Shrines of Depths in Genshin Impact: System, Keys and Rewards

Shrines of Depths are special sealed structures scattered across the regions of Teyvat. Each shrine contains a single Luxurious Chest, but can only be opened once with a special key that matches the region. For many players, Shrines of Depths are a core part of long-term progression, contributing to Adventure Rank, primogems, artifacts, weapon ascension materials and overall exploration completion.

What Are Shrines of Depths

Shrines of Depths are ancient stone buildings with glowing seals that match the element and color of their region. They are usually placed slightly off the main paths, on cliffs, in hidden corners or near landmarks. Each shrine is locked and cannot be opened with a normal key or simple interaction. Instead, the player must use a region-specific Shrine of Depths key.

Once opened, a shrine reveals a Luxurious Chest. After the chest is looted, the shrine remains visually open and cannot be reset. Because each shrine is a one-time source of valuable resources, using keys wisely is important for efficient account progression.

Regional Keys and Matching Shrines

Each nation in Teyvat has its own type of Shrine of Depths key. Mondstadt keys work only on Mondstadt shrines, Liyue keys unlock Liyue shrines, and so on. Keys are obtained through various sources: world quests, one-time domains, reputation rewards, and occasionally from the Adventurer’s Handbook or story progression. This system encourages players to explore and complete content in each region to gain access to all shrines.

The number of shrines in a region usually matches the total number of keys that can be obtained there. If a player is missing shrines or keys, it usually means there are quests, puzzles or exploration tasks still incomplete.

Rewards from Shrines of Depths

The main attraction of Shrines of Depths is the Luxurious Chest inside. These chests offer a concentrated package of rewards. Typical loot includes primogems, adventure experience, mora, character experience books, weapon enhancement materials and one or more high-rarity artifacts or weapons. While the exact content may vary, shrine chests are considered among the most valuable non-repeatable rewards in the open world.

Because shrines contribute so much to early and mid-game resources, many players treat them as a priority for boosting adventure rank and building their first teams. In later stages, shrine rewards still matter by providing extra mora and artifact sets that can be used, refined or fed into stronger gear.

Progression and When to Open Shrines

There are two main approaches to using Shrine of Depths keys. Some players prefer to open shrines as soon as they obtain a key, gaining immediate primogems and experience that help unlock new content faster. Others choose to save keys until their world level increases, hoping for better-quality artifacts and higher-value rewards.

Both methods have advantages. Early opening accelerates progression and can make difficult quests easier by providing more resources upfront. Delayed opening can be efficient for players focused on optimization, but risks leaving valuable resources unused for long periods. In practice, a balanced approach works well: use some keys for immediate needs, while holding a few for later when your account is more developed.

Exploration and Map Completion

Shrines of Depths are closely connected to exploration completion within each region. Many interactive maps and in-game exploration trackers highlight shrines as key points of interest. Finding and unlocking all shrines contributes to open-world completion, achievements and personal goals such as clearing the map of unclaimed Luxurious Chests.

Because shrines are often placed on hilltops, near domain entrances or at the edges of explored areas, searching for them naturally leads to uncovering new teleport waypoints, puzzles and resources. This makes shrines a useful guide for thorough exploration of Teyvat.

Sources of Shrine of Depths Keys

Although exact sources differ slightly between regions, keys are commonly obtained from:

• Archon quests and major story chapters tied to each nation.
• World quests that involve exploration, puzzles or regional lore.
• One-time domains that grant keys as first-clear rewards.
• Reputation systems, where higher ranks unlock additional keys.

Because keys are limited, it is not possible to farm them repeatedly. Every key is essentially a permanent investment into one Luxurious Chest.

Practical Tips for Using Shrines Efficiently

An effective strategy for Shrines of Depths is to keep a simple checklist: number of shrines per region and how many keys you currently possess. When a new key is obtained, you can decide whether to open a known shrine immediately or wait until you have discovered more of the map.

It is also useful to pair shrine runs with other activities. For example, you can plan a route that clears several shrines, world quests and domains in the same area, optimizing resin usage and exploration time. Keeping at least one unused key for each region prevents situations where you find a shrine but cannot open it.

Role of Shrines in Long-Term Gameplay

In long-term gameplay, Shrines of Depths serve as milestones. They represent completed sections of exploration and offer a sense of closure for each region. Players often return to old maps to confirm that no unopened shrines remain, especially when chasing full completion or hunting for the last missing Luxurious Chest.

While shrines are eventually exhausted, the resources they provide have lasting impact: earlier characters, weapons and artifacts strengthened by shrine rewards continue to be used in domains, events and new regions.

Conclusion

Shrines of Depths are an essential part of progression, exploration and reward structure in Genshin Impact. Tied to region-specific keys, they encourage players to engage deeply with each nation’s quests and world content. By offering one-time, high-value rewards, shrines help bridge the gap between early-game and more challenging activities, while also providing clear goals for completionists. Managing keys wisely and exploring each region thoroughly ensures that no shrine is left unopened and no reward goes to waste.