The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Skyrim's Enigmatic Saarthal Pillar Puzzle

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Saarthal Puzzle 1 Solution

Saarthal Puzzle 2 Solution

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a legendary game that has achieved iconic status in the gaming world. It is not only a timeless masterpiece but also a cultural phenomenon and a subject of many memes. Its popularity has reached such heights that even those minimally acquainted with the game can appreciate the humor of fast-food workers performing a Skyrim skit.

The overall game of Skyrim is enjoyable, but navigating through the details can be frustrating. This frustration can be attributed to the game's bugs and unclear instructions. One example is a puzzle in the Under Saarthal quest. To help players overcome this obstacle, here's a quick guide.

Updated on July 2, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: The Under Saarthal quest serves as an introduction to the College of Winterhold and lays the foundation for future main quests within the College. Inside, players will encounter Draugr and other enemies, as well as two puzzles that impede their progress in uncovering the secrets beneath Saarthal. The first puzzle involves matching pillars, while the second presents a more challenging and confusing rotating totem puzzle. However, players who have yet to tackle the second puzzle can complete it in just four moves, following the correct order.

How To Get To Saarthal

Saarthal, a Nordic ruin, can be found at the northernmost point of the Skyrim map. It is located a short distance to the east of Winterhold, in the frozen tundra. However, gaining access to this ancient place is not as simple as walking through its gates. Before the Dragonborn can enter, they must fulfill a specific requirement by joining the College of Winterhold.

To reach the College of Winterhold from the starting point of the game, first travel to Whiterun as part of the main questline. From there, hire a carriage situated just outside the city walls that will take you to Winterhold. Once in Winterhold, head north of the village until you encounter a member of the college. This individual will guide you further into your journey.

How To Start The Under Saarthal Quest

Following the first lesson with Tolfdir, he accompanies the students to Saarthal, while the player can also meet him there. As the door opens, an awe-inspiring sight unfolds before the players - one of Winterhold's most captivating locations. The quest entitled "Under Saarthal" commences as the Dragonborn assists a class in conducting archaeological excavations within the ancient ruin. However, their exploration takes an unexpected turn as they become entrapped beneath the surface.

At first, the Dragonborn finds themselves trapped alone in a room and must utilize their Destruction spell or one of Skyrim's mighty Shouts to shatter a tablet obstructing an entrance. Subsequently, a moderately long dungeon unfolds replete with Draugr and treacherous traps. During their exploration, the Dragonborn encounters the enigmatic Psijic Order and must undertake the challenging Under Saarthal puzzle, which serves as the ultimate test for their initiation into the esteemed College of Winterhold. Undoubtedly, the discovery beneath Saarthal forms the crux of the College's enthralling questline in Skyrim, offering players who relish the game's narrative an abundance of astonishing revelations within the recently disturbed ruins.

Saarthal Puzzle 1 Solution

Saarthal's first pillar puzzle presents players with no obvious solution. There are six pillars, each adorned with three images, and the player must ensure that the correct image faces the hallway they are in.

Initially, it may appear impossible to determine the correct symbol. However, by using a sufficient light source, such as a torch, players can illuminate the dark room and discover a hidden image behind each pillar. These images correspond to the correct symbol that should be turned towards the hallway. Alternatively, players can also utilize a Flame spell or the natural night vision ability of a Khajiit to achieve the same result. The Khajiit's race-specific night vision spell, which comes at no cost, is a useful and lesser-known trick in Skyrim for effectively navigating through darkness.

Either way, examine the area behind the pillars thoroughly with a reliable source of light and rotate each of the six pillars until they are facing in the right direction. Subsequently, activate the switch situated at the end of the corridor, which will grant you access to the remaining sections of the dungeon, including the second Saarthal puzzle.

Saarthal Puzzle 2 Solution

Once players have successfully navigated their way through a treacherous chamber filled with an abundance of traps and encountered two formidable Draugr adversaries, they will come face to face with yet another challenge. This time, they will find themselves in a room adorned with four imposing pillars. Similarly to the previous encounter, each pillar conceals the correct image behind it. However, manipulating one pillar will trigger an unforeseen reaction in the others, as if influenced by an enigmatic pattern.

into their correct positions. Make sure to note the symbol on the back left pillar before making any adjustments.

Turn the front left pillar to the Snake symbol, which also turns the opposite two pillars on the right side

Turn the back right pillar to the Hawk symbol, which also turns the front right pillar

Rotate the front right pillar to the Whale symbol to solve the puzzle.

While rotating the pillars, multiple others will also be affected. However, following this specific order ensures that all pillars align with the correct images in the end. The Under Saarthal puzzle is renowned in Skyrim as one of the most thought-provoking puzzles, requiring players to engage their minds. Unlike most pillar puzzles, such as Saarthal Puzzle 1, where players simply need to align each totem with the correct image, this second Saarthal puzzle demands a pause for contemplation.

Skyrim: Anniversary Edition is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.