Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests continue the Snezhnaya story with Hour of Ruin (Act V) and A Yesterday Sent From Beyond (Act VI). Both arrived on 4 November 2026, but the second act stays locked until you’ve finished the first.
If the next chapter isn’t showing up in your journal, the first thing to check is your story progress. Both acts need Adventure Rank 18, and players catching up on older nations have a way into Snezhnaya without finishing every previous Archon Quest.
Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests unlock requirements
Both Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests are permanent story additions. They share the same rank requirement, but they don’t have the same story prerequisite:
| Story chapter | To unlock it |
|---|---|
| Chapter VII: Act V, Hour of Ruin | Reach Adventure Rank 18 and complete Act IV, A Rekviem for the Underworld |
| Chapter VII: Act VI, A Yesterday Sent From Beyond | Reach Adventure Rank 18 and complete Act V, Hour of Ruin |
The Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests must be tackled in story order. Updating the game doesn’t automatically complete Act IV, and entering Snezhnaya isn’t enough to start Hour of Ruin without the earlier chapter.
How to start Act V, Hour of Ruin
Act V follows A Rekviem for the Underworld. Check your journal to see whether Chapter VII: Act IV is actually complete. If you’ve left it unfinished, pick up from where you stopped. Adventure Rank alone won’t open the next chapter.
The complete requirement is Adventure Rank 18 or higher plus completion of Act IV. Our A Rekviem for the Underworld guide explains the earlier chapter. Its old limited-time rewards are a separate matter from the permanently available story.
Once Act IV is complete, Hour of Ruin becomes available. HoYoverse confirms that Focused Experience Mode supports Act V, but that doesn’t waive the earlier quest requirement.
How to start Act VI, A Yesterday Sent From Beyond
The second of the Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests, A Yesterday Sent From Beyond, unlocks after you finish Hour of Ruin. Merely accepting Act V won’t do it. The rank requirement remains Adventure Rank 18 for both acts.
These are consecutive story chapters, not separate side quests. If Act VI is missing, check whether Act V shows as completed before searching for another NPC.
Focused Experience Mode is also available for Act VI. It doesn’t remove the need to finish Hour of Ruin first.
How to get to Snezhnaya if you’re behind on the story
Players who haven’t completed every older nation’s Archon Quests can still begin the Snezhnaya story. HoYoverse says you need Adventure Rank 18 and completion of Prologue: Act III, Song of the Dragon and Freedom. An automatically unlocked Teleport Waypoint then gives you a route to Snezhnaya and Chapter VII: Act I, Everwinter Without Mercy.
The waypoint lets you begin Chapter VII, not skip straight to Act V. You’ll still need to play through the relevant Snezhnaya chapters to reach the Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests.
While progressing in Snezhnaya, you can also unlock other activities such as Secret Tsarist Assignments, but those weekly assignments aren’t listed by HoYoverse as a requirement to start Hour of Ruin.
What to check when the new quests are missing
If the Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests aren’t showing, check these in order rather than roaming the region:
- Game version: confirm Version 7.2 is installed.
- Adventure Rank: you need at least AR 18.
- Act IV: complete A Rekviem for the Underworld to start Act V.
- Act V: complete Hour of Ruin before Act VI becomes available.
- Early story: if you haven’t entered Snezhnaya, use the Chapter VII Act I route after the Prologue requirement.
HoYoverse doesn’t list a required character, special team or separate World Quest to open the new acts. Check your story progress before changing your party.
Are the Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests permanent?
Yes, both story chapters are permanent. They won’t disappear when Version 7.2 ends.
There is one reason to play sooner, though. HoYoverse has separately announced extra rewards for completing the new Archon Quests during a limited period ending 15 December 2026. These include Primogems and character materials. Check the in-game event notice for the exact deadline in your server’s time zone. The time limit applies to the bonus rewards, not access to the quests.
For the patch’s separate banner dates and characters, see our Genshin Impact 7.2 banner schedule. If you’re after those bonus materials, complete the Genshin Impact 7.2 Archon Quests while the reward notice is active. Otherwise, the story itself will remain available.
Related Guides
Official source: HoYoverse Version 7.2 Update Details.
