TL;DR
- There are 16 sanctums in total across Pywel — finding and cleansing all of them unlocks the Lightbringer trophy/achievement
- You cannot cleanse a sanctum without first meeting the witch it belongs to
- All sanctums follow the same pattern: clear enemies → fix broken pillar → find Fusion Reactor Cores → slot into generator
- The Kuku Pot is essential — you need it to carry cores to hard-to-reach slots
- If you drop a puzzle piece and can’t find it, check the Howling Hill camp supply chest
- The Sanctum of Mortification (Veiled Witch) can only be done during Chapter 9: Fragments of Darkness
How Sanctums Work in Crimson Desert
Every sanctum in Crimson Desert follows the same core mechanic. Before starting any sanctum, understand these basics:
Step 1 — Clear the enemies. When you arrive, a green liberation bar appears. Kill the cultists until it empties. You cannot start the cleansing puzzle until the sanctum is liberated.
Step 2 — Fix the broken pillar. Every sanctum has a reactor with a broken pillar. Find the missing pillar piece in the surrounding area. Use Axiom Force (L3 / LS / TAB) to grab it and drag it to the broken pillar. Rotate it until green leaves appear — this confirms the correct position. Then use Aerial Force Palm (jump + R3 / RS / Right Click) to lock it in place.
Step 3 — Find the Fusion Reactor Cores. These power cubes are often hidden in adjacent rooms, behind walls, or in high places. Use Axiom Force to grab them. For cores in hard-to-reach spots, seal them in your Kuku Pot first, then carry the Kuku Pot to the generator and discard the core there. This is the most common point of confusion in sanctum puzzles.
Step 4 — Activate the generator. Use Axiom Force to place the cores in the correct slots on the generator, then Force Palm each one into place. The sanctum cleansing cutscene will trigger.
Lost puzzle pieces? If a Fusion Reactor Core or pillar piece disappears during the puzzle, head to the Howling Hill camp supply chest. You can recover lost items there.
Kuku Pot tip: The Kuku Pot is obtained automatically in Chapter 4 during the main quest “The Iron Pot’s Usage.” If you’ve lost yours, check the Howling Hill supply chest or dispatch comrades on the “Kuku Pot Production” expedition.
For everything else in the game, visit the Crimson Desert hub page.
How to Meet the Witches
You cannot cleanse a witch’s sanctums until you’ve met her. You first encounter the Witch of Wisdom (Elowen) during Chapter 3’s main quest. The other witches are hidden in the open world in disguised “fake” forms.
Witch of Kindness (Bari) — Her fake form is a woman huddled under a small tent west of the A in Pailune, east of Wayward Woods. She’s freezing. Light the nearby lantern to warm her up. After that, her true lair unlocks at a cabin on Crimson Lake in the Silver Wolf Mountains.
Witch of Strength (Areciel) — Her fake form is a child standing near a shed directly north of Tashkalp. Give her a single copper coin. Her true lair is northwest near Urdavah at the World’s Navel, perched on a sheer cliff. Note: you cannot receive her sanctum quests until you reach a certain point in the main story.
Witch of Humility — Found through open-world exploration in the Demeniss/Delesyia region.
For full details on finding every witch, see our Crimson Desert all witches locations guide.
Completing All 4 Witch of Wisdom Sanctums
After cleansing all four Witch of Wisdom sanctums, speak with Elowen back in the Witchwoods. She’ll point you toward a reward at Labyrinth Grove — but this reward only becomes available after you’ve met all the other witches too.
All 16 Sanctum Locations in Crimson Desert
Witch of Wisdom Sanctums (Hernand Region)
Sanctum of Temperance
Located south of Unicorn Cliff within the Grace Estate in Hernand. Head south from the Nas River and follow the dirt path. Contains two Fusion Reactor Cores. You’ll need to burn vines covering the broken tower with a flame attack to access the missing pillar piece. See our full Sanctum of Temperance walkthrough.
Sanctum of Absolution
Found south of Scholastone — you’ll need to climb a mountain to reach it. Abyss Nexuses and Cressets nearby make it easier to fast travel close. Boss fight required: defeat Antumbra’s Sword before you can cleanse it. After the fight, smash the clay pots in the room behind the boss to find the hidden Power Cube. See our full Sanctum of Absolution walkthrough.
Sanctum of Benediction
On the western side of Hernand, just south of the “E” in “Hernand” on the map. Start from Hernand City and follow the dirt path slightly northwest. Light the lantern to the right of the main entrance to open the door and access the second pillar piece inside. No boss — just clear enemies and fix the reactor. See our full Sanctum of Benediction walkthrough.
Sanctum of Penitence
Close to the Sanctum of Temperance. Head southeast from Unicorn Cliff following the dirt path. No boss here — clear the cultists, find the pillar piece on the ground, place it, and cleanse. See our full Sanctum of Penitence guide.
Witch of Kindness Sanctums (Pailune & Hernand)
Sanctum of Exaltation
Located near Silver Wolf Mountain on the eastern side. Follow the dirt path from Pailune heading northwest. Meet Bari (Witch of Kindness) before attempting to cleanse. See our full Sanctum of Exaltation walkthrough.
Sanctum of Solace
Southwest of Pailune City, or east of the Witch’s House — aim for the “A” in Pailune on the map. Boss fight required: defeat Antumbra’s Staff first. Afterward, the two Fusion Reactor Cores are found between stone pillars and behind bars in an adjacent room. See our full Sanctum of Solace walkthrough.
Sanctum of Deliverance
Southeast of Stormtalon Ridge mountains in Pailune. A dirt path connects it to nearby locations. No boss — find the Fusion Reactor Cores and cleanse. See our full Sanctum of Deliverance walkthrough.
Sanctum of Atonement
Back in Hernand, north of the first “A” on the map. Clear the enemies, then use the Kuku Pot to carry both Fusion Reactor Cores to the generator. Reward for cleansing: Kuku Watcher Pack & Kuku Propeller Spear blueprints. See our full Sanctum of Atonement walkthrough.
Witch of Humility Sanctums (Demeniss & Delesyia)
Sanctum of Devotion
Head west of Dewhaven in Demeniss. Follows a dirt path — easy to reach. See our full Sanctum of Devotion walkthrough.
Sanctum of Veneration
Travel to Delesyia and approach the Blue Thicket to enter. Clear the cultists and cleanse. See our full Sanctum of Veneration walkthrough.
Sanctum of Faith
Head down from the Blue Thicket in Delesyia to The Grey Forest. Tip: activate the Abyss Nexus next to it for an easy fast travel point on your return. See our full Sanctum of Faith walkthrough.
Sanctum of Oblation
Across the water on the adjacent patch of Delesyian land. Follow the dirt path up to reach it. Find the Fusion Reactor Core and cleanse. See our full Sanctum of Oblation walkthrough.
Witch of Strength Sanctums (Crimson Desert Region)
Note: You cannot receive the Witch of Strength’s (Areciel’s) cleansing tasks until you reach a certain point in the main quest story.
Sanctum of Expiation
Located east of Drakesfall Gorge within the Azerian Estate. Activate the generator with the Fusion Reactor Cores to cleanse. See our full Sanctum of Expiation walkthrough.
Sanctum of Renunciation
In the Crimson Desert region, northeast of Drywind Valley within Tashkalp. See our full Sanctum of Renunciation walkthrough.
Sanctum of Revelation
Northeast of Serpent Marsh in Demeniss, on a patch of land surrounded by water. Boss fight required: defeat Antumbra’s Spear. After liberating it, step on the roof of a small room to break through and access the hidden Fusion Reactor Core below. Rotate the pillar piece until green leaves appear, then use Aerial Force Palm to lock it. See our full Sanctum of Revelation walkthrough.
Veiled Witch Sanctum
Sanctum of Mortification
Found northwest of the Golden Plains in Demeniss, within the Byron Estate. This sanctum can only be cleansed during the main story quest: Fragments of Darkness (Chapter 9). You cannot complete it before this quest triggers, regardless of how early you find it. See our full Sanctum of Mortification walkthrough.
Trophy and Achievement
Cleansing all 16 sanctums completes The Forgotten Sun Sanctums challenge set and unlocks the Lightbringer trophy/achievement. Because the Sanctum of Mortification is locked behind Chapter 9, you can’t earn this until late in the story.
Sanctum Quick Reference
| Sanctum | Region | Witch | Boss? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperance | Hernand | Wisdom | No |
| Absolution | Hernand | Wisdom | Antumbra’s Sword |
| Benediction | Hernand | Wisdom | No |
| Penitence | Hernand | Wisdom | No |
| Exaltation | Pailune | Kindness | No |
| Solace | Pailune | Kindness | Antumbra’s Staff |
| Deliverance | Pailune | Kindness | No |
| Atonement | Hernand | Kindness | No |
| Devotion | Demeniss | Humility | No |
| Veneration | Delesyia | Humility | No |
| Faith | Delesyia | Humility | No |
| Oblation | Delesyia | Humility | No |
| Expiation | Crimson Desert | Strength | No |
| Renunciation | Crimson Desert | Strength | No |
| Revelation | Demeniss | Strength | Antumbra’s Spear |
| Mortification | Demeniss | Veiled Witch | No (story-locked) |
More Crimson Desert Guides
- Crimson Desert All Witches Locations
- Crimson Desert Cloister of Ruination Guide
- How to Unlock Witches Abyss Gears
- How to Craft Kuku Pack and Kuku Rocket Pack
- How to Use Axiom Force in Crimson Desert
- How to Open the Cloister of Enlightenment and Beat Master Du
- Crimson Desert Trophy List — All Achievements
- How to Fast Travel in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert All Main Story Quests and Chapters
- Crimson Desert HUD Explained
