TL;DR
- Zarkaya is found in the southwestern, upper section of Svetloledovka in Snezhnaya.
- She has been assigned an exhibition order by The Master but has no interest in completing it herself.
- The puzzle involves a five-Cube base shaped like an upside-down U — you need to place two more Cube Prime Ice Constructs to complete the shape.
- Stand next to the camera facing the construct, then place one Cube on top of the left block and one on top of the right block.
- Completing the shape correctly from all three angles finishes the order and earns you an Exquisite Chest.
What Is the Zarkaya Prime Ice Construct Quest in Genshin Impact?
The Zarkaya Prime Ice Construct Quest is a short hidden open-world challenge in Svetloledovka, one of Snezhnaya’s sub-regions introduced in Version 7.0. Zarkaya is a Snezhnayan artist who has been assigned an ice sculpture order as part of the Classics, Redux: The Glaciafruit Master Returns (A Special Homage Exhibition) organized by The Master in Snezhnograd. The problem is that Zarkaya has no motivation to finish it — she would rather take on five smaller jobs for the same total pay than pour effort into a single big commission.
That attitude is how the Traveler and Paimon end up doing the work for her. The quest tasks you with reading the Order Illustration she provides and placing two Cube Prime Ice Constructs in the right positions to complete the sculpture from all three required viewing angles. Completing it correctly rewards an Exquisite Chest.
Zarkaya’s quest is part of a series of Prime Ice Construct puzzles tied to the same Snezhnograd exhibition. If you have already encountered similar challenges in Svetloledovka, check out the Yarina Prime Ice Construct Quest Guide and the Malevich Prime Ice Construct Quest Guide for the other artists in the area. You can also find a range of other Snezhnayan puzzles in our Trembling Voice Puzzle Guide.
How to Unlock Snezhnaya and Access Svetloledovka
Before you can reach Zarkaya, you need access to Snezhnaya. Here is what is required:
- Complete Archon Quest Prologue: Act III – Song of the Dragon and Freedom. This automatically unlocks a Teleport Waypoint in Snezhnaya and gives you the Eye of Graeae gadget, which powers the Prime Ice Construct system.
- Progress through Archon Quest Chapter VII: Act I – Everwinter Without Mercy to unlock world exploration and world quests in Snezhnaya.
- Travel to Svetloledovka, one of Snezhnaya’s sub-regions. The Teleport Waypoint there gives you easy access to the area.
Make sure your Eye of Graeae has enough Kresnik Energy to build at least two Cube constructs before approaching Zarkaya. Refill it from Mini Kresnik Torches or by breaking Kresnik Kristall Ores scattered around Snezhnaya if your energy is low.
Where to Find Zarkaya in Genshin Impact
Zarkaya is located in the southwestern part of Svetloledovka, specifically in the upper section of the area. She is not on the lower ground paths — search the elevated terrain near the top of the southwestern section. You will usually hear her before you see her, as she complains loudly about The Master’s exhibition commissions as you approach.
Once you get close enough, a short cutscene or dialogue trigger activates the quest. Zarkaya explains her frustration with the large order, sizes you up as someone with an artistic eye, and promptly hands the commission over to you along with the Order Illustration that shows what the finished sculpture needs to look like.
Understanding the Puzzle — The Order Illustration
The Order Illustration Zarkaya gives you shows the required shape of the Prime Ice Construct from three different angles:
- Front view — seen from the camera position placed near the construct
- Side view — seen from the left or right
- Top-down view — looking straight down at the shape from above
The current base already has five Cubes arranged in an upside-down U shape — two columns of two on the left and right sides, with one connecting block across the top. Your job is to add two more Cubes so that the shape matches all three illustrated angles without breaking the upside-down U structure from above.
Zarkaya Prime Ice Construct Quest Solution
The solution is straightforward once you understand what the illustration is asking for. Here is exactly what to do:
Step 1 — Stand Next to the Camera and Face the Construct
A camera has been placed near the construct area to represent the front viewing angle from the illustration. Walk over to the camera and position yourself so you are standing right next to it, facing directly toward the construct. This orientation is important — it ensures you are adding the cubes in the right position relative to the front-view angle.
Step 2 — Place One Cube on Top of the Left Block
Open the Prime Ice Construct menu and select the Cube construct. Place one Cube directly on top of the leftmost column of the base structure. The upside-down U shape has two columns — left and right — with space at the top of each. The first Cube goes on the top of the left column.
Step 3 — Place One Cube on Top of the Right Block
Place the second Cube directly on top of the rightmost column in the same way. This mirrors the first placement on the opposite side, raising both outer pillars of the upside-down U by one Cube each.
With both Cubes placed correctly, the construct now matches all three viewing angles in the Order Illustration. The shape remains an upside-down U when viewed from above, and the front and side views now line up with the illustrated design from Snezhnograd.
Completing the Quest and Collecting Your Reward
Once both Cubes are in the correct positions, the order registers as complete. Zarkaya reacts with a mixture of relief and indifference — she thanks you, confirms the commission is done, and points you to the nearby Exquisite Chest as payment for your help.
The Exquisite Chest contains standard rewards including random artifacts, Primogems, Adventure EXP, Cryo Sigils, Mora, and other useful materials. It is a quick chest for a short amount of effort, making Zarkaya’s quest one of the most efficient stops you can make while exploring Svetloledovka.
Who Is Zarkaya? — Background and Lore
Zarkaya is a Snezhnayan artist based in Svetloledovka. Every year, the Prime Ice Construct exhibition in Snezhnograd sends commissions to local artists around the region. This year’s theme — the Classics, Redux: The Glaciafruit Master Returns homage exhibition — requires sculptors to recreate or pay tribute to the work of The Master, a famous Prime Ice artist known for including symmetry in their compositions.
Zarkaya received one of these commissions but immediately calculated that the effort was not worth it. She figures she could complete five smaller, easier commissions in the same time this large order would take, and each of those five would pay the same amount as this single big one. Rather than viewing the exhibition as an opportunity for artistic prestige or growth, Zarkaya’s priority is simple: a full belly. She wants to eat well and live comfortably, not chase gallery recognition.
This attitude puts her in contrast with the other Svetloledovka artists tied to the same exhibition. Yarina is an art school graduate with strong opinions about compositional discipline, and Malevich is a young, earnest artist who genuinely wants to honor the exhibition theme. Zarkaya, by contrast, just wants to move on to the next job.
Tips for the Zarkaya Prime Ice Construct Quest
- Search the upper ground in the southwest. Zarkaya is not on the lower paths or at the center of Svetloledovka. Head to the elevated terrain in the southwestern part of the area and search near the top. Her complaining dialogue is the easiest way to locate her.
- Stand next to the camera before placing cubes. The camera marks the front viewing angle from the Order Illustration. Standing beside it ensures you are oriented correctly when placing each cube, which removes any guesswork about left and right.
- The upside-down U stays intact from above. Adding one cube to the top of each outer column does not change the overhead silhouette of the structure — it remains the same upside-down U shape. This is the key insight that makes the solution work across all three angles simultaneously.
- Have at least 2 Cubes worth of Kresnik Energy ready. The puzzle only needs two placements, so this is a low-energy quest. Even a partially charged Eye of Graeae should be enough. If you are unsure, refill at a nearby Mini Kresnik Torch before approaching Zarkaya.
- Do the other artist quests nearby. The Yarina and Malevich Prime Ice Construct quests are also in Svetloledovka and tied to the same exhibition. Completing all three in a single visit to the area is time-efficient and clears all the exhibition-related world content at once.
Other Snezhnayan World Quests and Puzzles
Zarkaya’s quest is one of many short open-world challenges scattered across Snezhnaya in Version 7.0. Here are other nearby quests worth completing:
- Yarina Prime Ice Construct Quest Guide — help Yarina set up a symmetrical stall display in Svetloledovka
- Malevich Prime Ice Construct Quest Guide — help a young Svetloledovka artist by removing excess Cube constructs
- Trembling Voice Puzzle Guide — help a mysterious voice in an abandoned house in Everfrozen Earth and earn the Visions in the Match achievement
- Dragov Photo Shoot Puzzle Guide — place three animal statues at the correct scenic spots on a cliff in Fellfrost Peak
- Empty Display Stands Quest Guide — build the right Prime Ice Constructs at signed pedestals on the House of Hesperides third floor
- All House of Hesperides Challenges Guide — a full walkthrough of every puzzle in the Fellfrost Peak mountain mansion
- Hide-and-Seek Jack Frosts Quest Guide — find three Jack Frosts hiding in disguise on the mansion’s Main Floor
- Locked Door Quest – Key of Ancient Design Guide — unlock the sealed door inside the House of Hesperides
- Jack Frost Train Puzzle Guide
- Shadow Wingdrop Guide
- Excitement-Loving Jack Frost Challenge Guide
- Dizzy Jack Frost Quest Guide
- Pioneers Quest Walkthrough
Where to Play Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact and all of Snezhnaya’s Version 7.0 content is free to play across all platforms:
