Abyss Without Balance

Overview

Abyss Without Balance is the 12th main story quest in Chapter 1: The First Encounter of Crimson Desert. It begins automatically after completing the Polar Opposites quest. Following a conversation with Alustin inside the Axiom Archive, Kliff is transported outside into the heart of The Abyss and must restore balance to the area by solving a series of environmental puzzles.

This quest is the game's primary puzzle tutorial, teaching players how to combine Axiom Force with the newly learned Force Palm skill. The quest involves platforming across floating islands, manipulating power cores, synthesizing an Abyss Cell, and activating a large power supply mechanism. At the conclusion, White Crow the Witch appears and grants Kliff the Flight ability, which unlocks gliding as a permanent traversal option.

Quest Details

Quest Objectives

The quest tracks the following objectives in your mission log as you progress:

1. Go through the skybridge gate to the heart of the Abyss

2. Activate the Abyss Nexus

3. Remove the wall blocking the floor

4. Synthesize the Abyss Cell

5. Activate the power supply

6. Collect the Abyss Artifact

Rewards

Walkthrough

Navigate Through the Skybridge Gate

After Alustin teleports you outside the Axiom Archive, the first obstacle is a skybridge alignment device: a pillar with a glowing dial in the center. Use Axiom Force (hold L3/Left Stick on controller, or Tab on PC) on the device and slowly rotate the dial using the D-pad (left or right on controller) or Left Analog Stick. Listen for a high-pitched charging sound and watch for the orb to start glowing brightly. Stop rotating once the charging sound triggers and the orb brightens. After several seconds, a bridge materializes between the floating islands, creating the path forward.

Cross the skybridge and continue down the path. A series of slow-moving platforms travel diagonally between islands, each on a fixed cycle. The safest approach is to wait at the edge of each island and watch the platform complete one full cycle before jumping. The platforms move slowly enough that you can land reliably if you time your jump to when a platform is closest to your current position. Missing a cycle means waiting around 30 seconds for the platform to return, so patience pays off here. At the end, stand on the center of the final platform to trigger a teleportation to a large open garden area.

The skybridge alignment device is the first puzzle you encounter upon exiting the Axiom Archive. It consists of a pillar with a circular dial. When you use Axiom Force on the dial and begin rotating, listen carefully for audio cues. A high-pitched clicking or charging sound indicates the knob is reaching the correct position. Once aligned, hold the position for several seconds until the bridge fully materializes between the floating islands. Some players report needing to rotate the dial slowly rather than spinning it quickly, as the game uses physics-based interaction that responds better to gradual input.

The platforming section features slow-moving platforms that travel diagonally between islands. Each platform follows a fixed cycle, moving from one island to another and back again. The safest approach is to wait at the edge of each island and watch the platform complete one full cycle before jumping. The platforms move slowly enough that you can land reliably if you time your jump to when the platform is closest to your current position. For narrow platforms, hold LB (controller) to use precise jump for better accuracy. Rushing through this section leads to missed jumps and respawns at the last checkpoint.

After the floating platforms, you reach an Ethereal Pathway, a glowing floor section that teleports you to a distant floating island when you step on it. The teleportation is instant and places you on a new island with the garden area. Look for a shimmer effect on the ground that signals a teleport point. This mechanic recurs later in the game, particularly in other Abyss Dungeon areas, so familiarize yourself with the visual indicator here.

Activate the Abyss Nexus

In the garden area, find the round floor plate marked with a white ring. Stand on it to activate the second Abyss Nexus fast travel checkpoint.

This step is mandatory and must not be skipped. If you fail to activate the Abyss Nexus here, the ghost hologram that teaches Force Palm later in the quest will not appear, making it impossible to progress. Multiple guides confirm this is the single most common point where players get stuck.

Move the Floating Power Core

A blue glowing cube (the power core) floats in the center of the area. Use Axiom Force (hold L3) to grab it and carry it to the deactivated lantern on the right side of the area. The lantern is the cube-shaped structure with a square hole on each face. Placing the core on the lantern reactivates it, which removes an invisible wall blocking the floor below. Note that the lantern's position is slightly elevated, so you may need to angle your Axiom Force grip upward to slot the core correctly.

Once the barrier deactivates, drop down through the opened floor into the pit below.

You do not need to be extremely precise when placing objects during this quest. An animation plays the moment each piece reaches the correct position, and the game snaps it into place automatically. If nothing happens, nudge the object a bit closer and try again.

On the large floating island with the second Abyss Nexus, the blue power core floats in the center. When you grab it with Axiom Force and carry it toward the deactivated lantern, the core should snap into the lantern's slot when positioned correctly. The lantern is the cube-shaped structure with a square hole on each face. Placing the core on the lantern reactivates it, which removes the invisible wall blocking the path below. This is a straightforward object-placement puzzle, but note that the lantern sits slightly elevated, so you may need to angle your Axiom Force grip upward to slot the core correctly.

Learn Force Palm and Synthesize the Abyss Cell

In the lower area, locate a floating blue square (the Abyss Cell component). A blue ghost hologram appears nearby and begins demonstrating a combat technique. To learn Force Palm, you must face the hologram directly and hold the Observe button (L1/LB on controller) to watch the full demonstration. Do not move your camera while observing. This observation mechanic is what permanently teaches Kliff the ability. If you skip the observation, Force Palm remains locked and you cannot proceed.

A known quirk with the Observe mechanic is that it can fail to register from certain camera angles. If nothing happens after holding the Observe button for a few seconds, adjust your viewing angle so that you are looking directly at the hologram and try again. The "Learning in Progress" message should appear at the top left of the screen once it works correctly.

After learning Force Palm, use Axiom Force to grab the floating blue square and maneuver it toward the wall slot to the right, positioning it directly over the projection on the wall. You can rotate the object using the D-pad (controller) or mouse scroll wheel (PC). Once the cell is in position, stand in front of it and use Force Palm (R3/Right Stick on controller, Middle Mouse Button on PC) to slam it into the wall socket. This synthesizes the Abyss Cell and powers the circular mechanism above.

Watch out for the electricity. Three sparking batteries sit near the wall slot, and their arcing current deals damage on contact. If you get hit while charging Force Palm, the animation is interrupted and you have to start over. Keep your distance from the sparking area until you are ready to strike. When you do use Force Palm on the cell, it may take more than one hit to lock it into the socket. If the first punch does not slot it in, reposition slightly and try again.

The Abyss Cell puzzle in the lower area is the quest's central challenge and introduces two abilities used together. First, the ghost hologram teaches Force Palm through the Observe mechanic. Then you must combine Axiom Force (to position the cell component) with Force Palm (to slam it into place). The wall slot has a matching shape to the floating blue square. Use the D-pad or mouse scroll wheel to rotate the component if needed until the flat side faces the wall. Once aligned, a single Force Palm strike locks it into the socket and powers the mechanism above.

The wall slot where the cell fits is located to the right of three sparking batteries. These batteries arc electricity in a periodic pattern, so time your approach to avoid taking damage. Line up the flat side of the cell so it faces the slot and position it roughly in front of the wall projection. Exact alignment is not necessary; once the object is close enough, Force Palm drives it the rest of the way in. If the first strike does not lock the cell, step back, reposition, and hit it again. The game confirms a successful synthesis with a brief cutscene and a change in the lighting overhead.

Activate the Power Supply

Climb out of the pit using the pillars to the left of where you used Force Palm. Locate the large circular cog mechanism (an eight-pointed wheel with a central disc). This is the step where most players struggle.

Climb onto the mechanism and position yourself at its center. You need to hang from the middle of the device and then use Force Palm while still attached. Aim at the center of the wheel and release Force Palm. The recoil from the attack will knock Kliff back down to the ground. This is intentional. When the mechanism activates successfully, the light indicator shifts from golden to white, confirming the power supply is online.

The large circular cog mechanism is an eight-pointed wheel with a central disc. To activate it, climb the mechanism, position yourself at the center, and hang from it. While hanging, charge and release Force Palm aimed at the center. The recoil throws Kliff back down to the ground. When successful, the light on the mechanism shifts from golden to white, indicating the power supply is online. This moment teaches players that Force Palm functions during climbing and hanging, a mechanic that returns in later puzzle areas throughout the game.

Collect the Abyss Artifact

Climb back up above the now-activated cog. A glowing Abyss Artifact spawns at the top of the restored area. Approach it to collect it automatically. You also receive a Faded Abyss Artifact and a Palmar Pill as quest rewards.

Optional Bonus Chest

Before leaving the area after collecting the Abyss Artifact, there is an optional chest you can grab near the left set of stairs. Head over to the left staircase and look for a loose block nearby. Use Axiom Force to grab it, then drag it between the two staircases and rotate it until it forms a roughly flat surface you can stand on.

Jump onto the repositioned block and cross over to the small platform on the other side. You can use a regular jump, or Precise Jump (CTRL + Space on PC, LB + X on Xbox, L1 + Square on PlayStation) if you want extra distance. Open the chest on the far ledge for a bonus consumable reward. This is easy to miss since the block does not glow or have any obvious indicator, so explore the stairway area before heading into the final cutscene.

After the Abyss Artifact collection, an easy-to-miss optional chest sits behind the left set of stairs leading up from the restored area. Use Axiom Force to grab and reposition a loose block from beside the stairs, dragging it into the gap between the two staircases. Rotate the block until one of its flat faces points upward, creating a makeshift platform. Jump onto it (or use Precise Jump for extra safety) and hop across to the far ledge where the chest sits. This small Axiom Force puzzle is the only hidden side objective in the quest area and is easy to overlook if you head straight into the final cutscene.

White Crow's Transformation and Flight Unlock

After collecting the artifact, a cutscene plays. The talking bird from the Polar Opposites quest reappears on the Ethereal Pathway and transforms into White Crow the Witch. This reveals that the bird and White Crow are the same entity, connecting Kliff's earlier encounters in the Hernand Sewers with the events in the Abyss.

White Crow grants Kliff the Flight ability (also called Wings), a permanent traversal skill that allows gliding while airborne. Press X (PlayStation) or Square (Xbox) while in the air to deploy wings and glide safely downward. Stamina upgrades later in the game extend flight duration and distance. This ability significantly improves open-world movement speed for the rest of the game.

The quest concludes with this revelation, leading directly into the Woman in White quest and the transition toward Chapter 2.

Tips

• Do not skip the Abyss Nexus activation. This is the most common softlock point in the quest. If you rush past the round floor plate without standing on it, the ghost hologram that teaches Force Palm will never spawn, and you will be unable to progress.

• Observe the ghost hologram carefully before trying to use Force Palm. The observation mechanic (holding L1/LB) is what actually teaches Kliff the skill. Do not move the camera while observing, or the learning sequence may not register.

• The diagonal platform section can be frustrating. Watch each platform's movement cycle before jumping. They move slowly, so patience is better than speed. Missing a cycle means waiting roughly 30 seconds for the platform to come back around.

• For the final power supply step, you must hang from the center of the circular mechanism and use Force Palm while suspended. The recoil will knock you down. This is the intended behavior, not a bug.

• Force Palm works while jumping and hanging, not just while standing on the ground. Practice its timing here in the Abyss where there are no enemies pressuring you, since Force Palm becomes a useful combat ability throughout the rest of the game.

• On PC, Force Palm is activated with Middle Mouse Button. On controller, use R3 (Right Stick press). You can rotate held objects with the D-pad (controller) or mouse scroll wheel (PC).

• After unlocking Flight at the end of this quest, you can revisit the Abyss via fast travel to complete additional skybridge puzzles and Abyss Dungeon challenges for bonus Abyss Artifacts.

• Stay clear of the sparking electricity near the Abyss Cell wall slot. Getting hit interrupts Force Palm and deals damage. Wait until you have a clear opening before striking.

• Object placement does not require perfect precision. The game snaps items into position once they are close enough, accompanied by a short animation. If nothing happens, nudge the piece a bit further.

• Check the left staircase after collecting the Abyss Artifact for a hidden bonus chest. Use Axiom Force to move a nearby block into a stepping platform and jump across to claim it.