In the depths of the Dilapidated Castle – the underground location of Fontaine, which appeared in Genshin Impact with patch 4.6 – there are many interesting puzzles. For example, when exploring the ruins near Petrichor, you can come across chaotically floating Lost Grimoires, as well as Mysterious Shelves – magical openings in bookshelves that block the passage to treasures and hydrocules.
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In this guide we will tell you where all the grimoires are located, and how to catch them. After finding the floating books, we will show you how to get to all the Mysterious Shelves and go through them to the rewards.
How to catch and use lost grimoires in Genshin Impact
Elusive magical books are located in different parts of the Dilapidated Castle, located southeast of Fontaine, under the island of Petrichor. You can get here during the mission “Shadow over Petrichor”, which is part of the large cycle of story assignments “Ode to Harmony”.
You might have come across flying ghost books that periodically disappear and appear within a radius of a specific location. They can be collected if you use the special “symphony” skill (“T” → activation of the ability on “E”): come closer to the place where the manuscript is flying and briefly press the skill – it will freeze in place and become available for collection.
When you first catch any flying book, you will receive the achievement “I ask you, are you human?”
Using Mystery Shelves
Magical grimoires are needed to gain access to treasure rooms hidden behind the Mysterious Shelves. These wall openings, blocked by a barrier of magical books, are also found in the Dilapidated Castle area. You don't need to look for a specific grimoire for a specific opening – all manuscripts are standard and fit any barrier. To open the passage, go to the shelf and select the material you have, and in the additional window confirm the use of the grimoire.
Then use the “symphony” skill, but with a long press – the books and the barrier will temporarily fly away to the sides, clearing the way forward. If you release the ability, everything will return to its place.
Map of the location of all lost grimoires
On the map of the Dilapidated Castle you can find 8 grimoires: most of them are on lower and middle levels, and only one – in the Pavilion, not far from the arena with the Golem Legate.
Flying Book 1
From the teleport in the western half of the dungeon, run straight to the flight of stairs, and then up the left side: a book flies right in front of one from the mysterious shelves.
Flying Book 2
Go back to the stairs from which you turned to the first book and go down towards the Pavilion. One of the books can be seen at the foot of the stairs, but when approached, it will disappear, leaving behind a mini-test with marks – follow the beacons up the right side until a rich chest appears in front of you.
To the left of the reward, on the opposite side of the cave, there will be a small ledge with another grimoire.
Flying book 3
Move to the teleport in the north and go south to a spacious hall: another book flies at the exit.
< h3>Flying Book 4
Not far from the last find there is a staircase leading to two flights separated by water: go down the southern one and catch another magical manuscript.
Flying Book 5
Another disappearing book flies near a pond located opposite the scene with a teleport to Remuria and a game of catching note bubbles.
Flying Book 6
For the remaining books, go to the library in the south of the Dilapidated Castle: return to the place where you caught the 3rd grimoire and run straight until you reach the desired room (map in screenshot 2 above).
There are books and several chairs lying in front of the entrance, and a grimoire floats above them.
Flying Book 7
We rise to the level with the blue switch and go to the opposite side to the passage through the blue barrier of books. The manuscript flies a little further away, in front of the magic shelf.
Flying Book 8
Now return to the blue activator crystal – the path upward will begin from it. Hit the switch, and then stand on one of the hydro steps that appears ahead before the cliff.
The tiles will slowly fly upward, periodically disappearing to be replaced by new ones. Try to jump from the stopping place to the next step in time, gradually rising to the path of similar structures. From there, run left to the second activator crystal and hit it. A teleporting hydro-gun will appear nearby, through which you can climb to the end point of the path.
In the most at the top, near the mysterious shelf, the last book flies.
Map of the location of all the mysterious shelves
There are also 8 Mystery Shelves located in the Dilapidated Castle (one for each grimoire found).
Enchanted pass 1
The first passage is located before the location of the 8th book. A precious casket and a hydroculus await you inside.
Enchanted Passage 2
The next one is opposite the 7th grimoire found. Inside there will be only a rich chest.
Enchanted Passage 3
Another cache is located on the stairs in the southern half of the library, between the 6th and 7th flying manuscript floors.
Enchanted Passage 4
On the same floor as the 6th grimoire, there is another magical door. It is located in the northern half of the high room.
Inside, in front of the entrance, there is an amazing casket (with the decor “Mailbox made of mallow wood: Storage“). To the right there is a staircase leading to a hidden room. If you defeat three stone Praetorians here, you will also receive a precious chest. Plus, in the southern part of the cache you can find an altar with a stone sword – this is a black two-handed blank.
Enchanted Passage 5
Move to the northwest teleport and run east to an area filled with floating books. On one side of the corridor in this area there is another shelf.
Go deeper and fight the stone knight guarding the precious treasury.
Enchanted Passage 6
This passage is located near the place with the 1st grimoire, inside there is a rich casket and a hydroculus.
Enchanted passage 7
The penultimate shelf stands opposite the place where the 4th flying manuscript was caught (west of the scene with the painting leading to Sea of Antiquity). A rich chest is hidden here.
Enchanted Passage 8
The path to the last enchanted opening goes through the stairs, standing directly above the room with the 7th cache. Run up all the way until you find a shelf.
We use the last grimoire and get the achievement “For the love of books.” Inside the cache is an aggressive stone knight and an amazing treasury (it contains the decor “Mallow Wood Long Chair: Carved Memories”).
Achievements “For the Love of Books” and “I Ask” you, are you a man?”
During all the searches, we will be given two achievements:
- “I ask you, are you a man?” – for the first capture of a book;
- “For the love of books” – for opening the last mysterious shelf.
Both will bring a total of 10 primogems. From all the chests encountered while opening shelves and capturing grimoires, you can loot 65 primogems and 2 hydrocules.
