I still remember the first time I ran into a Secret Source Automaton in Genshin Impact. It was back in Version 5.0, when Natlan opened up and every cliff seemed to hide something hostile. In 2026, these mecha enemies are no longer a surprise to me, but they are still one of the farms I respect. They hit hard, they resist elemental damage, and they drop materials I need for weapons and characters. The catch is simple: there are not many of them in Natlan. The route I use has seven spawns, so I treat each one like a small boss rather than a trash mob. 🗺️

Why I Still Farm Them

I keep Secret Source Automatons on my route because the materials are too useful to ignore. When I am leveling a Natlan character or finishing a weapon, I often find myself short on drops. The enemies are tough, but the payoff is worth the detour. They also sit far away from civilization, which means I can fight them without dragging half the region into the battle. That solitude is a small mercy, because these machines are not gentle.

Area	Spawns	How I Get There	What I Watch For
Sulfurous Veins cliffs	3	Teleport waypoint far north, then go right	First one on the cliff; two more east near a Precious Chest
Stadium of the Sacred Flame	1	Teleport at the stadium and glide to the cliffs behind it	Easy to spot from above
Ameyalco Waters sand	2	Statue of Seven at Ameyalco Waters, then head south	Open sand makes the laser harder to dodge
Ameyalco Waters ruins	1	Glide down in front of the Statue of Seven and follow the spiritwave	Tied to the Tracer No Tracing quest area

My Sulfurous Veins Route

I start at the teleport waypoint far north of the Sulfurous Veins. From there, I go right and follow the cliff line until I see the first Secret Source Automaton. It is not hidden, exactly, but the terrain makes the approach feel longer than it is. After I finish that one, I turn around and head east on the map. That is where the route opens up a little. Two more automatons wait near a clearing, and there is a Precious Chest sitting in the middle of them. I always clear the machines first, because trying to open a chest while a laser is charging is a bad habit.

The Stadium Cliff Spawn

For the next one, I use the teleport waypoint at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame itself. Then I glide to the cliffs behind the stadium. From the air, the automaton is usually easy to spot. I like this spawn because it is quick to reach and easy to fold into a daily route. I do not stay long after the fight, though. The cliff edge is a reminder that Natlan likes to punish careless gliding.

Ameyalco Waters and the Ruins

Once I have unlocked the area governed by the People of the Springs, I head to the Statue of Seven at Ameyalco Waters. From there, I go south on the map to find automatons near the sand. I have learned to fight these two carefully, because the open ground gives me less cover when the laser starts sweeping. The final Secret Source Automaton is underneath some ruins in Ameyalco Waters. I glide down into the ruins in front of the Statue of Seven and follow the spiritwave to the bottom. This area is part of the Tracer No Tracing quest, so I always check whether I am in the middle of that quest before I start a fight.

How I Fight Them Without Losing My Mind

The Secret Source Automaton is a difficult enemy because it resists all types of elemental damage. I do not expect a quick burst to solve the fight. The move that worries me most is its laser attack. It deals a massive amount of damage and can easily injure my characters if I misread the timing. The opening comes from Nightsoul abilities. When I use a character's Nightsoul ability, the automaton uses that moment to charge up a higher laser attack. Once it releases that laser, it loses its increased resistance and creates a window for me to attack. Since Nightsoul abilities are exclusive to Natlan characters, I often use the free Kachina in moments like these. If I prefer not to, I bring a good healer and shielder and simply last through the fight.

• ✅ Use Nightsoul abilities to bait the higher laser and open the damage window.

• ✅ Bring a healer or shielder if I am not confident with Kachina.

• ✅ Clear the machines before opening nearby chests.

• ❌ Do not ignore the laser charge, even when the health bar looks low.

• ❌ Do not expect elemental resistance to disappear before the laser fires.

I hope future updates add more spawns, because seven is a tight loop for anyone who needs a large stack of materials. Until then, I keep my route marked, I bring sustain, and I treat every Secret Source Automaton as a real fight. That approach has saved me more times than I can count. ⚔️