TL;DR
- This quest involves freeing a colossal Snegovik giant bound by four chains in the Everfrozen Earth area of Snezhnaya.
- Unlocks after completing Gunfire in the Silent Lands and gaining access to the Snezhnayan Journal.
- Each chain is anchored by a sealed pillar. You must help a shadow figure nearby to break each seal.
- Chain 1 (Northwest) — defeat a bull-like enemy to summon the shadow and unseal the pillar.
- Chain 2 (West) — place the Phonograph on the cabinet shelf to help the shadow open the house door.
- Chain 3 (Southeast) — use a Snowball Launcher to enter a cave, then pose the dog and bird items and sit on the chair.
- Chain 4 (Northeast) — help the shadow through the building using a Launching Platform, then destroy the wall with a Grappling Gun construct.
- Once all four chains are broken, the giant is freed and the quest completes.
The A Great Heart Fettered by Slender Chains quest in Genshin Impact is one of the most memorable world quests in version 7.0. You spot a massive Snegovik giant bound in chains on the map, and the whole quest is about freeing it. Each chain has a creative puzzle attached, all centered around helping a mysterious shadow figure complete something they were not able to do on their own. This guide walks through every chain and every puzzle clearly so you do not get stuck.
This quest is set in the same region as many other Snezhnaya world quests. If you are working through the Pale Crown Palace content at the same time, our guide on the Stone Beasts Like Ghouls Seated quest covers the questline running parallel to this one. You will also want to be familiar with how to manage Prime Ice Constructs, as several of the chain puzzles rely on them.
How to Unlock A Great Heart Fettered by Slender Chains
Location: The giant Snegovik is located in the large ice area south of the Korolevskiy Theater, in the Everfrozen Earth region of Snezhnaya. The easiest way to get there is via the Fellfrost Peak Teleport Waypoint. You can also spot the giant’s location on the map as a distinctive blue heart-shaped patch below Snezhnograd.
To unlock the quest, you must first complete Gunfire in the Silent Lands, which grants you access to the Snezhnayan Journal. Once you have the journal, head to the marked location and approach the chained giant to trigger the quest.
It is also recommended to finish at least the second objective of Great Deeds on the Tundra in the Everwinter Without Mercy Archon Quest before starting. Doing so prevents any interruptions while working through the four chains. You may also notice the giant from the train windows as you travel to Snezhnograd for the first time — that is your first look at the quest’s central character.
What Is This Quest About?
When you approach the giant, you will see four long strings or chains stretching out in different directions across the map. Each chain runs to an anchor pillar. When you try to destroy a chain directly, nothing happens — the pillar anchoring it is sealed. Near each sealed pillar is a shadow figure, a ghostly presence that cannot complete what they were doing on their own. Your job is to help each shadow finish their task, and in return they unseal the pillar so you can destroy the chain.
There are four chains total. You can tackle them in any order, but this guide covers them in a logical sequence from easiest to hardest.
Chain 1 — Northwest: Defeat the Bull Enemy
Follow the first chain northwest from the giant’s location. It leads you down into a valley where you will find the sealed pillar. This is the simplest of the four chains.
Near the pillar you will find a large bull-like enemy. This beast is what has the shadow pinned. You may also spot some Frostfairy Flowers in this area while you are here. Defeat the bull enemy. As soon as it falls, the shadow figure appears and removes the seal around the pillar. Now you can hit the chain to destroy the first chain and free that anchor point.
Chain 2 — West: The Phonograph Puzzle
Head west from the giant, staying in the valley, until you spot another shadow figure. This one is near a house and is trying to get through the door, but it is blocked by ice. The shadow cannot do it alone.
Inside the house, look around and you will find a Phonograph blueprint on a shelf or cabinet. Pick it up and build the Phonograph using your Prime Ice Construct menu. Once you have built it, place the Phonograph on the bottom shelf of the cabinet, directly beneath the spot where you picked up the blueprint.
This triggers the shadow to act. It destroys the ice blocking the door, opens it, and runs outside. Follow the shadow as it moves to the sealed pillar nearby. It unseals the chain. Now hit the chain to destroy the second chain.
Chain 3 — Southeast: The Cave and the Artist Puzzle
The third anchor pillar is to the southeast of the giant, in an area blocked off by Tsar’s White Birch. Getting there is the first challenge — you cannot walk straight in.
Getting Into the Cave
Look for a cliff just in front of the cave entrance. On the cliff you will find a temporary Snowball Launcher blueprint. Pick it up and build the Snowball Launcher near the cave entrance. Use it to launch yourself into the cave as a snowball. This is the only way to get past the Tsar’s White Birch blocking the normal entrance.
The Artist Puzzle Inside the Cave
Once inside the cave, you will find a shadow figure who is an artist trying to draw a picture called “In Search of Inspiration.” The shadow needs the right setup to be inspired and finish the artwork. Here is what to do:
- First, dismantle any ice blocking the way inside the cave so you can move freely.
- Find the dog temporary blueprint and place the dog next to the box on the right side of the chair.
- Find the bird temporary blueprint and place the bird on top of the lamp to the left of the chair.
- Finally, sit on the chair yourself.
With the scene set up correctly, the shadow figure is inspired and draws the picture. It then exits the cave and moves to the sealed pillar outside, freeing the anchor. Follow the shadow out, then hit the chain to destroy the third chain.
Chain 4 — Northeast: The Shadow in the Building
The fourth and final chain anchor is to the northeast of the giant. When you approach the pillar, you will see a shadow figure jumping through gaps in the terrain using Prime Ice Constructs, but it gets stuck. This is the most complex of the four chains and involves helping the shadow navigate through an entire building.
Step 1: Build a Launching Platform for the Shadow
Find the spot where the shadow is stuck and cannot proceed. Open your Prime Ice Construct build menu and build a Launching Platform Prime Ice Construct at the gap. This lets the shadow jump across and reach a nearby building. Without this, the shadow cannot continue.
Step 2: Clear the Path Into the Building
The building entrance has a Prime Ice construct blocking it. Remove the ice blocking the path to let the shadow enter the building. Follow it inside.
Step 3: Remove the Snegurochka Statues
Inside the building, the shadow’s path is blocked by Snegurochka ice figures that keep spawning in the way. Remove both sets of Snegurochka statues to clear the route. The shadow will continue moving deeper into the building each time you clear the path ahead of it.
Step 4: Destroy the Wall With a Grappling Gun
At the far end of the building, the shadow is blocked by a wall it cannot get through. Look for a grapple hook point nearby on the wall. Open your Prime Ice Construct menu and build a Grappling Gun Prime Ice Construct near the hook. Fire it to destroy the wall. The shadow passes through the opening and exits the building, moving to the sealed pillar outside.
Follow the shadow to the pillar, let it unseal the anchor, and then hit the chain to destroy the fourth and final chain.
Free the Giant
After all four chains are destroyed, a cutscene triggers. The giant Snegovik is finally free. The chains fall away and the creature, which has been bound for a long time, is released. The quest completes and you receive your rewards. It is one of the most satisfying moments in Snezhnaya’s world quests — the scale of the giant makes the payoff feel genuinely earned.
Quest Rewards
Completing A Great Heart Fettered by Slender Chains rewards you with:
- Primogems
- Hero’s Wit
- Mora
- Adventure EXP
Tips for This Quest
- You can do the four chains in any order. The quest does not force a sequence. If you get stuck on one puzzle, come back to it later after trying a different chain.
- Always follow the chain lines on the ground. Each chain has a visible line running from the giant to its anchor. Following it takes you straight to the right area.
- The shadow figures will not move until you help them. If a shadow seems idle, look around the immediate area for something to build or interact with. The trigger is always nearby.
- Stock up on Prime Ice Resources before starting the northeast chain — it uses the most constructs of all four puzzles.
- Collect the Frostfairy Flowers you encounter near the northwest chain. They are a Snezhnaya local specialty used for character ascension.
Related Snezhnaya Guides
While you are exploring the Everfrozen Earth and surrounding areas, these guides will also come in handy:
- How to reach the White Birch Snowgrave area — access the northernmost zone of Snezhnaya.
- How to open the door to the Royal Hall — Cemetery Guardian statue puzzle solved.
- Snezhnaya Shrine of Depths locations — collect all Luxurious Chest keys in the region.
- All Local Legends in Snezhnaya — hunt down every powerful elite enemy on the map.
- Stellar Glimmer reaction guide — master the new elemental reactions in version 7.0.
- Shadow Wingdrop guide — build up Shadow Realm Combat Stamina while exploring Snezhnaya.
Play Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is free to play on all major platforms:
- Official Genshin Impact Website
- Android (Google Play)
- iOS (App Store)
- PlayStation
- PC via Epic Games
- Xbox
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you unlock A Great Heart Fettered by Slender Chains in Genshin Impact?
The quest unlocks after completing Gunfire in the Silent Lands, which grants access to the Snezhnayan Journal. Once you have the journal, travel to the large ice area south of the Korolevskiy Theater in Everfrozen Earth and approach the chained giant Snegovik to trigger the quest. The easiest way to get there is from the Fellfrost Peak Teleport Waypoint.
How many chains do you need to break?
There are four chains in total, each anchored by a sealed pillar in a different direction from the giant — northwest, west, southeast, and northeast. Each one requires helping a shadow figure complete a task before the pillar unseals and you can destroy the chain. You can tackle them in any order.
How do you solve the cave puzzle for the third chain?
To enter the cave for the third chain (southeast), use a Snowball Launcher built from a temporary blueprint found on the cliff outside. Inside the cave, place the dog blueprint next to the box, place the bird blueprint on the lamp, and then sit on the chair. This inspires the shadow figure to draw its picture and exit the cave to unseal the chain.
What do you get for completing A Great Heart Fettered by Slender Chains?
Completing the quest rewards you with Primogems, Hero’s Wit, Mora, and Adventure EXP. Beyond the material rewards, breaking all four chains frees the giant Snegovik in a memorable cutscene, making it one of the most visually satisfying world quests in Snezhnaya.
