Overview
"Insert the batteries to activate the device" is an objective during the Gate to the Otherworld main quest in Chapter 4 of Crimson Desert. After activating the lock device underground, you return to the round plaza to insert four cube-shaped batteries into pillars surrounding a central device. This requires Axiom Force and Force Palm, two spectral abilities that work together: Axiom Force lifts and moves objects, while Force Palm punches them into place.
Controls Reference
Action | PlayStation | Xbox |
|---|---|---|
Activate Axiom Force (grab) | Hold L3 (Left Stick) | Hold L3 (Left Stick) |
Push object | R2 | RT |
Release object | Press L3 again | Press L3 again |
Force Palm (punch) | R3 (Right Stick) | R3 (Right Stick) |
Pull object toward you | Hold L2 + push Right Stick up | Hold LT + push Right Stick up |
Battery Locations
The four batteries are cube-shaped objects sitting on the ground in the round plaza. Each battery is positioned in front of its corresponding pillar. The pillars are spaced evenly around the central device, and each one has an opening where the cube fits. All four pillars are marked with orange objective indicators on your minimap.
The cubes are easy to spot because they glow faintly. If you are having trouble finding them, use the minimap markers to locate each pillar, then look at the base of the pillar for the cube sitting on the ground directly in front of it.
How to Insert Each Battery
Repeat this process for all four batteries:
Grab the cube. Hold L3 (Left Stick) to activate Axiom Force. The cube will lift off the ground and float in front of you.
Position it in front of the pillar. While holding the cube, press R2/RT to push it toward the pillar opening. Move slowly and aim for the center of the opening. The game will auto-rotate the cube slightly when it gets close to the slot.
Release the cube. Press L3 again to release the cube. It will float in place briefly in front of the pillar opening.
Punch it in. Immediately use Force Palm (R3 / Right Stick) to slam the battery into the pillar. The cube locks into place with a satisfying impact.
Confirm success. Each successfully inserted battery fires a power beam toward the central device. You will see the beam connect to the device.
Repeat the grab-position-release-punch sequence for the remaining three batteries. The order does not matter. Insert them in whichever order is most convenient.
Troubleshooting
Cube dropped too early: If you accidentally release the cube before reaching the pillar, simply re-grab it with Axiom Force (hold L3) and try again.
Force Palm missed: If your Force Palm does not connect with the cube, move closer to the floating cube and try the punch again. You need to be close enough for the strike to hit.
Cube not reaching the slot: Make sure you are pushing the cube directly toward the opening in the pillar. If you approach at an angle, the cube may not line up correctly.
Camera issues: Adjust your camera angle so you can clearly see both the cube and the pillar opening before attempting the Force Palm punch.
Extracting the Unstable Core
After all four batteries are inserted and all four beams connect to the central device, a cutscene plays. When the cutscene ends, you need to extract the unstable core from the device:
Target the blue orb floating in the center of the device.
Hold L3 to activate Axiom Force on the orb.
Hold L2/LT while pushing the Right Stick upward. This slowly pulls the core away from the pedestal.
Maintain the pull for several seconds. The extraction is gradual and requires sustained input.
The core eventually pops free, completing this phase of the quest.
The core extraction feels different from inserting the batteries. Instead of a quick punch, this is a slow, sustained pull. Keep holding the controls steady until the core releases. If you let go too early, the core snaps back and you need to restart the pull.
What Comes Next
With the unstable core extracted, the next objective is to approach and subdue Tenebrum. See the How to Defeat Tenebrum guide for the boss fight strategy that follows immediately after this puzzle.
Tips
The order in which you insert the four batteries does not matter.
Each battery uses the same grab-push-release-punch sequence. Once you do the first one, the other three are identical.
If you are struggling with the Force Palm punch, move closer to the cube before pressing R3. Distance is the most common reason for missing.
During the core extraction, do not release the controls early. The pull takes several seconds of sustained input.
The minimap orange markers show all four pillar locations clearly. Use them to navigate the plaza efficiently.
