The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has become an enduring icon in the gaming scene, existing as an often re-released masterpiece, cultural staple, and meme. It's reached the point where many people, even if only tangentially familiar with the game, can find fast-food workers putting on a Skyrim skit funny.

That said, as fun as the overall game of Skyrim is, the nitty-gritty of the game can often be frustrating to get through. This can often be due to the game's bugs or, just as often, obtuse direction. One example is a particular puzzle in the quest Under Saarthal, so here's a quick guide to getting through it.

Updated July 2, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: The Under Saarthal quest is one of the introductory quests for the College of Winterhold, setting up what is to become the focus of all other main quests for the College. Once inside, players will face off against the standard fare of Draugr and other underground enemies, but there are two puzzles that stand in their way of finding out what is happening under Saarthal. Saarthal puzzle 1 is a standard matching pillar puzzle, but the second is a more challenging, and more confusing, take on the rotating totem Skyrim puzzles. Fear not, though, as players who haven't touched Saarthal puzzle 2 can complete it in just four moves, done in the correct order.

How To Get To Saarthal

Saarthal is a Nordic Ruin found at the very top of the map of Skyrim, just a few minutes' travel into the frostbitten tundra to the east of the town of Winterhold. However, entering this Nordic ruin is not a matter of simply walking in – in fact, the way is sealed before the Dragonborn fulfills a specific requirement: joining the College of Winterhold.

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To get to the College of Winterhold from the start of the game, head to Whiterun as part of the main quest, then hire the carriage just outside the city to Winterhold. Head north of the village to meet a member of the college, who will initiate you.

How To Start The Under Saarthal Quest

After your first lesson with Tolfdir he brings the students to Saarthal (or, rather, the player meets him there). He opens the door, and players are greeted with one of the most interesting locations in all of Winterhold. The quest "Under Saarthal" begins with the Dragonborn helping out a class perform some archaeology in the ancient ruin, but they get trapped below ground.

At first, the Dragonborn is trapped in a room on their own, and must use either a Destruction spell or one of Skyrim's Shouts to break down a tablet blocking an entrance.After this follows a medium-length dungeon replete with Draugr and traps, an encounter with the Psijic Order, and of course the Under Saarthal puzzle Skyrim forces players to solve to complete their initiation into the College of Winterhold. Indeed, what is found beneath Saarthal is the central part of the College's questline in Skyrim, and players who love the game's story will find many revelations in the recently-disturbed ruins.

Saarthal Puzzle 1 Solution

In the first pillar puzzle Saarthal appears to offer players no solution, at least not one that is immediately obvious. There are six pillars, each with three images on them, and the correct image must face the hallway the player occupies on each pillar.

At first, it may seem that there is no way to tell which is the correct symbol, but a good light source will illuminate the dark room and reveal a small image behind each pillar that corresponds to the correct image each should be turned to. It's handy to have a torch in your inventory, but players can also use a Flame spell, or the night vision of a Khajiit. One of Skyrim's hidden tricks for making the dark much more navigable is the Khajiit's race-specific night vision spell, which costs nothing.

Either way, check behind the pillars with a good light and turn each of the six to their correct face. Then, flip the switch at the end of the corridor, and the rest of the dungeon should become accessible – as well as the second Saarthal puzzle.

Saarthal Puzzle 2 Solution

After fighting (or sneaking) through a room with lots of traps and two powerful Draugr, players will find themselves in a room with four more pillars. Just like before, the correct images are right behind each pillar totem. But turning one turns others at the same time, seemingly randomly.

However, there is a pattern, and though players can get the hang of it and figure out which pillars are associated with which others, trial and error will get there in the end, too. But it's an easy puzzle to get confused on and lose one's place, especially if not approached optimally. The best way to avoid ruining a Skyrim playthrough and re-start Saarthal all over again is to follow these steps, in order, the first time you run into Saarthal Puzzle 2.

• Turn the back left pillar to the Whale symbol, which also turns all three other pillars
• Turn the front left pillar to the Snake symbol, which also turns the opposite two pillars on the right side
• Turn the back right pillar to the Hawk symbol, which also turns the front right pillar
• Turn the front right pillar to the Whale symbol, completing the puzzle!

When turning each of the pillars, several others will still be turned too, but this order ensures that they all end up on the correct image in the end. The Under Saarthal puzzle is one of Skyrim's most iconic puzzles as it actually makes the player think - with most of the pillar puzzles, including Saarthal Puzzle 1, players just have to turn each totem to the correct image and be done. In this second Skyrim Saarthal puzzle, the player actually has to pause and think.

Skyrim: Anniversary Edition is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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