TL;DR
- The Spire of the Stars is a main story puzzle in Chapter 4: Forbidden Knowledge
- You need to use Force Palm (R3) on wall buttons in the side rooms to get 3 Engraved Stones
- Insert the stones into the center wall to raise the symbol platforms
- Climb and hang on each symbol to drop it to the correct position (shown on side walls)
- Symbol order: Hourglass = top | Circle = 2nd from top | Square = bottom | Triangle = 2nd from bottom
- Once correct, the center pillar glows blue and the elevator activates
The Spire of the Stars is one of those puzzles in Crimson Desert that looks simple but trips a lot of players up. The game gives you almost zero hint on what to actually do, and one wrong move sends a symbol to the wrong position. This guide will walk you through the full solution so you can get through it without wasting time.
What Is the Spire of the Stars?
The Spire of the Stars is a tall tower located on Everfrost Mountain, north of the Scholastone Institute and west of The Witchwoods in the Hernand region. You visit it automatically during Chapter 4 — The Price of Knowledge, in the sub-chapter called Forbidden Knowledge. It is the 57th main mission in Crimson Desert.
You cannot enter before this point. To unlock the door, you need the Key to the Spire of the Stars, which Dean Gundrir gives you after you defeat Tenebrum during the Gate to the Otherworld quest.
Once inside, you find yourself at the bottom of an elevator shaft. The elevator is powered off. To turn it on, you need to solve the symbol puzzle in front of you.
Note: If you die during this puzzle and select “Retry,” the game resets the puzzle from the beginning. Don’t panic — just start over using this guide.
How to Get the Engraved Stones
When you first enter the Spire of the Stars, you will see a wall in front of you with four large symbols on it. Three of them stick out from the wall, and one (the circle) is already inserted.
Before touching the center wall, go into the side rooms on the left and right.
In each side room, you will find:
- A mural on the wall showing the correct symbol positions (this is your solution key)
- Stone buttons on pillars with glowing yellow sides
Here is what to do:
- Walk up to a glowing pillar in the corner of the side room.
- Press R3 (Force Palm) on the stone button in the middle of the pillar.
- The pillar flips around and reveals an Engraved Stone.
- Pick it up.
- Repeat this for all three remaining pillar buttons across both side rooms.
You need 3 Engraved Stones in total (the circle symbol slot is already filled).
Tip: Force Palm is the same ability you use for other interactions in the game. If you need a refresher on how Axiom Force works, check our Axiom Force guide.
How to Read the Side Wall Murals
This is the part most players miss. Before leaving the side rooms, look at the mural painted on the wall. It shows two symbols placed along a vertical bar with four positions (top, second, third, bottom).
The left room mural shows the correct positions for the left two symbols (hourglass and circle). The right room mural shows the correct positions for the right two symbols (square and triangle).
Memorize these or take a screenshot. The solution is:
| Symbol | Position |
|---|---|
| Hourglass (leftmost) | Top (position 1) |
| Circle (middle-left) | Second from top (position 2) |
| Square (middle-right) | Bottom (position 4) |
| Triangle (rightmost) | Second from bottom (position 3) |
How to Solve the Spire of the Stars Puzzle — Full Steps
Step 1 — Insert the Engraved Stones
Go back to the center wall with the four symbols. Walk up to each symbol that is sticking out and insert an Engraved Stone into the slot below it.
Do this for all three open slots. Once all stones are inserted, the symbols push into the wall and the platforms above each symbol rise up.
Step 2 — Check the Hourglass
The hourglass symbol should already be at the top position after the stones are inserted. If it is, leave it alone. Do not climb it.
Step 3 — Adjust the Circle
The circle symbol needs to sit at position 2 (second from the top).
After inserting the stone, the circle rises to the top (position 1). Climb the wall next to it, grab the handle bar, and hang there. The symbol will slowly drop by one position. Let go when it reaches position 2.
Step 4 — Adjust the Square
The square symbol needs to be at the very bottom (position 4).
Climb the wall, grab the handlebar, and hang on. The square will drop one position at a time. Keep holding until it reaches the bottom. This takes a moment, so be patient.
Step 5 — Adjust the Triangle
The triangle symbol needs to be at position 3 (second from the bottom), meaning there is one empty space below it.
Climb the wall, grab the handle, and let it drop. Release when it is one slot above the bottom.
Step 6 — Confirm and Activate
Once all four symbols are in the right position, stand on the central pillar in the middle of the room. If everything is correct, all the symbols will glow blue and the elevator activates. A platform will appear to carry you to the top of the spire.
What If a Symbol Drops Too Far?
This happens. If you hold on too long and a symbol drops past the right position, do not stress.
Walk up to the stone button at the base of that symbol and use Force Palm (R3) to reset it. The symbol will shoot back up to the top (position 1), and you can climb and drop it again to the correct position.
What Comes After the Spire of the Stars?
After the elevator takes you to the top, you continue into the main story. The spire leads you deeper into the events of Chapter 4, including the mysteries surrounding Octavius and the institute.
There is no loot reward for solving this puzzle itself. The only reward is story progression — and not being stuck anymore.
If you want to stay ahead in the game, it helps to have the right gear and abilities ready. Check out our best early build guide and our accessories guide to make sure Kliff is set up well before you push through Chapter 4.
More Crimson Desert Puzzle Guides
There are plenty of other puzzles around the world of Pywel. Here are some guides that may help you next:
- Sunrise Plains Ancient Ruins Puzzle Solution
- Duskwood Ancient Ruins Puzzle Solution
- Duskwood Checker Puzzle Solution
- Haunted Hill Ruins Puzzle Solution
- Abyss Without Balance Puzzle Solution
- Dragon Stone Chamber Puzzle Solution
- Arboria Forest Fountain Puzzle Solution
- Hunter’s Cabin Graveyard Puzzle Solution
- How to Drain Water Puzzle
- Glenbright Manor Basement Golden Daggers
More Helpful Crimson Desert Guides
- Crimson Desert Review
- How to Use Blinding Flash
- How to Get Better Equipment
- How to Increase Attack Level
- How to Increase Defense Level
- How to Get Skill Points
- Best Skills to Level Up First
- How to Beat Tenebrum
- How to Fast Travel
- Ice Resistance and Frost Protection Guide
Where to Get Crimson Desert
Ready to play or gift it to a friend? Here are all the official store links:
