Overview
Sanctum Challenges are a set of exploration-based objectives in Crimson Desert that require players to locate and cleanse corrupted sanctums scattered across the world of Pywel. Each sanctum contains a unique puzzle involving Axiom Force abilities, environmental interaction, and combat. Sanctum Challenges fall under the broader challenge system and contribute to overall game completion.
Some sanctum-style locations, such as the Sanctorum of Insight, are found within the Abyss rather than in the overworld. These locations are also classified under the Abyss (Restoration) subcategory of Exploration Challenges and count toward both Sanctum and Abyss completion tracking.
Sanctum challenges are among the most rewarding activities in the game. Beyond the puzzle-solving and exploration, each sanctum is tied to the witch quest system, and completing them unlocks access to witch services, progression upgrades, and some of the best unique boss gear available in Crimson Desert.
How to Unlock
Sanctums are inaccessible until you reach Chapter 5 of the main story. If you try to interact with a sanctum before that point, a disembodied voice tells you that your "connection is not strong enough" to enter. This message plays regardless of your character level or gear; the gate is purely story-locked.
During Chapter 5, you meet the Witch character at Greymane Camp. She assigns a quest called "The Witch of Wisdom" as part of the Witches Faction questline. This quest asks you to cleanse all sanctums in the world, and it adds waypoints to your journal so you can track each one.
All sanctums become available simultaneously after meeting the Witch. You can cleanse them in any order.
The Witch Quest System
Sanctum challenges are directly connected to the witch quest system operating out of Greymane Camp. There are four witches in total, and each one requires you to clear specific sanctums before they will offer their services. Clearing a witch's assigned sanctums proves your connection to the land's spiritual energy, and the witch then opens her full set of abilities and upgrades to you.
The four witches and their roles are:
Phase | Details |
|---|---|
: The first witch you meet during Chapter 5. She introduces the sanctum cleansing quest and unlocks after you complete her assigned sanctums. | |
Witch of Vigor | : Requires her designated sanctums cleared before she provides her services and combat-related upgrades. |
Witch of Fortune | : Unlocks crafting and enhancement services after you cleanse her sanctums. |
: The final witch. She only appears after you have cleared all other sanctums for the previous three witches. You cannot access the Witch of Strength's services until every other witch's requirements are met, making her the capstone of the sanctum progression system. |
Because the Witch of Strength requires total sanctum completion, players who want access to the full range of witch services should prioritize clearing sanctums throughout the mid-game rather than saving them for later.
General Sanctum Mechanics
Every sanctum follows a similar structure, though the specific puzzles differ. When you arrive at a sanctum, the area is overrun by enemies that must be cleared before the puzzle becomes interactive. After eliminating all hostiles, the puzzle phase begins.
Most sanctum puzzles involve placing pillar tops on broken pillars surrounding the sanctum structure and then activating them with Force Palm. The pillar tops are hidden in the surrounding environment, often behind vines, inside locked buildings, or underground. You will frequently use Axiom Force to retrieve objects and Force Palm to lock them into place.
Boss Fights and Hidden Chests
Many sanctums feature a boss fight either as part of the initial enemy-clearing phase or as a final encounter after completing the puzzle. These boss fights are a core reason sanctums are so valuable, since the bosses drop unique equipment with abyss gear properties. Sanctum bosses are considered one of the best sources of unique boss-dropped equipment in the game, making them well worth the effort even for players primarily interested in gear progression.
Every sanctum also contains a hidden chest tucked away somewhere in the environment. These chests are easy to miss if you rush through the puzzle, so always take a moment to explore the area thoroughly before and after completing the cleansing. The chests can contain materials, rare consumables, and occasionally additional abyss-infused equipment. Make it a habit to check behind structures, inside alcoves, and on elevated platforms that might not be immediately visible.
Sanctum Locations and Walkthroughs
Sanctum of Temperance
Region: Central Pywel
The Sanctum of Temperance becomes available after meeting the Witch in Chapter 5. This is typically the first sanctum most players encounter.
Clear all enemies surrounding the sanctum.
Jump through the opening in the ground beneath the sanctum to find the power cube below.
Use Axiom Force to retrieve the power cube and carry it back up.
Place the cube in the empty square hole (the one slot without a cell already in it).
Use Force Palm to activate the cube.
One of the pillars surrounding the sanctum is missing its top section. The missing piece is located inside a vine-covered building to the right of the sanctum.
Clear the vines using fire arrows or the Blinding Flash ability to access the building.
Retrieve the pillar top, place it on the broken pillar, and use Force Palm to lock it into position.
Sanctum of Benediction
Region: Western Hernand, located just south of the "E" in the Hernand label on the map
Clear the enemies around the sanctum area.
Locate the first pillar top nearby. Use Axiom Force to carry it to the broken pillar, then use Aerial Force Palm to push it into place.
The second pillar top is locked inside the tall closed structure in the center of the area. To open the door, light the lantern to the right of the main entrance. Many players miss this step.
Enter the building, retrieve the second pillar top, and place it on the remaining broken pillar.
Use Force Palm to lock it into position, completing the cleansing.
Sanctum of Penitence
Region: Delesyia
The Sanctum of Penitence follows the same general structure as the other sanctums. Clear the enemies, locate the hidden pillar components in the surrounding environment, and use Axiom Force and Force Palm to restore the pillars.
Sanctorum of Insight
Region: Abyss
The Sanctorum of Insight is a unique sanctum location within the Abyss. Unlike the other sanctums that are found in the overworld regions of Pywel, this sanctorum exists within an Abyss pocket and is also categorized as a Restoration challenge. the challenge requires reaching the top of the sanctorum structure and activating its mechanism.
Enter the Sanctorum of Insight through the Abyss portal. The interior is a vertical chamber with multiple platforms.
Ascend through the sanctorum using a combination of climbing, Axiom Force jumps, and platform puzzles.
At the summit, interact with the mechanism to activate it and complete the challenge.
This challenge does not award an Abyss Artifact directly. Instead, completing it advances the Restoration quest line and may unlock access to adjacent Abyss areas.
The Sanctorum of Insight is also listed in the Challenges hub article under the Abyss (Restoration) subcategory. It counts toward both Sanctum completion and Abyss completion for trophy/achievement tracking purposes.
Rewards
Cleansing sanctums provides several types of rewards:
Reward | Details |
|---|---|
Witches Faction progression: | Each sanctum you cleanse advances "The Witch of Wisdom" questline. Completing all sanctums for a given witch unlocks her full set of services and progression upgrades. Clearing every sanctum across all four witches is required to reach the Witch of Strength, the final and most powerful witch in the faction. |
Witch services: | Each witch you unlock by clearing her sanctums provides unique services at Greymane Camp. These include crafting enhancements, combat upgrades, and special abilities that are not available through any other means. Investing in sanctum completion early ensures you have access to the full range of witch services for the mid-to-late game. |
Boss equipment with abyss properties: | Boss fights inside sanctums drop unique equipment that features abyss gear properties. These items are some of the strongest pieces of gear available and cannot be obtained from regular enemy drops or standard crafting. Sanctums are widely considered one of the single best sources of unique boss gear in the game. |
Every sanctum contains at least one hidden chest tucked away in the environment. Always search the area thoroughly, including behind structures, below platforms, and inside side rooms. These chests can contain rare materials, consumables, and occasionally abyss-infused items. | |
Certain sanctums are tied to Abyss locations, and restoring them can reveal collectible artifacts in the surrounding area. | |
Game completion: | All sanctums contribute to 100% completion and the associated trophies and achievements. |
Core Rewards from the Cleansing Puzzle
On top of the witch faction progress, boss equipment, and hidden chest loot covered above, every sanctum can also award a unique Core item. These cores are not dropped by bosses and are not handed out automatically when the sanctum is liberated. Instead, they come from a second puzzle phase that most players overlook.
How Cores Are Earned
After a sanctum is liberated, check the central generator for a small floating antenna above the refracting gem. If the antenna is still present, the sanctum has an active cleansing phase. Draw Blinding Flash, aim at the refracting gem, and press Focus Light (LB on a controller or Control on PC). A ring of surrounding nodes flashes a Morse-code-style rhythm that you must copy by tapping and holding at the matching positions. Taps are instant presses, holds end on a faint audio cue, and any wrong input resets the puzzle. When the pattern is matched, the wheel locks, the antenna descends, and a glowing fragment pops out. Hook it with the Axiom Grapple to seal it and receive the sanctum's Core.
Each sanctum drops a different named Core. For example, the Sanctum of Temperance yields the Core of Temperance. These cores feed Kuku Pot recipes and unlock crafting blueprints that cannot be obtained any other way, which makes the cleansing puzzle one of the highest-value optional objectives in the game. Players who want to fully complete every sanctum challenge should plan to do the cleansing phase on every single one, not just the liberation objective.
Tips
You can mark sanctum locations through your journal once the Witch quest is active. This saves a lot of wandering.
Bring fire arrows or have Blinding Flash equipped. Several sanctum puzzles require burning vines or lighting lanterns.
Clear every enemy before trying the puzzle. Some environmental objects will not respond to Axiom Force while enemies are still active nearby.
If a pillar top does not seem to snap into place, make sure you are using Aerial Force Palm (jump first, then Force Palm) rather than the grounded version.
Check inside and around buildings near the sanctum. The pillar components are always within a short radius of the sanctum itself.
Bring food before entering. Sanctum encounters can be lengthy, especially when boss fights are involved. Having food buffs active gives you a meaningful edge in both the combat and puzzle phases. Cooked meals that restore health over time are particularly useful since you may not have time to heal between enemy waves and the boss.
Use Force Palm for debuffing. Beyond its puzzle-solving role, Force Palm applies a debuff to enemies when used in combat. Landing a Force Palm on a sanctum boss staggers it briefly and reduces its defense, creating an opening for burst damage. Work Force Palm into your combat rotation rather than saving it only for puzzles.
Focus Level 3 makes bosses manageable. If you are finding a sanctum boss too difficult, make sure your Focus is at level 3 before engaging. Level 3 Focus dramatically increases your damage output and makes bosses manageable even when you are underleveled. Investing skill points into the Focus tree before tackling sanctums is one of the best strategies for players progressing through the mid-game.
Do not skip the hidden chest. Every single sanctum has a hidden chest placed somewhere in the area. The chest is often in a location you would not check unless you deliberately explore after completing the puzzle. Walk the full perimeter, check elevated ledges, and look behind any destructible cover before you leave.