The Vault of Secrets: How to Solve the Shrine Vault Puzzle in Silent Hill f

The latest installment in the iconic horror franchise, Silent Hill f, is a masterclass in psychological dread and a return to the series’ roots in puzzle-heavy survival horror. One of the first major roadblocks players will encounter is the Shrine Vault Puzzle, located in the eerie Shrine Path. This puzzle, which is a combination lock that requires three specific symbols, can be a frustrating and confusing obstacle, especially with the constant threat of a new, horrifying monster stalking the area. This guide will walk you through the steps to solve the puzzle on all difficulties, allowing you to proceed and uncover the dark secrets of the spirit realm.

The puzzle is presented to you shortly after you receive the ceremonial knife from the Fox Mask man and venture into a new section of the Shrine Path. The door to the Shrine Vault is locked, and a poem gives you a cryptic hint about the solution. To solve this puzzle, you must find three specific Ema, which are wooden wishing plaques, in three distinct areas of the Shrine Path. Once you find and interact with the correct Ema, the corresponding symbol will be automatically recorded in your journal. You can then return to the vault and input the symbols in the correct order to unlock it.

Shrine Vault Puzzle Solutions by Difficulty

The difficulty of the puzzle is determined by the difficulty you chose at the beginning of the game. Here is a breakdown of the solution for each one:

Story Mode

In Story Mode, the puzzle is a test of pattern recognition. You are looking for three specific Ema that have the following symbols:

• A crane
• A serpent
• A tortoise

These Ema are much easier to spot than on other difficulties, and your journal will provide you with clear clues about their locations. Once you have all three, return to the vault and input the symbols in the order they were collected to unlock the door.

Hard Mode (Default)

For most players, this will be the puzzle’s default difficulty. The clues are more cryptic, with a poem hinting at the solutions. The Ema you are looking for will have the following designs:

• A symbol of a lightning bolt: This symbol is a circle with two vertical lines inside.
• A decayed tree: The image is a simple drawing of a dead, broken tree.
• Kudzu: This is a design of a pink flower with large green leaves.

You can find these Ema scattered across the three marked areas on your map. It is important to note that the location of each Ema is not fixed, so you may need to search each area thoroughly. Your journal will automatically record the symbols once you find them. Once you have all three, return to the vault and enter the symbols in the order they were recorded in your journal to solve the puzzle.

Lost in the Fog Mode (New Game +)

This is the hardest puzzle difficulty, and it is only available after you complete the game for the first time. The puzzle is significantly more challenging, and the clues are even more obscure. Instead of a clear symbol, you are looking for Ema that correspond to specific mythological figures:

• Yokai of the Carriage
• Yokai of the Umbrella
• Yokai of the Kettle

Once you find the correct Ema, you will be presented with four symbols, and you will need to infer which of the symbols is the correct one based on the poem’s context. This is a puzzle that requires a deep understanding of Japanese folklore and a keen eye for detail. The final solution is more complex, and a guide is almost certainly needed to solve it unless you have a photographic memory.

General Tips for Solving the Puzzle

• Pay Attention to Your Map: The game’s map will clearly mark the three areas where you need to search for the Ema. Stick to these zones to avoid wasting time and resources.
• The Correct Ema Is Different: A simple, but effective, strategy is to look for the Ema that doesn’t belong. In each of the three search zones, there will be one Ema that is visually distinct from all the others. This is likely the one you need.
• Don’t Forget to Check Your Journal: Once you find a correct Ema, the symbol will be added to your journal. Do not try to memorize the order. The order in which they appear in your journal is the correct order for the vault’s combination lock.

By following these steps, you will be able to unlock the Shrine Vault and continue your terrifying journey through Silent Hill f. Good luck, and try to keep your sanity in check!