All Hernand Ancient Ruins Puzzle Solutions (16 Locations)

Crimson Desert's world of Pywel is dotted with Ancient Ruins, each containing a puzzle challenge. Completing a puzzle activates a nearby Abyss Cresset (fast travel point) and rewards an Abyss Artifact for unlocking abilities.

This guide covers all 16 Ancient Ruins in the Hernand region — locations, puzzle types, and step-by-step solutions.

Puzzle Types Overview

Central Hernand (7 Ruins)

1. Meandering Hills Ruins

Type: Stone Plate Sequence

Location: Northwest of Hernand city (unmissable — part of Act 2: Unexpected Gift - Reunion)

Solution:

• Use Nature's Grasp to lift the stone wall
• Use Force Palm to hit the stone plates in order: Middle → Left → Right

2. Duskwood Waterside Ruins

Type: Board Piece Placement

Location: Directly west of Kilnden Workshop

Solution:

• Pick up the white stone near the cresset/small pillar
• Place it on the empty space in the row

This is the simplest ruins puzzle — takes seconds to complete.

3. Duskwood Hill Ruins

Type: Pillar Height Adjustment

Location: Between the twin rivers south of Kilnden Workshop, west of Howling Hill

Solution:

Goal: Make all pillars match the height of the leftmost pillar. The central mechanism has 4 sockets — use Stab to operate:

Quick solution:

• Socket 2: Raise pillars 2 and 5 (not to full height)
• Socket 3: Raise pillars 2, 3, 4 (pillar 2 should be taller than pillar 1)
• Socket 4: Raise pillars 3, 4, 5 (pillars 3 and 4 should match pillar 1)
• Socket 2: Lower pillars 2 and 5 → all equal height, done

4. Dragon's Stone Chamber Ruins

Type: Mural Puzzle (Complex)

Location: Cave carved into a cliff face due east of Greymane Camp at Howling Hill

Solution: Complex mural puzzle requiring clues from multiple locations. Refer to the dedicated Dragon's Stone Chamber guide.

Completing this puzzle reveals all hidden cave locations on the world map — extremely valuable.

5. Halssius Conflux Ruins

Type: Angel Statue Symbol Match

Location: On a hill due south of St. Halssius House of Healing

Solution:

The Angel Statue's beam points at nearby statues holding objects. Use Stab to rotate the selection dial to match the symbols.

6. Hunter's Cabin Ruins

Type: Lantern Lighting

Location: At the Haunted Hill map marker, west of an Abyss Nexus fast travel point

Solution:

• Use Visione to find the Memory scene
• Light all 5 lanterns

7. Haunted Hill Ruins

Type: Water Drain

Location: Due east of the Abyss Nexus fast travel point

Solution:

• Unlock the Nature's Snare skill (Spirit/green branch)
• Cast Nature's Snare on the first mechanism on the side — keep rotating the right thumbstick until water level drops
• Once water drops, a second mechanism is exposed — cast Nature's Snare on it
• Water fully drained, puzzle complete

Southern Hernand (4 Ruins)

8. Azure Moon Labyrinth Ruins

Type: Mural Puzzle (Complex)

Location: Hidden chamber deep below the Witchwoods where you meet Elowen the Witch

Solution: Complex mural puzzle. Refer to the dedicated Azure Moon Labyrinth guide.

9. Precipice of Echoes Ruins

Type: Stepping Stone Symbol Matching

Location: Directly south of Fort Perwin

Step on a symbol tile, walk to its matching symbol. Cannot reuse grey tiles or step on wrong symbols. Three rounds (1 pair, 3 pairs, 5 pairs).

Key tip: Hold lantern (CTRL/LB) to slow-walk and avoid frame-rate missteps. See the dedicated Precipice of Echoes guide for full route maps.

10. Sunrise Plains Ruins

Type: Statue Rotation

Location: Due south of Glenbright Manor and Emberwind Workshop

Solution:

Rotate all statues to face the center pedestal. Notes:

• - Rotating one statue may move others as well
• - Requires trial and error
• - Listen for the stone "thunk" sound to confirm correct alignment

11. Steel Mountains Ruins

Type: Bell Sequence

Location: Far south in the Steel Mountains, near Spire of Insight

Solution:

• Pick up the Mallet on the ground and equip it
• Read the symbols on the board, then strike the bells:
• - Bells 1 through 6 (ascending, left to right)
• - Then bells 4 through 1 (descending back)

Northern Hernand (5 Ruins)

12. Deepfog Basin Everfrost Ruins

Type: Pillar Height Adjustment

Location: Mountain pass northwest of Calphade

Solution: Same mechanism as Duskwood Hill Ruins (#3). Use sockets to adjust pillars to match the reference height.

13. Deepfog Basin Dragon Head Ruins

Type: Sliding Block Puzzle

Location: Mountain pass west of Calphade (south of Everfrost Ruins)

Solution: Rearrange blocks to form a complete picture. Use Stab to drag blocks in any direction.

14. Arboria Forest Ruins

Type: Fountain Rotation

Location: Due west of Hills of No Return

Solution:

• Use Stab on the mechanism sockets
• Move sideways to rotate the fountains
• Adjust until both waterspouts fill the central basin
• Pool fills up, puzzle complete

15. Drakesfall Gorge Ruins

Type: Red Light, Green Light

Location: Plateau in Drakesfall Gorge near Hernand soldier camp, on the Demeniss border

Solution:

• Step on the stone plate to start
• Soldier statues raise swords, king statue at the far end
• Walk toward the king statue
• When the king statue turns around with glowing eyes — freeze immediately
• Getting caught (eyes turn red) = restart
• Reach the king statue to complete

You must be completely still. Even the slightest movement will be detected.

16. Ancient Rift Maze

Type: Runestone + Engraved Stone Collection

Location: Northern edge of Hernand, north of Sage's Peak, south of the "P" in Pailune

Solution (one of the most complex ruins):

Find 3 runestone sets and use Blinding Flash - Concentrated Light on the correct runes:

After each set, enter the nook and use Force Palm on the block to get an Engraved Stone. Collect all 3, then place them in the sockets on the other side of the maze to activate the Abyss Cresset.

Bonus: Nearby waterfall hides Ancient's Heart Cave (use Stab to enter). Contains Vaporwalker unique boots and a Refined Palmar Pill.

Recommended Order