Down in the Dumps is part of Genshin Impact’s In the Dwelling of Life questline, beginning immediately after Transplanted From “Yesterday” to “Tomorrow.” The quest traps the Traveler in a sewer within the Shadow Realm, where escaping requires finding three keycards, manipulating the water level, defeating a Leshy, and restoring access to an elevator leading back to the surface.
Because you’re in the Shadow Realm, normal exploration options are restricted. You can’t freely change your party or rely on the usual character abilities and mobility skills. Instead, the section revolves around the Traveler’s weapons, environmental mechanics, and Prime Ice Constructs.
How to Escape the Sewer
Start by heading deeper into the sewer and activating the Teleport Waypoint. When you reach the gate ahead, double-press the run command to slide underneath it.
Look for a sparkling sigil above and shoot it to pull yourself upward. Open the Exquisite Chest along the route before continuing.
Eventually, you’ll reach a mechanism missing an important component. Place the Metal Control Wheel into the Rotary Mechanism and activate it to raise the gate. It won’t open completely, but the gap is large enough to slide underneath.
The next chamber is flooded. Step onto the wooden plank highlighted by Paimon, then construct a Grappling Gun to get across the water. Any wooden boxes obstructing your route can be destroyed with your weapon.
If you can’t make the next jump, create a Cube or Floating Platform Prime Ice Construct to give yourself enough height to reach the platform.
Continue until you enter the sewer’s Control Room.
Investigate the Control Room
Inside, read the Sewer Entrance/Exit Guide sitting on the table. This advances the objective and begins the keycard portion of the puzzle.
You need three cards:
- Blue Key Card
- White Key Card
- Red Key Card
All three are eventually required to unlock the main Control Room door.
How to Get the Blue Key Card
Interact with the Control Console beside the open gate and remove the Blue Key Card. Taking it immediately closes that gate.
Insert the Blue Key Card into the other nearby Control Console to open the alternate route and enter the next room.
You’ll quickly discover that you still need the card elsewhere. Return to the console and retrieve the Blue Key Card again. Although this shuts the gate, it becomes stuck with enough room underneath for the Traveler to slide through.
Take the Blue Key Card to the Control Console beside the flooded section and insert it. Doing so lowers the water level halfway.
At this point, the Eye of Graeae highlights the location of the White Key Card.
How to Get the White Key Card
Remove the Blue Key Card from the water-control console and descend toward the locked door below.
Insert the Blue Key Card into its Control Console to open the door. Removing the card from the previous mechanism causes the water level to start rising again, so continue moving.
If the next platform appears too high to reach, don’t worry. Wait for the water to rise until it carries you high enough to continue.
Inside the room, remove the White Key Card from its Control Console and open the nearby Exquisite Chest.
Next, build a Grappling Gun to create an escape route. This brings you back toward an earlier part of the sewer.
Follow the route back and use the ledges on the right to return to the water-control area.
Insert the White Key Card into its corresponding console. With both required controls activated, you can completely drain the flooded section and access the lower level.
How to Get the Red Key Card
Descend into the newly drained area and follow the path until you find another gate with enough clearance to slide underneath.
The Eye of Graeae marks the Red Key Card on an elevated platform. Aim at the blue sigil to reach it and collect the card.
Picking up the Red Key Card triggers a fight against a Leshy. Defeat the enemy, then activate the nearby Rotary Mechanism to open the way forward.
There’s also a Precious Chest along this section, so make sure to collect it before leaving.
Continue climbing until you return to the Control Room. Before proceeding, retrieve the Blue and White Key Cards from their respective consoles.
You should now have all three cards in your possession.
Open the Control Room Door
Take the Blue, White, and Red Key Cards to the main Control Room door and insert all three.
With every slot filled, the door unlocks and you can continue deeper into the sewer.
Find the Sewer Lift Control Wheel
The next gate has another Rotary Mechanism, but its control wheel is missing.
Search the room and you’ll spot the Sewer Lift Control Wheel hanging from a Leshy’s head. You can’t simply climb up and retrieve it.
Instead, shoot the glass container holding the creature. Breaking it releases the Leshy, forcing you into another battle.
Defeat the enemy to recover the Sewer Lift Control Wheel. Install it in the Rotary Mechanism and use the device to open the gate.
Ride the Elevator Back to the Surface
Before entering the elevator, collect the Luxurious Chest waiting along the route.
Use the elevator to leave the sewer, then follow the remaining path until the Traveler finally reaches the surface.
Returning above ground completes Down in the Dumps and immediately leads into the next part of the In the Dwelling of Life storyline, Back on One’s Feet.
