There are two Ancient Ruins trials on Five-Fingered Mountain in Pailun, which, when completed, will help expand the teleport network in Crimson Desert and obtain artifacts for leveling up. The small number of Focuses and the region's overall inaccessibility make it challenging to explore, so every activated Abyssal Stone is crucial. Both puzzles are also required for the "Riddler" achievement.
Location of puzzles
The Ancient Ruins Challenge is located in one of the most rugged corners of Pyvel—the mountains in northwest Pailun. The first puzzle can be found in a valley near the northern edge of Five-Fingered Mountain, above the river that flows into the lake in the Wayward Forest. The Frost Ruins are located further south, near the Abode of Destruction, home to the Order of Antumbra.
Solving the riddles at Five-Toe Mountain in Crimson Desert
The northern puzzle is an archery challenge where you rotate blocks to enter the correct code. The southern puzzle is revealed by breaking the ice and draining the water—the pool contains a classic "fifteen" puzzle where you must assemble a picture from heavy slabs.
Ancient ruins in the valley
Approach the structure on the north side of the gorge, where three stone blocks are located. They are connected to a mechanism on the opposite bank: pushing them toward the cliff will reveal niches with rotating panels.
Start with the leftmost block: push it all the way. Once the shutter on the opposite side opens, shoot the rotating object inside. The correct diagram is: ax.
Please note that the device opens the flaps temporarily: once you move the block all the way, it will take approximately 15 seconds before the mechanism returns to its original position.
Do the same with the middle stone. Here you need to rotate the object forward. sword.
The mechanism on the far right hides the figure that needs to be rotated. shields forward.
Once the paintings in the three niches glow blue, the statue in the center will move, revealing the reward. Collect the Abyssal Artifact and the trial will be completed.
Frostbite Ruins Puzzle
Upon reaching the southern puzzle, you'll find a frozen pool of water. The first thing you need to do is break the ice on its surface with a crouching palmara strike.
To drain the water, approach the pool's southern edge and hit the frozen hole with any strong attack. Once the liquid drains, you can begin solving the puzzle.
Stand in front of the slabs on the side where you punched the hole and move the fragment on the left into the corner.
For this use thrustto plunge your sword into it, then pull it toward you until the slab hits the wall. Once you've created a gap, climb over and push the slab all the way to the corner.
Move the stone that is located at the top right, above the human figure, to the top right corner.
First move the central slab close to the top row, and then move it towards the left wall.
Move the block in the top center into the empty space above the seated man: first insert the sword and pull it toward you, then move it slightly to the right to create a gap on the left. Approach the cube from the side and push it all the way to the wall.
Move the slab from the lower left corner to the center section near the upper wall: thrust your sword into the stone again and pull it slightly toward you to create space on the opposite side. Approach it from the left edge and push it toward the center until it stops, then repeat the same steps to push the block upward.
Remove the slab with the image of a person from the bottom corner and place it in the center of the image.
Wait for the row of slabs to rise and the door beneath the dragon's head to open. The secret room contains an Abyssal Stone, from which you can loot artifact.
There are several more Abyssal Stones to be found in the Five-Fingered Mountain area, but you don't need to solve puzzles to collect them - use interactive map to navigate the area.
