Crimson Desert hides 60 Abyss Cressets scattered across its five regions, each one tucked into a cliff face, a hidden cave, a rocky pillar, or the summit of a mountain you probably assumed was just decoration. Finding all of them unlocks the Pilgrim of Wonders trophy and achievement, nets you a Skill Point (Abyss Artifact) per discovery, and opens a new Fast Travel Point at each location. The challenge menu calls them Secret Places; the map marks them as Abyss Cressets. Both names refer to the same collectible.
What are Secret Places and why should you collect them?
Secret Places are one of several Exploration Challenge types in Crimson Desert, sitting alongside Sanctums, Spires, and Ancient Ruins. Unlike those categories, Secret Places don't require puzzles or combat. You just need to physically reach the Abyss Cresset, which is harder than it sounds when the game places them on top of vertical stone pillars, inside collapsed ruins, or in the middle of quicksand fields.
Each completed Secret Place gives you:
- One Abyss Artifact (used as a Skill Point in the skill tree)
- A permanent Fast Travel Point at that location
- Progress toward the Expert Explorer trophy
- Completion credit in the Challenge Menu
On the map, Secret Places appear as white search areas marked with a question mark icon. These zones can also contain other points of interest, so don't assume every question mark is a Cresset — but they're always worth investigating.
Secret Place map marker icon
How do you find Secret Places efficiently?
The most practical approach is to clear them region by region rather than chasing the in-game Challenge Menu order, which jumps between areas. The five regions are Hernand, Demeniss, Delesyia, Pailune, and the Crimson Desert zone itself.
Movement abilities that matter
Several Cressets sit in spots that are physically unreachable without specific traversal moves. Before hunting Secret Places seriously, make sure you have:
- Force Palm (aerial): Lets you boost upward mid-air, effectively extending your jump height. Required for locations like Mushroomcap Cliff and An Unreachable End.
- Gliding: Lets you cover horizontal distance from high points. Precipice of Silence is most easily reached by gliding from Haven Past the Snowfall.
- Triple Aerial Focus Palms: Useful for reaching extreme mountain peaks like The Sage's Rest.
Hernand region Secret Places
Hernand contains some of the most vertical Secret Places in the game, with several requiring you to scale cliff faces or drop into underground sections.
Demeniss region Secret Places
Demeniss mixes coastal pillars with inland cave locations. Several Cressets here sit on stone columns rising out of water, requiring precise jumps or gliding.
The cluster of Cressets southeast of Jijeong Temple (#4, #27, #28, #30) is the densest grouping in the game. Clear all four in one run before moving on.
Coastal pillar Cresset, Demeniss
Delesyia region Secret Places
Hunter's Overlook (#35) is one of the trickier ones in Delesyia because it's not at the top or bottom of the cliff — it's partway down. Glide out from the top and angle toward the cliff face to land on the correct ledge.
Crimson Desert region Secret Places
The desert zone has the highest concentration of challenging Cressets, with quicksand hazards, extreme vertical climbs, and some of the most isolated pillars in the game.
Mushroomcap Cliff (#47) is one of the most mechanically demanding Cressets in the game. Jump to the shorter adjacent pillar first, use Force Palm to boost upward, then repeat the process to reach the taller pillar's summit where the Cresset sits. Rushing this without the aerial boost will just result in repeated falls.
Saltshade Hill hazard note
Saltshade Hill (#37) has rockworm enemies on the north approach. Either fight them before climbing or take the south route up the cliff to avoid the encounter entirely.
How many Secret Places are confirmed so far?
As of the current state of documentation, 43 of the 60 Abyss Cressets have confirmed locations across Hernand, Demeniss, Delesyia, and the Crimson Desert zone. The remaining 17 are either in the Pailune region or in parts of other regions still being mapped by the community. The Challenge Menu lists all 60 slots, with undiscovered ones showing as question marks.
For more Crimson Desert collectible hunts and challenge guides, browse the full library of guides at GAMES.GG to cover every corner of the map.