Mastering Genshin Impact's Paper Shadows A-Foraging Challenge: A Complete Lantern Rite 2026 Guide

As the vibrant Lantern Rite festivities illuminate Teyvat once more in 2026, Genshin Impact players are once again invited to partake in the delightful yet deceptively complex 'Paper Shadows A-Foraging' puzzle event. This brain-teasing challenge, a staple of the seasonal celebration, tasks players with guiding the beloved companions Guoba and Yuegui through a series of nine increasingly intricate mazes to collect delicious treats, all in exchange for precious Primogems. While the initial levels serve as a gentle introduction, the puzzles rapidly evolve into a labyrinthine test of logic and spatial reasoning, where a single misstep can feel like trying to untangle a nest of illuminated Sky Kites with one hand tied behind your back. The core mechanic is elegantly simple yet offers profound depth: players have a limited number of moves per character but unlimited retries, and the key to victory often lies not in direct action, but in using the environment. Crates and boxes scattered throughout the stages are not mere obstacles; they are the primary tools for interacting with the puzzle elements, used to strike and collect the keys needed to unlock paths to the ultimate goal.

The journey begins with Paper Shadows A-Foraging Challenge One, a straightforward tutorial. Here, players need only to move Guoba directly towards the column containing the food. This level is designed to familiarize players with the basic controls and objective, acting as a calm before the cerebral storm.

The complexity takes a step up in Challenge Two. The path forward is locked, requiring a key. The solution is to move Yuegui to the left side of the nearby crate and push it directly into the key. This fundamental interaction—using a crate as a projectile—becomes the cornerstone of all future strategies. Successfully obtaining the key unlocks the path, allowing for a simple completion.

True puzzle mechanics are introduced in Challenge Three. Players learn that characters cannot always reach keys directly due to move limitations. The solution requires using the environment strategically: move the crates to hit the key. A step-by-step approach is best:

1. Move left and push the box straight to the right as far as possible.

2. Return to the cart and maneuver to push the box from the right side.

3. Move the box into the column with the key to unlock the lock.

4. Guide Guoba back to collect the fish meat.

From Challenge Four onwards, the dynamic changes significantly as Yuegui joins the fray permanently. Victory now requires guiding both characters to the food. Coordination becomes key. Initially, Yuegui is blocked. The strategy is to:

• First, use Guoba to move the crate near Yuegui upwards to free it.

• Then, use the remaining crate with Guoba to hit the key.

With the path clear, both characters can claim their prize.

Challenge Five introduces multi-key puzzles and deceptive map elements. Three keys (red, blue, and green) must be collected. The process is a delicate ballet between the two characters:

• Start with Yuegui: move the nearest crate towards the red key. Precise positioning is crucial; often, placing the crate on the column adjacent to the key is sufficient.

• Switch to Guoba: use a nearby crate to collect the blue key.

• With Guoba, push the crate previously positioned near the red key to actually strike it.

• Finally, guide Yuegui through the upper section to secure the green key.

Challenge Six amplifies the coordination required, featuring two locks and a dense field of boxes. The solution is a multi-phase operation:

1. Use Yuegui to move the crate on its left towards Guoba, setting it up.

2. Use Guoba to push that crate to the bottom-left corner and then into the blue key.

3. Use Yuegui to push the southern boxes: one far down and another to face the second key.

4. Use Guoba to move the now-facing crate to collect the final key.

A significant gameplay evolution occurs in Challenge Seven: players can now move one character's cart with the other character. This new rule simplifies later stages. The strategy is elegantly symmetrical:

• Use Yuegui to move Guoba's cart left, allowing Guoba to easily grab the blue key.

• Use Guoba to push Yuegui's cart right, allowing Yuegui to collect the red key.

Challenge Eight presents a formidable obstacle course where two keys are heavily blocked. Solving it requires meticulous step-by-step execution, akin to performing a precise Liyue tea ceremony where every movement is calculated:

1. Start with Yuegui, moving the southern crate north near Guoba.

2. Switch to Guoba, using that crate to hit and collect the blue key.

3. With Guoba, backtrack and collect the red key as well.

4. Push Yuegui's cart one tile left with Guoba.

5. Switch to Yuegui, navigate around the grass tile, and push Guoba's cart one tile south.

This intricate positioning finally opens the path to victory.

The grand finale, Challenge Nine, stands in a league of its own, a true test of a player's mastery over the game's mechanics. It demands perfect synchronization between Guoba and Yuegui, with actions interwoven as tightly as the threads in a Silk Flower brocade. The following table outlines the precise sequence required:

Successfully navigating this final, convoluted dance proves a player's prowess, rewarding them not just with Primogems, but with the satisfaction of having solved one of Lantern Rite's most engaging mental puzzles. The 'Paper Shadows A-Foraging' event remains a brilliant example of Genshin Impact's ability to blend charming aesthetics with genuinely challenging gameplay, ensuring its place as a beloved annual tradition for strategic thinkers across Teyvat.