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The Thread in the Forest Puzzle Solutions
May 20, 2026 at 03:46 AM
Added gameplay screenshot
The Thread in the Forest is an Exploration Challenge subcategory in Crimson Desert that tracks your progress across 37 Ancient Ruins puzzles scattered throughout the continent of Pywel. Each ruin contains a self-contained puzzle, and solving it activates the Abyss Cresset inside, turning it into a permanent fast travel point. Every completed ruin also rewards you with an Abyss Artifactthe primary currency used for skill upgrades and gear enhancement.
Unlike Mastery and Combat challengesThe Thread in the Forest does not require Sealed Abyss Artifacts to unlock. You simply need to discover the Ancient Ruins in the open world. Unvisited ruins appear on your map as white circles with a question mark, labeled "Mysterious Energy." You can track which ruins you have completed by opening Journal > Challenges > Exploration > Ancient Ruins.
Several puzzle types require specific abilities before they can be solved. Make sure you unlock these from the skill tree before heading out to hunt for ruins.
Ability | How to Obtain | Used For |
|---|---|---|
Learned during the Reunion quest (Chapter 2) by observing a blue silhouette | Lifting heavy stone gates, moving large objects | |
Learned during the Reunion quest (Chapter 2) | Punching disc mechanisms, activating pressure plates from a distance | |
Unlock from the spirit (green) section of the skill treecosts 1 Abyss Artifact | Activating water-drain mechanisms, pulling levers | |
Unlock from the skill treecosts 1 Abyss Artifact | Rotating pillar mechanisms by jamming your sword into a slit and turning | |
Unlocked through story progression in the Abyss questline | Grappling onto circular indentations, moving devices remotely | |
Learned through sword skill progression | Revealing nearby Abyss Cresset locations as a faint white glint on the horizon |
Ancient Ruins puzzles come in several distinct varieties. Recognizing the type quickly helps you figure out the solution faster. Below is a summary of every puzzle type you will encounter across the 37 ruins.
Puzzle Type | Description | |
|---|---|---|
Disc / Pressure Plate | Stone discs mounted on a wall. Hitting one with Force Palm inverts the position of adjacent discs. | Get all discs pressed into the wall simultaneously |
Statue Rotation | Multiple statues must all face a central pedestal. Turning one statue may also rotate a linked statue. | Rotate dials behind each statue to align them all |
Angel Statue / Symbol Selection | A central statue emits a beam of light pointing at surrounding objects. You rotate a selection dial to match the illuminated symbol. | Multiple rounds with increasing numbers of symbols to match |
A flooded area with wooden or stone mechanisms. You must drain the water to reveal the Abyss Cresset below. | Use Nature's Snare on the drain mechanisms | |
Fountain / Pillar Rotation | Three pillars with water bowls on top. Redirect the water flow so all three pillars pour into a central basin. | Stab your sword into each pillar's slit and rotate it |
Bell Striking | A row of bells and a mallet. Strike the bells in the correct sequence shown on a nearby board. | Read the symbol board carefully; some require ascending then descending order |
A grid of stone plates with symbols. Step on the initial plate, then walk to its matching symbol without stepping on other active symbols or reusing a grey plate. | Plan your route before stepping on the first plate | |
Mural / Pattern Alignment | Rotating discs with mural patterns. A reference mural elsewhere in the ruin shows the correct alignment. | Find the reference mural first, then align each disc to match |
Dial / Floor Grid | A central monument surrounded by statues. A rotating floor grid must be aligned so symbols match the illuminated statues. | Stab your sword into the control post and push to rotate the grid |
Mirror / Light Beam | shaped plinths with mirrors to redirect a beam of light toward a receptacle on the opposite side. | Move mirror plinths so the beam bounces from the source to the target |
Lantern / Brazier | Multiple unlit lanterns or braziers in a ruin. You must light all of them, sometimes using Visione to find Memory scenes first. | Use fire abilities or interact with each lantern in order |
Lever / Contraption | A multi-piece mechanical contraption with rotating symbol wheels. Align the symbols using levers and the Stab skill. | Each lever controls one or more wheels; align them all |
Below are step-by-step solutions for notable Ancient Ruins puzzles, organized by region. Each ruin rewards one Abyss Artifact and activates the Abyss Cresset as a fast travel point upon completion.
Location: Northwest of the City of Hernandmarked on the map as Mysterious Energy. This is the first Ancient Ruins puzzle most players encounter, as it is part of the Reunion main quest in Chapter 2.
Required abilities: Nature's GraspForce Palm
Solution: Use Nature's Grasp to lift the heavy stone gate blocking the entrance. Inside, you will see three stone discs mounted on the wall with a line of energy running through each one. Hitting a disc with Force Palm pushes it into the wall but also inverts the position of any adjacent disc. The goal is to have all three discs pressed into the wall at the same time to complete the energy circuit.
Disc order: Hit the middle disc first, then the left disc, then the right disc. When all three are flush with the wall, the circuit connects and the Abyss Cresset unlocks.
Location: Halfway up the cliffs of the Hernand Highlands. Look for a suspicious stone door partially covered by dried leaves.
Required abilities: None (fire interaction to burn leaves)
Solution: Burn the leaves blocking the entrance to push the door open. Inside, you will find three rotating discs with mural patterns. A reference mural on the wall shows the correct alignment. Each disc depicts a different image that must be oriented precisely.
First disc: Depicts a tree with sun and moon symbols. Rotate it so the sun and moon are positioned on the upper section, pointing upward.
Second disc: Shows a horse figure. Rotate it so the horse's legs are slightly oriented downward to the left.
Third disc: Contains a pincer-like shape. Rotate it so the pincer part is slightly slanted upward to the left.
Once all three discs match the reference mural, the inner door opens to reveal the Abyss Cresset.
Location: Immediately south of the House of Healing near Halssius, accessible during Chapter 3 when you visit the House of Healing.
Required abilities: Nature's GraspStab
Solution: Clear fallen columns with Nature's Grasp to open the puzzle area. The puzzle has a central monument surrounded by statues, with a rotating metal floor grid. A beam of light from the central statue illuminates surrounding objects (a coin, a lute, a vasescalesand other symbols). Your goal is to rotate the floor grid so that the gap in the metal aligns with each illuminated symbol.
Use the Stab attack (Shift + Right Mouse Button on PC, or RB + Y on Xbox, or R1 + Triangle on PlayStation) on the black control post to jam your sword into it, then push to rotate the floor grid. The puzzle has three stages with increasing complexity.
Stage 1: Rotate the grid clockwise roughly 90 degrees to align with the gold coin symbol.
Stage 2: Rotate counterclockwise about 45 degrees to match the lute and vase symbols.
Stage 3: Rotate counterclockwise another 45 degrees (returning near the starting position) to align with the remaining symbols.
Location: Past thick vines just south of Glenbright Manor in the Grace Estate, near the border with Demeniss. Accessible after obtaining the government-issued campsite in Hernand or during Chapter 3.
Required abilities: None
Solution: Four wise men statues surround a central pedestal. Each statue has a dial behind it. The catch is that the statues are linked in pairs: turning one also rotates the statue it is linked to.
Statue You Turn | Also Rotates |
|---|---|
Northwest | Southeast |
Northeast | Southwest |
Southwest | Northwest |
Southeast | Northeast |
Solution in 2 moves: Turn the Northeast statue to face the central pedestal (this simultaneously aligns the Southwest statue). Then turn the Northwest statue to face the pedestal (this simultaneously aligns the Southeast statue). All four statues now face the center, completing the puzzle.
Location: In Arboria Forestnorth of Hernand City and west of the Hills of No Return area. Marked as a Mysterious Zone with a question mark on the map.
Required abilities: Stab
Solution: Three pillars stand around a central basin, each with a bowl of water on top that is currently spilling outward. Your goal is to rotate each pillar so that all three direct their water flow into the central basin below.
Approach the first pillar and locate the square-shaped slit on its side.
Perform the Stab move (Shift + Right Mouse Button on PCRB + Y on XboxR1 + Triangle on PlayStation) to jam your sword into the slit.
While your sword is lodged, push the movement stick or key in the direction you want the pillar to rotate. Keep rotating until the water pours into the central basin.
Repeat the process for all three pillars.
Once all three water streams converge into the basin, the Abyss Cresset of Arboria Forest activates, granting you a fast travel point and an Abyss Artifact.
Location: East of the Haunted Hill Abyss Nexus fast travel point. The ruins are partially submerged when you first arrive.
Required abilities: Nature's Snare
Solution: This is a water drain puzzle. The area is flooded, hiding the Abyss Cresset beneath the water. You need to locate two mechanisms in the ruins and activate both using Nature's Snare.
Find the first mechanism off to the side of the flooded area. Activate it with Nature's Snare to partially drain the pool.
The second mechanism was previously submerged. Now that the water level has dropped, it is accessible. Use Nature's Snare on this mechanism to drain the remaining water.
With the water fully drained, drop down to claim the Abyss Cresset from the now-exposed pillar.
If you have not yet unlocked Nature's Snare, you can learn it from the spirit (green) section of the skill tree for 1 Abyss Artifact.
Location: On the eastern side of Trembling Woods and north of Willow River. The area is guarded by hostile bears, so be prepared for combat.
Required abilities: Stab
Solution: This ruin contains a three-piece mechanical contraption with rotating symbol wheels. The goal is to align the symbols so they match a specific pattern.
Step 1: Rotate the right lever to align the white flower symbol with the white marking at the contraption's center.
Step 2: Use your Stab skill on the left lever. Pierce the sword into the slot and rotate until the small steel circles outline the moon and fish symbols.
Step 3: Rotate the center lever so the large steel circle outlines the white flower symbol.
When all three alignments are correct, you will hear a loud rumble. The water nearby will drain and the sealed door to the Abyss Cresset chamber will open.
Location: In the Steel Mountains region. The ruin has a row of numbered bells and a mallet resting nearby.
Required abilities: None (pick up the mallet)
Solution: Pick up the mallet from the ground and equip it. A symbol board near the bells shows the correct striking order. Hit the bells with the corresponding symbols to complete the puzzle.
Read the symbol board. It shows a sequence of symbols corresponding to the bells, numbered from left to right.
Strike bells 1 through 6 in ascending order (left to right).
Then strike bells 4 through 1 in descending order (right to left, starting from the fourth bell).
Listen for a musical chime that confirms the correct sequence. The Abyss Cresset will activate once the full sequence is played correctly.
Location: Deep within the Witchwoods region. The labyrinth is a network of underground passages.
Required abilities: Force Palm
Solution: Navigate through the labyrinth until you reach the end chamber with a set of buttons. Before pressing anything, look for a mural inside the labyrinth that shows the locations of five trees in Pororin. These trees correspond to the buttons you need to press. Match each button to its tree position on the mural and activate them in the correct order.
The mural's tree positions act as a map. Study the spacing and arrangement carefully. Once the correct buttons are pressed, the Abyss Cresset activates.
Location: Found in the rocky highlands. The puzzle area is a flat stone platform with a grid of symbol plates.
Required abilities: None
Solution: Step on the initial plate to begin the puzzle. Each plate displays a symbol. You must walk to the plate that displays the matching symbol without stepping on other active (lit) symbols and without stepping on the same grey stone plate twice.
Look at the symbol on the initial plate before stepping on it.
Scan the grid for its matching pair. Plan your path in advance to avoid stepping on wrong plates.
Walk directly to the matching plate. If you step on an incorrect plate, the puzzle resets.
After matching the first pair, new symbols will appear. Repeat the process until all pairs are linked.
Take your time with this puzzle. There is no time limit, and the penalty for failure is only a reset to the beginning of the current round.
Location: In the Duskwood area, along the hillside.
Required abilities: Force Palm
Solution: This ruin contains a row of pillars that must be activated in the correct sequence. Look for visual cues on the pillars, such as numbered carvings or symbols that indicate the order. Hit each pillar with Force Palm in the correct sequence to activate the Abyss Cresset.
The table below lists all confirmed Ancient Ruins locations. There are 37 ruins in total across the continent of Pywel.
Ruin Name | Region | Puzzle Type | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
Disc / Pressure Plate | |||
Mural / Pattern Alignment | |||
Dial / Floor Grid | |||
Grace Estate | Statue Rotation | ||
Fountain / Pillar Rotation | |||
Water Drain | |||
Trembling Woods Ruins | Lever / Contraption | ||
Steel Mountains Ruins | Bell Striking | ||
Mural Puzzle | |||
Precipice of Echoes Ruins | Highlands | Symbol Stepping Stone | |
Pillar Sequence | |||
Varies | |||
Varies | |||
Varies | |||
Hunter's Cabin Ruins | Varies | ||
Varies | |||
Varies | Locate Hidden Artifact | ||
Varies | Activate Abyss Power Supply | ||
Varies | Navigation Puzzle |
Additional ruins beyond the 19 listed above are spread across later-game regions. Their puzzle types follow the same categories described in the Puzzle Types Overview section. Check your Journal > Challenges > Exploration > Ancient Ruins tab for a full progress tracker as you discover each one.
Unlock abilities early. Several ruins cannot be solved without Nature's Snare, Stab, or Force Palm. Invest your first few Abyss Artifacts into these abilities to avoid having to backtrack.
Use Blinding Flash to locate ruins. Hold your sword aloft and release a pulse of light. Nearby Abyss Cressets appear as a faint white glint on the horizon, making them easier to find in dense terrain.
Listen for audio cues. Many puzzles provide audible feedback. A thunk of grinding stone means a statue is aligned correctly. A musical chime means bells were struck in the right order. A rumble means a door or water barrier is clearing.
No time pressure. None of the Ancient Ruins puzzles have a time limit. If you fail a stepping stone puzzle or hit the wrong disc, the puzzle simply resets. Take your time and plan your approach.
Check for hidden murals. Mural puzzles always have a reference image somewhere in the ruin. If you cannot figure out the correct disc alignment, look around the room for carvings or paintings on walls and ceilings.
Clear enemies first. Some ruin areas are guarded by bears, wolves, or other hostile creatures. Defeat them before attempting the puzzle so you can focus without interruption.
Fast travel unlocks permanently. Every completed ruin becomes a permanent fast travel point. Prioritizing ruins near quest destinations saves travel time throughout the rest of the game.
Track your progress. Open Journal > Challenges > Exploration > Ancient Ruins to see which ruins you have completed and how many remain. The challenge counter updates automatically as you solve each puzzle.
Each completed Ancient Ruins puzzle yields one Abyss Artifact. These artifacts are the primary progression currency in Crimson Desertused for:
Skill upgrades: Spend Abyss Artifacts in the skill tree to learn new combat abilities and passive skills.
Gear enhancement: Later in the gameAbyss Artifacts can be used to upgrade weapons and armor to higher tiers.
Fast travel: Each activated Abyss Cresset becomes a permanent teleport destination, expanding your fast travel network across Pywel.
Completing all 37 Ancient Ruins puzzles finishes The Thread in the Forest exploration challenge. This adds to your overall challenge completion percentage. While there is no unique trophy or achievement specifically for finishing The Thread in the Forest, the 37 Abyss Artifacts earned along the way represent a significant boost to your character's power.
