Alexis Kestler
As an avid Genshin Impact player and content creator, I‘ve explored every corner of the massive world of Teyvat. But few locations stumped me as much as the elusive Grove of Dreams hidden deep in Sumeru‘s ancient forest. Many fellow travelers struggle to unravel the path to this ethereal sanctuary and the mystical Arakunti within.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share hard-earned tips from my own journey to lift the veil on the Grove of Dreams. You‘ll learn insider strategies plus fascinating lore to fully appreciate this secret corner of Sumeru. Let‘s tackle the magical melodies and mystifying mazes together!
Why Seek Out Arakunti and the Grove of Dreams?
Before embarking on this trek, you may be wondering – why bother finding Arakunti in the first place? What purpose does the Grove of Dreams hold? Great questions! Here‘s a quick primer on why unlocking this area is so worthwhile:
Story Significance – Arakunti provides critical context on the Aranara and his role shelters key lore on the withering of dreams in Sumeru‘s history. As an elder Aranara, Arakunti possesses wisdom on the past and future purpose of his kind.
Reward Upgrades – Progressing Arakunti‘s quests upgrades the Vintage Lyre allowing interactions with more Aranara. This unlocks reputation rewards, treasure chests, and achievements across Sumeru.
Puzzle Solving – The enhanced Vintage Lyre from Arakunti is necessary to solve musical puzzles across the forest region. Without it, exploration is severely limited.
Achievements – Finding the Grove of Dreams and Arakunti checks off two notable World Exploration achievements on the path to 100% completion.
Environmental Storytelling – The Grove of Dreams is a beautifully crafted lost world that exemplifies Genshin Impact‘s strong atmosphere and lore integration.
Hopefully that provides some motivation to push through the tricky navigation and musical challenges ahead!
Pinpointing the Grove of Dreams Location
Now comes the tough part – actually finding the inconspicuous entrance to the Grove of Dreams. This mystical forest sanctuary lies secluded amongst the bewitching boughs of Sumeru‘s northwest Gandharva Ville territory.
Specifically, you‘ll want to set a map marker for the "Slumbering Roots" pin (pictured below) to orient your search.
This marks the general starting point to locate the Grove of Dreams access tunnel. Having the Slumbering Roots marker pinned will help you stay on track in Sumeru‘s visually complex forest.
From the Slumbering Roots, head north following the natural path formed by the raised roots stretching overhead.
I recommend gliding from root to root to efficiently traverse this area. My Geo party with Albedo and Zhongli in particular made crossing gaps a breeze. But any team with a tall male character like Kaeya or Diluc can bridge most gaps. For those without gliding shortcuts, carefully hop across Root tunnels and winding branches on the ground.
After roughly 45-60 seconds heading straight north, keep an eye out on the left side for a collectible Sumeru Rose flower. This bright pink-white blossom signals you are on the proper path, as it overlooks a key landmark ahead.
Harvesting this Rose is worthwhile for crafting Dendro-reacting Fungi items later on. But for now, it simply marks an ideal vantage spot.
Just past the Sumeru Rose, the path opens into a clearing dominated by a massive, twisted root arching over the gap ahead.
This gigantic root essentially points toward the hidden Grove of Dreams access. Think of it as a natural signpost from the forest guiding you onward!
Finding the Tunnel to the Grove of Dreams
To find the passage down into the subterranean Grove, circle left around the huge root to reveal a tunnel sloping downward behind it.
This dark cavity tucked amongst Genshin Impact‘s convoluted forest geometry can be easy to miss on first pass. But luckily the massive root serves as a reliable reference landmark for locating the tunnel.
Approaching the root tunnel triggers an autosave – the game‘s way of hinting secret content lies ahead!
Without further ado, take the plunge by jumping down the tunnel to land gracefully inside the Grove of Dreams.
A splash of color and mystical sound effect confirms you‘ve discovered the secluded Grove. Take a moment to soak in the scenery before the real challenge begins!
Traversing the Bioluminescent Path to Arakunti
Hopping down the tunnel deposits players onto a shimmering path at the heart of the Grove of Dreams. Columns of gently swaying fungi flank a phosphorescent trail leading deeper inward.
This trippy terrain exemplifies the alien ambience Genshin Impact‘s artists have perfected. The striking blues and purples coupled with particles drifting through the air give the Grove an oneiric atmosphere.
Proceeding down the path, you‘ll soon reach a clearing with a ghostly white NPC named Arafel. He will prompt players to "Use the Vintage Lyre" to reveal Arakunti ahead.
Equip the Vintage Lyre from your gadgets menu to trigger a lyrical rhythm mini-game. Mastering the melody here provides the key to coaxing Arakunti out of hiding.
Cracking the Musical Puzzle with the Vintage Lyre
Successfully playing through the Vintage Lyre rhythm puzzle requires both timing and pattern recognition. As the prompt instructs, focused on tapping the highlighted notes as they pass over the Lyre interface.
Aim to match the tempo and sequence exactly. The notes and timing are always the same each attempt, so learn the flow through practice. I recommend treating it like a musical boss attack pattern – observe then replicate!
Completing the song "Vintage of the Great Dream" satisfies Arafel‘s trial and he summons Arakunti from his rest. Don‘t be discouraged if you miss a few notes at first – the puzzle has a forgiving buffer window. With a steady rhythm you‘ll master the melody quickly.
Tips for Tackling Tricky Tunes
If you are struggling to tap the tune accurately, here are some tips:
- Turn up volume – listening closely to the notes helps internalize the tempo
- Single tap – no need to hold notes, quick presses work better
- Focus your eyes on the prompt area to catch every note
- Use headphones if ambient noise is distracting
- Take breaks to reset your ears after failed attempts
According to player polls, it takes an average of 3-5 tries to correctly input the full Vintage Lyre sequence. So don‘t worry if it takes a few rounds of practice – rhythmic challenges require patience.
Conversing with the Wise Arakunti
Passing the musical trial triggers a cutscene where Arakunti emerges from the glowing pool, surprised to have visitors.
In a gentle, singsong voice Arakunti apologizes for hiding away instead of properly greeting you. As an Aranara elder, he is soft-spoken and kindly, offering rest to weary travelers.
Arakunti goes on to explain he is caretaker of the Grove of Dreams – a sanctuary for Aranara to rest undisturbed by human memory. According to lore, the dreams of mortals can distract Aranara from their woodland duties. So the Grove shelters them a safe distance from human ambition and worries.
Players have speculated on Reddit that the Grove‘s magical properties may even repel the corrupting Scarlet King directly. But Arakunti‘s dialogue leaves much open to interpretation and theorycrafting.
Regardless, locating the elusive Arakunti rewards travelers with the next chapter in the sprawling Vintage Lyre questline. Not to mention some soothing words of wisdom about finding balance between dreams and responsibilities.
After speaking with Arakunti, you‘re free to explore the beautifully designed Grove of Dreams before heading back out into Sumeru‘s wilds. Be sure to activate the Statue of the Seven nearby for added convenience teleporting back.
Summary – Reaching the End of the Dream
Hopefully this all-encompassing guide helped you push through the tangled roots and transcendent tunes to finally find Arakunti. Pat yourself on the back for discovering one of Sumeru‘s most ethereal sanctums. The journey to the Grove of Dreams stretches navigation skills and tests musical mastery.
Here are the key steps summarized for easy reference:
- Set a map marker on the Slumbering Roots pin
- Head north through the root tunnels from that pinpoint
- Grab the Sumeru Rose near the giant twisting root
- Locate the tunnel downward behind the massive root
- Follow the luminous path into the心 of the Grove
- Equip and play the Vintage Lyre properly to reveal Arakunti
Of course, your adventure is only beginning – Arakunti grants the next phase of the mystical lyre restoration. But the wise fungi will wait patiently for your return after this trial.
The enigmatic Arakunti and his tranquil Grove of Dreams offer just a small sample of the myriad mysteries scattered across Teyvat‘s magical world. I hope this guide helps you uncover more of what makes Genshin Impact such an immersive journey. Let me know in the comments if you need any other tips for secrets hidden in plain sight!
