As Genshin Impact players explore the region of Dragonspine, they are likely to encounter several unique puzzles and mysteries across the frozen region. One of the mysteries that Genshin Impact players may encounter across Dragonspine are the numerous decommissioned Ruin Guards buried in the snow.
When players interact with the Ruin Guards, a cryptic array of numbers is displayed. There are a total of 9 decommissioned Ruin Guards that can be found throughout the Dragonspine region. When players find and interact with all 9 of them, they are awarded with the Futile Endeavor secret achievement and receive 5 primogems.
RUIN GUARD 1 & 2
The first and second Ruin Guard locations are found by fast traveling to the Snow-Covered Path waypoint in Dragonspine. From the waypoint, players must break the Scarlet Quartz ore nearby and head towards the northwest path. Along the path, players will encounter an ice barrier that can be broken with the Quartz. Once inside the cave, players will find the first two Ruin Guard locations.
RUIN GUARD 3
The third Ruin Guard is found by fast traveling to the Statue of the Seven in Dragonspine. From the Statue, players must glide northwest until they see a large pit underneath them. Inside the pit, players will find the third Ruin Guard.
RUIN GUARD 4
The fourth Ruin Guard can be found be teleporting to the northern Skyfrost Nail waypoint. Inside the cave, players must jump down the cliff to the south of the waypoint. Once on the ground, players will find multiple decommissioned Ruin Guards, and the fourth body that they must interact with.
RUIN GUARD 5
The fifth Ruin Guard is found by fast traveling to the Skyfrost Nail waypoint that is south of the Statue of the Seven. From the waypoint, head southwest before reaching a large clearing with a Frostarm Lawachurl. After defeating the Lawachurl, players will find the Ruin Guard next to the cliff edge.
RUIN GUARD 6 & 7
The sixth and seventh Ruin Guard can be found by teleporting to the Starglow Cavern waypoint. From the waypoint, players must then glide Southwest to the Dragonspine coastline. In between the two small mountains, players will find the sixth and seventh Ruin Guards.
RUIN GUARD 8
The eighth Ruin Guard location can be found by teleporting to the waypoint north of the Entombed City Outskirts. From the waypoint, players must head north along the path before reaching a cave entrance on their right. Once inside the cave, players must then proceed until they reach the area directly underneath the Cryo Hypostasis boss. Players will find the Ruin Guard next to a Scarlet Quartz ore at this location.
RUIN GUARD 9
The ninth Ruin Guard is found by teleporting back to the waypoint north of the Entombed City Outskirts. From the waypoint, players must head south into the Entombed city area. Once players are no longer able to proceed, they must climb the cliffside on the southeast before reaching a small clearing. Players will find the final Ruin Guard at this location.
Once players interact with the final Ruin Guard, they will unlock the Futile Endeavor achievement and be rewarded 5 primogems. For those curious, the message from each of Ruin Guards when combined states " For the nation, we can't forgo this skyborne power, but we failed."
Genshin Impact is available for Mobile, PC, PS4, and PS5, with a Switch version in development.
