TL;DR
- The Desert Border Maze is in the Smoking Lands, northern Demeniss.
- You need Axiom Force and Force Current (Force Palm) to flip all 11 stone plates.
- Each plate must show either a sun or moon symbol — check the central platform to know which.
- Orange glow = sun. White glow = moon. A blue glow on the central platform confirms a correct plate.
- Plates are spread above ground, behind walls, and in two underground tunnels.
- Reward: one Abyss Artifact and a new Abyss Cresset fast travel point.
The Desert Border Maze is one of the more complex Ancient Ruins puzzles in Crimson Desert. It’s a maze-type landmark, not a standard ruin, and the mechanic is unlike most other puzzles in the game. Instead of placing objects or matching statues, you’re flipping 11 stone plates scattered across a multi-level maze — some above ground, some behind walls, and two hidden underground. This guide covers every plate location and the exact symbol needed for each one.
Before starting, make sure you’ve unlocked both Axiom Force and Force Current (Force Palm). Both are learned through the Main Quest in the first few chapters. If you haven’t progressed that far, come back later. Without these skills, you cannot flip the plates. Learn more about using these abilities in our Axiom Force guide.
You can play Crimson Desert on PC via Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Desert Border Maze Puzzle Location In Crimson Desert
The Desert Border Maze sits in the Smoking Lands, the northern section of the Demeniss region. On your map, look north of Deadfire Mountain, near the border with the Crimson Desert region.
Two Abyss Nexus fast travel points sit close to the puzzle. Use either to teleport directly to the area. If you haven’t unlocked them yet, travel by mount from the nearest settlement. The Smoking Lands have a haze-like atmosphere, so the stone maze structure is hard to miss once you arrive.
Progress the journal under Challenges → The Thread in the Forest to track completion.
How To Flip The Plates — Mechanics Explained
Before touching any plate, stand at the central platform near the Abyss Cresset and look at the diagram carved into it. This diagram shows a bird’s-eye view of the maze with 11 symbols. Each symbol shows whether that specific plate needs to be on the sun side or the moon side.
Here’s how to read it:
- Orange-glowing symbol on the diagram = that plate needs the sun icon facing up.
- White-glowing symbol on the diagram = that plate needs the moon icon facing up.
When you flip a plate to the correct symbol:
- You’ll hear a distinct click sound.
- The corresponding symbol on the central platform glows blue, confirming it’s correct.
If a plate doesn’t flip on the first try, adjust your angle slightly or move closer. The Axiom Force has a sweet spot range. To flip a plate, aim your Axiom Force at it to grab it, then fire the Force Current skill to blast it over to the other side.
Rotate your camera so your minimap faces north before checking the diagram. This makes it much easier to match the diagram orientation to your actual surroundings.
All 11 Desert Border Maze Plate Locations And Solutions
Plate #1 — Sun Symbol
From the central platform, face south. The first plate is right there in the open. Use Axiom Force to grab it, then Force Current to flip it to the sun symbol.
Plate #2 — Moon Symbol
Turn northeast from the central platform. The second plate is visible at ground level nearby. Flip it to the moon symbol.
Plate #3 — Moon Symbol
Face northwest from the center and look upward. Plate #3 is mounted above on a cliff edge. You need to climb the cliff to get close enough to interact with it. Once you’re at the same level, use Axiom Force and flip it to the moon symbol.
Plate #4 — Sun Symbol
Turn east and walk behind the nearby wall. The plate is tucked out of sight on the other side. Use Axiom Force to hold it, then Force Current to flip it to the sun icon.
Plate #5 — Sun Symbol
Go southeast and climb the wall to find the fifth plate elevated above ground. Use the same grab-and-flip technique to turn it to the sun symbol.
Plate #6 — Sun Symbol
From Plate #5, keep climbing upward to the top of the same wall structure. A sixth plate is on the wall just behind Plate #5 at the top. Flip it to the sun symbol.
Plate #7 — Moon Symbol
Move southwest along the outer edge of the maze from your current elevated position. The seventh plate sits along the edge here. Flip it to the moon symbol.
Plate #8 — Sun Symbol
From Plate #7, glide south down into the gap in the ground below. This is the entrance to an underground tunnel section. Once you land at the bottom, walk straight. Then turn left, then right, then left again. Follow the tunnel to the far end. Plate #8 sits at the end of the passage. Flip it to the sun icon.
Plate #9 — Moon Symbol
Return to the Abyss Cresset at the central platform. This time, climb the northeastern wall nearby. Once you’ve scaled the wall, look down. Plate #9 is below on a ledge. Jump down to the plate’s level, then use Axiom Force and Force Current to flip it to the moon side.
Plate #10 — Moon Symbol
From Plate #9, move northwest to find the tenth plate. Watch your step here. The ground around this plate is covered in poisonous mushrooms. They deal damage over time if you stand in them. Move quickly, flip the plate to the moon icon, and back away.
Plate #11 — Sun Symbol
Go back to the Abyss Cresset one more time. Face west and move toward the broken wall in that direction. At the broken wall, look for a gap in the ground. Glide down into it. Walk straight, then turn right to follow this second underground passage. Plate #11 is at the end. Flip it to the sun side to complete the final plate.
Puzzle Completion and Reward
Once all 11 plates show the correct symbols, the central platform flips open. The Abyss Cresset activates automatically.
Interact with the Abyss Cresset to collect your Abyss Artifact. This grants one Skill Point for the Abyss Skill Tree and unlocks the Abyss Cresset as a permanent fast travel point in the Smoking Lands.
Abyss Artifacts are one of the best ways to power up your build. Read our guide on how to open sealed Abyss Artifacts and check our best early build guide to spend your Skill Points wisely.
Tips Before You Start
Check the diagram before each plate.
The diagram on the central platform is your reference for every plate. When in doubt, return to it. Don’t trust your memory — the symbols are easy to mix up when plates are scattered across multiple levels.
Align your minimap to north first.
The diagram uses north as the top. If your camera is rotated, the diagram won’t match what you see around you. Correct this before starting.
Move closer if Axiom Force doesn’t grab the plate.
Some plates are embedded in walls or raised on ledges. The Axiom Force has a limited range. Step closer and adjust your angle until the grab registers.
Don’t stand in the mushroom patch near Plate #10.
The poisonous mushrooms near the tenth plate cause continuous damage. You don’t need to stand there long — just flip the plate and move on.
Save before doing the puzzle.
There’s no checkpoint mid-puzzle. If you flip a plate the wrong way and walk far away, it won’t auto-reset. You’ll need to go back and correct it manually. Saving first gives you a clean fallback.
Struggling With Other Puzzles In Demeniss?
The Desert Border Maze is just one of several complex puzzles in the Demeniss region. If you’re working through all the Ancient Ruins in the area, here are more guides that will help:
- Duskwood Ancient Ruins puzzle solution
- Duskwood Checker puzzle solution
- Halssius Conflux puzzle solution
- Dragon Stone Chamber puzzle solution
- How to repair Pensive Statues at Jijeong Temple
- How to drain the water puzzle
- Wiggling Hill Ruins puzzle solution
- Trembling Woods puzzle solution
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills do I need for this puzzle?
You need Axiom Force and Force Current (Force Palm). Both unlock through Main Quest progression in the early chapters.
Does the plate flip reset if I flip it the wrong way?
No. You can flip a plate back by using the same Axiom Force + Force Current combination again. Incorrect plates don’t lock you out.
What happens after completing the puzzle?
The central platform flips open, the Abyss Cresset activates, and you receive an Abyss Artifact (one Skill Point) plus a permanent fast travel point in the Smoking Lands.
How do I know which symbol a plate needs?
Check the diagram on the central platform near the Abyss Cresset. Orange = sun. White = moon. When a plate is correct, its symbol on the diagram turns blue.
Can I come back if I leave mid-puzzle?
Yes. Correctly flipped plates stay flipped. You don’t need to complete the puzzle in one session.
More Crimson Desert Guides
- How to find legendary creatures in Crimson Desert
- All witches locations in Crimson Desert
- How to use Axiom Force
- How to open Sealed Abyss Artifacts
- Best skills to level up first
- How to fast travel
- Deepfog Basin Dragon puzzle solution
- Precipice of Truth Abyss puzzle solution
- Secret Garden Abyss puzzle solution
- How to infiltrate Azerian Manor
- Crimson Desert full review
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