Navigating Teyvat Like a Pro: Your Ultimate Guide to Genshin Impact Compasses and Exploration Mastery
You wander Teyvat. It is a vast world in Genshin Impact. You might feel you miss something. You’re likely right. Hidden chests and tricky puzzles await your discovery. Aimless wandering isn’t efficient for becoming a treasure-hunting legend. Genshin Impact compasses can help.
This guide offers tips about compasses in Genshin Impact. We’ll discuss crafting, usage, and exploration efficiency. We will also explore compasses in other games and in the real world. Consider this your treasure map to becoming a master explorer. Let’s dive in!
Genshin Impact Compasses: Your Treasure-Hunting BFF
First, we discuss the compasses. They are not your grandpa’s old navigational tools. They are magical gadgets created by the best minds in Teyvat to find hidden treasures. Thankfully, there’s a compass for nearly every region.
Compass Existence: A Region-by-Region Breakdown
You can get a compass for each major region released. Here are the regions:
- Mondstadt
- Liyue
- Inazuma
- Sumeru
- Fontaine
- Natlan
Each compass is attuned to its respective region. A Mondstadt compass will not help find chests in Liyue. You need the right compass for each regional treasure chest.
Functionality: What Exactly Do These Things Do?
The purpose of a treasure compass is simple. It points you toward undiscovered chests. If you aim for that sweet 100% exploration in a region, these compasses are invaluable. They help reveal those pesky chests hiding behind rocks and bushes.
For 100% exploration, it’s not just about chests. Interacting with puzzles, time trials, and Seelies is essential. Tools like the HoYoLab Interactive Map are valuable. Mark off items as you find them to keep track of your progress.
Returning to compasses, the
Usage: Getting the Most Out of Your Compass
Unlike some gadgets, treasure compasses are generous. They have unlimited uses! You don’t need to hoard them. Use them anytime you feel like hunting treasure. It’s like having a cheat code, but a legitimate one.
A tip for efficient usage: do not spam the gadget button. The compass scans an area twice the radius of your minimap. Use it strategically. Check your minimap, then use the compass. Move to the edge of the area, and use it again. This systematic approach covers ground efficiently.
Specific Compass Types: Elementally Speaking
Each region has its own elemental compass. Here are a few examples:
- Pyro Treasure Compass (Natlan): This compass is perfect for chest hunting in Natlan’s volcanic lands.
- Dendro Treasure Compass (Sumeru): This compass is ideal in Sumeru’s lush rainforests and arid deserts.
- Electro Treasure Compass (Inazuma): This compass aids exploration in Inazuma and Enkanomiya’s depths.
- Anemo Treasure Compass (Mondstadt): For Mondstadt’s breezy landscapes, this compass starts your collection.
There isn’t explicitly a Geo, Hydro, or Cryo treasure compass. Liyue, Fontaine, and future snowy regions may use existing compasses or other mechanics. For now, the elemental compasses cover much of Teyvat.
Crafting Your Compass: From Diagram to Gadget
How do you get these magical compasses? It’s more complicated than finding them in a chest. Earn them through regional reputation.
First, build your reputation in the region you want a compass for. Complete bounties and exploration tasks. Reach Reputation level 6 in that region, and you receive the Diagram for that region’s treasure compass.
Then, visit the nearest Blacksmith. Look for Wagner in Mondstadt, Master Zhang in Liyue, or Hajime in Inazuma. Interact with the Blacksmith, choose “Forge,” and find your new compass recipe. Gather crafting materials and forge away! You’ve now crafted a treasure compass.
Limitations: What Compasses Can’t Do
While compasses are very helpful, they have limitations. The 5.2 update introduced changes worth noting. Compasses generally don’t reveal chests within destructible rocks or similar obstacles. Keep your eyes open for those sneaky hidden chests.
Think of compasses as guides, not “reveal all secrets” buttons. They direct you to a general area, but you still do some detective work to locate chests.
Treasure and Exploration in Genshin Impact: Beyond the Compass
Compasses are fantastic tools, but they’re one part of exploration. Mastering exploration in Genshin Impact involves combining strategies and tools. Let’s explore key aspects of becoming a true Teyvat explorer.
Exploration Progress: Chasing that 100%
The percentage in the top corner of your map? That’s your exploration progress. As noted, achieving 100% is crucial for many completionist players. It’s a badge of honor that shows your dedication to uncovering Teyvat’s treasures.
To achieve 100% requires a thorough approach. It’s not just aimlessness. Finding chests and solving puzzles contribute to that sweet 100%.
Interactive Map: Your Digital Exploration Companion
The HoYoLab Interactive Map is exceptional for exploration. It’s an extensive map of Teyvat where players mark locations of chests, puzzles, and resources. It resembles a treasure map created by the Genshin community.
The interactive map’s “mark items” feature is valuable. As you find chests or solve puzzles, mark them completed on the map. This helps keep track of what you’ve done and what remains to discover. No more second-guessing when exploring Teyvat!
already cleared that area – just check your interactive map!
Exploration Methods: Pro Techniques for Pro Explorers
Running around may work, but efficient exploration needs strategy. Here are methods to improve your exploration:
- Sweeping: This approach is systematic. Divide the region into sections. Sweep through each section completely. Cover every corner. Think of it like mowing a lawn, but for unexplored territory.
- Follow Terrain: Genshin Impact’s environment guides you cleverly. Pay attention to terrain features. Look for paths leading nowhere, cliffs that seem suspicious, or visually unique areas. These often hide secrets.
- Elemental Sight: Activate Elemental Sight. It highlights interactive elements near you. Chests, puzzles, breakable rocks, and enemy camps glow with elemental energy. This makes them easier to find. It’s like having X-ray vision for treasures.
Quests and Challenges: Unlocking Hidden Areas
Exploration isn’t always just wandering. Many chests and areas are locked behind quests. Completing quests, especially world quests and story quests, reveals new areas or hidden chests. Don’t overlook your quest log! It’s about exploration rewards too.
Also, remember the Shrines of Depths! Each region has Shrines of Depths. Unlocking and exploring them boosts your progress. They contain loot like Primogems, Adventure EXP, and various sigils. Finding these shrines is essential for serious explorers.
Specific Tips: Little Things That Make a Big Difference
Exploration requires attention to details. Here are tips to remember:
- Random Rock Piles and Floating Crates: Don’t ignore rock piles or floating crates. Interact with them! They might contain Mora, resources, or exploration progress. Every bit counts!
- Secret Rooms: Tribes and settlements in Teyvat often have secret rooms. Explore thoroughly! These rooms usually contain chests or elements that aid exploration progress. Be nosy.
- Check for “Hints”: Genshin Impact’s world is full of hints. Terrain features that look like arrows or suspicious formations can point towards hidden areas or puzzles. Developers give cues in a cryptic way.
- Team Composition: Your team can impact exploration efficiency. Certain elements and weapons help in specific regions. Anemo characters are great for traversal, Geo characters create platforms, and Pyro characters light torches or melt ice. Choose your team based on the region.
100% Exploration: The Sweet Taste of Completion
Achieving 100% exploration means dedication and thoroughness. You have left no stone unturned, no chest unopened, and no puzzle unsolved. This feeling is satisfying, and the rewards are worth it. Arm yourself with your compass, interactive map, and knowledge, then conquer Teyvat!
Other Compass-Related Topics: Beyond Genshin
Compasses aren’t just for Genshin Impact, surprisingly. The concept appears in various contexts. Let’s explore some other compass-related topics.
HSR (Honkai: Star Rail): Compass Equivalents in Space
Trailblazers might wonder about a treasure compass in HSR. While there isn’t a gadget named “treasure compass,” systems guide you towards exploration rewards.
The Tidal Bounty system in the Amphoreus region, introduced in January 2025, acts like an exploration reward tracker. Collect Celestial Ambrosia by exploring Amphoreus, completing missions, and opening treasures. Submit this Ambrosia at the Tides of the Basin to unlock rewards. It’s not a compass pointing to chests but incentivizes exploration. Continue to explore and gather Ambrosia for maximum rewards.
Golden Compass (Film): A Cinematic Compass
Remember the movie “The Golden Compass”? It was based on Philip Pullman’s series and featured a golden compass called an Alethiometer that revealed truths. The film had a $180 million budget in 2007 but only made $372 million at the box office. This wasn’t enough for sequels despite plans for a trilogy.
A fun fact: Jordan College in “The Golden Compass” was actually Christ Church, Oxford. A beautiful location for fantasy films!
Real-World Compasses: The Original Navigational Tool
Let’s appreciate the real-world compass. Invented in China during the Han dynasty (2nd century BC to 1st century AD), it was called the “south-governor” (sīnán 司南) or “South Pointing Fish” (指南魚). Imagine navigating without a compass! This invention revolutionized travel.
Humans actually have a “neural compass” in their brains! A 2018 study showed that the retrosplenial cortex tracks a vertical axis, aiding navigation in our three-dimensional world. You’re equipped with a built-in compass without Genshin Impact gadgets.
Minecraft Buried Treasure: X Marks the Spot (Underwater!)
Minecraft also involves treasure hunting. In this game, buried treasure exists, and treasure chests can spawn underwater. Often covered by blocks like sand or gravel, digging is necessary. They can also be found under stone blocks.
To find buried treasure in Minecraft, coordinates help. Hit F3 to see your coordinates. In Java Edition, buried treasure generates at Chunk coordinates 9 on both axes, usually 1-3 blocks below the surface in sand or gravel. If your coordinates are both 9 while over the X on your treasure map, you’re likely above buried treasure.
Bonus Loot: White Tassel Polearm and Cor Lapis
As we discuss treasure and exploration, let’s touch on two more items in Genshin Impact: the White Tassel polearm and Cor Lapis.
White Tassel Polearm: A Liyue Treasure
The White Tassel is a 3-star polearm that’s useful, especially early on. How do you get it? By opening Exquisite or higher quality chests in Liyue. This includes chests in The Chasm, Underground Mines, Chenyu Vale, and other Liyue regions. It’s a random drop, not from gacha banners, making chest hunting key.
You can’t really “farm” White Tassels traditionally. Your best chance is opening chests in Liyue, especially Exquisite and Precious chests. Consider this a bonus reward while exploring for other treasures.
Cor Lapis: Liyue’s Golden Mineral
Cor Lapis is a local specialty in Liyue used for character ascension and crafting. Where is it found? Under cliffs around Mt. Hulao. This mineral clings to rocky outcrops and has a golden glow.
If you’re short on time, you can buy Cor Lapis from NPCs in Liyue. Changshun and Qiuwei are in Liyue Harbor while Fengtai is at Yilong Wharf, Chenyu Vale. Changshun sells 5 Cor Lapis for 1500 Mora, restocking every 3 days. Cor Lapis nodes respawn every 2-3 days with around 161 nodes total, not counting vendor purchases. So you can gather plenty quickly.
Natlan and Pyro Traveler: Fire Up Your Adventure
Looking ahead…
Future adventures await in Natlan, the Pyro region. The Pyro Traveler arrives soon. You will unlock this character toward the end of Act 5 in Natlan’s Archon Quest. This occurs during the “Where All Hopes Lie” part, specifically in the Gosoythoth boss fight. Get ready to wield Pyro power.
Kinich Story Quest: For Lore Fans
If you love Genshin Impact’s lore, look out for the Kinich story quest. Unlock this quest line when you reach Adventure Rank 40. Complete the Archon Quest “Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame” in Chapter V: Act I – “Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn.” Story quests provide insights.
Now you have your guide to Genshin Impact compasses and exploration mastery. With this knowledge, you may venture forth, explore Teyvat’s corners, and become a treasure-hunting legend. Happy exploring! May your compass always point to the best loot!
