The Frostwarden quest in Crimson Desert tasks you with climbing the Spire of Frost and lighting seven frozen stone lanterns. It unlocks in Chapter 7 and rewards you with the Frostcursed Plate Boots plus access to the Passage of Malice Abyss chain. Here is the full walkthrough.
- Start the quest in Beighen Village by talking to the Drunk Man at the start of Chapter 7: Homecoming.
- Equip ice resistance gear and stock cold-weather food before you travel east to the Spire.
- Break each frozen lantern with Turning Slash (RB + RT on Xbox / R1 + R2 on PS5), then interact to light it.
- The path alternates between inside and outside the Spire — use windows and external staircases to reach all seven.
- There is a hidden chest under the first interior staircase containing the Frozen Anguish Longsword. Do not skip it.
- Three Abyss Cell No. 1 items are scattered through the Spire — worth grabbing as you go.
- Lighting the seventh lantern earns the Frostcursed Plate Boots and opens the lift to the Passage of Malice Abyss gate.
How to Start the Frostwarden Quest in Crimson Desert
You can pick up the Frostwarden quest at the start of Chapter 7: Homecoming. Head to Beighen Village, located southeast of Pailune near the Demeniss border. Find the Drunk Man in the village and speak to him. He tells Kliff to go to the Spire of Frost and light the seven stone lanterns.
The Spire of Frost sits in a frozen crater north of Demeniss. Follow the road east from Beighen to reach it.
Prepare Before You Go – Ice Resistance and Gear
The area around the Spire of Frost has an active blizzard. It will drain your health if you are not prepared. This step is something most guides skip over, but it matters.
Equip armor with high ice protection before you leave. The Frostcursed Plate Armor set is ideal here. You can also use ice resistance food and buffs to survive the blizzard more easily. Bring Honey Tea if you have it — it helps significantly.
If you want to check what gear works best against the cold before heading out, see our best armor guide for options.
Spire of Frost Location in Crimson Desert
The Spire of Frost is in the northern part of the Demeniss region. It is east of Beighen Village, sitting in a frozen open area. You will see it clearly once you get close. Skull Knight forces and Antumbra wizards patrol the approach. The wizards fly and shoot energy projectiles. Take them out or dodge past them.
Falling blocks of ice are also a hazard in the crater. Watch above you as you move around the base of the Spire.
How to Light All 7 Lanterns in the Spire of Frost
Every lantern is frozen solid when you find it. You cannot light one until you break the ice first. Use Turning Slash (RB + RT on Xbox / R1 + R2 on PlayStation) to shatter the ice. Then press the interaction prompt to light the lantern.
There is a shortcut for the first lantern. If a falling chunk of ice lands on it, that also breaks the freeze. But Turning Slash is faster and more reliable.
Lantern 1 – Spire Entrance
The first lantern is at the base of the Spire, to the left of the entrance gate. Break the ice and light it. This opens the front door so you can go inside.
Lantern 2 – Under the Interior Staircase
Step inside and head to the spiraling staircase. Before you go up, check underneath the stairs. There is a treasure chest here containing the Frozen Anguish Longsword and a Refined Palmar Pill. This is easy to miss.
Climb the stairs to find the second lantern. Break the ice and light it.
Lantern 3 – External Staircase (Right Window)
Continue climbing. Look for an opening to your right. Go through the window and head up the external staircase. The third lantern is here. Light it and keep going up.
Lantern 4 – Back Inside (Left Window)
At the top of the external staircase, climb back into the Spire through the window on your left. The fourth lantern is inside. Light it and continue your ascent.
Lantern 5 – Interior, Mid-Climb
Keep climbing the internal stairs. The fifth lantern is partway up. Once it is lit, go outside through the opening to your right.
Lantern 6 – External Staircase (Right Side)
Head up the external staircase on the right. The sixth lantern is here. Light it and turn back toward the Spire.
Lantern 7 – Final Lantern (Left Window Near Top)
Continue up the stairs and re-enter the Spire through the window on the left. The seventh and final stone lantern is inside. Light it to complete the Frostwarden quest.
Abyss Cells Inside the Spire of Frost
There are three Abyss Cell No. 1 items inside the Spire of Frost. Two of them are near lantern locations, so you will pass them naturally if you follow this guide. The third is on the ground floor on the east side of the Spire — it is frozen in place. Use Axiom Force to pull it free. Watch out for falling ice chunks while you do it.
Collecting these is worth doing. See our guide on how to get and use Abyss Cells in Crimson Desert if you need more.
Frostwarden Quest Reward – What You Get
Lighting the seventh lantern gives you the Frostcursed Plate Boots. It also activates a lift at the top of the Spire. The lift takes you to the Abyss Gate, which leads into the Passage of Malice puzzle.
You can see the full Frostcursed armor set locations to collect the rest of the pieces and complete the set.
What Comes After – Passage of Malice
The Passage of Malice is the next Abyss challenge after the Spire of Frost. One important thing to know: you no longer need cold gear once you enter the Abyss. The environment changes. Later in the Passage of Malice chain, you will actually need heat resistance instead. Swap your gear before entering if you plan to push further.
Check the Passage of Malice puzzle solution when you are ready for the next step.
Enemies You Will Face in the Spire of Frost
The Spire is not just a puzzle. You will fight through multiple enemy types on the way up.
- Skull Knight soldiers — melee fighters guarding the approach and the lower floors.
- Antumbra wizards — they fly and attack from a distance with energy projectiles. Take them down early or they will interrupt you mid-climb.
- Falling ice blocks — not enemies, but they deal real damage. Keep moving and watch above.
If you are struggling with the fight sections, check out the advanced combat guide for tips on dealing with mixed enemy groups.
Spire of Frost vs Spire of Insight – What Is the Difference
The Spire of Frost and the Spire of Insight are both Spire Challenge Puzzles in Crimson Desert. They work similarly — both involve a puzzle mechanic and an Abyss gate reward. The Spire of Frost is tied to the Frostwarden quest and requires ice gear. The Spire of Insight is a separate location with a different puzzle. You can complete them in either order.
For a full list of similar challenges, see our all Sanctum locations guide and the Crimson Desert guide hub.
Quick Tips for the Frostwarden Quest in Crimson Desert (2026)
- If a lantern refuses to light, you have not fully broken the ice yet. Hit it again with Turning Slash.
- Do not sprint through the blizzard area without cold resistance — the health drain adds up fast.
- Grab the Frozen Anguish Longsword chest under the first interior staircase. It is one of the stronger early swords in the game.
- Use Axiom Force to pull the frozen Abyss Cell free on the ground floor.
- After completing the quest, swap to heat resistant armor before going deeper into the Passage of Malice chain.
Get the full Abyss Gears list to plan your build before tackling the Passage of Malice. And if you want to see everything available in the game, the Crimson Desert guide hub covers all locations, quests, gear, and puzzles in one place.
Where to Buy or Play Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert is available on multiple platforms in 2026.
