)

This mountain really is a dangerous place...

Iris: Oh? You're back? How did it go? Did you see the ice— Huh. You're in... quite a state, aren't you?

Do you know anything about the air current in the cavern?

Iris: You've already been that high up? That's very impressive. Still... a cavern blocked by a strange air current, you say? Let me think...

Iris: Ah, that reminds me. We did have an adventure team that also got lucky enough to reach a point very high up the mountain.

Iris: They couldn't get close enough, but they did they report that a cavern near the summit did have a strange and powerful air current flowing out from it.

Iris: But logically speaking, no air current in such a place should be that strong. No one knows the reason why, either...

Iris: Apart from that strange air current, this mountain is also home to some very strange ice.

Iris: This ice is incredibly hard to break, and will not melt when exposed to fire. It has proved a major obstacle to our exploration as a result.

Iris: We have been unable to find a way to deal with that ice, so we've had to go around it...

Iris: What's more, blue plants are often found growing near this ice.

Iris: I could vaguely see that there was something encased within the ice. But since I was unable to melt it, catching a glimpse of it was as far as I got.

Iris: If you're interested, you can follow the trail of blue plants to have a look at that ice.

Iris: Let me think... I believe that the Entombed City Outskirts and Starglow Cavern are home to many of those blue plants. You can go and check them out.

Iris: A strange, powerful air current, bizarre ice, and odd plants...

Iris: Hahaha, if this was your standard tale of adventure, there would be some link between these three.

Iris: But in real life, it's best to be practical when adventuring... Make sure you prepare yourself sufficiently before heading up Dragonspine, you hear?

(Talk to Iris again, optional)

So, tell me about the ice.

Iris: Perhaps you've already noticed, but that slab of ice is surrounded by a great many blue plants.

Iris: I believe that those plants may be related in some way to the shard frozen in the ice.

Iris: If you wish to continue looking for those shards on Dragonspine, I'd say that you might have some luck following the trail of those blue plants.

Iris: I believe that the Entombed City Outskirts and Starglow Cavern are home to many of those blue plants. You can go and check them out. Perhaps you might discover something.

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Step Description

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The first shard flew up and away after being thawed out... According to Iris, there are two other shards here on Dragonspine. If you follow the strange blue plants, you may be able to find more shards of this sort around the Entombed City Outskirts and Starglow Cavern.

(After unlocking the second mechanism and waking the Ruin Guards)

Paimon: Whoa, be careful! Those big guys look like they're waking up...

Paimon: It's so cold... That light over there, it looks like some kind of heat source...

(Follow the Warming Seelie down into the cavern after defeating the Ruin Guards)

Paimon: What a huge block of ice... Can you see what's stuck inside?

Paimon: Huh, what's up with all this blue grass around here? So strange...

(Upon entering Starglow Cavern)

Paimon: This blue grass grows thick here. Paimon thinks we must be getting closer to something.

(Approach the shard in Starglow Cavern)

Paimon: So c—cold...

Paimon: Is it because there's no sunlight around here? Or does it have something to do with those blue plants or that weird ice...

(After thawing all three shards)

Paimon: All three shards have thawed out and flown up to the top...

Paimon: Let's go to the summit and see what the situation there's like.

(Talk to Iris, optional)

So, tell me about the ice.

Iris: Since we've got a way to melt that ice now, that means I can continue organizing expedition parties to explore the mountain...

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Step Description

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Upon thawing the remaining shards out, all the shards flew upwards and away... Perhaps this might have resulted in some changes to the cavern sealed by the strange air current...

(Upon entering the marked area)

Paimon: How are we going to get up this mountain? Hmm, let's try following this road first, shall we?

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Step Description

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Following the mountain path, you discover a Statue of The Seven. Beside it, the path up the mountain extends ever on...

(Reach the summit)

Paimon: Look, a giant pillar! What could it be for?

Paimon: Up there, aren't those the shards we unfroze? So is this pillar where they came from...?

Paimon: Looks like they froze again... Brr, this climate really isn't Paimon-friendly...

Paimon: ...But we've got no choice. Let's go unfreeze them again.

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Step Description

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You successfully reach Dragonspine's summit from the cavern. However, you see a strange pillar from which those frozen shards seem to have fallen. Those shards also seem to have become frozen once more, requiring you to thaw them out again.

(After thawing the ice shards again)

Paimon: Huh? The icy surface under the pillar has completely shattered. Looks like there's a huge space underneath it, too. Let's go check it out.

(After opening the Luxurious Chest)

Paimon: Seems like there's nothing else here...

Paimon: But we should still go back and inform that adventurer.

(Climb to the top of Skyfrost Nail after being restored, optional)

Paimon: Wow... This place is incredibly high up.

Paimon: Paimon has no idea where this pillar might have come from...

Paimon: Did it fall down from the sky? How strange...

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Step Description

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After unfreezing the three shards and letting them return to that mysterious pillar, the ice surface beneath the pillar broke, revealing a large space underneath... Perhaps you can return to the adventurers at the camp and report what you've seen here on the summit...

(Talk to Iris)

About the summit...

Iris: There's a strange, huge pillar floating in mid-air at the summit? To think that there would be such a thing atop Dragonspine...

Iris: And there's a huge space below the ice under the pillar? That's... even weirder.

Iris: This is... inconceivable. Thank you. I will send explorers up there as quickly as we can to see what's happening there.

Iris: Ah, yes, I should thank you for helping us open the way to the summit. Please take these as thanks.

Iris: It seems Dragonspine really does have its secrets after all.

Iris: I do hope our next expedition will yield some new discoveries.

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