How to Solve the Memory-Laden Ruins Puzzle in Crimson Desert

TL;DR

• The Memory-Laden Ruins is an Ancient Ruins puzzle in the Beardtree Hills area of Delesyia, north of Beardtree Gorge.
• Burn the thorny vines blocking the entrance using Blinding Flash, a fire arrow, or any flame ability.
• Inside, check the wall map — it shows four X marks near the Red River, marking trees with the correct symbols.
• Cross the spike trap room by shooting the ropes to drop the wooden platforms, then jump across.
• In the final room, press the four buttons on the left side of the room using Force Palm.
• Order does not matter — press all four left-side buttons to open the door.
• Rewards: Abyss Artifact, fast travel point, and the Forgotten Memory crystal (reveals cave locations in Delesyia).
• Watch out for swinging lanterns in the spike room — they can knock you off the platforms.

The Memory-Laden Ruins puzzle in Crimson Desert is an Ancient Ruins challenge found in the Beardtree Hills region of Delesyia, and it is one of the more layered puzzles in the game. It involves burning away overgrowth, surviving a spike trap crossing, decoding a wall map, and pressing the right buttons in the final chamber. This guide walks through every step clearly so you do not have to guess. For a broader look at all Ancient Ruins in the game, see our guide on how to solve Ancient Generator Puzzles and our Crimson Desert guide hub for everything in one place.

Memory-Laden Ruins Location

The Memory-Laden Ruins are located in the northern Beardtree Hills, which is in the Delesyia region. More specifically, you will find them on the eastern shore, directly north of Beardtree Gorge and east of the Swamp Ruins. The ruins are labeled on the map as a Mysterious Energy icon — a white question mark.

When you reach the area, look for crumbling white stone walls overrun by red thorny vines. The vines block a staircase leading underground into the ruins. The vines are the first obstacle you need to deal with before you can enter.

Step 1 — Burn the Vines to Enter

The entrance is completely blocked by thick thorny vines. You cannot push through them — they hurt on contact. You need to burn them away before you can descend the stairs.

Any of the following methods will clear the vines:

• Blinding Flash: Concentrate Light — Hold the stance and aim the beam at the vines until they catch fire and burn away. This is the most reliable method. On console, hold Left Bumper in the Blinding Flash stance.
• Explosive Arrow or fire arrow — Shoot directly at the vine cluster.
• Flame Elemental attack — Any imbued fire ability works.

Once the vines are ash, a staircase appears leading down into the underground ruins. Head down. For more on using Blinding Flash and elemental abilities, see our guide on how to use elemental attacks and imbue elements and our guide on how to use Blinding Flash in Crimson Desert.

Step 2 — Read the Wall Map in the First Chamber

At the bottom of the stairs, you enter a chamber lit by two braziers. There is a metal door ahead leading deeper into the ruins. On the walls on either side of that door are two identical engravings — a map showing four red X marks near some landmarks.

This map represents the area around the Red River, located directly north of the ruins. The four X marks point to large tropical trees in that area, each of which has a symbol carved into it. These symbols tell you which buttons to press in the final puzzle room.

You do not need to go find the trees yourself. The quick answer is covered in Step 4 below. But understanding what the map is telling you helps make sense of the puzzle’s logic.

After studying the map, open the metal door and proceed into the next room.

Step 3 — Cross the Spike Trap Room

Through the metal door, you enter a room with a floor full of spikes. Falling in means almost instant death — the spikes deal massive damage and are nearly impossible to climb out of. Take this section carefully.

On either side of the spike pit are wooden platforms hanging from ropes. Here is what to do:

1. Draw your bow and shoot the ropes holding the platforms. This drops the platforms down, turning them into stepping stones across the pit. Shoot the ropes on the right side — the metal door on the far side opens to the left, which means the right-side platforms give you a cleaner path back if needed.
2. Jump across the fallen platforms to reach the other side. Move at a steady pace — do not rush.
3. Watch out for swinging lanterns in the middle of the room. They can knock you sideways off a platform and into the spikes. Stick to one side (left or right platforms) rather than zigzagging across both to reduce the risk of being hit.
4. Also watch the ceiling as you descend — rubble can drop from above. If your lantern glows red, move quickly to avoid taking damage.

Once safely across, open the door on the far side to reach the final puzzle room.

Step 4 — Press the Correct Buttons (Quick Solution)

Inside the final room, you will find eight stone buttons embedded in the walls, four on each side. Each button has a different directional symbol carved on it. Your goal is to press the four correct buttons to lower the bars blocking the Abyss Cresset.

The quick solution: Face the Abyss Cresset at the far end of the room. Turn to your left. The four buttons on the left side of the room are the correct ones. Press all four of them using Force Palm. The order you press them in does not matter — press all four and the door will open a couple of seconds later.

This matches the symbols found on the four trees near the Red River north of the ruins — the wall map in the first chamber was pointing you to the exact symbols that correspond to the left-side buttons. If you want to do it the intended way and track down all four trees, they are all close together along the Red River banks north of the ruins. But pressing all four left-side buttons is the direct solution and saves significant time.

To press the buttons, use Force Palm on each one. For a refresher on Force Palm and how to unlock it, check our guide on how to get and use Focused Force Palm.

Step 5 — Claim the Abyss Artifact

Once all four correct buttons are pressed, the bars in front of the Abyss Cresset drop. Walk up and interact with the Abyss Cresset to collect your rewards and complete the Memory-Laden Ruins puzzle.

Rewards

Completing the Memory-Laden Ruins puzzle gives you:

• Abyss Artifact — Used to upgrade your core stats like health, stamina, and spirit. One of the most valuable collectibles in the game.
• Fast Travel Point — The Abyss Cresset location is now unlocked as a fast travel destination.
• Forgotten Memory Crystal — A unique bonus reward. This crystal reveals the locations of hidden caves in Delesyia, making it easier to find secrets in the region.

There are no hidden chests or extra loot in this particular ruins. Once you have the Abyss Artifact and Forgotten Memory, you are done here. To learn how to use what you earn, check our guides on how to open sealed Abyss Artifacts and how to get Abyss Cells in Crimson Desert. For more on all Abyss Gear options, see our full Abyss Gear Blueprints list.

What Is the Forgotten Memory Crystal?

The Forgotten Memory is a special item tied to Delesyia’s exploration. Crimson Desert has six Ancient Ruins puzzles that each award a Memory Crystal, and each one reveals the cave locations in the region where the puzzle is found. The Memory-Laden Ruins is Delesyia’s version of this reward. If you are trying to fully explore Delesyia and find every cave and hidden location, completing this puzzle first saves you a lot of blind searching. To read more about memory-related content in the game, check our guide on how to read and replay Memory Fragments in Crimson Desert.

Tips and Common Mistakes

• Do not try to push through the vines without burning them. They damage you on contact and you cannot force your way past them. Always burn first.
• Shoot the ropes before jumping. Players who try to jump straight across without dropping the platforms will fall into the spikes. Drop the platforms first, then cross.
• Stick to one side in the spike room. The swinging lanterns in the middle make zigzagging dangerous. Pick the right side, cross cleanly, and avoid the lanterns.
• Do not fall into the spikes. If you do fall in, the spikes kill you quickly and are very hard to escape. Revive at the nearest Checkpoint and try the crossing again from the beginning.
• Press all four left-side buttons. Some players accidentally press a right-side button first, which counts against the solution. Face the Abyss Cresset, turn left, and only press the four buttons on that side.
• Order of button presses does not matter. You do not need to press them in any specific sequence — just press all four and wait a couple of seconds for the bars to drop.

Other Ancient Ruins Puzzles in Delesyia and Nearby Regions

If you are clearing the Beardtree Hills and surrounding areas, here are other related puzzle guides to work through while you are in the region:

• All Anvil Hill Mysterious Energy Puzzles — Three puzzles in Anvil Hill just west of Delesyia.
• Ancient Rift Puzzle Solution
• Hidden Chamber of Wisdom Puzzle Guide
• All Strongbox Puzzle Solutions and Locations
• All Sanctum Locations in Crimson Desert

For a complete look at all collectibles and puzzle types across the game, visit our trophy list and all achievements guide. You can get started in Crimson Desert on Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox, or the Epic Games Store. The official site at crimsondesert.pearlabyss.com also has the latest patch notes and news.