Ancient ruins hide a mysterious chessboard in Sumeru’s desert, where each puzzle piece holds secrets buried beneath the sands. This guide shows how to solve every move and claim the treasures waiting within the dunes.
Genshin Impact‘s patch 3.4 added more to Sumeru’s desert, including a chessboard puzzle. As you run around the Desert of Hadramaveth, you’ll notice the giant glowing chessboard in Safhe Shatranj. Approaching the blue glowing spots will prompt you to insert chess pieces, which you can find in the new desert area. Collecting and placing all five chess pieces will start the world quest “Apocalypse Lost.”
You should actually find these pieces in treasure chests as you complete “The Dirge of Bilqis” and “The Falcon’s Hunt” world quests. After completing “The Dirge of Bilqis,” the falcon quest line will become available the next real-world day. You will not be able to get all five chess pieces until you do part of “The Falcon’s Hunt.” If “The Dirge of Bilqis” did not unlock upon opening the game after the 3.4 update, you probably still have to complete the prerequisite quest, “Golden Slumber.”
You can skip these chests as you do the quests, but you will see them as you walk through the tombs and caverns the quests take you through, so you might as well stop and grab them.
Once you complete “The Fallen Falcon” (the world quest after “The Falcon’s Hunt) and place the five chess pieces in Safhe Shatranj, “Apocalypse Lost” will start. A sixth chess piece will also spring up in the middle of the board.
After the six chess pieces are up, there are also additional “activation devices” for each piece, found around the map. Each of these devices will float away as you approach them, so just keep following them until you can grab it. There are seven activation devices, and matching them to their respective chess piece will reward a Remarkable Chest for each. Completing all seven will give you the “La Luna Rossa” achievement.
We list out the locations for each of the chess pieces and their activation devices below.
Genshin Impact Sumeru chess piece locations
Sumeru’s desert chess pieces are scattered across the dunes and ruins of the region, often hidden behind puzzles, sealed doors, or within ancient mechanisms. Players can find them in areas such as the Mausoleum of King Deshret, Safhe Shatranj, and the Khemenu Temple. Each piece corresponds to part of the giant Desert Chess Board and must be placed correctly to complete the final puzzle. Activating all pieces reveals a special event and valuable rewards, so exploring every corner and solving environmental challenges is key to collecting them all.
Border Fort chess piece location
You’ll likely find the Border Fort piece first, as you complete “The Dirge of Bilqis.”
King Deshret’s Pillar chess piece location
King Deshret’s Pillar piece is around in a cavern that you’ll also see while doing “The Dirge of Bilqis.”
Soulferry chess piece location
The chest will appear on the diamond on the floor. (We already claimed it before taking this screenshot.)
Khaj-Nisut chess piece location
Again, the chest will be on the diamond above as you explore this deep dungeon.
Temple of Gurabad chess piece location
You’ll be able to get this chest just out in the open after taking down the serpent in “The Falcon’s Hunt.”
Genshin Impact Sumeru chess piece activation device locations
The chess piece activation devices in the Sumeru desert are spread across several key ruins and pyramids. Each device is linked to a specific chess piece, and players must find and activate all of them to complete the puzzle. Locations include sites such as the Mausoleum of King Deshret, the Khemenu Temple, and the Place of Rebirth. Some devices require solving smaller mechanisms or exploring underground chambers before activation becomes possible. Once all pieces are activated, the central structure in the desert will respond, advancing the puzzle’s final stage.
Border Fort activation device location
This device is near Aaru Village in plain sight.
King Deshret’s Pillar activation device location
This device is underground. You can take the Teleport Waypoint north of the mausoleum and head south to find it quickly.
Soulferry activation device location
Again, this one is underground. You can quickly find it by teleporting to the waypoint north of the star marker on the map above and just running south.
The Mausoleum of King Deshret activation device location
This device is just at the main entrance of The Mausoleum of King Deshret.
Khaj-Nisut activation device location
This device is on the edge of the entrance at Khaj-Nisut, right after you ride the four-leaf points towards it.
Deshret’s Glass Goblet activation device location
This device is right at the Teleport Waypoint in Mt. Damavand, where you’ve already been for the world quest.
Temple of Gurabad activation device location
Apocalypse Lost world quest full walkthrough
Apocalypse Lost is a short hidden world quest in Genshin Impact’s Sumeru desert, part of the “Memories of Gurabad” chain, triggered after placing all five chess pieces at Safhe Shatranj.
Prerequisites
Complete prerequisite quests including “The Dirge of Bilqis” chain, “The Falcon’s Hunt,” and “Tadhla the Falcon” (which appears the next day after server reset). Collect the five chess pieces (Border Fort, Khaj-Nisut, King Deshret’s Pillar, Soulferry, Temple of Gurabad) from chests unlocked during these quests.
Starting the Quest
Teleport to Safhe Shatranj southwest of Desert of Hadramaveth. Insert each chess piece into its matching glowing slot on the board. Defeat the spawning Primal Constructs afterward.
Walkthrough Steps
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Interact with the newly appeared sixth chess piece (Temple of Gurabad).
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Trigger it to teleport to the Remnants of the Ancient Orchard.
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Defeat another Primal Construct in the opened area.
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Interact with the puddle to obtain Liloupar’s final fragment, upgrading the bottle and completing the quest. Earn the achievement “If They Had Known the Unseen…”.
Optional: Activation Devices
After starting the quest, seven floating devices appear near each piece’s landmark (e.g., Khaj-Nisut entrance, Mausoleum of King Deshret). Chase and activate them by approaching repeatedly, then insert into the seven monuments at Safhe Shatranj for Remarkable Chests and the “La Luna Rossa” achievement.
All 7 Activation Devices locations for Remarkable Chests
The seven Activation Devices in Genshin Impact’s Safhe Shatranj chess puzzle appear after placing the five chess pieces and completing Apocalypse Lost. They flee when approached, requiring chase until interactable, then slot into matching chess piece monuments for Remarkable Chests (5 Primogems, blueprint each) and the “La Luna Rossa” achievement.
Device Locations
| Device | Location Details |
|---|---|
| Border Fort | Aaru Village waypoint; device floats before village chief’s house. Chase it down. |
| Khaj-Nisut | West of Khaj-Nisut waypoint; at ruins entrance via four-leaf sigils. Follow as it moves. |
| Soulferry | Khemenu Temple waypoint, go left along path to corridor near underground room. |
| Mausoleum of King Deshret | Entrance waypoint; turn around, descend stairs-device at entrance, flees toward Khemenu. |
| King Deshret’s Pillar | Underground waypoint north of Mausoleum; head south to Opet Hall via sigils and stairs. |
| Temple of Gurabad | Waypoint east/southwest of Safhe Shatranj; climb to temple entrance (Dirge of Bilqis site). |
| Deshret’s Glass Goblet | Mt. Damavand underground waypoint; right beside it (post-Dune-Entombed Fecundity). |
Rewards Process
Return to Safhe Shatranj chessboard. Insert each device into its glowing chess piece slot (e.g., Border Fort piece gets its device). A Remarkable Chest spawns per insertion; activating all grants teleports to sites.
