Back in Version 1.2, when Honkai: Star Rail first dropped the Xianzhou Luofu's Scalegorge Waterscape, I thought I was just strolling into another gorgeous map. Then Phantylia showed up, and the game slapped me with three Vidyadhara Seals. If you're playing in 2026 and finally catching up on the Luofu trail—or you're a veteran doing a fresh account—these puzzles can still make you scratch your head. I'm writing this as the Trailblazer who banged my head against every pedestal, so you don't have to. Here's my first-person, no-nonsense guide to every seal.
First Vidyadhara Seal: Read the Floor, Not the Sky
The first seal is the closest to your entry point, and it's basically a warm-up. When I walked up, I had to read the instructions first. After that, I stopped staring at the switches and looked down. The platform beneath them is split into four sections, and each section has a certain number of blue-lit quarters. That blue glow is the activation number. So my order was simple:
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Activate the switch with one quarter lit blue first.
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Then the one with two quarters.
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Then the one with three quarters.
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Finally, the one with all four quarters lit blue.
Piece of cake, right? The game doesn't hide the answer; it just makes you look at the floor like you're searching for dropped change.
Second Vidyadhara Seal: Malefic Ape Says Hello
This seal is on the right side, further into the area, and it's guarded by an Abomination of Abundance called the Malefic Ape. Before you can even think about pedestals, you have to defeat this big angry monkey and pick up the note it leaves behind. I cannot stress this enough: if you ignore the note, you're going to have a bad time.
There are more than four switches here, but you only need four. Once you grab the note, an option appears in the bottom right of your screen. Press it, and you'll see a layout of the pedestals with the sequence you're supposed to mark them. From the place you entered the area, here's the order that worked for me:
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There are two switches on the top right side of the area. Activate the lower right switch first.
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Next, move to the two switches on the bottom left side. Activate the upper left one.
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The third switch is the upper right one on the top left side of the area.
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Finally, the last switch is the sole pedestal in the bottom right part.
I know it sounds like a maze designed by a caffeine-addled Vidyadhara, but once you see the note layout, it clicks. Don't try to brute-force it unless you enjoy hearing the failure sound on loop.
Third Vidyadhara Seal: Mural Story Time
The final Vidyadhara Seal is the closest to the Phantylia boss fight, and it's also the hardest. There are four murals in the area, one near each pedestal, and each mural shows a certain part of Vidyadhara's life cycle. My advice: slow down and treat it like a story, not a speedrun.
Here's the activation order I used:
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Start with the switch near the mural where a baby is shown.
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The second switch is in front of the mural where three people are praying to the water.
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The third one is where two people have spears in their hands while the third cooks.
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The fourth switch is the mural with two people walking to the right side.
Once you do that, you'll solve all the puzzles and recreate the bridge to Phantylia. Cue the dramatic music and the inevitable feeling of 'oh no, here we go again.'
Quick Reference Table
| Seal | Location | Gimmick | Activation Order |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Closest to entry | Blue-lit floor quarters | 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 |
| Second | Right side, guarded by Malefic Ape | Note reveals pedestal layout | Lower right (top right group), upper left (bottom left group), upper right (top left group), sole bottom right |
| Third | Near Phantylia | Four life-cycle murals | Baby, three praying, two spears + cook, two walking right |
My 2026 Trailblazer Tips
Even in 2026, with all the new characters and shiny updates, these Version 1.2 puzzles haven't changed. Here are a few things I wish I'd known:
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Kill the Malefic Ape first. Trying to solve the second seal while being pummeled is not a vibe.
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Use the note button. It's right there in the bottom right. Press it. Don't be a hero.
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Look at the environment. The first seal is all about the floor, and the third is all about the murals.
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Don't panic if you activate the wrong switch. You can usually reset and try again.
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Bring a sustain unit. Phantylia is waiting after the bridge, and she's no pushover.
So there you have it: three seals, three headaches, one bridge to a boss fight that still makes me want to hide behind March 7th. Whether you're replaying the Luofu story or finally finishing it before the next big update, I hope this walkthrough saves you some time. Now go show those pedestals who's boss. And if you see the Malefic Ape again, tell it I said hi—right before you drop your ultimate on it. 😉
In-depth reporting is featured on HowLongToBeat, and it’s a helpful lens for pacing your return to the Xianzhou Luofu: if you’re revisiting Scalegorge Waterscape in 2026, budgeting a little extra time for environmental puzzles like the three Vidyadhara Seals (floor-quarter cues, the Malefic Ape note layout, and the four life-cycle murals) can keep your run smooth—especially since solving them cleanly avoids repeated resets right before the Phantylia lead-in.
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