Spire of Clockwork

Overview

The Spire of Clockwork is one of eight Spires in Crimson Desert, towering mechanical constructs scattered across the world of Pywel that house traversal puzzles and connect to the Abyss. Located at Breezeblown Knoll in the Demeniss region, this Spire is themed around rotating gears, levers, and clockwork machinery. Completing it grants access to the Riddle Square Abyss island, a gliding time trial that ultimately unlocks Wind Level 1 and the Storm Veil skill.

The Spire of Clockwork is a mid-to-late game challenge. Unlike the story Spires encountered earlier (such as the Spire of the Stars in Chapter 4 or the Spire of Soaring in Chapter 5), this Spire is optional content that players must seek out after receiving the key. It counts toward the "Conqueror of Spires" trophy and achievement, which requires completing all eight Spires.

Location

The Spire of Clockwork stands at Breezeblown Knoll, located in eastern Demeniss near the river that forms the border between Demeniss and Delesyia. The structure is visible from a distance as a tall mechanical tower rising above the surrounding landscape. An Abyss Nexus is situated nearby for fast travel convenience.

Quick Reference

How to Unlock

The Spire of Clockwork cannot be entered until you obtain its key. The Spire of Clockwork Key is awarded upon completing the main quest A Fleeting Dream, which is part of Chapter 8: Blood Coronation. This quest concludes with a boss fight against Lucian Bastier in his tower east of Demeniss, fought exclusively as Damiane. After defeating him, the quest rewards include four armor pieces (Official Knight's Plate Armor, Official Knight's Leather Boots, Official Knight's Leather Gloves, and Official Knight's Plate Gloves) and the Spire of Clockwork Key.

With the key in your inventory, travel to Breezeblown Knoll in eastern Demeniss and interact with the Spire's entrance to begin the puzzle.

Puzzle Solution

The Spire of Clockwork is a vertical traversal puzzle built around rotating gears, lever mechanisms, and precise timing. The core challenge requires pulling levers to activate gear segments, using Axiom Force to bridge gaps between moving platforms, and carefully observing rotation patterns before committing to jumps.

Step-by-Step Walkthrough

1. Enter the main gate to access the lower mechanical chamber. Head straight in toward the first mechanism.

2. Pull the first lever near the entrance. Pull it downward to activate the initial gear system. The gears on the ground floor will begin rotating.

3. Use Axiom Force to reach the second gear segment. Normal jumps are not sufficient to reach the moving platform safely. Use your Axiom Force grapple to launch yourself onto the rotating cog above.

4. Pull the second lever. Once you reach the intermediate level, locate and activate the second lever to start the next set of gears spinning.

5. Use a barrel to climb higher. Mount the barrel in this section and use it as a stepping point to reach the upper portions of the clocktower.

6. Wait for main gear alignment. Before moving outside, watch the large gear rotation carefully. This is one of the most critical timing moments in the puzzle. Move only when the gears are aligned to create a safe path.

7. Exit to the exterior platform. Once the gears align, a pathway opens that lets you step outside the clocktower onto an exterior ledge.

8. Locate the main terminals. Find the clocktower's activation terminals on the outside of the structure.

9. Activate the elevator. Press the button to start the elevator mechanism. Ride the elevator to the top of the Spire, where an Abyss Gate forms.

10. Enter the Abyss Gate. Step through the gate to be transported to the Riddle Square Abyss island.

Key Tips for the Puzzle

• Observe before you move. Every rotating gear has a predictable pattern. Watch at least one full rotation cycle before attempting to cross.

• Axiom Force is essential. Standard jumps cannot bridge most of the gaps in this Spire. Keep your Axiom Force ready and use it decisively when gaps appear.

• The gear alignment step is the hardest part. The main gear near the top of the tower requires precise timing. If you move too early or too late, you will fall and need to reclimb.

• The puzzle is a skill check. This Spire tests your mastery of traversal mechanics more than any other puzzle element. Practice with Axiom Force before attempting it if you are unfamiliar with the ability.

Riddle Square Abyss

After completing the Spire's climbing puzzle and entering the Abyss Gate at the top, you are transported to an Abyss island called Riddle Square. Despite its name, Riddle Square does not contain a riddle or traditional puzzle. Instead, it is a gliding time trial that tests your aerial movement skills.

How the Time Trial Works

1. Use your Axiom Force grapple to activate the receptacle (switch) near the center of the island. This turns on large fans and causes a series of rings to move into position in the sky.

2. Launch into the air and begin gliding. Your objective is to fly through every ring in sequence from start to finish.

3. Navigate the course by gliding through rings, which are kept aloft by the fan currents. Passing through a ring automatically restores your stamina, so you do not need to worry about running out mid-flight.

4. In certain segments, you must deactivate your glide and free-fall downward, then reactivate gliding to catch the next air current. There is a slight delay when reactivating, so anticipate the timing.

5. At the final section, cling onto the wheel mechanism and use Force Palm to complete the activation sequence.

Tips for Riddle Square

• Stamina Level 5 is sufficient. Having your stamina upgraded to around level 5 provides enough endurance to complete the course, since the rings restore stamina as you pass through them.

• Watch for free-fall segments. Not every section is pure gliding. Some gaps require you to drop and then re-engage your glide to catch upward drafts from the fans.

• Reactivation delay matters. There is a brief delay when toggling glide back on. Start reactivating slightly before you think you need to, especially in sections with quick transitions between falling and rising.

• Use Force Palm at the end. The final wheel mechanism requires a Force Palm interaction, not a lever pull. Make sure you cling onto the mechanism before using the ability.

Rewards

Completing the Riddle Square Abyss time trial activates the wheel mechanism on the island. Once activated, you can pick up the Abyss Artifact on the opposite side of the island platform. This artifact unlocks Wind Level 1, granting access to the Storm Veil skill.

Reward Summary

Storm Veil

Storm Veil is a Wind-element skill on the Health skill tree that costs 10 Spirit to cast. When activated, Kliff deploys a cloud of smoke that obscures the vision of nearby enemies. This functions as an aggro reset, allowing you to disengage from combat, reposition for a flanking attack, or set up a stealth takedown on disoriented opponents.

Nearby Sealed Abyss Artifacts

The area around the Spire of Clockwork contains several Sealed Abyss Artifacts, which are challenge tasks that reward additional Abyss Artifacts when completed.

All Spires in Crimson Desert

There are eight Spires across Pywel. Completing all of them unlocks the "Conqueror of Spires" trophy and achievement. Each Spire counts as one Challenge under the "Lands Meet the Sky (Spires)" category.

Trivia

• The Spire of Clockwork is one of five optional Spires. The other three (Spire of the Stars, Spire of Soaring, and Spire of the Sun) are completed automatically during the main story, and the Jijeong Temple Pagoda is encountered during a Chapter 9 subquest.

• Riddle Square is the only Abyss island accessed through a Spire that features a pure gliding time trial rather than a combat or platforming challenge.

• The name "Riddle Square" is somewhat misleading, as the challenge contains no riddles or traditional puzzles. The activity is entirely a ring-based aerial course.