Kuwaq Yaku – Howling Caves Challenge Tomb (part 3)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
As you enter the tomb, Lara notes the carving of the Xolotl on the far side of the room and says that's where she needs to go. The problem is there are fires blocking the walkway and a pit full of hungry wolves below. The puzzle involves a series of levers that open and close the shutters, allowing the wind to gust through the room. This can be useful for extinguishing fires and moving the huge, spiky pendulums dangling from the ceiling. However, the wind is also strong enough to knock Lara off the edge, so you'll need to work carefully.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Start by grabbing the first lever, just ahead on the right...

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
...and pulling toward you.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
This opens the first set of shutters, just beyond the lever on the right wall. The wind blows through, gusting then dying down at intervals, causing the first spiky pendulum to swing back and forth.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Move out onto the walkway, and when the pendulum approaches, jump up and grab onto it.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
As it swings to the left, climb in that direction, until Lara is hanging from the stone carving protruding from the left side of the pendulum.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
When the pendulum swings all the way to the left, jump to grab the ledge on the left.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Lara will lose her grip, and you'll need to press Interact for a saving grab, otherwise she'll fall into the wolf pit below. Then pull up.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Loot the supply canister. Then use the second lever to open the second set of shutters, , just ahead on the left wall.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
The wind blows through and starts moving the second spiky pendulum, but more importantly, it extinguishes the fire on the middle walkway that had been preventing you from moving forward.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Jump across the gap to to the middle walkway...

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
...and form there to the ledge on the far side of the room, to the right of the first set of shutters. Turn left and move to the end of this ledge.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Then jump across to the next ledge on the same side of the room.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
There's some gold ore sitting in a little pile near the wall. Grab it.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Then turn around to face the second pendulum. Wait for the wind to blow it toward this side of the room.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Then shoot a rope arrow into the coil at the top of the pendulum...

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
...to pull it toward you.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
This should cause the pendulum to swing into the pile of debris on the middle walkway, knocking it off the edge.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Jump back to the previous ledge along this same wall. Then jump from there to the middle walkway...

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
...and from there to the ledge with the second lever.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Use the second lever again to close the shutters.

NOTE: If you're playing with keyboard and mouse and are having trouble operating any of the levers, try using a combination of controls (e.g. W+D, W+S, etc.) to pull or push the lever on a slight diagonal. That should help.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Jump back over to the center walkway.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
Turn left and walk across the narrow stone beam to the part of the center walkway where the pile of debris used to be. (If you try to do this without first closing the shutters, the wind will blow Lara off the edge.) Another fire prevents you from getting any closer to the altar. So turn left...

Shadow of the Tomb Raider screenshot
...and jump over to the ledge with the third lever.

[Previous | Next | Howling Caves Walkthrough]