After all these years, sneaking around in Teyvat still feels like a fresh breath of air… or maybe a held breath, considering the stealth. I hadn’t touched a proper wildlife-capture mission in ages, but when the Bantan Sango Case Files made a surprise comeback in early 2026, I knew I had to dust off my Ubiquity Net and see if my ninja skills still held up.
The event kicked off with a visit to Ryuuji – yes, the same dog-loving detective who always manages to rope us into these animal-saving escapades. He greeted me with his usual laconic charm, marked a new spot on the map, and off I went. The second phase, "Stealthy Trail," promised a mix of patience, gliding, and a fair bit of head-scratching. Let me tell you, it’s one thing to dash through domains with flashy bursts, and quite another to tiptoe after skittish critters… but I was ready.
Before diving in, make absolutely sure you’ve cleared Phase 1. Ryuuji won’t even entertain you otherwise. Once the dialogue triggers, you’ll see a hilltop teleport point designated as the Place of Interest Hiding Spot. That’s your base of operations.
The setup and my first blunder
I zipped to the hilltop, admired the view for about three seconds, and realised I’d forgotten the most crucial step – equipping the Ubiquity Net. The gadget replaces your Elemental Skill, and without it, you’re just a Traveller with overly aggressive intentions. After a quick fumble through the inventory (pro tip: slot it before you start the challenge or you’ll be scrambling), I activated the net and noticed my skill icon change to a throw-ready tether. Click – I was now officially a wild-animal whisperer, or so I told myself.
The challenge presents you with three small animals scattered across different hideouts. I lunged for the first one like a Hilichurl on a rampage, sprinting directly into its line of sight. The poor thing bolted, and I earned a big fat “Retry” notification. That’s when I remembered an old trick: you can completely exit the challenge area after each successful capture, then restart from the hilltop. This resets your position and lets you glide down to a safe blind spot near each animal, turning what feels like an impossible stealth puzzle into a breezy half-hour bake.
How to actually clear the Hiding Spot
Here’s the step-by-step approach that finally worked for me – and trust me, I tested plenty of failure first:
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🗺️ Talk to Ryuuji and fast-travel to the hilltop marker.
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🎒 Equip the Ubiquity Net and activate it so it overrides your E | Elemental Skill.
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🪂 Pick an animal, give yourself a moment to spot its patrol path, then glide behind a rock or a tree where the critter can’t see you.
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💨 Once you’re in its blind spot, creep forward slowly or wait for it to turn away. One quick aimed throw of the net is enough to secure the catch.
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🔄 After the capture animation plays, open your map and teleport back to the hilltop. Re-equip the net (yes, it resets!), and glide to the next animal’s hideout.
Oh, and when I say “glide to a blind spot,” I mean it literally – the wind currents around the hilltop let you swoop down almost anywhere. I found that sliding under a small canopy or landing on the far side of a set of bushes worked beautifully. You know the feeling when you’re one click away from success and then a bird decides to fly right into your face? Yeah, that happened… twice. But once I stopped rushing, it all clicked.
The three animals I caught
Day two’s roster included a gold-tinged weasel, a crimson fox, and a particularly jumpy squirrel-looking creature. The weasel was the easiest – it loops around a small ruin wall, so you can just land on the opposite side and wait. The fox needed a bit more patience because its patrol path crossed an open clearing, but a well-timed glide behind a Bountiful Year pine solved that. The squirrel was a whole different story. That little furball sensed my presence even when I was a spec in the sky. I had to circle around the mountain twice before I found a ledge that broke its line of sight.
If you’re struggling, don’t be shy about using the “exit and re-enter” method. I honestly think the mission was designed with this in mind, because the animals reset instantly and you don’t lose any progress. It’s a lovely little quality-of-Life feature that kept me from yeeting my controller across the room.
Den of Thieves – a welcome brawl
After all that tip-toeing, the second part of Stealthy Trail is a straightforward scrap. No stealth, no nets – just a posse of Treasure Hoarders waiting for a beatdown. I rolled in with my strongest squad and let loose, and honestly, it felt like a reward. If you’ve been holding your breath during the Hiding Spot segment, this is your time to exhale.
A friendly reminder from your fellow Traveller: the 2026 revival of the Bantan Sango Case Files wraps up on March 20, 2026. It might look like a generous window, but trust me, the days slip by faster than an edict from the Shogunate. Don’t wait until the last evening like I almost did… because that’s when the real-life panic sets in.
Genshin Impact is currently on Version 5.2, available on PC, PS5, mobile, and (finally) a stable Switch version that launched late last year. I’ve been exploring the new regions non-stop, but returning to this nostalgic challenge reminded me why the game’s side activities are so special. So grab your net, embrace the art of slow sneaking, and rescue those critters. If I can do it without scaring every squirrel in sight – after a few… let’s call them ‘learning opportunities’ – so can you. 😊