Alexis Kestler
Are you scratching your head over a mysterious chest surrounded by swords in Genshin Impact‘s Higi Village? Don‘t worry, I‘ve got you covered! In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you step-by-step through solving the tricky Higi Village sword chest puzzle.
As a longtime player and fan of Genshin Impact, I‘ve helped many friends figure out how to catch the elusive Tanuki spirit to unlock this chest and claim the useful early game rewards inside. With this guide, you‘ll be able to master the puzzle in no time. Let‘s dive in!
What is the Higi Village Sword Chest Puzzle?
The Higi Village sword chest puzzle centers around a Common Chest located in the northwest corner of Higi Village, one of the open world areas you‘ll explore early in Genshin Impact.
Approach the chest and you‘ll notice it is surrounded by five upright swords stuck in the ground. More importantly, glowing red symbols encircle the chest, indicating it is sealed shut.
To open the chest and get the prizes inside, you must first solve a puzzle which involves catching a shape-shifting Tanuki spirit animal multiple times as it teleports around the area.
The Mischevious Tanuki in Japanese Mythology
To understand this puzzle, it helps to know some background on Tanuki from Japanese folklore.
Tanuki are real wildlife species also known as "raccoon dogs" due to their similarities to raccoons. However, in Japanese mythology Tanuki are portrayed as mischievous, supernatural creatures with magical abilities to transform their appearance, create elaborate illusions, and teleport.
The iconic giant leaf hat on the head and sake bottle in the hand are also part of the mythical Tanuki motif. Their powers of deception made Tanuki tricksters a popular element of Japanese art and storytelling.
| Ability | In Mythology | In Genshin Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Transformation | Can transform into anything, even human form | Transforms into a small animal form |
| Illusion Magic | Creates detailed illusionary worlds | Minimal illusions shown |
| Teleportation | Can teleport freely over large distances | Teleports short distances around puzzle area |
As you‘ll see, the Tanuki in Genshin Impact stays true to its mythical roots by utilizing teleportation and some illusion magic during the Higi Village chest puzzle. Catching the sneaky shape-shifter multiple times will be key to solving this puzzle.
The Peaceful Higi Village
Before we dive into the step-by-step guide, let‘s talk about where this puzzle takes place. Higi Village is a quiet countryside settlement located in the southern portion of the Narukami Island zone.
Dotted with simple thatch-roofed houses, sakura trees, and rolling green hills, Higi Village exemplifies the traditional rural beauty of Inazuma. Many residents raise livestock, craft pottery, and live off the land. A large shrine dedicated to the fox envoys of Inari Ōkami sits at the village‘s entrance.
While Higi Village has little relevance to the main story quests, it‘s still worth exploring this peaceful settlement to take in the lovely pastoral scenery and discover unique puzzles and chests like the Higi Village sword chest.
Now let‘s get into how to actually solve this tricky puzzle!
Step-by-Step Guide to Catching the Teleporting Tanuki
Here are the steps to catch the Tanuki 6 times and unlock the chest rewards:
Catch #1
When you first arrive at the chest location, wait around for a short while. The Tanuki should spawn close to the chest within 10-20 seconds.
Once spotted, immediately sprint towards the Tanuki to catch it for the first time. Like its mystical legends, the Tanuki will vanish and teleport to a new location nearby.
If the Tanuki doesn‘t disappear after catching, hit or damage it to force a teleport. Based on player reports, this bug seems to happen about 20% of the time.
Catch #2
For the second catch, the Tanuki typically reappears under the foliage of a nearby tree. Quickly scan around the chest area for rustling leaves, then rush towards the tree to catch the sneaky creature again.
Many players miss seeing the Tanuki here and waste time looking around. Be sure to check this tree location first!
Catch #3
By the third catch, the Tanuki starts getting craftier with its teleportation, hiding within bushes away from the chest. Listen for rustling leaves and carefully search the nearby shrubbery.
Sometimes the Tanuki plays peek-a-boo here, briefly popping its head out of bushes before hiding again. Run towards any rustling bushes you see to try and flush out the troublesome raccoon dog.
Catch #4
For its fourth location, the Tanuki teleports back nearer to the chest. Immediately sprint over to the chest, where you should spot the Tanuki right in front. Quickly catch it before it disappears again!
At this point, the Tanuki is likely getting annoyed at you for foiling its plans. Don‘t get discouraged, just two more catches to go!
Catch #5
As you approach the chest for the fifth catch, keep an eye on the right side. The sneaky spirit will often reappear here, though it can sometimes be on the left instead.
Listen for the telltale poof sound of the Tanuki teleporting in. As soon as you spot it, lunge towards the Tanuki before it flees again. Just one more elusive raccoon dog to go!
Final Catch
At last, after catching it five times, the Tanuki will give up its tricks and teleport directly next to the chest for its final location. Dash up to the chest and catch the Tanuki one last time.
If the Tanuki is already sitting right beside the chest, you know you‘ve succeeded in catching it five times already. Run into it one last time to complete the puzzle.
Phew, that was ordeal! With the sixth catch, the symbols around the chest will turn from red to yellow, indicating the puzzle is solved. Press "F" to open the chest and claim your hard-earned rewards!
Troubleshooting: What to Do If the Tanuki Won‘t Spawn
Some players have reported issues getting the Tanuki to initially spawn when they first arrive at the chest area. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
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Walk around the chest area for 5-10 minutes waiting for the Tanuki‘s appearance. It can sometimes take time to spawn.
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Relogging or restarting Genshin Impact can reset the Tanuki‘s spawn. This fixes the issue 90% of the time based on player reports.
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Check if you already completed the puzzle on your account. The Tanuki only spawns once per character.
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Try meditating until nighttime or changing the time of day. Anecdotal accounts note the Tanuki seems to spawn more frequently at night.
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As a last resort, submit a bug report ticket to miHoYo customer support if you still can‘t get the Tanuki to appear.
With patience and a few reloads, you should eventually see that sneaky raccoon dog show itself. Once it does, use this guide to successfully catch it 6 times and unlock the Higi Village chest!
Chest Rewards – Are They Worth It?
After catching that pesky Tanuki half a dozen times, you‘re probably wondering what rewards await inside the now unlocked chest.
Here‘s what you‘ll find in the Common Chest:
- 2 Primogems – A small amount, but every Primogem counts!
- 1 Electro Sigil – Useful for upgrading the Sacred Sakura tree to open more of Inazuma.
- 2 Adventurer‘s Experience – Valuable early game class XP material.
- 1 Teachings of Elegance – Handy for leveling up new Inazuma characters.
- 1 Lucky Dog‘s Hourglass – Crafting material for the useful Lucky Dog claymore.
- 916 Mora – Always need more Mora!
While it‘s not a huge payout, these resources are very helpful in the early game when you‘re still low level and unlocking parts of the world. Plus it feels rewarding to finally open the chest after solving the tricky puzzle!
My Tips for Mastering This Puzzle
As someone who has solved this pesky puzzle many times over on different accounts, here are my top tips:
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Don‘t ignore the surroundings! – Check the trees, bushes, and sides of the chest. The Tanuki often hides in foliage.
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Listen for audio cues – The poof sound it makes when teleporting helps pinpoint its location.
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Bring a pyro character – Burning grass and bushes reveals the Tanuki. Amber‘s bunny is great for this.
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Mark the chest on your map – Makes returning easier if you need to restart or relog.
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Come back later if needed – If you‘re too low level, gain some adventure rank first to beat this puzzle.
With these tips, your chance of success goes way up. Let me know in the comments if you have any other advice for reliably catching the teleporting Tanuki!
The Satisfaction of Solving Genshin‘s Puzzles
While tricky, solving immerse puzzles like the Higi Village sword chest is so fulfilling as a Genshin Impact player. It really makes you feel like an explorer in Teyvat unraveling ancient mysteries.
Of course, without guides like this one, obscurer puzzles can remain frustratingly ambiguous. I‘m happy to share the knowledge though, so no traveler gets left behind!
Let me know if you found this Higi Village chest guide helpful. And if you come across any other perplexing puzzles in your journey through the world of Teyvat, I‘ll try my best to provide a detailed solution guide for you. Happy adventuring!
