Overview
Ancient Ruins Challenges are part of the Exploration category in Crimson Desert. There are 37 Ancient Ruins Challenges in total, tracked under the journal tab called The Thread in the Forest. Each ruin contains a puzzle that must be solved to activate the Abyss Cresset inside it. Completing all Ancient Ruins Challenges unlocks the Puzzle Solver trophy and achievement.
Ancient Ruins are scattered across the continent of Pywel. They are not marked on your map by default, but when you use Blinding Flash while exploring, you may notice glints of light on the horizon. As you approach these glints, they appear on your map as Mysterious Energy icons with question marks. These points of interest often turn out to be Ancient Ruins.
How to Find Ancient Ruins
Source | Details |
|---|---|
Use this ability to scan the horizon. Glimmers of light indicate points of interest, including Ancient Ruins. | |
When you get close to an undiscovered ruin, it appears on your map as a fog-of-war area with a question mark. Move toward it to reveal the ruins. | |
Journal tracking: | Open your Journal and navigate to Challenges, then The Thread in the Forest to see which ruins you have discovered and completed. |
Rewards
Solving each Ancient Ruins puzzle and activating its Abyss Cresset grants Abyss Artifacts. These artifacts are essential for character progression because they are used in the skill tree to learn new skills or enhance core stats.
Puzzle Types
Ancient Ruins feature several recurring puzzle types. Understanding these patterns makes it easier to solve new ruins as you discover them.
Puzzle Type | Description | How to Solve |
|---|---|---|
Symbol Stepping Stones | Floor tiles display symbols. You must step on matching pairs without stepping on wrong tiles. | Step on the initial plate, then walk to the matching symbol. Do not step on other active symbols or the same grey plate twice. |
Statue Rotation | Statues or dials surround a central Abyss Cresset. Each must face the correct direction. | Rotate statues using dials until each one faces the Abyss Cresset at the center of the room. |
Red Light, Green Light | A king statue monitors your movement. Moving while it watches forces you to restart. | Step on the trigger plate, then approach the statue. Stop moving whenever it turns around with its eyes lit up. |
An area is flooded and you need to drain the water to reach the Abyss Cresset. | Use Force Palm on underwater mechanisms or wooden valves to drain the water. | |
A mural on a wall or at a nearby location provides the solution to a puzzle in the ruins. | Study the mural carefully, then apply its pattern to the puzzle elements in the ruins. | |
Bell / Note Symbols | Bells or chimes display note symbols that must be struck in the correct sequence. | Follow the note symbols shown and hit the bell with the corresponding symbol. |
Button Sequence | Giant stone buttons must be pressed simultaneously or in a specific order. | Use Nature's Grasp to lift gates and Force Palm to hit multiple stone plates at once. |
Known Ancient Ruins Locations
The following table lists verified Ancient Ruins locations, their puzzle types, and the region where each is found.
Ruins Name | Region | Puzzle Type | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
Button Sequence: Use Nature's Grasp to lift a stone gate, then Force Palm to press giant buttons. | |||
Mural Clue: Activate the correct buttons by referencing a mural depicting five trees in Pororin. | |||
Steel Mountains Ruins | Bell / Note Symbols: Follow the note symbols and hit the bell with the corresponding symbol. | ||
Precipice of Echoes Ruins | Symbol Stepping Stones: Step on tile sequences connecting identical icon pairs without blocking remaining paths. | ||
Statue Rotation: Rotate statues using dials until each faces the Abyss Cresset at the center. | |||
Water Drain: Use Focus Palm on an underwater mechanism to drain the area. | |||
Statue Rotation: Rotate the central dial to match symbols of illuminated statues. | |||
Mural Clue: Rotate three dials to specific directions using clues from a mural and Anvil Hillside Terrace. | |||
Details pending verification | |||
Pillar Sequence: Pillar 1 is fixed. Move pillars 2-3-4 halfway up, then move pillars 3-4-5 halfway up, then align pillars 2 and 5 with the rest to set the correct pillar levels. | |||
Hunter's Cabin Ruins | Details pending verification | ||
Details pending verification | |||
Details pending verification | |||
North of Hernand | Fountain Repair: Use a Stab move to jam your sword into the square-shaped slits on each pillar, then push the movement stick to rotate each pillar into alignment to fix the broken fountain. | ||
Details pending verification |
Story-Related Ancient Ruins
One Ancient Ruins puzzle is encountered during the main quest Reunion in Act 2: Unexpected Gift. This ruin is located northwest of Hernand. The solution involves using Nature's Grasp to lift the wall, then using Force Palm to hit the stone plates in a specific order: middle, left, right.
all Ancient Ruins challenges are tracked under "The Thread in the Forest" subcategory in the journal. Each completed ruin awards an Abyss Artifact and activates a fast travel point at the Abyss Cresset. Some ruins, such as the Axiom Archive and Ethereal Pathway, overlap with locations also classified under the Abyss (Restoration) subcategory in the broader Challenges system. These locations count toward both subcategories when discovered.
Tips
Always scan the horizon with Blinding Flash after entering a new region. This reveals Ancient Ruins and other points of interest.
Some puzzles require specific abilities like Nature's Grasp or Force Palm. Make sure you have unlocked these skills before attempting certain ruins.
If a mural puzzle seems unsolvable, check nearby locations. Clues are sometimes found at a different landmark within the same area.
Ancient Ruins puzzles do not have a time limit unless specifically stated. Take your time to study the environment before acting.