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Ruins Keys and Bronze Gate
February 27, 2026 at 04:43 PM
Created comprehensive guide to Ruins Keys and Bronze Gate puzzle with full walkthrough
The Ruins Keys and Bronze Gate form one of the major progression puzzles in the Moonlit Forest of Starsand Island. A massive locked gate in Mural Valley blocks access to the deeper sections of the forest, and opening it requires two halves of a key: the Ruins Key (Right) and the Ruins Key (Left). One key comes from Zephyria as part of the Intermediate Explorer Trial, while the other is hidden inside a treasure chest in the Azure Bay area. This guide covers exactly where to find both keys, how to open the gate, and what awaits you on the other side.
The Bronze Gate is located in the Mural Valley section of the Moonlit Forest. To reach it from the Mural Valley campsite, head up the stairs. At the top, you enter an open area with the massive bronze door blocking the path forward. The gate has two keyhole slots, one on each side, corresponding to the Left and Right Ruins Keys.
You cannot reach the Bronze Gate without first progressing through the earlier zones of the Moonlit Forest: Evernight Forest, the Gate of Life (requiring 3 Gravecrystals), Dreamfall Garden (defeating the Crystalith boss), Crystalith Hideout, and Azure Bay. The Bronze Gate sits at the transition point between the mid-game and late-game portions of the forest.
The Right Ruins Key is given to you by Zephyria, the Explorer Profession mentor, as part of the Intermediate Explorer certification quest. The steps to obtain it are:
Complete the Apprentice Explorer requirements (defeat the Runebird, return the Runebird Fragment to Zephyria)
Speak to Zephyria at the Exploration Club to start the Intermediate Explorer Trial
Accept the quest. Zephyria hands you the Ruins Key (Right) during the dialogue
The quest then asks you to find the Left Key, open the Bronze Gate, and explore what lies beyond
The Exploration Club is located northwest of your farm. Zephyria is there during her regular schedule. Make sure you have completed all Apprentice-tier objectives before speaking to her, or the Intermediate quest will not be available.
The Left Ruins Key is found in a treasure chest in the Azure Bay or Mural Valley area of the Moonlit Forest. The chest is not along the main path, so you need to take a detour to find it.
From the Mural Valley campsite, head toward the stairs leading up to the Bronze Gate
Before climbing the stairs, look for a broken stone bridge that extends toward a wooden platform
Step onto the wooden platform. It functions as an elevator that descends to the river at the base of the cliff (the ride takes about 5 seconds)
At the bottom, near the waterfall area, look for a round wooden treasure chest sitting on a ledge
Open the chest to collect the Ruins Key (Left) along with some bonus materials
No enemies or puzzles guard the chest itself, though you may encounter Luminfrog enemies in the Azure Bay area while making your way there. The chest is easy to overlook because the elevator platform does not have any obvious signposting. If you reach the Bronze Gate without the Left Key, turn around and look for the wooden platform near the broken bridge.
Once both the Left and Right Ruins Keys are in your inventory, return to the Bronze Gate in Mural Valley. Interact with the gate to insert both keys. No crafting or combining step is required; simply possessing both halves allows you to unlock the door. The gate opens permanently and does not close again.
Behind the Bronze Gate is the arena for the Glintortle, the second major boss of the Moonlit Forest. The Glintortle is a giant armored turtle with water-based attacks. It is significantly tougher than the Crystalith and requires a bow with arrows (not just a slingshot) to defeat efficiently.
Attack | Description | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
Water Beam | Charges and fires a sustained water beam while turning toward the player | Run perpendicular to the beam's sweep direction |
Shell Tuck | Retreats into its shell (which glows), creating water pools that release homing bubbles | Move away from the pools; this is also a damage window |
Homing Bubble | Goes inside shell, charges a large bubble, and hurls it at the player | Dodge sideways at the last moment |
Shockwaves | Slams the ground, sending consecutive shockwaves along the surface | Jump over each wave as it approaches |
Shell Charge | Charges at the player while inside its shell, leaving puddles behind | Sidestep the charge; avoid the puddles |
Spinning Attack | Spins rapidly in place; after finishing, becomes dizzy and exposed | Keep distance during the spin; attack during the dizzy state |
The Glintortle's weak point is the glowing crystal on top of its shell. The crystal turns bright blue during certain animations, signaling that it is vulnerable. Bomb Arrows deal the most damage when the crystal is exposed. Regular arrows work too but are much slower.
Upgrade to a bow before this fight. Arrows are far more effective than slingshot pellets against this boss.
Bring Bomb Arrows. They are expensive to craft but deal massive damage during vulnerability windows. Bring a mix of Bomb and regular arrows.
Stock healing food. Cook meals at the nearest camp's campfire and assign them to your hotbar. The fight can be long, and chip damage from homing bubbles adds up.
Deploy Sentry Bots if you have them. They provide passive damage and draw the boss's attention briefly, giving you breathing room during AoE attacks.
Attack during dizzy states. After the spinning attack, the Glintortle becomes stunned for several seconds. This is your best window to deal heavy damage.
After defeating the Glintortle, a log chest appears with several valuable rewards:
Reward | Details |
|---|---|
Water Arrow Blueprint | New arrow type needed for later forest progression (grows vine bridges in Harvest Yard) |
Pristine Orb Blueprint | Crafting recipe for an advanced item |
Additional Materials | Various resources including ores and coins |
Defeating the Glintortle opens the path to the Harvest Yard. However, the route forward is blocked by brambles that can only be cleared with Fire Arrows. You will need to obtain Fire Arrows through the Explorer Profession questline before you can proceed. The Harvest Yard requires both Fire Arrows (to burn blocking brambles) and Water Arrows (to grow vine bridges from stumps) for full navigation.
Beyond the Harvest Yard lie Grain Haven, Darkwater Shore, and eventually the Moonlight Meadow, where the final boss (the Ruin Guard) awaits. Defeating the Ruin Guard during the Expert Explorer Trial is the final step toward claiming the Luna Deer mount.
Multiple players have reported a soft lock issue related to quest sequencing. If you find and use both keys before receiving the "Find Left Ruins Key" quest objective from Zephyria's Intermediate Explorer Trial, the quest may become impossible to complete because the objective expects you to pick up the key after accepting it. To avoid this problem:
Accept the Intermediate Explorer Trial first. Speak to Zephyria and formally start the quest before exploring Azure Bay or Mural Valley.
Receive the Right Key from Zephyria as part of the quest dialogue.
Then find the Left Key in the treasure chest near the elevator.
Open the Bronze Gate last. With both keys in hand and the quest active, the progression triggers correctly.
Following this order ensures all quest objectives register properly and you can advance to the next Explorer tier without issues.
Item | How to Get |
|---|---|
Ruins Key (Right) | Given by Zephyria when you start the Intermediate Explorer Trial |
Ruins Key (Left) | Treasure chest near the elevator platform by the broken bridge in Mural Valley |
Bronze Gate | Interact with the gate while holding both keys; opens permanently |
Glintortle Boss | Behind the Bronze Gate; weak to Bomb Arrows on the glowing shell crystal |
Key Reward | Water Arrow Blueprint (essential for Harvest Yard progression) |
