Scattered across the vast continent of Pyvel in Crimson Desert are dilapidated structures, aptly called “ancient ruins.” Almost every ruin hides a puzzle, and one of them is located in the Arboria Forest Ruins. You’ll see a small stone fountain consisting of three columns, each releasing water from a basin above. The goal is to rotate the columns so the water flows directly into the central basin. Once it’s filled, the puzzle is solved. Below is a quick guide to help you solve the Arboria Forest Ruins fountain puzzle.
Arboria Forest Ruins Fountain Puzzle Location
Arboria Forest is located north of the city of Ernand, in the game’s first region, Crimson Desert, west of the Hills of No Return area (map). The area with the fountain will be marked as “Mysterious Energy” with a “question mark.”
As you approach the fountain, you’ll notice three columns pouring water onto the ground, away from the main basin. The solution to the puzzle becomes obvious: rotate all three columns so that the water collects in the central basin instead of spilling out.
There’s a nearby clue in the form of a hologram: an NPC appears and inserts a sword into one of the columns. However, the next steps aren’t explained, which can make finding the solution difficult.
Arboria Forest Ruins Fountain Puzzle Solution
To rotate each column, you need to perform a “Thrust Strike” with your sword. To do this, you need to unlock the skill itself. You need to aim for the square slots on the columns (there are several of them).
To perform a thrust attack, on PC, hold Shift and then right-click. On Xbox, hold RB and then press Y. On PlayStation, hold R1 and then press Triangle.
After successfully performing a thrust, the sword will become stuck in the crack. Now use the movement keys or the sticks to rotate the column in the desired direction. Continue rotating until water from the column begins to fall into the central pool. Both streams from each column. You’ll have to pull the sword out and reinsert it, as it will become caught on the fountain’s edges.
Repeat this process for all three pillars. Once they are all correctly aligned with the central basin, the Arboria Forest Ruins fountain challenge will be completed. You will be able to interact with the Abyssal Stone to activate a fast travel point and receive an Abyssal Artifact as a reward.
