Yarina Prime Ice Construct Quest is a world quest in Genshin Impact set in Snezhnaya, the frozen nation introduced in Version 7.0. It involves an NPC named Yarina who requires your help using the Prime Ice Construct system — the signature building mechanic of Snezhnaya powered by the Eye of Graeae gadget. This guide covers everything you need to know to unlock the quest, understand the Prime Ice Construct mechanics behind it, and complete it for all available rewards.
TL;DR
- Yarina Prime Ice Construct Quest is a Snezhnaya world quest in Genshin Impact Version 7.0.
- You need the Eye of Graeae gadget and Kresnik Energy to build Prime Ice Constructs for this quest.
- Unlock Snezhnaya by completing Archon Quest Prologue: Act III first.
- Prime Ice Constructs include tools like the Cube, Grappling Gun, Link Mechanism, and Basic Heat Source.
- Completing the quest rewards Primogems, Mora, and Adventure EXP.
What Is the Yarina Prime Ice Construct Quest?
Snezhnaya’s world quests frequently make use of the region’s unique Prime Ice Construct mechanic. Unlike any other nation in Teyvat, Snezhnaya lets you physically build structures in the open world using Kresnik Energy absorbed by the Eye of Graeae gadget. These constructs range from portable heat sources to launch platforms, grappling guns, and teleport mechanisms.
The Yarina quest is one of Snezhnaya’s hidden world quests tied to this system. An NPC named Yarina has a problem that requires you to place specific Prime Ice Constructs in the right locations to help her — whether that means creating a heat source to warm a cold area, building a path across obstacles, or using the Link Mechanism to reach somewhere otherwise inaccessible.
If you have been enjoying Snezhnaya’s Prime Ice Construct puzzles, you may also want to check out our Jack Frost Train Puzzle guide — another quest that uses the Link Mechanism to find panicked Jack Frosts trapped in wrecked train cars.
How to Unlock the Yarina Quest
Step 1 – Reach Snezhnaya
Complete Archon Quest Prologue: Act III – Song of the Dragon and Freedom. This is the only story requirement to enter Snezhnaya. Once done, a Teleport Waypoint in Snezhnaya unlocks automatically on your map. You can fast-travel straight there without completing Nod-Krai or any other region first.
Step 2 – Progress Through the Archon Quest
Most of Snezhnaya’s world quests — including those involving Prime Ice Constructs — become available after you progress through Archon Quest Chapter VII: Act I – Everwinter Without Mercy and complete the sub-quest Gunfire in the Silent Lands. Until you reach this checkpoint, many world quests in Snezhnaya remain locked.
The Eye of Graeae itself also unlocks during this Archon Quest. You receive it after arriving in Snezhnaya and exploring a train carriage. Once you have it, you can start building Prime Ice Constructs and access all the quests tied to this system.
Step 3 – Find Yarina
Yarina is a Snezhnayan NPC located somewhere in the frozen icefields or settlements of Snezhnaya. Look for her in one of the region’s smaller towns or points of interest such as Morepesok, Glupov, Kvasnik, or in the Everfrozen Earth zone. Walk through these areas with your Eye of Graeae equipped. Some hidden Snezhnaya quests start automatically when you enter the right zone or interact with an NPC who has no quest marker over their head initially.
If you cannot find Yarina through exploration, open your Snezhnaya Adventure Journal. This tracker records all available content in the region and can help you navigate to quest-relevant locations and objectives.
About Prime Ice Constructs – The Core Mechanic
Before you can help Yarina, you need to fully understand how Prime Ice Constructs work. This system is central to dozens of puzzles and quests throughout Snezhnaya.
What Are Prime Ice Constructs?
Prime Ice Constructs are physical structures you build in Snezhnaya’s open world using the Eye of Graeae gadget. The Eye absorbs a resource called Prime Ice from the environment and converts it into nine different types of buildable structures. These appear in the world and can assist with exploration, puzzle solving, and social interaction with other players.
The constructs you place can also appear in other players’ worlds, and their constructs may appear in yours. Players can give a “Like” to helpful constructs they find, making this one of Genshin Impact’s first cooperative world-building features.
How to Get Kresnik Energy
Building Prime Ice Constructs costs Kresnik Energy, which the Eye of Graeae stores and uses for three purposes: keeping you warm against the Bitter Cold, summing your personal train, and building constructs. You cannot build if you are out of energy.
Refill Kresnik Energy by doing one of the following:
- Stand near a Mini Kresnik Torch — small warmth sources scattered across Snezhnaya’s icefields and settlements
- Break Kresnik Kristall Ores — glowing crystalline deposits found throughout the region
- Collect energy from other sources tied to Snezhnaya’s environmental mechanics
Always check your energy gauge before attempting a construct-heavy puzzle. The gauge appears above your character’s health bar when the Eye of Graeae is equipped.
How to Open the Build Menu
Press the exploration interaction button while the Eye of Graeae is on your hotbar to open the Prime Ice Construct interface. From here you can select which construct to build and place it in the environment. The construct menu shows all nine available types and their functions.
All Nine Prime Ice Constructs Explained
Understanding each construct type helps you know which one Yarina’s quest is likely to call for. Here are all nine:
- Cube – raises objects, blocks the movement of nearby objects, blocks the view of certain guards, and lets you reach higher ground by stacking
- Basic Heat Source – generates warmth in a local area; melts certain ice and slows Bitter Cold buildup for nearby players
- Link Mechanism – creates a pair of connected portals; entering one exits at the other, allowing you to teleport across short distances or through walls
- Grappling Gun – fires a hook at target points to pull or destroy specific objects, or to swing and climb in conjunction with Snezhnaya’s environment
- Launching Platform – creates a launch pad that sends you airborne to reach elevated terrain or high platforms
- Storage Device – stores or picks up items; can be shared across players in different worlds to exchange goods
- Ambient Bollard – provides various exploration buffs depending on placement; useful for boosting combat or movement in specific areas
- Sign: Icon – leaves a visual icon marker visible to other players in co-op
- Sign: Text – leaves a written message for other players to read while exploring Snezhnaya
For a quest like Yarina’s, the most likely constructs needed are the Basic Heat Source (to warm a cold area or NPC), the Link Mechanism (to access a blocked location), the Cube (to lift or reposition an object), or the Launching Platform (to reach elevated ground). Pay attention to what Yarina tells you she needs and match it to the construct that fits the described function.
How to Solve Prime Ice Construct Quests
All Prime Ice Construct quests in Snezhnaya follow a similar structure. Here is the general approach that works across all of them, including Yarina’s:
Listen to the NPC’s Exact Problem
When you talk to Yarina, she will describe her situation in dialogue. The problem she describes directly maps to a specific construct type. If she says an area is too cold, you need a Basic Heat Source. If she says a path is blocked or she cannot reach something, you need a Link Mechanism or Launching Platform. If something needs to be moved or raised, a Cube is the answer. Do not skip through dialogue — it contains the solution.
Open the Build Menu at the Right Spot
Walk to the area where the quest objective marker points. Open the Prime Ice Construct menu and select the correct construct type. The game will show you valid placement spots. Position it where the build indicator turns green — this means the construct is in a valid location and will function correctly.
Confirm the Construct Is Working
After placing, interact with the construct or watch for the expected result. If you placed a Basic Heat Source, the cold in the area should diminish. If you placed a Link Mechanism, you should be able to enter the portal. If the construct does not trigger the expected effect, try adjusting its placement slightly or check that you have enough Kresnik Energy remaining.
Return to Yarina
Once the construct is active and the objective resolves, return to Yarina for the follow-up dialogue. Most Snezhnaya world quests conclude with a short conversation with the NPC before the quest completes and rewards are distributed.
Yarina Quest Rewards
Completing the Yarina Prime Ice Construct Quest gives you standard Snezhnaya world quest rewards, which include:
- Primogems – the main currency for Wishes
- Mora – used for leveling characters, weapons, and talents
- Adventure EXP – raises your Adventure Rank
- Hero’s Wit or Mystic Enhancement Ore – character and weapon upgrade materials
The quest also contributes to your Snezhnaya Adventure Journal completion, which tracks all region activities and unlocks additional convenience rewards as you complete more Snezhnayan content.
Tips for Prime Ice Construct Quests in General
Keep Your Energy Gauge Full Before Starting
If you run out of Kresnik Energy mid-puzzle, you cannot build. Before approaching any Prime Ice Construct quest, top up your energy at the nearest Kresnik Torch or by breaking Kresnik Kristall Ores. Having a full gauge lets you build multiple constructs in sequence without interruption.
Remove Unwanted Constructs to Save Energy
If another player has placed a construct in your world that conflicts with a puzzle, or if you placed one incorrectly, you can remove it. Open your map and press the Manage Prime Ice Constructs toggle at the bottom of the screen. Choose which construct to remove individually, or mass-delete everything in the current scene using the “Prime Ice Construct in the current scene” button.
Use the Polestar Field for Upgraded Range
Certain constructs — especially the Link Mechanism — have limited range by default. In some quests, you need an upgraded Link Mechanism that can reach further distances. Trigger a Stellar-Conduct reaction (Cryo + Electro) on nearby enemies to create a Polestar Field, which enhances Link Mechanism range. You can use Raiden Shogun or Fischl for Electro application alongside a Cryo character or the Cryo Traveler.
Sharing Helps Other Travelers
If you place a useful construct near a common puzzle or shortcut, other players exploring Snezhnaya may find it in their own world. They can give it a Like. This cooperative system means your builds have positive effects beyond just your own game. Similarly, if you find another player’s helpful construct in your world, you can Like it to encourage them.
How the Eye of Graeae Works
The Eye of Graeae is the gadget that makes all of this possible. You receive it automatically when you first explore Snezhnaya. It provides three main functions:
- Cold protection – stores Kresnik Energy to maintain your body temperature against Snezhnaya’s Bitter Cold; if the gauge empties completely, your characters lose HP over time
- Train summoning – calls your personal train car from anywhere along the rail line; you can travel to any unlocked station from inside the train, and access crafting, commissions, and the Shadow Realm shooting range aboard it
- Prime Ice Construct building – absorbs Prime Ice from the environment and converts it into constructs you place in the world for exploration, puzzle solving, and player interaction
Equipping the Eye of Graeae also activates the Shadow Realm TPS mode when you enter a Shadow Realm zone, switching the camera to a third-person shooter perspective and giving you access to elemental firearms.
Related Snezhnaya Quest Guides
Prime Ice Construct quests appear throughout Snezhnaya in various forms. These related guides cover similar content:
- Jack Frost Train Puzzle Guide – uses the Link Mechanism to rescue Panicked Jack Frosts from locked train cars
- Shadow Wingdrop Guide – aerial technique in the Shadow Realm TPS mode
- Excitement-Loving Jack Frost Challenge Guide
- Dizzy Jack Frost Quest Guide
- Pioneers Quest Walkthrough in Genshin Impact
- How to Explore the Facility Interior in Genshin Impact
- How to Unlock the Golden Hall Teleport Waypoint
- How to Reach Outer Space in Genshin Impact
- Qiqi Stellar-Conduct Build
- Raiden Shogun – top Electro for Stellar-Conduct and Polestar Fields
- Fischl – reliable off-field Electro for construct-enhancing reactions
- Kaedehara Kazuha – excellent Anemo support for Stellar-Swirl in Snezhnaya
- Bennett – great Pyro support and healer for any Snezhnaya team
- Zhongli – best shielder for surviving Snezhnaya’s cold and enemies
- Tartaglia – native Snezhnayan character; excellent Hydro DPS
- Hu Tao – strong Pyro carry for Snezhnayan combat
- Yelan – solid Hydro off-field support for any team
- Neuvillette – high-damage Hydro DPS for exploration teams
- Furina – strong Hydro character for reaction-based compositions
Where to Play Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is free to play across multiple platforms. Download it from the official Genshin Impact website, on Android via Google Play, on iOS via the App Store, on PlayStation, on Epic Games Store for PC, and on Xbox.
