Genshin Impact Version 7.2, “Hour of Ruin,” releases on November 4, 2026 and opens Novokitezhgrad, an underground city in eastern Snezhnaya. The area comes with puzzles and precious chests, but no source I found yet explains a single puzzle solution. This guide covers the confirmed region details, the tools you use there, and which keywords, including the Pickaxe of Eternal Ice and the House of Hesperides plaques, no source supports so far.
⚡ Quick Intel: Novokitezhgrad
- Update: Version 7.2, Hour of Ruin
- Release: Nov 4, 2026
- Location: Eastern Snezhnaya, by railway
- Chests: 40+ precious chests reported
- Puzzle solutions: None published yet
What Version 7.2 Adds to Snezhnaya
FinalWeapon and Notebookcheck describe the same new region. Novokitezhgrad is Snezhnaya’s main producer of Kresnik Kristall, and the city is built underground and encased in the crystal. Players reach it by railway. Wingspan Peak, a large wing-shaped landmass to the east, holds Old Kitezhgrad, Snezhnaya’s first city, which the Belyi Tsar founded.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Update | Version 7.2, “Hour of Ruin” |
| Release | November 4, 2026 |
| New city | Novokitezhgrad, underground |
| Old city | Old Kitezhgrad on Wingspan Peak |
| Access | Railway |
| Material | Kresnik Kristall |
Neither source gives a release time, so check the in-game notice for your server. Because the update goes live today, guide sites have not caught up yet, and that explains the gaps below.
Tools for Kresnik Kristall Hazards
FinalWeapon says contaminated Kresnik Kristall deposits, tied to the Holy Soil phenomenon, create hazards. New Prime Ice Constructs and two elemental shotguns help players neutralize them. That is the only gameplay toolset the sources document for the area.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hazard source | Contaminated Kresnik Kristall |
| Cause | Holy Soil phenomenon |
| Tools | Prime Ice Constructs, two elemental shotguns |
| Shotgun elements | Not named in the sources |
| Boss | Large sea creature in Novokitezhgrad |
The sources do not name the shotguns’ elements or explain how Prime Ice Constructs work. Therefore, I cannot say which tool opens which puzzle.
Novokitezhgrad Underground Chests and Puzzles
A Russian guide from Land of Games says the new areas hold “more than forty” precious chests across Novokitezhgrad, Oasis Warmth (Teplo Oasis) and Winged Peak. It says the chests need exploration, world quests, timed trials and “complex puzzles.” However, the page lists every location as unknown, with the note that information will appear soon. It also links to a separate puzzle guide that I could not read.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Precious chests | 40+ across the new areas |
| Chest locations | Not published yet |
| Requirements | Exploration, quests, trials, puzzles |
| Possible rewards | Primogems, Mora, Crio seals, materials |
| Puzzle solutions | Not found |
Keywords With No Source Support
Your keyword list names several puzzle elements. I searched for each one, and none appears in a source about Version 7.2.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pickaxe of Eternal Ice | No source found |
| Light ray puzzle | No 7.2 solution found |
| Kresnik crystals puzzle | No solution found |
| House of Hesperides plaques | No source found |
| Crystals of Disaster | No 7.2 source found |
| Old Kitezhrad mechanical gates | No source found |
Two explanations seem possible. The puzzles may exist but go undocumented, because the update is new, or the names may come from the in-game text, which I have not seen. Search results for the light puzzle mostly returned older Genshin guides for other regions, so I will not copy those steps onto Novokitezhgrad. Note also that the sources spell the city “Old Kitezhgrad,” while your keyword says “Kitezhrad.”
If you have screenshots or a short note for any of these puzzles, send them and I will write the exact steps.
Quests and Events Tied to the Area
The Meeting Point quests give the clearest story links. Danica runs a cleanup job in Novokitezhgrad for the Tsaritsa, and Mitya investigates the soil near Teplo Oasis. Notebookcheck says their paths cross.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Archon Quest | Pillars of light trigger a Holy Soil crisis |
| Gathering | Tsaritsa calls reps from all seven nations |
| Quest reward | 560 Primogems and Mitya ascension materials |
| Event | Rescue soldiers, relay intel, urgent tasks |
| Cosmetic | Snezhnaya-themed Wind Glider |
The Archon Quest reward applies only if you finish within its time window, according to Notebookcheck. Also, a limited-time event, a filming event in Snezhnaya and a mining challenge in Natlan run alongside the update.
Characters and Banners
Mitya, a 5-star Electro Catalyst user, and Valeriy, a 4-star Electro Sword user, debut in the first Event Wish phase with a Furina rerun. The second phase brings back Zibai and Linnea. Neither source ties these characters to puzzle solutions, so you do not need them to explore.
How to Approach the New Puzzles
These tips are my general advice, based on the confirmed area details and not on any 7.2 solution.
- Finish the Archon Quest first. It likely unlocks the area, although no source states the order.
- Open the map and railway. The sources say you travel by rail.
- Look at hazards before you fight. Contaminated Kresnik Kristall is the confirmed obstacle.
- Test both shotguns. The sources do not name their elements, so try each on a hazard.
- Mark every chest. Locations are still unpublished, so note any chest you cannot reach yet.
- Wait for solved guides. Check the Land of Games puzzle page after it updates.
For another guide that admits its gaps, see our Pokémon GO private Dynamax battles article.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Following old Genshin puzzle guides. Older light puzzles belong to other regions.
- Hunting the Pickaxe of Eternal Ice. No source mentions it.
- Skipping the quest timer. The Archon Quest reward has a time window.
- Expecting chest maps today. Sources publish no locations.
- Spelling the city differently. Sources use Novokitezhgrad and Old Kitezhgrad.
Last verified: November 4, 2026, against FinalWeapon, Notebookcheck and Land of Games. Version 7.2 releases today, so puzzle solutions, chest locations and tool details remain unconfirmed.
FAQs
When does Novokitezhgrad release in Genshin Impact?
With Version 7.2, “Hour of Ruin,” on November 4, 2026.
How do you reach Novokitezhgrad?
By railway, according to FinalWeapon and Notebookcheck.
How do you use the Pickaxe of Eternal Ice?
Not confirmed. No source I found mentions this item.
What is the Novokitezhgrad light ray puzzle solution?
Not confirmed. No Version 7.2 guide describes it yet.
How many chests are in Novokitezhgrad?
Land of Games reports more than forty precious chests across the new areas, but it gives no locations.
What are Crystals of Disaster?
Not confirmed. The sources name contaminated Kresnik Kristall deposits and the Holy Soil phenomenon instead.
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