Overview
Polar Opposites is a main quest in Chapter 1: The First Encounter of Crimson Desert. After stepping through the Abyss Gate in Hernand Castle, Kliff finds himself in a floating realm filled with mysterious energy. A talking bird grants him the Axiom Force skill, which is needed to solve a rotating disc puzzle and open the Axiom Archive. Inside, Kliff meets Alustin, the disguised beggar from the city, who reveals the truth about the otherworldly beings threatening Pywel.
Quest Details
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Chapter | Chapter 1: The First Encounter, Trace |
Region | |
Location | |
Previous Quest | |
Next Quest | |
Requirements | Complete Mystical Key |
Rewards | Axiom Force (skill) |
Walkthrough
Activate the Abyss Nexus
You begin on a floating island in the Abyss. Walk forward and step onto the circular platform on the ground. Stand on it for a few seconds to activate the Abyss Nexus. This unlocks fast travel to this location for the rest of the game. Abyss Nexus points appear as blue icons on the sky map.
Go Toward the Building
Move toward the large structure ahead. A cutscene triggers where a talking bird appears and grants Kliff the Axiom Force ability. A tutorial popup explains the basics: hold L3/Left Stick to activate Axiom Force, which lets you push, pull, and rotate objects in the environment.
Solve the Disc Puzzle
To the right of the path leading to the Axiom Archive's sealed doors, there are two rotating floor discs. The goal is to align them so that power (visible as glowing blue light) flows through a complete circuit from one side to the other.
Shine your lantern (L1/LB) to reveal the yellow circuit outlines on each disc.
Hold L3 to activate Axiom Force and target the first disc.
Use L2/LT to pull or R2/RT to push, and rotate with the right stick until the yellow lines on the disc connect to the wires on the floor.
Repeat for the second disc.
When both discs are aligned, blue light flows through the entire circuit and the tower doors open.
If you get a disc stuck in the wrong position, press Circle/B to release the Axiom Force grip and start over. The puzzle resets cleanly.
Enter the Building
Walk through the opened doors into the Axiom Archive. Inside, Kliff meets Alustin, who is no longer disguised as a beggar. He explains that otherworldly beings have been causing chaos across the land and that the Abyss holds both the problem and the answer. The conversation concludes the quest.
Axiom Force Controls
Action | PlayStation | Xbox |
|---|---|---|
Activate Axiom Force | Hold L3 | Hold Left Stick |
Push object | R2 | RT |
Pull object | L2 | LT |
Rotate object | Right Stick | Right Stick |
Release grip | Circle | B |
Reveal circuits | L1 (Lantern) | LB (Lantern) |
Tips
Activate the Abyss Nexus before doing anything else. Fast travel back to this spot saves a lot of backtracking later.
The disc puzzle is not timed. Take your time aligning the circuits. The yellow guide lines make it clear when the connection is correct.
No combat occurs in this quest. It focuses entirely on puzzle-solving and narrative.
From the sky islands, you can skydive to nearby ground locations. Look for white "?" circles on the map for points of interest.