After sprinting through Mt. Firmament with my lens cap off and a pocket full of Astrite-shaped ambitions, I can confidently say Traces of Mt. Firmament is less a photography event and more a guided metal-detecting session where your camera is the magnet and the mountain is the sand. Originally introduced with Version 1.1, it asks you to explore the new zone of Mt. Firmament, chase down specified locations, and snap pictures like a tourist who actually reads the plaque.
If you're reading this in 2026, the original run happened back on 2024-06-28 04:00 to 2024-08-13 03:59 server time. Since gacha events like this can resurface, get archived into some memory lane tab, or return during a rerun, treat this as your evergreen field manual. The unlock condition is straightforward: finish Main Quest Act VII 'Thaw of Eons' and the side quest 'Scale of Memories'. After that, the event page becomes your mission control.
The flow is as hand-holdy as a toddler’s first ski lesson. You open the event page, track each individual Trace, follow the mini quest marker, and then snap the indicated area. Some locations warp you closer; others just point a glowing arrow at the thing you need to photograph. The only reason you'll fail is if you've shut off your HUD and decide to navigate by vibes.
Rewards are a tidy little smoothie of upgrade materials and currency:
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🪨 Astrite — the premium currency, the real reason your shutter finger itches
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🧪 Advanced Resonance Potion — character XP fuel
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⚡ Advanced Energy Core — upgrade juice for your gear
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🔒 Advanced Sealed Tube — echo tuning material
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💰 Shell Credit — the coins that quietly disappear every time you breathe on an upgrade
Now, the interesting part: not every Trace demands a photo. One task just wants you to meander up to the spot and interact, as if the game briefly remembered that cameras are not the only tool in your inventory. It's like being asked to document a rare bird and finding out the bird just wants a handshake.
A few oddball locations are worth noting. One Trace sits on the upper level of Truthseeker's Pass, which can trip you up if you trust the minimap's verticality like a broken elevator button. Another no-picture Trace is tucked on the lower level of Mianloong Chamber, so if you're running laps on the wrong floor, you'll feel like a moth headbutting a lantern.
My personal advice: always refresh the event tracker after finishing a Trace. The mini quests can be so automated that you forget to open the reward chest, and nothing stings like leaving Astrite on the table because you were too busy admiring the snow. Also, don't skip the main story prerequisites thinking you can brute-force the event. The game gates Mt. Firmament behind 'Thaw of Eons' and 'Scale of Memories' for good reason—those quests are the scenic train that drops you off at the photo booth.
Another point: you don't need pro photography timing here. There's no focus ring, no aperture mini-game, no risk of a Tacet Discord photobombing you into a retry. Just walk up, frame the thing, press the button, and collect. It's the photographic equivalent of a vending machine: you still get the snack even if your aim is slightly off.
Ultimately, Traces of Mt. Firmament is less an event and more a guided stroll through a snowglobe, where the only thing you're really chasing is the chime of Astrite hitting your inventory. If it returns in 2026, roll through it in one sitting and pocket every reward—your future 50/50 will thank you for not treating the camera as a decorative keychain.