How to Ascend Lioncrest Watchtower in Crimson Desert

TL;DR

• Lioncrest Watchtower is part of the main quest “Where the Light Leads” in Chapter 2
• The entrance is blocked by green vines that you need to burn to get inside
• Light an arrow using a nearby brazier, then shoot the vines to clear them
• No arrows? Use the Blinding Flash ability instead — it does the same job
• Once inside, go up the spiral stairs and ladder to find the story reward
• After clearing the tower, a black cat will lead you to the next quest: Reunion

Reached Lioncrest Watchtower and not sure how to get in? You are not the only one. The entrance is hidden behind thick green vines and the game does not spell out exactly what to do. There is no climbing puzzle, no hidden lever, and no complicated solution. You just need fire.

This guide walks you through burning the vines, getting inside, what to expect in the tower, and what comes next after you clear it.

Where is Lioncrest Watchtower?

Lioncrest Watchtower is located southwest of the City of Hernand. It comes up naturally as part of the main story quest called Where the Light Leads, which is one of the early main quests in Chapter 2.

You will know you are close when you start running into bandits and goblins patrolling the surrounding area. Clear them out before focusing on the tower itself. Start with the archers first — they are the biggest threat at range. Once the area is clear, you can deal with the vines without being interrupted.

How to Burn the Vines on Lioncrest Watchtower

The entrance to Lioncrest Watchtower is covered in green vines. You cannot enter until they are burned away. Here is exactly how to do it:

If you have a Bow and Arrows:

1. Hold L2 to draw your Bow
2. Look for the lit braziers directly in front of the Watchtower entrance — they are burning torches placed near the base of the building
3. Aim the tip of your arrow into the flame of a brazier to light it on fire
4. With the arrow now flaming, aim at the green vines covering the entrance
5. Release to fire the flaming arrow into the vines
6. The vines will catch fire and burn away, revealing the entrance

The vines do not take multiple shots. One well-placed flaming arrow is enough to clear them. Make sure you light the arrow first — a regular arrow will do nothing to the vines.

If you have No Arrows:

No arrows left? That is fine. You can use the Blinding Flash ability instead. This is an ability you unlock earlier in the story, so you should already have it by this point. Aim Blinding Flash at the vines and it will ignite them just as effectively as a flaming arrow.

What to Do Inside Lioncrest Watchtower

Once the vines are burned and the entrance is open, go inside. Here is what to expect:

Ground floor — You may still have a few enemies to deal with on entry. Clear them quickly.

Spiral stairs — Head to the spiral staircase and climb up. Take your time and check corners as you go.

Landing with a chest — On one of the landings partway up, you will find a large chest. You can steal from it, but you will need your Mask equipped to do so. If you have not picked up the Mask yet, the chest will not be accessible through the steal prompt. Check our guide on how to steal items in Crimson Desert if you need help getting the Mask first.

The ladder — After the stairs, you will reach a ladder. Climb it to reach the top floor.

The top floor — Here you will find a small study with items you can pick up and inspect. This is where the story-related reward is located. Pick it up to complete the Where the Light Leads quest.

What Happens After You Clear the Tower?

Clearing Lioncrest Watchtower does not end the sequence. There is more.

As you try to leave the tower, a Shai named Rulupee will stop you. After the interaction, a black cat will appear. Follow the black cat north. It will lead you to the Meandering Hills Ruins, which kicks off the next main quest called Reunion.

At the ruins, you will learn a new ability called Nature’s Grasp by examining a ghostly form outside. Use it to lift the stone slab blocking the chamber entrance. Inside, you will face your first Abyss Cresset puzzle — three circular disks connected by a current. The key thing to know here is that the game does not tell you which ability to use. Use Force Palm (not Force Axiom) to adjust the disks and solve it. Getting this right unlocks the Abyss Cresset, which also serves as a fast travel point you can return to any time.

Quick Tips for Lioncrest Watchtower

• Clear the surrounding bandits and archers before attempting to burn the vines. Fighting enemies while trying to aim at vines is messy and unnecessary
• The braziers are right in front of the entrance — you do not need to hunt for a fire source
• If you find yourself stuck and out of arrows, Blinding Flash is your backup. Do not waste time looking for a fire source elsewhere
• The chest on the landing is worth coming back for if you do not have your Mask yet
• Do not leave the tower immediately after grabbing the reward — wait for the Rulupee cutscene to trigger so the black cat quest starts correctly

Want to get more out of the early game? Learn how to upgrade your weapons and armor in Crimson Desert to make sure you are ready for tougher fights as you push further into the story.

Ready to start playing? Here is where to get the game:

• Official Crimson Desert Website
• PlayStation Store
• Xbox Store
• Steam
• Epic Games Store

For our full thoughts on the game, read our Crimson Desert Review.

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