How to Get to Snezhnaya in Genshin Impact
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read
On this page
- Snezhnaya requirements at a glance
- How to get to Snezhnaya step by step
- Snezhnaya areas so far
- Snezhnaya Archon Quest order
- What unlocks during Act I
- Snezhnaya systems to know
- Meeting Points
- Stellar Glimmer reactions
- Domains in Snezhnaya
- Tips for your first hours in Snezhnaya
- Frequently asked questions
- How do you unlock Snezhnaya in Genshin Impact?
- Do I need to finish Natlan or Nod-Krai before Snezhnaya?
- What Adventure Rank do you need for Snezhnaya?
- When was Snezhnaya released in Genshin Impact?
- How do I get to Novokitezhgrad?
- What is the first Snezhnaya quest?
To get to Snezhnaya in Genshin Impact, you need Adventure Rank 18 and a completed Archon Quest Prologue: Act III, "Song of the Dragon and Freedom." Once you meet both, a Teleport Waypoint in Snezhnaya unlocks by itself, and you can start the Snezhnaya Archon Quest right away, even if you skipped the story chapters in between. This guide follows HoYoverse's official notes for Versions 7.0 to 7.2.
Last checked: November 9, 2026. Current version: 7.2 "Hour of Ruin."
Snezhnaya requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Adventure Rank | 18 or above |
| Story | Complete Prologue: Act III "Song of the Dragon and Freedom" |
| Older Archon Quests | Not required, for example "Song of the Welkin Moon: Act X" |
| First quest | Chapter VII: Act I "Everwinter Without Mercy" |
| How you travel | An automatic Teleport Waypoint southwest of Volkodlak Tundra |
How to get to Snezhnaya step by step
- Reach Adventure Rank 18. Daily Commissions, quests, chests and spending Original Resin all give Adventure EXP. Our World Level and Adventure Rank guide explains what else unlocks on the way.
- Finish the Prologue. Complete Archon Quest Prologue Acts I to III in Mondstadt. Act III is "Song of the Dragon and Freedom."
- Open the map and switch to Snezhnaya. The Teleport Waypoint southwest of Volkodlak Tundra is already unlocked. If you finished the Prologue before Version 7.0, it unlocked for you when the update arrived.
- Teleport in. You also get the Primogem reward for that waypoint when it unlocks automatically.
- Start Chapter VII: Act I, "Everwinter Without Mercy." It's in your quest list once you meet the requirements.
HoYoverse added this shortcut on purpose. Travelers who meet the requirements can start Chapter VII "even if they have not completed the preceding Archon Quests." So you can jump into Snezhnaya before Natlan or Nod-Krai and go back for those stories later.
Snezhnaya areas so far
| Version | Areas added |
|---|---|
| 7.0 "Everwinter Without Mercy" (Aug 12, 2026) | Volkodlak Tundra, White Birch Snowgrave, Everfrozen Earth, Flamefeather Valley, Fellfrost Peak |
| 7.2 "Hour of Ruin" (Nov 4, 2026) | Novokitezhgrad, Wingspan Peak |
To reach the 7.2 areas, complete "Gunfire in the Silent Lands" in Chapter VII: Act I. That unlocks a Teleport Waypoint northeast of Fellfrost Peak, and teleporting there opens a new railroad map. More details are in our Genshin Impact 7.2 update guide.
Snezhnaya Archon Quest order
Every act needs Adventure Rank 18 and the act before it. All of them support Focused Experience Mode.
| Act | Title | Added in |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter VII: Act I | Everwinter Without Mercy | 7.0 |
| Chapter VII: Act II | Wraith's Nocturne | 7.0 |
| Chapter VII: Act III | White Night, Like a Dream Upon Waking | 7.1 |
| Chapter VII: Act IV | A Rekviem for the Underworld | 7.1 |
| Chapter VII: Act V | Hour of Ruin | 7.2 |
| Chapter VII: Act VI | A Yesterday Sent From Beyond | 7.2 |
What unlocks during Act I
Most of Snezhnaya's systems open as you play through "Everwinter Without Mercy." These are the quest steps to look out for:
| Quest step | What it unlocks |
|---|---|
| "Great Deeds on the Tundra" | Snezhnaya Daily Commissions and the Exaiphanes Blade, a 5-star sword for the Traveler |
| "Gunfire in the Silent Lands" | Prime Ice Constructs, the Snezhnaya Adventure Journal, most Snezhnaya World Quests, the Pale Crown Palace railroad station and the waypoint to the 7.2 areas |
| "Silence Alone is Disfavored" | The Tidesong Cavern and Korolevskiy Theater Meeting Points |
The Eye of Graeae, a monocle-like device, also unlocks during Act I. You use it to call a train between cities, craft items or claim Daily Commission rewards while aboard, and create Prime Ice Constructs that help with exploration.
The third-person shooter gameplay, in which you fight in Shadow Realms with firearms, unlocks in Act I as well. The weekly "Special Recruitment Project: Cycle Training" quests open through a quest that becomes available in Act II.
Snezhnaya systems to know
Meeting Points
You build Meeting Points with Cryo Sigils, which you find while exploring Snezhnaya, once their quest requirements are met. Raising a Meeting Point's level earns you supplies. Version 7.0 added Tidesong Cavern, Huntsman's Cabin and The Korolevskiy Theater. Version 7.2 added Teplo Oasis and Royal Railway Transport Bureau.
Stellar Glimmer reactions
Many Snezhnaya enemies react to Stellar Glimmer, which covers Stellar-Conduct and Stellar Swirl. Stellar Swirl is triggered with Anemo and Cryo, and creates a Stellar Vortex that explodes for area Cryo damage. Characters such as Odette and the 7.2 character Mitya are designed around these reactions. The Traveler can also resonate with Cryo here and deal Stellar Glimmer damage.
Domains in Snezhnaya
| Domain | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Domain of Forgery: Scars of Cursed Obsession | Weapon Ascension Materials |
| Domain of Mastery: Relics of the Fallen Grace | Talent Materials |
| Domain of Blessing: Inverted Glacier | Scarlet Proof and Heart of the Furnace artifacts |
These unlock at Adventure Rank 10, or after "Knights of Favonius" in the Prologue, whichever comes first. You still need to reach the domain in Snezhnaya before you can enter it.
Tips for your first hours in Snezhnaya
- Activate the Statues of The Seven early. Since Version 5.8, Ley Line Outcrops in regions outside Mondstadt and Liyue unlock at Adventure Rank 18 once you've activated at least one Statue of The Seven in that region.
- Prioritize "Gunfire in the Silent Lands." It unlocks most of the region's quests, the Adventure Journal and the route to the 7.2 areas.
- Use the Adventure Journal. It tracks what you've explored, what's left and which rewards are waiting.
- Watch for Primogems. Every new Teleport Waypoint and Statue gives Primogems. Spend them wisely with our pity guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you unlock Snezhnaya in Genshin Impact?
Reach Adventure Rank 18 and complete Archon Quest Prologue: Act III, "Song of the Dragon and Freedom." A Teleport Waypoint southwest of Volkodlak Tundra in Snezhnaya then unlocks automatically, and you can start Chapter VII: Act I.
Do I need to finish Natlan or Nod-Krai before Snezhnaya?
No. HoYoverse lets Travelers who meet the requirements start the Snezhnaya Archon Quest even if they haven't completed earlier Archon Quests such as "Song of the Welkin Moon: Act X." You can play those later.
What Adventure Rank do you need for Snezhnaya?
Adventure Rank 18. Every act of the Snezhnaya Archon Quest so far, from Act I to Act VI, has the same AR 18 requirement.
When was Snezhnaya released in Genshin Impact?
Snezhnaya arrived with Version 7.0, "Everwinter Without Mercy," on August 12, 2026. Version 7.2 added Novokitezhgrad and Wingspan Peak on November 4, 2026.
How do I get to Novokitezhgrad?
Complete "Gunfire in the Silent Lands" in Chapter VII: Act I. It unlocks a Teleport Waypoint northeast of Fellfrost Peak, which leads to Novokitezhgrad and Wingspan Peak.
What is the first Snezhnaya quest?
Archon Quest Chapter VII: Act I, "Everwinter Without Mercy." It unlocks most of the region's systems, including Daily Commissions, Prime Ice Constructs and the Eye of Graeae.
