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Overview

The Sanctum of Renunciation is one of 16 sanctum challenge locations scattered across Pywel in Crimson Desert. It is located in the Tashkalp region, northeast of Drywind Valley. The sanctum takes the form of a large ruined structure perched on the edge of a cliff, visible from a distance as a crumbling stone building surrounded by sparse greenery in an otherwise arid landscape.

This sanctum is associated with Areciel, the Witch of Strength, and must be cleansed as part of her faction questline. Players cannot cleanse the sanctum until they have met Areciel during the main story. In addition to the sanctum challenge rewards, the Sanctum of Renunciation contains the Golden Greed Helmet, one of five pieces in the Golden Greed armor set.

Location and How to Reach

The Sanctum of Renunciation sits in a desert-like area between Demeniss and the Crimson Desert proper. To find it, head northeast from Drywind Valley and look for a large ruined building on the edge of a cliff. The ruins are surrounded by patches of greenery that stand out against the surrounding terrain, making them identifiable from a distance.

The recommended approach is from the south side. As you draw closer, the ruins become more distinct, with crumbling walls and stone archways visible against the skyline. The sanctum icon will appear on the map once you are within range, and a waypoint can be set through the Challenges menu under the Sanctums tab.

Enemies

On the first visit, the Sanctum of Renunciation is heavily occupied by hostile cultists. Before the puzzle can be attempted, all enemies must be eliminated. The game tracks this progress via a green liberation bar displayed above the minimap. Once the bar reaches 0%, the sanctum is considered liberated and the puzzle becomes accessible.

The cultist forces include both ground-based fighters and airborne enemies. Ground cultists attack with melee weapons and can swarm Kliff if left unchecked. Flying cultists are more dangerous and should be dealt with using ranged attacks. Shooting them down with arrows is effective; once grounded, they can be finished off with standard melee combos.

Puzzle Solution

Cleansing the Sanctum of Renunciation requires locating two missing Fusion Reactor Cores and attaching them to the central generator. The puzzle begins after the enemies have been cleared and the sanctum is liberated.

1. Locate the entry points: After the liberation cutscene, look for two barred rooms on either side of the main chamber. Each room has a gap in the bars that Kliff can slip through.

2. First Fusion Reactor Core (XIII - III): Enter through the southeastern gap. Jump to the upper ledge to find the first core, which serves as the tip of a column. Remove it from the Kuku Pot, then position it on top of the column and push it into place using the Aerial Force Palm skill.

3. Second Fusion Reactor Core: On the opposite side of the bars, enter through the other gap. Look upward to spot the cube. Climb any nearby object to gain leverage, then use Axiom Force to seal the second core into position.

4. Activate the generator: Once both cores are installed, the generator activates and the sanctum is cleansed. Areciel, the Witch of Strength, appears to acknowledge the completion.

Golden Greed Helmet

In addition to the standard sanctum rewards, the Sanctum of Renunciation contains the Golden Greed Helmet, one of five pieces of the Golden Greed armor set. Near the blocked entryway on the side of the wall, there are two unlit lanterns. Clear the enemies near these lanterns, then light both torches by pressing the interact button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox) or by using a fire-based magic attack. Once both lanterns are lit, the entryway opens and the armor piece can be collected inside.

The Golden Greed Helmet is a plate headgear piece that provides solid defensive stats and contributes to the full set bonus when combined with the other four pieces found across the region.

Other Witch of Strength Sanctums

Areciel's questline includes three sanctums that must be cleansed. The Sanctum of Renunciation is one of them, alongside the Sanctum of Expiation in the Azerian Estate (east of Drakesfall Gorge) and the Sanctum of Revelation in the Serpent Marsh (northeast). Completing all three is required to advance Areciel's faction questline and unlock the final confrontation with Antumbra.

Tips

• Bring a bow or crossbow to deal with the flying cultists during the liberation phase. Melee-only builds will struggle to hit airborne enemies.

• The Sanctum of Renunciation cannot be cleansed until you have met Areciel during the main story. You can still liberate it and loot the Golden Greed Helmet before that point, but the puzzle will not activate.

• The two Fusion Reactor Cores require the Force Palm and Axiom Force abilities. Make sure these are unlocked before attempting the puzzle.

• After cleansing, check the corners of the sanctum for additional treasure chests that may contain crafting materials or consumables.