Root's End is home to another av Crimson Desert's demanding sky island Abyss puzzle, and it can be as tough for the uninformed as you'd expect. Between the requisite legwork, a laser-filled death shaft, and a block-stacking climbing challenge, there's a lot to navigate before the reward is yours. That said, once you know what the puzzle actually wants from you, it all clicks into place pretty quickly.
Here's a full walkthrough of the Root's End Abyss puzzle in Crimson Desert, including how to access it, the controls you'll need, and every step from arrival to completion.
Root's End Abyss Puzzle Requirements
Before Root's End even appears as a destination in the Crimson Desert, you must have completed two previous Abyss puzzle chains: Axiom Archive and the Ethereal Pathway. You also need Abyss Artifacts from both locations in your inventory before the gate leading to Root's End opens.
As for skills, be ready to use lots of Force Palm and Axiom Force, which is standard with many of the game's other missions.
Note If you are missing the Axiom Archive's Abyss Artifact, teleport back to the archive and go north until you find the altar. Interact with it to collect what you need before returning to the Ethereal Pathway.
Crimson Desert: How to unlock every mount
From wild horses to a rideable dragon, here's everything you need to know about unlocking every mountain in the Crimson Desert.
How to access Root's End
With both Abyss Artifacts in hand, make your way to the Skyrbridge Gate at the southeast end of the Ethereal Pathway. Carefully cross the moving bridge segments (they are not waiting for you) and step onto the teleporter waiting on the other side. This will drop you straight to Root's End.
The fastest way to reach the teleporter opposite the changing bridge segments is to use Jump and force Palm to gain extra height and fly overlanding on one of the blocks halfway before doing it again. However, this can cause you to miss and fall if your timing is off.
So you can always take the steady approach and just jump over manually with Precision Jump – two blocks at a time.
When you arrive, use Flight to cross the gap to the Abyss Nexus platform, then take the stairs up to the main floor.
Before doing anything else, activate the Abyss Nexus fast travel point on the island. It's on the wall facing you when you arrive, and all it takes is standing on it. This saves you the entire trip back if you die during the puzzle – and there's a fair chance you will at least once.
Root's End Abyss Puzzle Walkthrough
Open the grille
Go to the center of the main area and look for the gazebo with a spotlight shining on it. Below that is a circular grid with two beams of light hitting it; that is your entry point.
Stand in the middle of the grid, crouch down and use Force Palm (R3) to spin it up. The position here matters more than it might seem.
Standing on either side of the grate instead of dead center can get you caught in its mechanism as it spins, which is a quick way to die before the puzzle has even properly begun. Make sure you are centered before using Force Palm.
Fall down the shoulder
When the grate opens, drop into the shaft below. The chamber is long and narrow, and it's lined with laser obstacles on the way down. Use Flight to slow your descent and reorient yourself when you need to; don't try to freefall all the way if you want to save on healing items for later. Continue descending until you land at the bottom of the chamber.
The walls themselves are also dangerous on the way down, so stick to the center of the shaft as much as possible. Take your time and use Flight to dodge instead of dashing straight to the bottom.
Build a path to the blue crystal
Look around and take stock of the room. Above you float several floating rocks at different heights, along with a blue crystal suspended near the top. On the floor you will see three sockets; two of them are already occupied by glowing blue crystals, but the third is empty – and that's what you're working to fill.
Your goal is to use Axiom Force to reposition the floating rocks into a climbable staircase which allows you to reach the blue crystal above. Here are some things to consider:
-
The smaller stones won't support your weight, so focus entirely on the two larger ones in the room
-
You can grab and move stones more than once, so don't worry if your first arrangement isn't quite right
-
A simple upward staircase with the two large stones is enough to get you within Axiom Force range of the crystal
You must stand directly under the large floating block to make the Axiom Force tether connect when you pull it into place. If it doesn't grab, place yourself under it and try again.
Retrieve and place the crystal
Once your makeshift staircase is in place, climb it and use Axiom Force to grab the blue crystal and bring it down to solid ground.
With the crystal in hand, walk it over to the empty floor socket and use Axiom Force to place it inside.
Then lock it in place with a Force Palm (R3). The room's electrical system will be reconnected and an elevator directly next to the outlets will be activated.
Solve the Upper Room
Ride the elevator back up to the surface of Root's End. In the area ahead, look to the right – there's another blue crystal waiting nearby.
Use Axiom Force to move it into the plinth directly behind it, matching the position of the already placed crystal on the pillar to the left. Use Force Palm again to lock it in.
Once both upper crystals are secured, the power will flow to a large golden mechanism on the floor in front of the crystal group. Walk on it, crouch and use Force Palm one more time to activate it. The puzzle is now complete.
If the golden mechanism does not respond, double check that the crystal next to it is properly locked in its socket. A half-placed crystal won't complete the circuit, so give it another Force Palm to be sure.
Root's End Abyss Puzzle Rewards
After activating the last mechanism, your reward will materialize and flow towards you automatically. Completing the Root's End Abyss puzzle earns you the area's Abyss Artifact.
The Abyss Artifact joins the others you've collected from the Axiom Archive and Ethereal Pathway, and the former Abyss Nexus fast travel Teleport gives you a permanent shortcut back to this area when you need it – useful if you want to go back down to Pywel and explore before coming back for the next Abyss puzzle.
Crimson Desert: Complete Guide to Pets
From earning trust to raiding battlefields, here's your complete guide to getting and using pets in the Crimson Desert.
