The Moonchase Festival in Genshin Impact, that annual celebration of all things gastronomic and moonlit, once upon a time in 2021, sent Travelers trudging up the snowy slopes of Dragonspine for the Path of Austere Frost challenge. If you were among the brave souls who ventured into that permanent winter wonderland back then, you would recall that this wasn't just a casual stroll to pick up a few trinkets. Oh no, it was a full-blown scavenger hunt that tested your memory of the region's nooks and crannies, your resistance to sheer cold, and your patience against those bouncing Cryo Slimes. Now, in 2026, looking back at that event is like flipping through a well-worn adventurer's journal—filled with notes, scribbled maps, and probably a few scorch marks from overzealous Pyro usage.
Phase 1 had already taken players across the rolling hills of Liyue, while Phase 2 brought them to the breezy meadows of Mondstadt. By the time the third phase rolled around, the Moonchase Charm hunt had become a routine. Yet, Dragonspine was a different beast entirely. The northwestern corner of that frozen peak was where the final batch of charms and Mystmoon Chests had been hidden. A quick look at any hint map from that time reveals a cluster of flame-like Charm icons and chest icons scattered across the area near the Entombed City – Outskirts and the Snow-Covered Path.
Collecting these Moonchase Charms worked exactly like grabbing Anemoculi or Geoculi—each charm emitted a soft beep and appeared as a star on the minimap the moment a Traveler drew near. The Mystmoon Chests, on the other hand, were far more sneaky. They didn't show up on any map, meaning a player's eyes had to be sharper than a Cryo Hilichurl's aim. Some chests were guarded by monsters, but thankfully the security detail consisted mostly of low-level Cryo Slimes. Any party that included a Pyro character—Diluc, Hu Tao, Klee, or even the freshly recruited Thoma—could clear them out without breaking a sweat. Though, in Dragonspine, breaking a sweat was actually advisable to avoid freezing solid.
The strategy everyone quickly adopted was to first gather all visible charms and chests using the daily hint maps, and only then visit Linyang in Liyue Harbor to request a new set of clues. Why waste a precious once-a-day hint refresh on overlapping locations? The hints refreshed at server reset, and those who were ahead on the Asia server often shared their findings early, creating a patchwork of community-updated maps before the official guides even dropped. The second hint map, for instance, showed additional charms along the winding path that led toward the Statue of The Seven, ensuring no Traveler would leave empty-handed.
Now, let's talk about the real reason everyone endured the frost: the lore. Finishing the Moonchase story quests doled out not just primogems but some genuinely juicy character revelations. It was during this festival that the mysterious master who trained Xiangling was finally revealed—a detail that had lore enthusiasts buzzing for weeks. And then there was the subtle nod to Yaoyao, the upcoming Dendro character whose existence had been teased for ages before she eventually joined the roster. For lore-hungry players, this event was an all-you-can-eat buffet, and the Dragonspine treasure hunt was merely the dessert course.
The Moonchase Festival originally ran until October 11, 2021, giving players just enough time to complete the Path of Austere Frost, clear the story, and perhaps snap a few scenic screenshots with the magnificent moon in the background.
Fast forward to 2026, and Genshin Impact has expanded far beyond those early regions—new nations, new traversal mechanics, and a roster that would make that 2021 party setup look like a humble indie band. Yet, the charm of events like Moonchase still holds a special place in the hearts of veteran players. The simplicity of following a hint map, listening for that telltale beep, and roasting Cryo Slimes was a kind of meditative gameplay that perfectly balanced the game's more intense combat and gacha pulling sessions.
So, if a Traveler ever finds themselves time-traveling back to a 2021 account, or simply wandering through old Dragonspine memories, they would do well to remember these tips: always carry a healer and a Pyro character, never trust a Mystmoon Chest to appear on your map, and save Linyang's hint refresh for when you genuinely hit a dead end. The Path of Austere Frost might have been harsh, but the rewards—and the nostalgia—warmed even the coldest of nights.