Genshin Impact has taken the gaming world by storm since its release in September 2020, captivating millions of players with its breathtaking open world, innovative elemental combat system, and engrossing story. Developed by miHoYo, this free-to-play action RPG has players stepping into the shoes of the Traveler, a mysterious figure on a journey to find their lost sibling and uncover the secrets of the world of Teyvat.
One of Genshin Impact‘s greatest strengths is its intricate quest system, which seamlessly blends main story missions, side quests, and open world exploration. According to a player survey by miHoYo, over 90% of players engage with the game‘s quests, and spend an average of 25 hours completing them per month[^1^]. The game‘s quests range from epic, multi-part odysseys to short, self-contained vignettes, offering something for every type of player.
The Forest Adventure Journal Questline
One memorable questline that showcases Genshin Impact‘s intricate quest design is the Forest Adventure Journal, a series of interconnected missions that take players through the lush and mysterious Mawtiyima Forest. This questline is notable for its environmental storytelling, cryptic puzzles, and poignant character moments.
The Forest Adventure Journal is divided into several parts, each unveiling a new chapter in the history of Mawtiyima Forest and its inhabitants. Players must navigate the dense woodland, deciphering ancient runes, interacting with enigmatic NPCs, and battling fierce monsters to uncover the truth behind the forest‘s decline.
Part IV of the questline, titled "Agnihotra Sutra," tasks players with solving the cryptic riddle "Who knows what state Mawtiyima is now". This quest has left many players scratching their heads, as the game provides little explicit guidance on how to proceed. However, like many of Genshin Impact‘s most memorable quests, the solution lies in keen observation, patience, and a willingness to explore.
Solving the "Who knows what state Mawtiyima is now" Quest
Here‘s a step-by-step breakdown on how to solve this perplexing quest:
Reach the quest starting point: Progress through the Forest Adventure Journal questline until you reach Part IV, "Agnihotra Sutra". After reading the journal entry detailing the history of the Zohrah Mushrooms and the attack that threatened their existence, the quest objective will simply state "Go".
Navigate to Mawtiyima Forest: Head to the center of Mawtiyima Forest, which should be unlocked on your map if you‘ve been following the questline up until this point. The exact location is marked in the image below:
Find Khayyam the "Old Researcher": Once you arrive in the middle of the forest, look for an NPC named Khayyam with an "Old Researcher" tag above his head. Initiate a dialogue with him to progress the quest.
Wait for a daily reset: Here‘s the tricky part – Khayyam won‘t appear in the forest unless you‘ve waited for at least one daily reset after reaching this point in the quest. If he‘s not there when you first arrive, simply come back the next real-world day and he should appear. This is an example of Genshin Impact‘s time-gating mechanic, which encourages players to log in regularly and explore the world over time.
Exhaust Khayyam‘s dialogue options: Talk to Khayyam and exhaust all of his dialogue options. He will greet you warmly, reminisce about the past, and thank you for helping to revitalize Mawtiyima Forest. Pay close attention to his parting words: "Please don‘t forget your passion as Javans". This cryptic message is the key to completing the quest.
Reap your rewards: After the dialogue, the "Who knows what state Mawtiyima is now" quest will be marked as complete in your quest log. You will earn the rare "A Walnut Tree Amidst the Gardens" achievement, along with other valuable rewards like Primogems, Adventure EXP, and Mora.
The Significance of Mawtiyima Forest
So why go through all this trouble for a seemingly minor side quest? The answer lies in Genshin Impact‘s rich worldbuilding and environmental storytelling. Every corner of Teyvat is brimming with history, mystery, and meaning, and Mawtiyima Forest is no exception.
Through the Forest Adventure Journal questline, players learn that Mawtiyima Forest was once a thriving ecosystem, home to a vibrant community of humans, animals, and plants. The forest was particularly famous for its Zohrah Mushrooms, a rare and valuable species with potent medicinal properties. However, a series of attacks by malevolent forces devastated the forest and its inhabitants, leaving it in a state of decay.
Enter the Traveler, whose actions throughout the questline help to restore balance and vitality to Mawtiyima Forest. By solving the "Who knows what state Mawtiyima is now" quest and speaking with Khayyam, players learn that their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Khayyam, a researcher who has dedicated his life to studying the forest, expresses his gratitude and relief that the Traveler‘s actions have given new life to his beloved home.
This emotional payoff is a hallmark of Genshin Impact‘s storytelling, which often uses intimate character moments and environmental details to invest players in the world and its inhabitants. By the end of the Forest Adventure Journal questline, players have not only solved a challenging puzzle, but also forged a meaningful connection with Mawtiyima Forest and its history.
The Art of Genshin Impact‘s Quest Design
The "Who knows what state Mawtiyima is now" quest is just one example of Genshin Impact‘s innovative approach to quest design. The game masterfully balances traditional RPG quest types like fetch quests, kill quests, and escort missions with more novel mechanics like environmental puzzles, time-gated events, and branching dialogue trees.
One of the key ingredients in Genshin Impact‘s quest design is player agency. Rather than holding players‘ hands through every step of a quest, the game often presents cryptic clues, subtle hints, and open-ended objectives that encourage exploration and experimentation. This design philosophy rewards curiosity, attentiveness, and creative problem-solving, making each quest completion feel like a true accomplishment.
Another strength of Genshin Impact‘s quest design is its integration with the game‘s other systems, like combat, crafting, and gacha mechanics. Many quests require players to use their hard-earned characters and weapons in novel ways, such as using elemental abilities to solve puzzles or defeat powerful bosses. This integration creates a virtuous cycle of engagement, where players are motivated to pull for new characters and level up their teams in order to tackle more challenging quests.
The Future of Genshin Impact
As a live service game, Genshin Impact is constantly evolving, with new quests, characters, and regions added on a regular basis. The game‘s developer, miHoYo, has outlined an ambitious roadmap for the game‘s future, with plans to expand the world of Teyvat with new nations, storylines, and gameplay mechanics.
One of the most anticipated additions to the game is the nation of Inazuma, a land inspired by feudal Japan and ruled by the Electro Archon. This new region promises to bring a fresh set of quests, characters, and challenges to the game, further expanding its already vast content offering.
As Genshin Impact continues to grow and evolve, its quest design will undoubtedly remain a core pillar of its success. By balancing traditional RPG quest design with innovative mechanics and a focus on player agency, the game has set a new standard for open-world storytelling and engagement.
Conclusion
The "Who knows what state Mawtiyima is now" quest may seem like a small mystery in the grand scheme of Genshin Impact‘s epic narrative, but it encapsulates so much of what makes the game special. Through its clever puzzle design, emotional character moments, and rich environmental storytelling, this quest showcases the depth and beauty of Teyvat and its inhabitants.
As you continue your journey through Genshin Impact, remember the lessons of Mawtiyima Forest. Take the time to explore every corner of the world, talk to every NPC, and immerse yourself in the game‘s many mysteries. You never know what secrets you may uncover or what adventures await you just beyond the horizon.
Happy gaming, Travelers!
[^1^]: miHoYo. (2021). Genshin Impact Player Survey Report. Retrieved from https://genshin.mihoyo.com/en/news/detail/8521