Assassin’s Creed Origins Secrets of the First Pyramids Side Quest Walkthrough

Secrets of the First Pyramids is a Side Quest in Assassin’s Creed Origins. This walkthrough shows how to complete the quest.

Recommended Level: 23
Region: Saqqara Nome
Requirements: Secrets of the First Pyramids DLC
Reward: 4000 XP

Objectives:

• Find Merkes the Scholar
  
• Kill the Scholar’s pursuers
• Reach and explore the sites to retrieve the artifacts
• Speak to Merkes
• Reach the top of the Tomb of Sneferu
• Speak to Merkes about the diagram
• Escort Merkes to the temple ruins
• Investigate the ruins to uncover Sneferu’s vault
• Speak to Merkes

Once you install the DLC, the Secrets of the First Pyramids side quest will automatically be added to your quest list. Use Senu to locate Merkes, and you’ll find him being chased by a number of bandits. Save his live, and talk with him to continue.

It seems that Merkes the Scholar is after the treasures of Sneferu, and he needs three artifacts to accomplish this. He had two, but one was stolen by bandits. The third and final artifact is inside the Shining Pyramid. He asks for your help to bring all three together and find the lost vault.

First, you’ll have to take care of the bandits who have a camp to the east, inside the Hugros Hideout.

After handling the bandits, your next stop is the Tomb of Sneferu in the Shining Pyramid.

Once inside, you’ll have to explore to find the artifact. At one point you will have to deal with a number of platforms with counterweights that you’ll have to add or remove weight from in order to reach higher levels. The first, you’ll have to move a crated statue onto the platform to prevent it from rising, allowing you to jump on the higher platform.

Later you’ll find a similar platform that a pot is keeping from rising. Smash the pot to shift its balance, then use spools of rope to the opposite platform to reach the higher level. Three spools will be enough weight to keep your weight from bringing it down.

Return to Merkes to show him what you’ve found. The artifacts confirm his theory, forming a diagram. You must slot them into the pyramidion on top of the Shining Pyramid, hopefully discovering the location of Sneferu’s lost vault in the process.

As the man said, climb to the top of the Tomb of Sneferu, AKA the Shining Pyramid.

Once you reach the top, you’ll see the place where the artifacts will fit, forming a map.

Jump back down to talk to Merkes, taking the express slide to save time.

This time, Merkes wants to come with you to see the temple. Escort him to see his prize, and learn along the way that it was Merkes’s own fault that the bandits were invovled. Whoops.

Once inside, follow the waypoint to the entrance location

Though the entrance is hidden, its easy enough to find. Press up on the d-pad to find the investigation locations with the Animus Pulse.

Dig up the entrance to find a barrier that you can smash or burn to get through, opening the way to the vault.

Once you’re inside, its essentially a straight shot to the vault (but watch out for snakes!) Once inside, Speak with Merkes to complete the quest.