Crimson Desert Hillside Manor Strongbox Puzzle Solution

TL;DR

• Hillside Manor is on the eastern side of Hernand, south of Hernand Castle, belonging to House Felix.
• Enter via the second floor window — guards block all ground floor entrances.
• You must have a Mask equipped to steal the loot. Buy one cheap from the Back Alley Shop in Hernand.
• Strongbox solution (left to right): 2, 3, 4, 5, 5 rotations downward. Use the right-side button to check alignment.
• Reward: Saint’s Necklace — +5 Defense and a Vitality ability that refills stamina instantly. Cooldown is very long.
• No quest requirement — doable as soon as you reach Hernand.

The Hillside Manor strongbox is one of five in the Hernand region and one of the first strongbox puzzles you’ll come across in Crimson Desert. The manor belongs to House Felix and sits on the eastern side of Hernand, just south of Hernand Castle. The puzzle inside uses the same tumbler cylinder mechanic found in the Bluemont Manor strongboxes nearby — but with a different solution.

Once you crack it, you’ll walk away with the Saint’s Necklace, a useful early accessory for its stamina recovery ability. No quest is required and there’s no level gate — you can attempt this the moment you arrive in Hernand.

For other criminal activities in the area, see our guides on how to steal items in Crimson Desert, how to rob banks, and how to remove a bounty.

What You Need Before Entering Hillside Manor

A Mask

You must have a Mask equipped before you can steal the Saint’s Necklace from the opened strongbox. Without it, the loot prompt won’t appear. The easiest way to get one is from the Back Alley Shop in Hernand — it costs just a few bronze coins. You can also loot one from defeated bandits, but the shop is faster. See our full guide on how to steal in Crimson Desert for more context on how the stealing system works.

A Key (Not Required for Hillside)

Bluemont Manor requires a Key to enter the strongbox room — Hillside Manor does not. You can get straight to the puzzle here without one. If you’re planning to hit all five Hernand strongboxes, pick up a Key from the Back Alley Shop while you’re getting your Mask.

How to Enter Hillside Manor in Crimson Desert

The ground floor entrances are all guarded. Any attempt to walk through the front will get you physically removed. The solution is simple — go around the back and climb to the second floor.

1. Head to the north side of the manor exterior.
2. Cling to the wall and climb up toward the second floor windows.
3. When you’re close enough to a window, an interaction prompt appears. Press it to open the window and slip inside.
4. The guards don’t react to this method. For maximum safety, use the windows at the back of the building.
5. Once inside, cross the upper floor and head to the southwestern room — the strongbox is there next to the window.

Hillside Manor Strongbox Puzzle Solution

The strongbox has five cylindrical tumblers, each attached to a rotating board. Each tumbler is two-tone — silver on top, gold on the bottom. The goal is to align the black dividing line on each tumbler with the wooden panel and the painted mountain scene behind it.

How the Mechanic Works

• Interact with each board to rotate it downward and lower the cylinder.
• One full scroll = two movements — Kliff’s thumb lifts back to the top between each full rotation. Count carefully.
• Use the right-side button to check your progress — it lifts all cylinders simultaneously so you can see whether each one is correctly aligned. Use this often.
• If you miscount, raise all dials back to the top and start again. There’s no penalty for resetting.

The Solution (Left to Right)

Once all five are set, press the knob on the right side to unlock the strongbox.

How to Tell If It’s Correct

For each tumbler, check that:

• The silver section sits fully within the painted picture area above the wood.
• The black dividing line aligns precisely with the top edge of the wooden panel.
• The gold section sits fully within the wooden area below.

Even one dial being off by a single rotation will prevent the strongbox from opening. If the button doesn’t unlock it, use the check button to identify which cylinder is misaligned and adjust it one step at a time.

Hillside Manor Strongbox Loot — Saint’s Necklace

The Saint’s Necklace is your reward. It starts with +5 Defense and can be upgraded further at a blacksmith for better base stats. Its real value though is the Vitality ability.

How to Use Vitality

1. Hold D-Pad Right (controller) / F3 (PC) to open your quick item wheel.
2. Look at the lower three o’clock position slot.
3. Scroll through available options until you find the Saint’s Necklace.
4. Press B (keyboard) / L2+R2 (controller) to activate it.

When fully charged, Vitality refills your entire stamina bar instantly. The catch is a very long cooldown — expect to use it once per fight at most. Use it at the right moment, not as a panic button.

For more on accessories and how to get the most out of them, see our accessories guide.

After You Steal — Handling the Crime Meter

The moment you pick up the Saint’s Necklace, a Crime meter appears on your screen. Since there are no NPCs in the strongbox room, this is easy to manage — simply stay inside the room and wait for the meter to fully deplete before leaving. You won’t be attacked or pursued as long as you stay put. See our guide on how to remove a bounty in Crimson Desert if the crime meter causes issues elsewhere.

All Hernand Strongboxes — Priority Order

There are five strongboxes in Hernand. If you’re planning to hit all of them, here’s how they rank by value:

The Oath of Darkness Earring from Northern Bluemont Manor is highest priority — it’s refineable multiple times with a stacking passive bonus. The Engraved Gold Earring from Lioncrest Manor is also high priority for the same reason. The Saint’s Necklace here at Hillside is medium priority — the stamina boost is useful but situational. The Finely Crafted Gold Necklace from Southern Bluemont Manor is a solid middle-tier accessory. The Lavish Meal Recipe from Hernand Castle is most useful if you’re focused on food buffs before tough boss fights.

For keys to access all of them, check our guide on how to get keys in Crimson Desert.

More Crimson Desert Guides

• How to enter Hernand Castle in Crimson Desert
• How to beat Keglord Garnier Mk. XXIII
• Traces of Intruder walkthrough
• How to steal items in Crimson Desert
• How to remove a bounty
• How to get keys in Crimson Desert
• Accessories guide
• How to get better equipment
• How to make money fast
• All main story quests and chapters
• Crimson Desert full review

Where to Get Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games. Visit the official Crimson Desert website for more.