This complete Momento Chapter 3 walkthrough guides you through every puzzle and secret in The Alchemist's Study. The primary goal is to synthesize the Memory Elixir by finding the Aetherium Shard inside a locked safe, but locating the three hidden Memory Fragments is crucial for unlocking the game's true ending. This guide breaks down every step, from aligning the astrolabe to cracking the final safe combination.
What's the Goal in The Alchemist's Study?
Chapter 3 locks you in the abandoned laboratory of Master Valerius, a brilliant but disgraced alchemist. Your objective is to brew a powerful Memory Elixir, a concoction that requires a rare catalyst—the Aetherium Shard—which is locked away in his personal safe. To do this, you'll need to solve a series of interconnected environmental puzzles that test your observation and logic. The chapter is non-linear, but the critical path requires solving the astrolabe puzzle first to get a key item.
How to Solve the Celestial Astrolabe Puzzle
The massive brass astrolabe dominating the west wall isn't just for decoration; it's a lock. The goal is to align its three rotating rings to the correct celestial symbols. The solution is hidden in plain sight, scattered across two pieces of a star chart.
Find the Star Chart Fragments
You need to find both halves of the Alchemist's Star Chart to decipher the correct alignment. Their locations are:
- Star Chart Fragment (Top Half): Resting on the lectern next to the large bay window. It shows the constellations Hydra and Lyra circled in red ink.
- Star Chart Fragment (Bottom Half): Tucked inside the large, leather-bound book on the central workbench titled 'Celestial Mechanics.' This fragment shows the constellation Draco circled, along with a note: "The Serpent guards the final rotation."
Decipher the Alignment
With both fragments, the solution becomes clear. You must align the astrolabe's rings to the three circled constellations. The note on the bottom fragment implies an order.
- Outer Ring: The largest constellation, Hydra.
- Middle Ring: The musician's constellation, Lyra.
- Inner Ring: The final serpent, Draco.
Align the Rings and Get the Key
Approach the astrolabe and interact with it. Rotate the rings until the pointer for each one aligns with the correct symbol carved into the frame. Once Hydra, Lyra, and Draco are correctly aligned in order from outermost to innermost, you'll hear a loud click. A hidden compartment on the astrolabe's base will spring open, revealing the Brass Orrery Key. This key is useless for now, but is essential for finding a hidden collectible later.
Momento in-game screenshot
How to Brew the Memory Elixir
With the astrolabe solved, your next focus is the alchemical workbench. The recipe is detailed in the Alchemist's Journal lying open on the desk, but the ingredients are scattered around the study. You need to gather three base reagents before you can think about the final catalyst.
Where to Find the Three Reagents
The three base ingredients for the elixir are hidden in various containers around the room. Their locations are fixed:
- Crimson Belladonna: Found inside a small, locked wooden box on the bookshelf. The key to this box is simple: it's hanging on a nail right behind the 'Portrait of a Patron' painting. You'll need to tilt the painting to see it.
- Lunar Salt: Located in a ceramic jar on the fireplace mantel. The jar is labeled with a crescent moon symbol.
- Sunstone Dust: This is inside the miniature brass orrery on the small table by the window. Use the Brass Orrery Key you acquired from the astrolabe puzzle to unlock its base and retrieve the dust.
Following the Recipe from the Journal
Once you have the Crimson Belladonna, Lunar Salt, and Sunstone Dust, return to the alchemy station. You must follow the steps in the Alchemist's Journal precisely. Interacting with the station brings up an interface with a beaker, a burner, and your inventory.
The correct sequence is:
- Add the Lunar Salt to the beaker.
- Activate the burner and heat the mixture to exactly 75 degrees. A thermometer on the side will show the temperature; don't overheat it or you'll have to start over.
- Quickly add the Crimson Belladonna while the mixture is still hot.
- Turn off the burner and let the mixture cool for 10 seconds.
- Finally, add the Sunstone Dust. The mixture should turn a shimmering, pearlescent white.
This creates the Inactive Elixir Base. It's stable, but lacks the potency to unlock any memories. For that, you need the Aetherium Shard from the safe.
Momento in-game screenshot
How to Open the Alchemist's Safe
The final major puzzle is cracking the four-digit combination on Master Valerius's heavy iron safe, tucked away in the corner behind his desk. The code is not written down anywhere; you must derive it from four separate clues hidden in the environment. The combination is 4739.
Finding the Four-Digit Combination
Each digit of the code corresponds to a specific observation you must make within the study. This is the hardest puzzle in the chapter, as the clues are subtle.
- First Digit (4): Look at the 'Portrait of a Patron' hanging on the wall. In the bottom right corner, the artist has signed and dated it: 1842. The journal mentions Valerius's obsession with the 'fourth decade' of that century. The first digit is 4.
- Second Digit (7): Examine the main bookshelf. On the top shelf, there are several books bound in identical dark leather, but some have a small, embossed sun symbol on the spine. Count them carefully. There are exactly 7 books with the sun symbol. The second digit is 7.
- Third Digit (3): Read the Alchemist's Journal on the workbench. On the last page, Valerius writes about his numerological beliefs, stating, "All great discoveries come in threes. The elements, the phases of matter, the principles of creation. Three is the number of true genius." The third digit is 3.
- Fourth Digit (9): Look up at the ornate iron chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It's decorated with several small, stylized iron skulls. You need to physically move around the room to see them all from different angles. Count them. There are a total of 9 skulls. The fourth digit is 9.
Retrieving the Aetherium Shard
With the code 4739, approach the safe and input the numbers. The heavy door will swing open. Inside, resting on a velvet cushion, is the glowing Aetherium Shard. Take it and return to the workbench. Add the shard to the Inactive Elixir Base to complete the Memory Elixir and finish the chapter's main objective.
All 3 Hidden Memory Fragment Locations
For players aiming for the true ending, finding the three optional Memory Fragments in Chapter 3 is mandatory. These collectibles are well-hidden and can be easily missed. Collecting all three triggers a unique memory sequence at the end of the chapter.
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Memory Fragment #1 (Under the Rug): In the center of the room is a large, ornate rug. If you interact with the corner, you can peel it back to reveal a loose floorboard. Pry it open to find the first fragment shimmering beneath.
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Memory Fragment #2 (Behind the Portrait): This fragment is located behind the same 'Portrait of a Patron' you investigated for the safe code and belladonna key. After you take the key from the nail, you must interact with the painting again to fully remove it from the wall. The fragment is tucked into a small recess in the stone behind it.
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Memory Fragment #3 (The Secret Drawer): This is the most commonly missed fragment. On the front of the main alchemical workbench, there is a small, unmarked drawer with no handle. This drawer is magnetically sealed and will not open initially. It only unlocks after you have successfully brewed the Inactive Elixir Base. Once the base is created (before adding the Aetherium Shard), a faint click can be heard. Return to the front of the desk, and the drawer will now slide open, revealing the final fragment.
Momento in-game screenshot
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the safe combination in Momento Chapter 3?
The four-digit combination for the alchemist's safe is 4739. The clues are derived from the date on a painting (4), the number of books with a sun symbol (7), a number mentioned in a journal (3), and the number of skulls on the chandelier (9).
I can't find the Lunar Salt. Where is it?
The Lunar Salt is in a ceramic jar on the fireplace mantel. It's the only jar on the mantel with a crescent moon symbol etched into its side. It's easy to miss if you aren't looking closely at the details.
Do I need all the Memory Fragments for the good ending?
Yes, you absolutely do. Failing to collect all three Memory Fragments in The Alchemist's Study will lock you out of the game's true ending path. The game does not allow you to return to this chapter later, so make sure you find them all before brewing the final elixir.
A Chapter of Revelation
The Alchemist's Study is a turning point in Momento. It's the first chapter that heavily relies on environmental storytelling and deciphering clues from the world itself, rather than straightforward mechanical puzzles. Finding all the secrets not only rewards you with progress toward the true ending but also pieces together the tragic backstory of Master Valerius, whose memories become intertwined with your own. Once you drink the elixir, the chapter concludes, and the true weight of your investigation begins to settle in.