While the Shrine Vault puzzle isn’t the first you’ll come across in Silent Hill f, it is the first that’s likely to give you any real trouble. While on the mysterious, otherwordly Shrine Path, you’ll have to find three wooden plaques called ema in order to unlock the door to the Shrine Vault.
The following ema apply to the “Hard” puzzle difficulty in Silent Hill f. Expect to see a different scenario if your puzzle difficulty is set to “Lost in the Fog.“
The only clue that the game offers is a brief, poetic snippet about lightning striking a tree, which can make it tough to determine the correct path forward. By taking note of the passage’s key points and visiting a few different locations, however, you can quickly gather the three ema necessary to keep moving.
Shrine Vault Clue & Correct Ema
The full passage of the Shrine Vault clue is as follows:
Lightning cast down from the heavens split asunder the decayed tree.
From the earth grows kudzu, the prophet of eternal prosperity.
The three key elements here are the lightning, decayed tree, and kudzu, so you’ll be looking for ema that feature illustrations of these three objects. Unlike other ema found on the Shrine Path, there will only be one copy of each of these three ema.
Shrine Vault Puzzle Ema Locations
Decayed Tree Ema Location
From the Shrine Vault door, head to the winding path along the left to find the first ema. As you search for ema, you’ll have to fight or avoid some monsters along the way. On the far left of the area, you’ll find some ema. Select the one with a depiction of a decayed tree, as showcased in the image above, then flip it over to reveal a symbol. Your journal will automatically note this symbol, so you don’t need to memorize it.
Lightning Strike Ema Location
Sticking to the left of the map, head downward to encounter the second set of ema. Here, you’ll find a dramatic image of a lightning strike in a thunderstorm, as depicted above. Flip this one around to reveal the second symbol.
Kudzu Ema Location
Finally, head to the ema location on the south end of the map. You should have passed through this area before you first approached the Shrine Vault door. The kudzu ema here is the hardest to spot, with an understated depiction of kudzu leaves with light pink flowers. Flip this one over to acquire a combination lock dial needed to open the door and reveal the final symbol.
With the combination lock dial and all three symbols in hand, return to the door and select them in order. You can reference your journal while you have the lock selected by pressing the assigned button in the lower left of your screen. The door should now open without trouble, leaving you free to experience the further horrors of Silent Hill f.
- Released
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September 25, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
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Neobards Entertainment
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
