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How to "Activate the mechanism in the center of the hall" in Genshin Impact

Since its release in 2020, Genshin Impact has captivated players with its beautiful open world, engaging storytelling, and addictive gacha-style progression. The free-to-play RPG has earned over $3 billion in its first year alone and generated a passionate fanbase. With frequent updates adding new regions, quests, characters and more, there‘s always incentive to keep playing.

The latest 3.1 update "King Deshret and the Three Magi" brought a whole new desert area called Sumeru for players to explore. Along with exciting additions like the new 5-star character Cyno, the patch introduced new story and archon quests that hold valuable rewards for progression.

But some of these new objectives can be confusing or difficult to complete at first. One such quest requires you to "Activate the mechanism in the center of the hall" in order to move forward. Don‘t worry – in this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down exactly how to find and activate all mechanisms to finish this quest as a long-time Genshin Impact player.

Understanding Archon and Story Quests

Archon and story quests are key to unlocking lore, rewards, and new regions in Genshin Impact. They must be completed in sequence as certain adventure rank requirements are met (usually 40+). The prizes like weapons, artifacts, ascension materials, and most importantly Primogems make these quests well worth the effort.

This particular quest comes in the new Sumeru archon questline and can stump players. Activating the central hall mechanism allows you to progress the story and explore the desert region. So following this guide will ensure you don‘t miss out on content or fall behind in Sumeru!

Mechanism Activation Walkthrough

The objective states you need to "activate the mechanism in the center of the hall" but doesn‘t explain how. There is actually a multi-step process involving 3 Primal Embers. Here is a detailed walkthrough:

First Primal Ember

Start by releasing the glowing west Primal Ember from its torch. Activate the nearby elevator to go down. Carefully make your way around the damaging force field using Geo constructs or abilities.

Once past the force field, guide the Primal Ember into the structure on the left by moving close to it. Now take the elevator back up and activate the first mechanism to the right of the central hall.

Second Primal Ember

For the second Ember, head to the middle torch pedestal and release it. Follow the Ember as it goes down through a hole in the ground. You‘ll encounter some Stonehide Lawachurls – use hydro and cryo characters to defeat them swiftly.

Once defeated, the Ember will be released again. Wait for the large fan blocking the way to stop spinning, then walk past it during the opening. Wait again for the second fan to stop, and quickly go by it.

Use the four-leaf sigil to teleport upwards to the platform. Maneuver the Ember into the structure here, then find and activate the second mechanism on the right side.

Third Primal Ember

Finally, release the east Primal Ember and again follow it, taking out any enemies on the way. When prompted, release the Ember once more and guide it into the eastern structure.

Return back to where the third mechanism is and interact with it to activate.

If you find the spinning fans are too fast to get by, try relogging into the game to reset their timing. Their speed is randomized each session.

Activating Central Mechanism

Once all 3 Primal Ember mechanisms are activated around the edges of the hall, the central mechanism can now be triggered. Follow your quest marker to the very center of the grand hall. Interact with the main mechanism to complete the objective.

With the torches lit around the hall, you‘ll be able to progress the archon quest and discover more of Sumeru‘s mysteries. Lighting them can be tricky, but very rewarding story-wise!

Tips and Recommendations

Here are some tips to make completing this quest a bit easier:

  • Come prepared – Ensure your characters are a high enough level and equip elements like hydro, cryo, geo, and anemo for puzzles and enemies.

  • Watch your timing – The spinning fans and force fields require precise timing to slip past safely. Move quickly during openings!

  • Co-op – Playing co-op makes the combat and escort portions less tedious. Have friends light torches as you guide Embers.

  • Check the map – Refer to the in-game map often so you don‘t lose track of which Ember and mechanism is next.

  • Follow the light – Always keep the Ember in sight or it may fizzle out and have to be re-lit at a torch.

What Lies Ahead

Without spoiling anything, activating this central mechanism results in some epic story revelations related to the Akademiya and Great Sages. You‘ll also gain access to even more Sumeru areas after completing this quest.

My advice is to take your time and enjoy unveiling the lore and characters that make Genshin Impact such an immersive adventure. Soon you‘ll be discovering desert ruins, rainforests, and all the other wonders Sumeru has in store.

For more help exploring this new region and its quests, check out my other Genshin Impact guides:

  • How to "Enter Khaj-Nisut" in Genshin Impact
  • How to "Pass the three trials" in Genshin Impact
  • How to "Search for clues in the Eremites camp" in Genshin Impact

I hope this guide provided the detailed walkthrough you needed to activate that tricky hall mechanism. Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m always happy to help fellow travelers in Teyvat!