Loading...
Loading...
Abyss Without Balance
March 20, 2026 at 05:57 AM
Added skybridge alignment device detail, ethereal pathway teleportation, floating platform timing, power core lantern placement, Abyss Cell wall installation, Force Palm learning sequence, and White Crow transformation
Abyss Without Balance is a main quest in Chapter 1: The First Encounter of Crimson Desert. Following the conversation with Alustin in the Axiom Archive, Kliff is transported outside and must restore the Abyss to its original state. The quest involves platforming across floating islands, manipulating blue power cubes with Axiom Force, learning the Force Palm skill, and collecting Abyss Artifacts. White Crow the Witch appears at the conclusion.
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Chapter | Chapter 1: The First Encounter, Trace |
Region | |
Location | |
Previous Quest | |
Next Quest | |
Requirements | Complete Polar Opposites |
Item | Details |
|---|---|
2 artifacts collected during the quest | |
New combat/puzzle skill learned by observing a ghost |
Use Axiom Force (hold L3) on the gate ahead to open it. Inside, interact with a totem by grappling its glowing blue center using Axiom Force. Rotate the totem's center with the D-pad (left or right) until it glows solid blue, indicating the path ahead is activated. Follow the new pathway forward.
A series of slow-moving diagonal platforms awaits. Jump between them as they pass close to each other. These platforms move on fixed cycles, so watch the pattern for a few seconds before jumping. At the end, stand on the center of the final platform to teleport to a large open garden area.
In the garden area, find the round floor plate marked with a white ring. Stand on it to activate a second Abyss Nexus fast travel point.
A blue glowing cube floats in the center of the area. Use Axiom Force (hold L3) to grab it and place it on the pedestal to the right. This removes a wall blocking the floor below. Leave the cube on the left pedestal in its original position. Drop down through the opened barrier.
In the lower area, look for a power cell mounted on the right wall. A blue ghost appears nearby. Hold L1/LB to observe the ghost, which demonstrates the Force Palm technique: a powerful palm strike that can push objects and enemies. Kliff learns this by watching. Use Axiom Force to position the power cell where the ghost placed it, then press R3 to execute Force Palm and punch the cell into the wall socket.
Climb out of the pit and locate the large circular cog mechanism. Scale to its center and use Force Palm (R3) to strike the mechanism. This activates the power supply for the area and clears the path upward.
Proceed to the top of the restored area. A glowing artifact floats in the air and is collected automatically as Kliff approaches. The quest transitions into a cutscene where White Crow appears.
Observe the ghost carefully before trying to use Force Palm. The observation mechanic (holding L1/LB) is what actually teaches Kliff the skill. Skipping it means you cannot use Force Palm.
The diagonal platform section can be frustrating. Watch each platform's movement cycle before jumping. They move slowly, so patience is better than speed.
You can complete both the Axiom Archive and Ethereal Pathway challenges during this quest for bonus Abyss Artifacts. Look for side paths.
Force Palm (R3) becomes a useful combat ability later. Practice its timing here where there are no enemies pressuring you.
After Alustin teleports you outside the Axiom Archive, the first obstacle is a skybridge alignment device. Use Axiom Force (hold L3/Left Stick) on the device and rotate the knob using the Left Analog Stick. Listen for a high-pitched clicking sound, which indicates the knob is in the correct position. Once aligned, a bridge materializes between the floating islands, creating the path forward.
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. Rushing through this section leads to missed jumps and respawns.
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 additional platforming challenges. This mechanic recurs later in the game, so familiarize yourself with the visual indicator (a shimmer effect on the ground) that signals a teleport point.
On the large floating island with the second Abyss Nexus, a blue power core floats in the center. Grab it with Axiom Force and carry it to the deactivated lantern nearby. Placing the core on the lantern reactivates it, which removes a wall blocking the path below. This is a straightforward object-placement puzzle, but note that the lantern's position is slightly elevated; you may need to angle your Axiom Force grip upward to slot the core correctly.
In the lower area accessed after the wall is removed, you find an Abyss Cell mounted on a wall. A blue ghost appears nearby and demonstrates the Force Palm technique. To learn this skill, hold L1/LB and observe the ghost's full demonstration. This observation mechanic is what actually teaches Kliff the ability; skipping it means Force Palm remains locked. After learning the skill, use Axiom Force to position the Abyss Cell where the ghost indicated, then press R3 to execute Force Palm and punch the cell into the rightmost wall socket.
After collecting the Abyss Artifact at the top of the restored area, 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 the dots between Kliff's encounters in the Hernand Sewers and the Abyss. The quest concludes with this revelation, leading directly into the Woman in White quest.
