Catacombs of the Talion - "Snowballs Champion" Achievement/Trophy
After collecting the FIRST TIBETAN MASK, as shown in the last section, you used it to open this gate. At the top of the ramp beyond the gate are more pesky snowballs. For the "Snowballs Champion" achievement/trophy, you must run to the top of the hill, setting off a two-wave avalanche as you go. Then run back to the gate before the second wave of snowballs stops moving. If you don't care about achievements, or already have this one, instead try the safer and less stressful tactics below.
The first avalanche is triggered when you move under the gate, the second a little farther up the ramp. To complicate things, 4 leopards (7-10) attack when you step onto the snow on either side of the ramp. Here's the sequence:
Run through the gate and up the slope, taking running jumps to cover the ground faster. As the snowballs approach, veer to the right to get out of their path...
...and continue running/jumping up the hill alongside them.
As they pass, veer left and continue up the middle of the ramp to the top of the slope.
Just as you reach the top step, roll...
...and race back down the hill. Again, use running jumps to cover ground faster, and try to avoid the leopards, since they can throw Lara off her stride.
You don't have to make it all the way through the gate. When Lara reaches the snowy tiles just outside it, as long as the second wave of snowballs hasn't stopped, the achievement/trophy should register.
Now, either reload and replay the safer way (below) or finish off the leopards and continue exploring.
- OR -
If you don't care about achievements, or already have this one, instead run under the gate...
...and quickly climb onto the ledge on the right as the snowballs roll past you.
Hop up onto the snowy block beside the gate.
Use pistols to kill the leopards from this safe spot while the avalanche plays out.
There's a ladder and another mask receptacle behind the building to the right of the ramp where the snowballs originated. This is a dead-end until you find another MASK.
Start up the ramp. Stand on the lowest of the tiered blocks on the left. Jump and grab the edge of the wide opening in the left wall, and pull up into the cave.
The painted wooden door here doesn't open yet. So drop down into the dark cave. Ahead is an open area with a frozen pond. Don't rush forward; there are enemies ahead.
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