Understanding the Red Barriers in Genshin Impact: Triggers and Unlocking Areas

What Triggers the Red Barriers in Genshin Impact?

In Genshin Impact, the red barriers indicate the out-of-bounds areas of the game. When attempting to travel beyond these areas, the following triggers and mechanics come into play:

• As players try to exit the currently available area, the screen develops a dark vignette effect. This culminates in Paimon appearing and forcibly returning the character to in-bounds areas. During this, players lose control, potentially leading their character off cliffs—where they cannot utilize the Wind Glider or perform a plunge attack.
• If a player’s path back is blocked by terrain or if they exploit the game mechanics that cause continuous movement, the game will automatically teleport them back to a predetermined in-bounds area after a few seconds.
• Unique out-of-bounds reactions can also be triggered. For instance, attempting to reach specific locations will prompt Paimon to warn: ‘Watch out! Don’t go near there!’ These locations include Decarabian’s tower in Stormterror’s Lair, Duat Hall in Hypostyle Desert, and ??? in Beryl Region.
• During Archon Quest Chapter III: Act VI -Caribert, within the special story mode, the Traveler expresses concern saying, ‘I shouldn’t stray too far. Dain and Paimon still aren’t back…’ when forced to return.

Additionally, various mechanics regarding barriers include:

• The triple seal at Dadaupa Gorge requires completing the quest Break the Sword Cemetery Seal. Likewise, the Anemo barrier around Stormterror’s Lair unlocks during the quest Hurdle, while Cryo barriers inside Dragonspine’s Starglow Cavern become able after completing In the Mountains.
• Thunder Barriers in Inazuma can be traversed by carrying an appropriately strong Electrograna. Some barriers can only be unlocked by completing specific quests; however, several remain permanently installed.
• In domains and certain quests, barriers do not knock players back but hinder progress until the associated challenge is completed.
• When attempting to through any barrier, players will be knocked back. Should the barrier resonate with a certain element, it inflicts elemental damage; otherwise, no damage is dealt.

The Paimon Boundary effect ensures characters are redirected back into safe zones when leaving the map. Additionally, as players progress through Archon Quests and major version updates, the red border will recede, granting access to more map areas.

Finally, after activating all Crystal Mechanisms, players can explore the underwater Merusea Village as its red barrier disappears.

How to Unlock Areas Behind the Red Barriers

To unlock areas behind the Red Barriers in Genshin Impact, follow these guidelines:

• Red Desert Threshold Domain:
  • Start the Golden Slumber Quest Chain. Adventure Rank 32 or above is required.
  • Talk to Bonifaz in Aaru Village and progress through the Lost in the Sands Quest.
  • The domain is located in the Abdju Pit of the Sumeru Desert.
  • Complete the quest objectives in the Lost in the Sands sub-quest until you reach the Abdju Road, which will be renamed as Abdju Pit on the map after completing this part of the quest.
  • Once completed, enter the domain and activate the challenge, which involves defeating all 6 opponents.
  • It’s best to trigger Dendro-related Reactions, especially the third-tier reactions like Aggravate, Spread, Burgeon, and Hyperbloom to maximize damage.
  • Rewards for clearing the domain for the first time include Primogems, Adventure EXP, and various materials.
• Underwater Barriers in Merusea Village:
  • Complete two quests to remove the red barrier underwater in Fontaine.
  • Activate pneumonia transmission poles or machinery in front of the barrier. This can be done with force xenochromic creatures and energy pneumonia.
  • Break the seal in the Echoes of the Ancient World quest by hitting three Crystal Mechanisms. These mechanisms won’t appear until you reach this part of the quest.
• Iktomisaurus Spirits:
  • To try to break the barrier, indwell with an Iktomisaurus Spiritsconce; then, use Elemental Sight to reveal the red mark on the wall.
  • Finally, use the Iktomisaurus’s Spiritspeaker State to trigger it and reveal a hidden path.
  • An Iktomisaurus Spiritsconce can be found while going deeper into the cave, nearby the cobwebs you need to destroy to progress through.
  • Use the Iktomisaur’s special elemental sight in front of the painting to scan the whole area. Ensure you use the elemental sight on the glowing marker provided, not facing the painting while doing so. The painting will be deep inside the cave, and the glowing marker will spawn near it.
  • After revealing the locations of the three colored dyes, obtain each one by walking up to it and grabbing it when the prompt key appears on the screen. The dye locations are all within the cave:
  1. The nearest dye is the blue dye next to some boxes and barrels.
  2. The second dye is pink, located next to some boxes.
  3. The last dye is yellow, which is also next to other yellow dyes.
  • Once you collect all the dyes, a cutscene will automatically play.

Understanding the Role of Red Barriers in Game Progression

The removal of the red barrier underwater at Fontaine in Genshin Impact opens access to hydrocules and chests with valuable currencies such as primogems and hydro seals.

At the bottom of the Great Lake Hydro region, you will find several gazebos that have a blue or red barrier instead of a door. Usually, you can get into such buildings only with the age of a certain puzzle located nearby.

To solve the puzzle with red barriers underwater in Fontaine, you need to:

1. Activate pneumonia transmission poles or machinery in front of the barrier. This can be done using force xenochromic creatures and energy pneumonia.
2. The red barrier will disappear if you interact with the mechanisms before entering. To do this, you need to move the wonderful floating balls into the rings after taking the power from the xenochrome armored crab.

You can easily see Pneuma’s energy block at the south side of the gazebo. Take it and use the attack on the dark pillar in front of the barrier. While the entrance to the gazebo is not blocked, you will notice three pneumonia transmission posts in front of it. These need to be lit in a certain order in order for a rich chest to appear.

Riddles with red and blue barriers are enclosed underwater gazebos at Fontaine. By solving these puzzles, you will unlock barriers and be able to obtain valuable rewards, including the achievement ‘These Are a Few of My…’, chests, and hydrocules.

There are three pavilions with barriers in the Cours-de-Fontaine, Belleau, and Berille regions. To find them, switch to the underwater level of the map and focus on the round blue icons.

By solving all puzzles related to these gazebos and carefully researching them, you will receive the following rewards:

• 25 primogems (+ 5 more if you earn the achievement)
• 80 experience points
• 8 Hydro seals
• 2 hydrocules
• Mora
• Artifacts
• Weapon Experience Books
• Gain Ore
• Crystal cores
• Radiant Spincrystal 101

To dispel the red barrier, perform the following actions:

1. Approach the first mechanism and activate it;
2. Use the Armored Crab ability to break the rock at the second location;
3. Follow the guidance trail to the third location to find another Floating Ball.

Additionally, Genshin Impact players must complete two quests if they wish to remove the red barrier in underwater Merusea Village.