How to Solve Shrine Vault Ema Puzzle in Silent Hill F’s Lost in the Fog Mode

What to know

• The Shrine Vault puzzle changes by difficulty; for ‘Lost in the Fog,’ explicit hints are reduced and code is randomized.
• Solving it involves finding three specific ema (wooden plaques) with nature-related illustrations and retrieving a missing dial.
• The correct solution uses context clues—like recognizing motifs such as carriage, umbrella, and kettle on the ema.
• Entering the correct symbol sequence unlocks the Shrine Vault, letting you progress to the next chapter.

When you reach the Shrine Vault on the Dark Shrine Path, you’ll find a padlock requiring three symbols. To unlock it, you first need to retrieve the correct ema plaques in the surrounding area. Each of those ema, when flipped or inspected, show multiple symbols. The riddle from your journal tells you which symbol (among those options) is the “correct” one for each ema.

Here's the step-by-step guide on how to complete the Shrine Vault puzzle on Lost in the Fog difficulty:

How to retrieve the correct ema plaques

You need to find three ema plaques, each depicting one of the three yokai: Carriage, Umbrella, and Kettle.

The general method:

• The ema are hanging in racks along the Shrine Path area, mostly to the west or south of the vault.

• Among many ema, the correct ones will depict those yokai. The rest are decoys. Inspect ema in the three rack locations.

• In one of the correct ema, there is a “Missing Dial” piece you’ll need for the lock.

Once you have located all three correct ema and the missing dial, you’re ready to choose the proper symbols.

How to interpret the riddle and pick the symbols

The journal riddle says:

"The Yokai of the Carriage had their heads removed. The Yokai of the Umbrella, their arms. And the Yokai of the Kettle, their legs."

Here’s how to use that:

1. For each yokai, determine how many of that body part it still has (i.e. how many heads, arms, or legs remain).
2. Use that number to select the corresponding symbol in that ema’s set (they display multiple symbol choices in a row, left to right).
   • E.g. if Carriage yokai still has 2 heads, pick the 2nd symbol in its row.
3. Apply this logic independently for each of the three ema.

In practice, by using that logic:

• Carriage has 2 heads remaining → pick the 2nd symbol in the carriage ema

• Umbrella has 4 arms → pick the 4th symbol in the umbrella ema

• Kettle has 3 legs → pick the 3rd symbol in the kettle ema

One Redditor also summarized it succinctly:

"Carriage has 2 heads so it's the 2nd symbol … Umbrella has 4 arms so it's the 4th symbol … Kettle has 3 legs so it's the 3rd symbol.”

After picking those symbols, head to the Shrine Vault and set the dials/symbol slots accordingly.

How to unlock the vault

Once you've selected the correct symbols from each ema:

• Use the missing dial (from one of the ema) and insert it into the padlock mechanism.
• Rotate/set each dial/symbol slot to the chosen symbol you determined using the riddle logic.

• If done correctly, the vault opens and you can claim the Stone Key from inside.

After opening, a cutscene triggers with Fox Mask, and you proceed onward into the Shrine Path exit.

Dealing with enemies and fog

After unlocking the Shrine Vault, expect a surge in environmental danger—red mist that saps sanity and enemies will appear. Focus on quickly retrieving the item and escaping the area to avoid additional threats.

Common pitfalls and tips

Troubleshooting missed hints

With ‘Lost in the Fog’ mode being vague, if you get stuck:

• Reexamine each ema cluster and count positions to make sure you have the correct symbol in sequence.
• The journal may help, but context clues from imagery are crucial.
• If a dial is missing, double-check the back of each relevant ema.

Solving the Shrine Vault puzzle on ‘Lost in the Fog’ requires more attention to imagery and sequencing than easier difficulties. Focus on the carriage, umbrella, and kettle ema, identify the matching symbols, and use the precise sequence outlined for this mode. With care, the vault opens and the next leg of Silent Hill f’s unsettling journey awaits.