Mysterious Energies Guide
Explains what Mysterious Energies are in Crimson Desert, what they mark on the map, and how they connect to Abyss Nexuses, Abyss Cressets, fast travel, and Ancient Ruins puzzles.
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Mysterious Energies are the primary exploration markers in Crimson Desert. They appear on the world map as large white circles with a question mark inside, representing undiscovered points of interest scattered across Pywel. You can see them on your map when using the "All" or "Environment" filter tabs, and they also appear on the minimap when you get close enough. Each Mysterious Energy marker hides one of three types of discovery: an Abyss Nexus (instant fast travel point), an Abyss Cresset (puzzle-locked fast travel point), or a Secret Place (hidden area with loot and rewards).
The question mark icon disappears from your map once you investigate the location and discover what it contains. Because the exact nature of each marker is hidden until you arrive, the only way to confirm whether a given Mysterious Energy is a fast travel point, a puzzle dungeon, or a secret area is to physically travel there and explore.
There are several ways to reveal Mysterious Energy markers on your map. Some appear naturally as you ride through the world, while others require you to use specific abilities to spot them from a distance.
The most reliable method for finding Mysterious Energies is Blinding Flash, one of Kliff's core abilities. When you activate Blinding Flash while standing in the open world, blue circular light effects appear at the horizon in the direction of nearby Abyss-related points of interest. These distant glints correspond to Mysterious Energy locations, Sealed Abyss Artifacts, and other Abyss-connected discoveries.
To use Blinding Flash for exploration, hold L1 + R1 on PlayStation, LB + RB on Xbox, or Ctrl + Left Click on keyboard. Look around in all directions while the ability is active. If you spot a glint of light on the horizon, open your map afterwards and check for a new question mark icon in that direction. Not every shimmer guarantees a fast travel point; it could also indicate a Sealed Abyss Artifact or an open-world puzzle activity. The only way to confirm what each location contains is to travel there in person.
For best results, activate Blinding Flash from high ground or elevated vantage points. Environmental obstacles such as hills, trees, and buildings can block the light effects, so standing on a mountain peak or cliff edge gives you the widest field of view. Regular use of Blinding Flash while exploring new regions is the most efficient way to populate your map with Mysterious Energy markers.
Guiding Light is a secondary detection method tied to Kliff's sword. When you hold L1 + R1 (PlayStation), LB + RB (Xbox), or Ctrl + Left Click (keyboard), your sword reflects light and highlights nearby Abyss Nexus points with a blue glow. This is especially useful when you are already close to a Mysterious Energy location but cannot pinpoint the exact spot. The blue glow makes the flat stone platform of an Abyss Nexus much easier to see against the surrounding terrain.
You can also discover Mysterious Energies simply by exploring. As you ride your horse through the world, question marks will appear on your map and minimap when you enter the detection radius of an undiscovered point of interest. You do not need to use any ability for this to happen. However, relying only on natural discovery means you will miss locations that are off the main roads or hidden in remote areas, so combining this with Blinding Flash sweeps is recommended.
Once a Mysterious Energy appears on your map, you can track it by aiming the crosshair over the question mark icon. This places a waypoint that appears on your minimap, making it easier to navigate there. Pay attention to the minimap indicator: it will show whether the location is above or below your current elevation, which helps when searching in areas with cliffs, caves, or underground passages.
When you arrive at a Mysterious Energy location and investigate the area, you will find one of three types of discovery. Each type provides different rewards and requires different levels of effort to complete.
Type | Description | Activation | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
An open-air fast travel point found at accessible locations throughout Pywel. No puzzle or combat required. | Stand on the circular stone platform until it glows blue. | Permanent fast travel point | |
A fast travel point locked behind an Ancient Ruins puzzle. Located inside or near puzzle dungeons. | Complete the Ancient Ruins puzzle to activate the Cresset. | Permanent fast travel point + Abyss Artifact (skill point) | |
Secret Place | A hidden location containing loot, artifacts, or other rewards. Often tucked behind cliffs, underwater, or in hard-to-reach spots. | Reach the hidden area and collect whatever is there. |
An Abyss Nexus is the simpler of the two fast travel point types. It appears as a flat rocky structure with an engraved circular pattern in the middle, usually found in the open at easily accessible locations. To activate one, walk onto the central circle and stand there for a few seconds until it glows blue. The map icon then updates from a question mark to an active fast travel waypoint. There are approximately 47 Abyss Nexus locations spread across all five major regions of Pywel.
Once activated, you can fast travel to any Abyss Nexus from anywhere in the world. Open your map, hover over the blue Abyss Nexus icon, and press Triangle (PlayStation), Y (Xbox), or double-click (PC) to teleport there instantly. Make sure your map filter is set to "All" or "Environment" to see the icons.
Region | Approximate Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
~12 | Includes points near Hernand Castle, Howling Hill, the Witchwoods, and along the Nas River | |
~10 | Spread across Wayward Woods, Silver Wolf Mountain, Sage's Peak, and Pailune Town | |
~6 | Found at Anvil Hill, Demeniss Town, Breezeblown Knoll, and central Demeniss | |
~6 | Includes points on Gorthak, Mount Benus, Dewhaven, and the northern island | |
~13 | Concentrated around Tashkalp, Forebearer's Barrens, Outlaw Canyon, and Varnia Town |
The Greymane Camp at Howling Hill has a unique Abyss Nexus that does not activate simply by standing on it. The stone platform near Kliff's house is initially covered in vines and cannot be used. Unlocking this particular fast travel point requires a multi-step process that spans several chapters of the story.
To activate it, you need to have completed the Sealed in Stone side quest and progressed far enough in the main story to unlock Focused Force Palm. You must then return to Karin Quarry, find the Abyss crystalline formation beneath the crane, and use Focused Force Palm to break through a purple crystallized wall. Inside you will find an Abyss Teleporter disk, which you retrieve using Axiom Force. Back at Howling Hill, use Blinding Flash to burn away the vines covering the platform, then place the disk using Aerial Force Palm. Finally, step onto the completed Abyss Nexus to activate it. For a full walkthrough, see the How to Unlock the Greymane Camp House Teleport article.
An Abyss Cresset is the second type of fast travel point. Unlike an Abyss Nexus, it requires you to solve a puzzle before it activates. Abyss Cressets are tied to Ancient Ruins dungeons scattered throughout Pywel. When a Mysterious Energy marker leads to an Abyss Cresset, you will find the entrance to an Ancient Ruins puzzle nearby. Completing the puzzle activates the Cresset, which then functions identically to an Abyss Nexus as a permanent fast travel point.
There are approximately 60 Secret Place / Abyss Cresset locations across all regions, tracked under the Secret Places Challenges in your journal. Discovering all of them unlocks the "Pilgrim of Wonders" trophy and contributes toward the "Expert Explorer" achievement. Each Abyss Cresset you activate also rewards you with an Abyss Artifact, which is a skill point that can be spent on the Skill Tree.
Location | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Northwest of Lioncrest Manor | One of the earliest accessible Cressets | |
Southeast of Howling Hill | Close to the Greymane Camp area | |
West of Kilnden Workshop | has a checkerboard-style stone placement puzzle | |
North of Phoniel Ranch | Pillar height matching puzzle requiring Stab | |
South of Fort Perwin | Accessible after reaching the Pailune region | |
Galepulley | Symbol rotation puzzle with multiple rounds | |
On the coast south of the Steel Mountains | Bell puzzle requiring a specific sequence | |
Southwest of Arboria Castle | Multi-step mural puzzle | |
Silverwolf Lake | Requires Nature's Grasp and Force Palm | |
Hill of Serenity | Fountain puzzle using Stab to rotate waterspouts |
The third type of discovery hidden behind Mysterious Energy markers is a Secret Place. These are hidden locations that do not involve puzzle dungeons or fast travel activation. Instead, they contain valuable loot such as Sealed Abyss Artifacts, equipment, crafting materials, and sometimes unique items. Secret Places are often tucked away in hard-to-reach spots: behind waterfalls, inside cliff caves, at the top of rock pillars, underwater, or at the very edge of the map.
Finding Secret Places contributes to the same "Pilgrim of Wonders" trophy that tracks Abyss Cressets. Some Secret Places also count toward other exploration challenges. The rewards at these locations tend to include items that are not available through normal gameplay, making them worth the effort to reach even late in the game.
Secret Place | Region | Description |
|---|---|---|
East of Equinsher Saddlery, atop a hill surrounded by damaging plants | ||
Hill of the Abandoned | South of Mountain of Frozen Souls Hearth, on the cliffs | |
Windcrest | Southwest of Mountain of Frozen Souls Hearth, near the map edge | |
Cape of Hope | Southwest of Woodrock Cabin | |
Saltshade Hill | Southwest of Oasis Hearth, on a tall cliff | |
Everflowing Spring | Near the center of the Oasis, close to Oasis Hearth | |
Mushroomcap Cliff | North of Varnia Saltroad Camp, on a distinctive rock pillar |
When a Mysterious Energy leads to an Abyss Cresset, you will usually find the entrance to an Ancient Ruins dungeon nearby. There are 37 Ancient Ruins challenges in total, tracked in your journal under Challenges in the "The Thread in the Forest" tab. These short puzzle dungeons require you to use specific abilities to manipulate objects, redirect light, move tiles, or interact with mechanisms. Completing each puzzle activates the nearby Abyss Cresset and rewards you with an Abyss Artifact.
If you reach an Ancient Ruins location and cannot figure out how to interact with the puzzle, it is likely that you have not yet unlocked the required ability. Most puzzle mechanics are tied to Kliff's abyss abilities, which are learned progressively through the main story. Rather than spending time stuck at a ruin, mark it on your map and return after advancing further in the story.
Ancient Ruins puzzles come in several distinct varieties. While each puzzle is unique, they draw from a set of recurring mechanics:
Puzzle Type | Mechanic | Example |
|---|---|---|
Disc Plate Puzzle | Use Force Palm to strike stone plates in the correct order so all plates are pressed simultaneously | The first Ancient Ruins encountered during the Reunion quest (hit Middle, Left, Right) |
Pillar Height Puzzle | Use Stab on mechanism sockets to adjust pillar heights until all pillars match the reference height | Found between the twin rivers south of Kilnden Workshop |
Tile Arrangement Puzzle | Use Axiom Force to slide tiles around a grid to form a picture or pattern | Checkerboard-style puzzles with moveable stone blocks |
Symbol Rotation Puzzle | Rotate dials to match specific symbol sequences across multiple rounds | Galepulley: Plate, then Lyre/Vase/Scales, then Horse/Lyre/Scales/Plate combos |
Fountain Puzzle | Use Stab to pierce sockets and rotate fountains until waterspouts fill a central basin | Similar to angel statue puzzles; requires precise directional alignment |
Bell Puzzle | Strike bells in a specific numbered sequence to unlock the mechanism | Steel Mountains Ruins: sequence is 1,2,3,4,5,6,4,3,2,1 |
Mural Puzzle | Leave the chamber, travel to real-world locations depicted on cracked murals, and decode the solution from clues found there | Dragon's Stone Chamber south of Howling Hill |
Light Redirection Puzzle | Use Blinding Flash to activate Abyss Devices that glow blue when targeted by the light beam | Various ruins across all regions |
Object Lifting Puzzle | Use Nature's Grasp to lift walls, move boulders, or reposition objects blocking your path | Often combined with Force Palm to hit plates behind lifted obstacles |
Many Ancient Ruins puzzles cannot be completed without specific abilities that Kliff learns during the main story. If you arrive at a Mysterious Energy location and find a puzzle you cannot interact with, check whether you have the required ability. Here is when each puzzle-relevant ability becomes available:
Ability | Unlocked | Puzzle Use |
|---|---|---|
Chapter 1 | Push objects and strike stone plates | |
Chapter 2 | Lift walls, move boulders, and reposition objects | |
Chapter 3 | Pierce mechanism sockets to rotate devices and adjust pillars | |
Chapter 4+ | Slide tiles, retrieve items, and manipulate distant objects | |
Early game | Activate Abyss Devices, burn vines, and reveal hidden elements | |
Later chapters | Strike targets while airborne, place objects in elevated positions |
Because abilities are unlocked progressively through the story, you will naturally encounter some Ancient Ruins that you cannot solve on your first visit. This is by design. Mark these locations and revisit them once you have progressed further. All regions are technically accessible from the start of the game, but many puzzles within them require late-game abilities.
Investigating Mysterious Energies is one of the most important activities for character progression in Crimson Desert. The rewards feed directly into multiple advancement systems:
Abyss Artifacts (Skill Points): Every Abyss Cresset you activate rewards an Abyss Artifact, which functions as a skill point. These are spent on the Skill Tree to unlock new combat abilities, passive buffs, and stat upgrades for Health, Stamina, and Spirit.
Fast Travel Network: Both Abyss Nexus and Abyss Cresset locations become permanent fast travel points once activated. Building out this network dramatically reduces travel time across Pywel's large map. The more you investigate, the easier it becomes to reach any corner of the world quickly.
Sealed Abyss Artifacts: Secret Places often contain Sealed Abyss Artifacts, collectibles that unlock Challenges. Completing Challenges rewards additional Abyss Artifacts, Faded Abyss Artifacts (for resetting skills), and Abyss Gear (weapon and armor modifications).
Trophy and Achievement Progress: Discovering all Secret Places and Abyss Cressets contributes to exploration trophies including "Pilgrim of Wonders" and "Expert Explorer." See the Trophy Roadmap for a full list.
Exploration Loot: Beyond artifacts, Secret Places and puzzle dungeons often contain rare equipment, crafting materials, and unique items that cannot be obtained through vendors or standard gameplay.
Sweep from high ground. Climb to mountain peaks, towers, or cliff edges before using Blinding Flash. The elevation gives you a wider field of view and reveals more distant light effects.
Check the map filter. Mysterious Energy markers only appear when your map is set to the "All" or "Environment" tab. If you do not see any question marks, check your filter settings.
Use the minimap elevation indicator. When tracking a Mysterious Energy, the minimap shows whether the target is above or below you. This is critical in areas with caves, cliffs, or multi-level terrain.
Prioritize Hernand Nexuses early. The fast travel points near Hernand Castle and the surrounding area are the most useful early in the game when you are frequently traveling back and forth for story quests.
Do not force puzzles. If you reach an Ancient Ruins and cannot figure out the interaction, you likely do not have the required ability yet. Mark the location and return after progressing through the story. Trying to brute-force a puzzle that requires Axiom Force when you only have Force Palm will just waste time.
Watch for hostile enemies. Some Abyss Nexus locations are guarded by enemies. If you notice an unusual number of "bushes" near a flat stone platform, be prepared for an ambush when you try to activate it.
Explore Abyss realm waypoints. The floating islands of the Abyss contain their own teleport system separate from the overworld. You unlock the first Abyss-based fast travel point during the main story before entering the Axiom Archive. Note that only Kliff can use Abyss waypoints; Damiane cannot access them.
Investigate every marker. Even if you are focused on the main story, taking a short detour to check nearby Mysterious Energies is almost always worth it. The skill points from Abyss Cressets and the fast travel access from Abyss Nexuses compound over time, making everything else in the game easier.