Solve the altar puzzle in Silent Hill f and track down every Ema along the shrine path: Here’s our walkthrough for Chapter 2, “The Fox’s Guidance.”
After finding the Chizuruya shop in Ebisugaoka during the tutorial section “Surrounded by Mist,” you’ll enter the Otherworld of Silent Hill f for the first time. There, you’ll face an altar puzzle before the Fox Mask appears and leads you to an old shrine. To open it, you’ll need to collect three Ema. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the two major puzzles in “The Fox’s Guidance.”
Silent Hill f: Solving the Altar Puzzle – Place the Offerings Correctly
When Hinako wakes up, she finds herself in front of an altar with five small pedestals, each decorated differently. In front of them lie five offerings on small plates. Your task is to figure out which offering belongs on which pedestal.
Here’s what to do:
- Examine the decorations on each pedestal closely
- Look for matching patterns on the offerings
- Place the correct offering on its matching pedestal
Altar Puzzle Solution:
- Back left: Wrapped fish
- Back right: Bird in kimono
- Front left: Fan
- Front center: Hazelnut
- Front right: Rodent
Silent Hill f: Find Three Ema and Unlock the Shrine Path Temple
The Fox Mask then leads you through the shrine path. At the entrance to the temple with the two fox statues, he tells you he’s left a key for you in the building east of the map (“Treasure House”). The door is secured with a combination lock that’s missing its middle dial. To recover it and solve the symbol puzzle, you’ll need to find three Ema.
Here’s what to do:
- Search the entire area for clues (the key one is near the doll at the Kudzu shrine)
- Ema are small wooden plaques hanging on the racks in the southern and western parts of the shrine path.
- Find the three images that match the doll’s puzzle
Solution:
- On the western racks, flip over the plaques showing a lightning bolt and a rotting tree.
- On the southern racks, flip over the plaque with a plant bearing pink blossoms (between two snakes) — this reveals the missing dial for the lock.
The gallery below shows the correct symbols and their map locations:
- The correct lock symbols are drawn on the backs of the Ema. You can also find them in your journal under “Puzzles” in the “Treasure” section.
- Set the dials from top to bottom to “Lightning,” “Rotting Tree,” and “Kudzu” (see image below).
- Once you’ve recovered the key, place it in one of the fox statues at the northern temple.
- Tip: Finding the hidden Omamori – When you’ve found the correct Ema, the remaining plaques on the racks will fade — except one: a cat image on the western racks. Flip it over to get the Omamori (Cat), which significantly reduces damage taken while dodging.
Tips for Fighting the Monster
While you’re solving the puzzle, a monster will repeatedly attack you along the shrine path. You can’t kill it for good, nor can you outrun it. Once it spots you, you’ll have to fight. Stay defensive and wait for counter opportunities, usually at the end of its long attack combos. When it staggers, land two heavy hits and retreat. If it turns black and collapses, you’ll get a short window before it respawns.
In the final fight, after you’ve obtained the key, pay attention to your Faith meter. It will take a heavy toll, triggering small seizures that stop Hinako from dodging or attacking. Drink divine water and take red pills to restore both Faith and health between battles.
