Tomb Raider Guide | How to Solve the Well of Tears Tomb

Here's a guide on how to solve the Well of Tears Tomb in Tomb Raider.

Game Guide by Shadi on Dec 17, 2025

This guide covers the Well of Tears, an optional tomb located in Shantytown. You can find it during your first visit to the area. The tomb features an initial ambush and a platforming puzzle involving explosive canisters.

Locating the Tomb Entrance

Examine the northern part of Shantytown, west of the large gate you open during the Highway to Hell mission. Look for a building entrance marked with white symbols painted on the walls.

Surviving the Initial Ambush

Enter the building. Be aware that Lara will immediately fall into a trap, which is unavoidable. You will be hanging upside down. Defend yourself by shooting the guards that approach.

Tomb Raider, Guide, How to Solve the Well of Tears Tomb

You can complete this fight while hanging, or choose to shoot the pulley mechanism to free yourself sooner. You must shoot the pulley eventually to proceed.

Descending into the Tomb

After defeating the guards, approach the altar at the back of the room. Shoot a rope arrow at the planks on the floor in front of it to pull them away. Jump down through the newly created hole.

Below, you will find a GPS Cache and a dark tunnel. Follow this linear tunnel, crossing over wooden planks. When you reach an edge, climb down a ladder.

A second, partially broken ladder follows; drop from its end. Continue forward, squeezing through cracks in the walls until you reach the main tomb chamber. A base camp is here, along with the puzzle.

Solving the Canister and Platform Puzzle

Begin by picking up one of the yellow canisters scattered around the room. Carry it to the area near the base camp.

Enter aiming mode and throw the canister onto the large interactive platform suspended by ropes. Repeat this process with two more canisters.

Tomb Raider, Guide, How to Solve the Well of Tears Tomb

Once three canisters are on the platform, their weight will lower the platform to the bottom of the shaft.

Executing the Platform Jump

Stand on the lowered platform. Pick up one of the three canisters and throw it off the platform, leaving only two. Now, step off the platform and quickly run back to the area near the base camp.

As the now-lighter platform begins to rise, leap onto it from this ledge. Immediately upon landing, turn left and perform a second jump to grab an interactive ledge on the wall.

If you are too slow, the platform will sink back down, forcing you to repeat the last few steps.

Also, check our Tomb Raider (2013) Review and Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Review, and other guides below.