Crimson Desert draws players in with a rich open world packed with activities, and puzzles are a big part of the experience. Inside the Scholastone Institute you’ll run into a string of riddles that have to be solved to push the story forward. This guide walks you through every puzzle in the institute, from flipping the first switch to reaching the top of the Starlight Spire.
Table of contents
Solving the Scholastone Institute Puzzles in Crimson Desert
In Chapter 4, “The Price of Knowledge,” you’ll visit the Scholastone Institute to wrap up the “Forbidden Knowledge” arc. Cliff will face several puzzles along the way, detailed below.
How to Enter the Scholastone Institute
The institute sits in the south-west corner of the map. You’ll reach a cliff face laced with metallic ore. Here you’ll need Cliff’s magic. Follow these steps:
Hold the key to start “focusing.”
Hold the Palm of Coercion button.
Wait until the world turns blue.
Black orbs will appear in the rock.
While focusing, the palm leaf slowly moves forward.
Stop it over an orb; the orb will glow yellow.
This opens the way inside. Put on the scholar’s robes, talk to the troll, and continue the quest.
Save
How to Activate the Lock Switch
During “Gate to the Otherworld” you help Octavian run an Abyss-gate experiment. Solve three puzzles, then fight Tenebrium (see our boss guide).
First, listen to Octavian’s speech. Circle the dome on the right, go downstairs, and find a square panel. Hit the buttons in this order:
Correct button sequence:
Top-left.
Bottom-right.
Bottom-left.
Top-right.
Center.
The dome opens, revealing the core. Return to Octavian for the next puzzle.
Save
How to Slot the Batteries into the Pillars
Four thick cables run from pillars to small cubes—the batteries.
To insert them:
Grab a cube with Axiom Force.
Bring it to the socket at the pillar’s base.
Hover it as close as possible.
Release Axiom Force.
Step up to the battery.
Push it home with Palm of Coercion.
Watch the cut-scene, then tackle the final puzzle before the boss fight.
Save
How to Extract the Unstable Core
Use Axiom Force to pull the core in the center of the room. Due to quirks in the design it may not work first try.
Steps:
Stand as close as possible without falling into the pit.
Hold the Axiom Force button.
Aim at the top of the core.
Pull upward.
Every five seconds lower and raise the tether.
Don’t rush; it takes about 30 seconds. After the core is out, defeat Tenebrium to receive the Spire key.
Save
How to Reach the Top of the Starlight Spire
After beating Tenebrium you’ll get one of the Spire keys. The quest “Spire of the Stars” tasks you with climbing the tower to enter the Abyss. Equip cold-resist gear before you start.
On the ground floor you’ll find a lift and a wall of panels. To start the lift you must collect all Spire keys and arrange the symbols correctly. We’ll split this into two parts: finding the cubes (keys) and setting the panels.
Finding the Starlight Spire Keys
Left and right wings each have a rotating wall with a stone diamond. Hit the center with Palm of Coercion to rotate the wall and reveal an “Engraved Stone” (marked pink on the mini-map). You need three more cubes; you already have one.
Save
How to Arrange the Panels
Slot the cubes into the panel wall; they’ll rise to the top row. Check the murals where you found the keys—they show the correct symbol positions. Climb the panels and lower them to the right notch.
Correct positions:
Infinity: fourth.
Circle: third.
Square: first.
Triangle: second.
If done right the panels turn from yellow to blue. Step into the lift center, wait for all runes to light, and ride up. Climb the final stairs and pass through the Abyss gate to finish the chapter.
Save
How to Solve the Shrine of Scorn Puzzle
Inside the Shrine of Scorn you’ll see huge pillars. Use them to reach the main area by activating the floor mechanisms in this order with Axiom Force:
Right tower.
Center tower.
Right tower again.
Far tower.
Hop from tower to tower until you reach the main platform. If Cliff has enough stamina plus “Swift Flight” and “Aerial Roll” you can skip the puzzle: climb the central tower, glide to the main building, and scale the ledges.
Save
Find the huge glowing circle on the ground. Jump and strike the center with Palm of Coercion; it may take a few tries. When it glows blue the final cut-scene triggers.
