Overview
The Duskwood Pillar Puzzle is an Ancient Ruins challenge in the Duskwood Hill area. Five stone pillars stand in the ruins. The leftmost pillar (Pillar 1) is fixed at the target height and cannot be moved. Your goal is to raise the other four pillars (Pillars 2 through 5) to match Pillar 1's height. The puzzle is solved by interacting with a central pedestal that has multiple sword slots, each controlling a different combination of pillars.
Location
Between the two river streams in Duskwood, near the main path north of Phoniel Ranch. The ruins are marked as a Mysterious Energy location on the map. The five stone pillars are visible from the path, standing in a circular arrangement around a central pedestal covered in vines.
Required Skills
Skill | Usage |
|---|---|
Burn away vines covering the central pedestal and all five pillars | |
Insert your sword into pedestal slots to activate pillar combinations |
Preparation
Before attempting the solution, use Blinding Flash to burn the foliage and vines on the central mechanism and all five pillars. The vines must be cleared from every pillar for the puzzle to function correctly. If any pillar still has vines, it will not respond to the mechanism.
It is strongly recommended to save your game before starting. If you overshoot any pillar, the simplest fix is to reload. Reloading respawns you at a nearby altar with the puzzle fully reset and all pillars returned to their starting positions.
Pillar Numbering
Using the Abyss Cresset as the 12 o'clock reference point, the pillars are numbered 1 through 5 going clockwise. Pillar 1 (the leftmost, fixed at the target height) is already at the correct position. Pillars 2, 3, 4, and 5 start at varying lower heights.
Three-Move Solution
The key to this puzzle is using half steps. Each activation of a pedestal slot raises the selected pillars by a fixed increment. By choosing the right combinations in the right order, you can bring all pillars to the same height in exactly three moves:
Move 1: Use Stab on the center pedestal. Select the combination that moves Pillars 2, 3, and 4. Activate it once to raise them half a step. They should not yet match Pillar 1's height.
Move 2: Select the combination that moves Pillars 3, 4, and 5. Activate it once. Pillars 3 and 4 are now fully aligned with Pillar 1 (having been raised twice total). Pillars 2 and 5 sit at the same half-step height.
Move 3: Select the combination that moves Pillars 2 and 5 together. Activate it once to raise both the remaining half step. All five pillars are now level.
Pedestal Slot Positions
The central pedestal has multiple sword slots arranged around it. With the Abyss Cresset at 12 o'clock:
12 o'clock slot: Controls Pillars 2, 3, and 4 (used in Move 1 and Move 3 for the 2+5 combination)
5 o'clock slot: Controls Pillars 3, 4, and 5 (used in Move 2)
The specific slots may vary based on your orientation. Look at the pillar indicators on the pedestal to confirm which pillars each slot controls before committing to a move.
Tips
The trick is using half steps. Each activation raises pillars by a fixed increment, so planning the order is critical.
Save before attempting the puzzle. If you overshoot any pillar, reload and start fresh rather than trying to undo the mistake.
All five pillars will glow when the puzzle is solved correctly. If they do not glow, at least one pillar is at the wrong height.
Make sure all vines have been burned from every pillar with Blinding Flash before using the pedestal. An unburned pillar will not respond to the mechanism.
Rewards
1 Abyss Artifact from the Abyss Cresset.
Completion of the Abyss Cresset of the Witchwoods challenge.