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Phoniel Ranch
March 27, 2026 at 05:08 AM
Content expansion (2026-03-26)
Phoniel Ranch is a ruined ranch town in the Hernand region. The settlement was left in ruins after being plundered by the Bleed Bandits, who completely ransacked the area and left no livestock behind. Despite its surface devastation, the ranch holds a significant secret: beneath a small wooden shack lies a hidden ladder leading down to the Azure Moon Labyrinth, one of the ancient ruins puzzles that rewards an Abyss Cresset and the Memory of Tide.
Phoniel Ranch was once a functional ranch town before the Bleed Bandits descended upon it. The bandits were thorough in their destruction, stripping the settlement of its livestock and leaving it in a depleted, ruined state. The ranch now stands as a testament to the bandit threat plaguing the Hernand region. Destroyed wagons, collapsed fences, and abandoned buildings scatter the area.
The ranch is located in the Hernand region, northeast of the Witch's House area. It sits within reach of Pororin Forest and Florindale to the southeast, which are important for solving the Azure Moon Labyrinth puzzle. Nearby locations like Saddlewind Ranch offer a contrast as a still-functioning ranch.
The most significant feature of Phoniel Ranch is the hidden entrance to the Azure Moon Labyrinth ancient ruins puzzle. The entrance is found inside a small wooden shack (booth) on the ranch grounds, sitting between two destroyed wagons. Inside the shack, a ladder drops you below the surface into the labyrinth.
After descending the ladder, players face several hazards before reaching the puzzle chamber:
Fire traps: The first section contains multiple fire traps. Shimmy across ledges while avoiding the flames and spike pit below.
Falling rubble: Watch for debris dropping from above as you proceed through the passages.
Gate lever: Pull the lever at the end of the trapped corridor to open the gate into the puzzle chamber.
The puzzle chamber contains eight buttons, each marked with a different symbol. To unlock the exit, you must press five correct buttons in any order. A map on the chamber wall provides a hint, showing five locations marked with a red X. These correspond to real locations near Pororin Forest and Florindale in Hernand.
To find the clues, travel to Pororin Village (southeast of Hernand) and look for trees with letter markings painted on them. Each marked tree corresponds to one of the symbols on the puzzle buttons. All five clues are located in the same general area, so you only need to search one part of the map.
Reward | Description |
|---|---|
Found just past the south door after solving the puzzle; unlocks a fast-travel station in the area | |
Memory of Tide | A valuable exploration reward for players deep into the game's discovery content |
Shack with hidden ladder: The small wooden booth between two destroyed wagons, northeast of the Witch's House
Destroyed wagons and fences: Remnants of the Bleed Bandit raid scattered across the ranch
Lootable containers: The ruined ranch may still contain lootable items and collectibles among the wreckage
Saddlewind Ranch: A still-functioning ranch nearby for contrast
Pororin Forest: Contains the symbol clues needed for the Azure Moon Labyrinth puzzle
Florindale: Adjacent area where additional puzzle clues can be found
Witch's House: Located southwest of the ranch
The hidden ladder in the shack is easy to miss. Look for the small wooden booth sitting between two destroyed wagons.
Before entering the Azure Moon Labyrinth, travel to Pororin Village first to find the tree markings that serve as puzzle clues. This saves you a return trip.
In the labyrinth, time your movements carefully through the fire trap section. Shimmy along ledges and wait for gaps between flame bursts.
The puzzle buttons can be pressed in any order, so you do not need to memorize a specific sequence.
The Bleed Bandits' presence here connects to the wider bandit storyline across Hernand.
