The Abyss Without Balance puzzle requires you to manipulate items with your new ability, Axiom Force, and unlock the Force Palm ability to lock objects in place in order to get an Abyss Object.
Abyss without Balance is part of the Traces questline. This specific part of the quest involves a puzzle that, while simple, can be confusing because it’s one of the first main puzzles of the game. Here’s how to solve it step by step.
Platforming Path
Before you reach the puzzle, there is a short platforming segment. You can use Precise Jump in combination with normal jump to get through that linear part. This includes the following objectives, which we will skip and focus on the actual puzzle at the end:
- Go through the skybridge gate to the heart of the Abyss (platforming)
- Activate the Abyss Nexus (step on the circle)
Video Walkthrough
The video walkthrough shows you how to solve the puzzle with the floating cubes and the blocked door.
Remove the wall blocking the door
To gain access to the lower floor, you need to pull the floating cube and place it where the stone cube is located using Axiom Force (by pressing TAB / L3 / LS). Right in front of the lantern. You don’t need to worry about the stone cube; it’ll disappear the moment it’s placed correctly. Precision isn’t a must for this one
If you struggle to remember or adapt to all of the keybindings, check out our Crimson Desert Controls guide and try some of the alternative/custom keybindings or just have the controls list handy for when you can’t remember how to activate something.
Tip: You don’t need to be extremely precise about the positioning of the objects in this puzzle; an animation will play the moment the item is in the right place.
Synthesize the Abyss cell
Jump to the lower level, grab the floating piece, and place it on the wall. You will see a blue silhouette that indicates where you must place it. Make sure that it’s properly aligned; otherwise, the next step won’t work.
Stand next to the silhouette and use Observe (by pressing CTRL / L1 / LB). Wait until you get the “Learning in Progress” message at the top left of your screen. It seems that it doesn’t work/gets bugged from certain angles. If nothing happens, just adjust your viewing angle and try again.
After a few seconds, you’ll be able to use the Force Palm ability. Use Force Palm (by pressing MMB / R3 / RS) and hit it until it fits into the wall. It might take a couple of tries, so don’t get upset if it doesn’t work after the first hit.
Tip: Stay away from the electricity; if it touches you, you’ll receive damage, and the Force Palm animation gets interrupted.
Activate the Abyss power supply
A small cinematic will trigger when you do this successfully. Go back to the upper level and head towards the big white circle that looks like some type of vault gate. Climb to the middle and hit it with Force Palm. You may need to do it multiple times if you aren’t positioned in the center.
Take the Abyss Artifact (Reward)
The impact will launch you back to the lower level. Get back to the top and continue through the stairs. You will receive an Abyss Artifact, and a new cinematic will trigger. You’ll receive new wings and conclude Chapter 1.
