How to "Operate Prism of Khaj-Nisut" in Genshin Impact: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

As a long-time gamer and creator of guides for titles like Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West, few video game puzzles have stumped me more than the enigmatic Prism of Khaj-Nisut in Genshin Impact. Locked deep within the sunken mausoleum of King Deshret, this Ancient Mechanism bars the way forward for even the most seasoned Travelers.

According to lore, the prism was designed by the sages of Khaj-Nisut themselves to prevent graverobbers and treasure hunters from reaching the upper floors. To bypass it, you‘ll need to pay close attention to the prism‘s state changes and essentially hack into the security system.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down everything you need to know to "Operate the Prism of Khaj-Nisut" based on my own trial-and-error efforts. Follow these steps, and you‘ll be ascending to the coveted upper levels to continue your Sumeru Archon quest adventures in no time.

Overview of Solving the Puzzle

Before jumping into the step-by-step walkthrough, let‘s briefly review how this puzzle works:

• The Prism of Khaj-Nisut begins colored red in its inactive state.
• Interacting with it correctly will switch it to blue and align energy beams to access the upper floor.
• You must activate and operate the prism in a precise order to turn it blue.
• Any deviation in the order will reset the puzzle.
• Two consoles on either side of the room must be activated last to complete the puzzle.

Now that you have the basic premise, let‘s get into the details of solving it.

Step 1 – Locate the Red Prism

Your first objective is simply locating the inactive Prism of Khaj-Nisut in its starting red coloration.

When you first enter the mausoleum‘s underground ruins through the portal, you‘ll notice two main features:

• A massive inverted pyramid hanging from the ceiling
• Stacked terraces surrounding a central platform

The inverted pyramid and central platform inside the mausoleum

The prism itself sits directly on the central platform, glowing red.

Several Four-Leaf Sigils are scattered around the terraces. Use them to teleport onto the central platform directly. Interact with the crimson prism to begin the puzzle.

Step 2 – Activate the Red Prism

With the red prism now in front of you, activate it by selecting the "Operate" prompt.

This will trigger a small beam of red energy from the prism up to the inverted pyramid above. A low hum will indicate the prism is active.

Note: Nothing will happen yet. Activating the red prism simply initializes the puzzle sequence.

Step 3 – Switch the Prism to Blue

Here is where the trick comes in. After activating the red prism, interact with it a second time. But this time, choose the "Switch" prompt instead of "Operate."

Selecting switch will change the color of the prism from red to blue. The beam projecting to the ceiling will also shift to a blue light.

Use the "Switch" command to turn the prism blue

This color change is the key to solving the puzzle and aligning the energy beams correctly to create an access pathway upwards.

Step 4 – Operate the Blue Prism

Now interact with the prism once more and choose "Operate" again.

With the prism still blue, selecting operate will trigger more pronounced energy beams from the prism and platforms around you.

Step 5 – Operate the Blue Prism a Second Time

This is easy to miss, but you must select "Operate" a second time on the now-blue prism.

Interact with the prism again and choose "Operate." This will lock the energy beams into place, completing the prism portion of the puzzle.

Make sure to select "Operate" twice on the blue prism

If you forget this final step of double-activating the blue prism, the puzzle will reset when trying to activate the platforms.

Step 6 – Activate the Western Platform

With the central prism now properly configured, teleport over to the red platform on the western side of the room using the Four-Leaf Sigils.

Interact with the console and select "Start Up."

Starting this platform will initiate a red beam connecting to the central prism.

Step 7 – Activate the Eastern Platform

For the last step, teleport over to the red platform on the eastern side of the room, directly across from the western platform.

Stand on the small pressure plate and interact with the final console. Select "Activate" when prompted.

Activating this final platform will complete the puzzle and align the energy beams, opening the gateway upwards!

Common Mistakes

It‘s easy to get tripped up on this intricate puzzle, so watch out for these common errors:

• Forgetting to select "Switch" on the red prism – This turns it blue and is required.

• Neglecting the second "Operate" on the blue prism – Double-activating locks the energy beams in place.

• Activating the wrong platforms or the wrong order – Western then Eastern platforms must be activated last.

• Allowing timers to expire before interacting – There are no time limits, so take it slow.

Resetting the puzzle requires going all the way back to Step 1. Following the instructions precisely will save you the headache!

Tips and Strategies

• Use the Four-Leaf Sigils liberally to teleport between platforms quickly. Their cooldown is short.

• Change your party to characters that can reach the platforms easily, like Kazuha or Venti.

• There is no time limit, so take your time between steps.

• Co-op companions cannot assist with activations to prevent cheating.

• Check your Adventure Rank (AR) is high enough if prompts are missing.

• Activating the puzzle makes nearby enemies appear, so be ready for combat.

• If completely stuck, try watching a YouTube reference video to see where you deviated.

With patience and care, this perplexing prism puzzle can be overcome!

Ascending to the Upper Floors of Khaj-Nisut

So why go through all this trouble to operate the Prism of Khaj-Nisut in the first place? What awaits you on the upper floors?

Plenty of secrets and treasures, that‘s what!

By gaining access to the elevated levels of the mausoleum, you‘ll be able to:

• Continue your adventures in Sumeru‘s Archon questline.
• Meet and eventually recruit the alluring Cyno.
• Potentially interact with Lesser Lord Kusanali herself!
• Unlock access to the Trounce Domain of King Deshret.
• Discover lore-rich documents and artifacts.
• Obtain precious loot like Sanctifying Essences and more.
• Stumble upon secret chests and puzzles.
• Encounter dangerous new enemies like the Eremites.
• Explore the grand architecture of this ancient structure.

And most importantly…

You‘ll Be One Step Closer to Shedding Light on the Truth About Greater Lord Rukkhadevata!

Piecing together the history of the previous Dendro Archon and how she connects to Nahida is central to the Sumeru storyline. Ascending through the Khaj-Nisut mausoleum via the prism gateway is required to advance this mysterious plot.

So while on the surface this seems like a frustrated detour, the Prism of Khaj-Nisut is in fact a pivotal moment that sets up Genshin Impact‘s climactic 4.0 arc!

In Summary:

Follow these key steps to successfully "Operate the Prism of Khaj-Nisut":

1. Locate the red prism on the central platform

2. Activate the red prism

3. Switch the red prism to turn it blue

4. Operate the now-blue prism

5. Operate the blue prism a second time

6. Start up the western platform

7. Activate the eastern platform

Stick to this order, avoid common mistakes, and the way upwards will be opened!

With the spectacular secrets waiting above, it‘s well worth overcoming this confounding but important puzzle. Just keep at it, and your patience will be rewarded tenfold!

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about operating the Prism of Khaj-Nisut in Genshin Impact! I‘m always happy to help fellow Travelers navigate the intricate challenges of Teyvat.