Crimson Desert is Pearl Abyss’s open-world action RPG, and the Origin of Thoughts is one of its trickier Abyss Restoration puzzles. It stacks fan traversal, a repositionable battery, and a three-ring alignment challenge on top of each other before you even reach the main puzzle. This guide walks through every step in order so you can collect your Abyss Artifact without getting lost in the fans.
Quick Reference: Origin of Thoughts at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
| Puzzle type | Abyss Restoration Challenge |
| Location | Spire of Clockwork, The Wanderer’s Way cluster |
| Access point | Southwest corner of Riddle Square |
| Required skills | Axiom Force, Aerial Maneuver, Force Punch or Force Current, Flight |
| Prerequisite | Complete Riddle Square first |
| Rewards | Fast Travel Teleport, Abyss Artifact |
Where to Find the Origin of Thoughts Puzzle
The Origin of Thoughts puzzle sits within the Wanderer’s Way cluster, accessed through the Spire of Clockwork via Riddle Square. You enter from the southwest corner of Riddle Square, passing through the archways there. The puzzle island does not become available until you complete Riddle Square, so make sure that one is done before heading here.
You also need the Wind element unlocked before this island becomes accessible. If the area is not appearing on your map, completing Riddle Square first should unlock it.
How to Reach the Origin of Thoughts Island
Before you even reach the actual puzzle, you need to navigate a multi-stage fan gauntlet. Here is the full traversal sequence in order:
- Stage 1: Raise the platforms Head to the southwest corner of Riddle Square and interact with the device there. Rotate it 90 degrees to the right to raise a set of platforms into the air. Follow them west and climb the side of the high ledge at the end.
- Stage 2: Use the large fans At the top of the ledge, jump and glide into the updraft of the large fan to launch yourself upward. Catch the second large fan above to go even higher, then glide west into the opening of the floating structure ahead.
- Stage 3: Navigate the interior Inside the structure, use the fans to ascend through a short labyrinth section. Exit the other side and ride the fans on the small island upward.
- Stage 4: Get past the gate Continue upward until you reach a gated fan. Use the small fan next to the gate to fly over it, then step into the light on the other side.
- Stage 5: Reach the puzzle island After the transition, ride two more fans on consecutive platforms upward. Head inside the next opening, ride the interior fan to the top, then use the side alcove fan to push yourself across to the Origin of Thoughts island.
Origin of Thoughts Full Puzzle Solution (Step by Step)
Once you land on the puzzle island and activate the Abyss Nexus, the seven-step challenge begins.
Step 1: Ride to the First Ring
From the Abyss Nexus, look to your left (west) to find a large set of fans blowing air upward. Ride them to land on the first large ring above you.
Step 2: Reach the Second Ring and Find the Abyss Core
From the first ring, look southeast for another set of fans. Use the large fan to ascend to the second ring above. On this ring, look for two floating platforms. The right-hand platform has a rectangular Abyss Core sitting in a small alcove.
Step 3: Grab and Reposition the Abyss Core
Use Axiom Force (hold L3 on controller or TAB on PC) to grab the glowing battery. Move it upward so it sits between the two platforms, within reach of the platform above. You need to bring it high enough so you can retrieve it from the upper platform.
Step 4: Socket the Abyss Core into Place
Climb up to the upper platform and pull the Abyss Core toward you again with Axiom Force. Place it into the slot between the two fans. You will know it is in the correct position when green leaves swirl around it. Once positioned correctly, use Force Palm (R3 on controller or Mouse Wheel on PC) to push it into the slot and secure it.
Step 5: Ascend to the Top Ring
With the fan now reactivated, ride the fans north and upward through the next set of fans until you reach the very top ring. Head east along the wires toward a small hole in the platform on the northeast side.
Step 6: Solve the Three-Ring Alignment Puzzle
Use Axiom Force on the yellow control switch inside the hole. This triggers a top-down view of the ring system, which divides into three sections: outer, middle, and inner.
The goal is to align the single movable circular node on each ring with the static nodes in the top-left portion of the ring. There is only one movable node per ring, and you will find it by scanning the edge of each ring carefully.
| Ring | Direction to Rotate | Target |
| Outer ring | Left | Top-left static node |
| Middle ring | Right | Top-left static node |
| Inner ring | Align to match | Top-left static node |
Switch between rings using R2 or RT on controller. Once all three nodes align correctly, all rings glow blue and the top-down camera releases automatically.
Important: The movable nodes sit on the perimeter of each ring, not in the centre. Scan the outer edge of each ring before you start rotating.
Step 7: Activate the Base Switch and Claim Your Reward
Drop back down to the central platform at the base of the island. You will see a cluster of lights rising from the centre. Crouch and use Force Palm on the circular switch at the base to complete the puzzle. Head to the Nexus Core to collect your Abyss Artifact.
What Do You Earn from Origin of Thoughts?
Completing the Origin of Thoughts puzzle rewards you with two things:
- Fast Travel Teleport to the island for future access
- Abyss Artifact to upgrade and improve your gear
Abyss Artifacts are among the more reliable upgrade materials in Crimson Desert, which makes this puzzle well worth completing even if the fan traversal section takes a few attempts.
Bonus: What Comes After the Puzzle?
After you collect the Abyss Artifact, you can pass through the triangular gate behind the reward podium. Activating the transporter using Axiom Force there leads to the next platforming section and connects to an entirely new puzzle island. If you are working through all the Abyss Restoration Challenges systematically, this is the path forward.
Skills You Need Before Attempting This Puzzle
If any part of the traversal or puzzle is not working, confirm you have all four required skills unlocked:
| Skill | Used For |
| Axiom Force | Grabbing and moving the Abyss Core, activating the ring puzzle |
| Aerial Maneuver | Navigating fan updrafts and gaps between platforms |
| Force Punch or Force Current | Socketing the Abyss Core into its slot |
| Flight | Fan gliding and reaching elevated rings |
Missing any of these will block your progress at different points in the puzzle sequence.
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