Traces of Intruder Walkthrough

Table of Contents

Traces of Intruder Walkthrough – Crimson Desert

TL;DR

Go straight to Lioncrest Watchtower — skip Torchlight Beacon and Everfrost.
Burn the vines at the entrance using Blinding Flash.
Triple jump through the roof gap using Force Palm.
Grab the Clue note and the small Piece item in the north corner.
Examine the writing on the back of the Piece to trigger the cutscene and finish the quest.

The Traces of Intruder quest is a House Serkis Faction quest in Hernand. It’s one of those early-game quests where the game gives you three possible locations and asks you to find the trail. Sounds simple — but it’s easy to waste time if you go to the wrong spot.

Short answer: only go to Lioncrest Watchtower. Both clues are there, and the quest wraps up with a cutscene once you find them both.

For other Hernand-area content, check out how to enter Hernand Castle in Crimson Desert.

Which Location Is Correct in Traces of Intruder?

The quest gives you three possible locations:

Torchlight Beacon
Everfrost
Lioncrest Watchtower ✅

Go to Lioncrest Watchtower. The other two are red herrings for this quest. If by rare chance the quest doesn’t complete after finding both items at Lioncrest, swing by Torchlight Beacon and loot the chest at the top — but that’s almost never needed.

How to Track the Traces at Lioncrest Watchtower in Crimson Desert

Lioncrest Watchtower sits just west of Hernand. It’s a short ride, and once you arrive, the steps are straightforward.

track the traces at lioncrest watchtower in crimson desert

Step 1 – Burn the Vines and Enter

The entrance is blocked by vines. Use Blinding Flash (L1 + R1, then L1 again) to burn them. Once they’re gone, head inside and go upstairs.

tracking the traces at lioncrest watchtower in crimson desert

Step 2 – Reach the Roof Using Force Palm

On the upper floor, look up. There’s a gap in the roof. Jump toward it and press R3 while airborne to activate Force Palm — this gives you a triple jump and lets you climb out onto the roof. Not comfortable with movement mechanics yet? Our parry, counter, and dodge guide breaks down the core controls.

Step 3 – Find the Clue from Lioncrest Watchtower (First Trace)

Once on the roof, head to the north corner. You’ll see a note sitting on top of a box — this is the “Clue from Lioncrest Watchtower”. Pick it up and read it. That’s your first trace.

how to track the traces at lioncrest watchtower in crimson desert

Step 4 – Find the Piece from Lioncrest Watchtower (Second Trace)

Smash the box the note was on. Underneath it is the “Piece from Lioncrest Watchtower” — it’s very small, so hold L1 to highlight nearby interactables if you can’t spot it. Pick it up, turn it over, and examine the writing on the back. That examination counts as your second trace.

Step 5 – Complete the Quest

Once both traces are logged, a cutscene plays automatically. When it ends, the Traces of Intruder quest is done.

Tips for Completing Traces of Intruder Without Getting Stuck

A few things that trip players up on this quest:

Don’t skip the examination. Picking up the Piece isn’t enough. You have to flip it and read the back. Many players get stuck here because the quest won’t move forward until that step is done.

Blinding Flash must be unlocked. You can’t burn the vines without it. If you haven’t got it yet, check our Blinding Flash guide for how to unlock and use it.

Practice the triple jump first. Force Palm (R3) must be used while you’re already airborne — not on the ground. If you keep falling short, double-check your timing.

Hold L1 on the roof. The Piece item is genuinely tiny. If you’re standing in the north corner and don’t see anything, hold L1 to highlight interactables nearby.

More Crimson Desert Quest Walkthroughs

Working through quests in Hernand and beyond? These guides will help:

Where to Get Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert is available now on all major platforms. Grab it on PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games. For full game details, visit the official Crimson Desert website.