On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb Guide

On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb: The Final Eye of Graeae Test

The On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb questline in Genshin Impact is the last quest chain you need to finish before you can assemble all three Eye of Graeae fragments. It is not a single quest but a two-part sequence that sends you from a train carriage to the frozen ruins of Snowgrave, and eventually to the Pale Crown Palace. For players who have been following the area's world quests, this is the moment the story shifts from exploration to confrontation.

If you need a broader refresher on what to farm or where to go, the latest Genshin Impact guides hub has you covered. But for this questline specifically, here is what you need to know before you walk in.

At a Glance

• Questline: On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb
• Quest 1: To Gaze Upon the Dreaming Pale Crown
• Quest 2: The Stone Beasts, Like Ghoul Seated
• Reward: Final Eye of Graeae fragment
• Afterward: Her Palace Collapses Into the Blizzard questline

How to Start To Gaze Upon the Dreaming Pale Crown

Talk to the Eye of Graeae inside a train carriage at the central station. That interaction triggers the first quest and puts you on a path toward the Snowgrave area. From there, the mission is straightforward: reach the Pale Crown Palace. The quest ends once you get to the Tsar's tomb, so do not expect a boss fight right away. This first half is mostly about establishing the setting and giving you a reason to push deeper.

Because this section is essentially a long approach, it pays to clear nearby waypoints first. If you leave mid-quest, you will have to navigate back through the same frozen terrain. The game does not lock you into a linear dungeon, so taking your time is fine.

The Stone Beasts, Like Ghoul Seated: The Real Puzzle Gauntlet

The second quest opens after you arrive at the Pale Crown Palace. You start outside, and the first goal is to find a way into the castle. Once you are inside, the quest becomes a puzzle-heavy sequence built around the Statue of the Cemetery Guardian.

The statue puzzle asks you to push large statues into their proper places, but the path is blocked by obstacles and riddles. You will also need to construct Prime Ice Constructs and switch the state of the Prototype Kresnik's Torch. These mechanics are not particularly punishing, but they do require a little patience, especially if you are playing on a controller and the statue collision feels clunky.

A few general tips:

• Read the markings near the statues before pushing anything. The intended position is usually hinted by the surrounding environment.
• When you see a Prime Ice Construct, check if there is a nearby gate or pressure plate. Most of these are tied to progression.
• The Prototype Kresnik's Torch state change is not permanent, so plan your route before activating it.
• Bring a character who can apply Pyro easily; the torch interaction is much smoother with Bennett, Xiangling, or even Amber.

The Boss: Zver, the Tomb's Two-Headed Guardian

Eventually, you will climb to the higher floor of the Pale Crown Palace and meet the guardian of the tomb: Zver. This two-headed beast is the same creature depicted in the Statue of the Cemetery Guardian. The fight is a boss encounter, but it is also a lore beat. Zver was the companion of the Belyi Tsar, and he is not just some random enemy guarding a chest.

After defeating Zver, you can claim the final Eye of Graeae fragment. That is the immediate gameplay reward, but the story is not over.

What Comes After: Her Palace Collapses Into the Blizzard

The On One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb questline is only the last piece leading into the Her Palace Collapses Into the Blizzard questline. That follow-up is where the narrative pays off. You will finally learn the true identity and purpose of the Goggles, understand Aksinya's motives, see what happens to the NPCs you have been following, and get a glimpse of the previous Cryo Archon's personality.

If you have been invested in the lore of Snezhnaya, this is the part you will not want to skip. The questline does a lot of heavy lifting for the region's worldbuilding, and it reshapes how you read earlier dialogue.

Veteran's Take

This is the kind of questline that rewards players who actually read the artifact descriptions and listen to NPC dialogue. The connection between the Statue of the Cemetery Guardian and Zver is a classic Genshin trick: the game shows you a monument long before it reveals the monster behind it. The name "One Side a Palace, On the Other a Tomb" also fits the overarching theme of the Belyi Tsar's legacy; public grandeur on one side, private mortality on the other.

From a meta perspective, there is no hidden timegate or resin cost here. This is a pure world quest, so F2P players and low-spend accounts are not at a disadvantage. The only preparation you really need is a balanced team for the boss and a little patience for the statue puzzles.

If you have been holding on to the final Eye of Graeae fragment, this is your last stop before the story continues. Finish the two quests, beat Zver, and then let Her Palace Collapses Into the Blizzard do the emotional damage.