The Shrine Vault is one of Silent Hill f’s early logic checks: your first trip into the spirit realm ends behind a combination lock, and the game quietly expects you to piece together three specific shrine plaques before you can leave. On the default (Hard) puzzle difficulty, there are no spare clues beyond what you can observe.

When the Shrine Vault puzzle appears

You’ll trigger this sequence after receiving the ceremonial knife and following the masked man into a new section that immediately seals itself with a combination lock. Your map will highlight three nearby search zones.

What you’re actually collecting

Your goal is to flip Ema (wooden wishing plaques) in those zones to uncover three distinct symbols. Only one correct Ema exists in each zone, and interacting with that correct plaque “consumes” that zone — you won’t be able to search there again afterward.

Key points about how the search works:

  • Each of the three marked areas contains exactly one correct Ema.
  • Which correct Ema appears in which area isn’t guaranteed to be fixed across playthroughs.
  • If a board in an area doesn’t have what you need, move on to another board or another marked area.

The only symbols that matter

On Hard, the three valid designs you’re hunting are:

  • Lightning
  • Decayed Tree
  • Kudzu (a pink flower with large green leaves)

Ignore other motifs — if it isn’t one of the three above, it won’t help with the lock.

Don’t manually write anything down

When you flip a correct plaque, its symbol is automatically recorded in your journal. You don’t need to track them yourself.

How to open the Shrine Vault

Once you’ve found all three designs, return to the combination lock. Input the symbols in the top‑to‑bottom order shown in your journal for this objective. The vault opens when the order matches your journal’s sequence.

Common snags and how to avoid them

  • If you’re combing one board and not seeing a valid design, you’re likely on the wrong board for that spot — switch to another board in the same area or head to a different marked area.
  • After you obtain a symbol from an area, you cannot keep searching there. Plan to leave immediately for a remaining marker.
  • The locations of specific designs can vary between runs, so don’t rely on memory for which area holds which symbol — rely on the art on the plaques instead.

Quick steps (Hard difficulty)

  • Reach the locked Shrine Vault after acquiring the ceremonial knife.
  • Visit the three map‑marked areas; in each, flip Ema boards until you find a correct design.
  • Collect all three: Lightning, Decayed Tree, Kudzu (pink flower with green leaves).
  • Open your journal; note the top‑down order the game recorded them in.
  • Return to the Shrine Vault and enter the symbols in that journal order.

That’s all this puzzle asks of you: find the three right images and respect the journal’s sequence. If you stick to the marked zones and prioritize those specific designs, the door opens without extra riddles.