Overview
Duskwood is a dense forest region within the Hernand region, stretching down from the ridges of Everfrost. The peak of Everfrost remains visible from anywhere within the forest, serving as a constant natural landmark for navigation. The forest's name comes from the mountain's looming presence through the canopy, which led locals to call the area "the shadows of the mountain."
Duskwood is home to two ancient ruins sites containing Abyss Cresset puzzles, making it a worthwhile destination for players seeking Abyss Artifacts. The forest lies near the Kilnden Workshop and borders the Witchwoods to the west.
Location
Duskwood is situated in the western part of the Hernand region. The Kilnden Workshop lies to the east, and the forest extends westward toward the ridges of Everfrost. The area can be reached by fast travel to nearby Abyss Nexus points, traveling west from Kilnden Workshop or east from the caves near the forest's edge.
Ancient Ruins: Duskwood Waterside
The Duskwood Waterside Ruins are located near a river between a cave and the Kilnden Workshop. This site has a checker-based puzzle that utilizes both black and white game pieces on a board.
Checker Puzzle Solution
The objective is to align five pieces of any single color in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Unlike traditional checkers, you control both the black and white pieces. To interact with the puzzle, approach a piece, grab it, move it to the desired position, and use the Place button to set it down.
The simplest solution is to take a white piece positioned near the Abyss Cresset and place it between two existing white pieces to form a horizontal line of five. Completing the puzzle activates the Abyss Cresset, granting an Abyss Artifact.
Ancient Ruins: Duskwood Pillar Puzzle
The second ancient ruins site in Duskwood has a pillar-based mechanism. Before the puzzle can be solved, players must burn away the surrounding foliage using the Blinding Flash skill to reveal the mechanism and the five stone pillars.
Pillar Puzzle Solution
Five pillars stand in the ruins, with the first pillar being stationary. The remaining four can be moved using a central mechanism with four slots, each controlling different pillar combinations.
Slot | Pillars Controlled |
|---|---|
Slot 1 | Pillars #2 and #4 |
Slot 2 | Pillars #2 and #5 |
Slot 3 | Pillars #2, #3, and #4 |
Slot 4 | Pillars #3, #4, and #5 |
To solve the puzzle, first move pillars #2, #3, and #4 up by half a step using Slot 3. Then use Slot 4 to adjust pillars #3, #4, and #5 so that #3 and #4 align with #1, while #2 and #5 match each other. Finally, use Slot 2 to move pillars #2 and #5 into alignment with the rest. Completing this puzzle reveals the Abyss Cresset of the Witchwoods, granting an Abyss Artifact. If you make a mistake, you can reload a save to reset the pillars.
Enemies
Duskwood is home to various hostile creatures and bandits that patrol the forest trails. Players should be prepared for encounters while navigating the dense woodland.
Tips
Use nearby Abyss Nexus fast travel points to reach Duskwood quickly. One is near the Kilnden Workshop (travel west) and another near the caves to the east.
For the pillar puzzle, use Blinding Flash to burn away the foliage before attempting the mechanism. The pillars are hidden until the vegetation is cleared.
The checker puzzle at the waterside ruins is one of the simpler Abyss Cresset puzzles in Hernand. Look for an easy horizontal line of white pieces to complete it quickly.
Everfrost's peak is always visible above the treeline within Duskwood, so use it as a compass if you lose your bearings.