How to Beat Antumbra’s Sword (Sanctum of Absolution) in Crimson Desert

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The Sanctum of Absolution in Crimson Desert is a challenging area to clear when you first start playing, requiring you to defeat the Antumbra’s Sword boss. But it’s worth the effort! Clearing this Sanctum not only frees it from darkness, but also rewards you with Vessel of Dark Pursuit, one of the best swords in the game. This guide will help you cleanse the Sanctum of Absolution and defeat Antumbra’s Sword in Crimson Desert.

Sanctum of Temperance Location in Crimson Desert

The Sanctum of Absolution is located far southwest of Hernand City. It’s directly south of the Scholastone Institute. If you’ve previously discovered the Abyss Nexus fast travel point in the area, you can use it to quickly reach the Sanctum.

You need to progress to Chapter 5 and unlock the character Elowen, the Witch of Wisdom, before you can complete the Sanctum puzzles, like Temperance.

The area will be filled with enemies, but you can safely bypass them and go straight to the main courtyard to fight the Antumbra’s Sword boss. Defeating all the other enemies won’t unlock the Sanctum of Absolution – you need to defeat Antumbra’s Sword first.

How to Beat Antumbra’s Sword in Crimson Desert (Sanctum of Absolution)

Antumbra’s Sword is a really challenging optional boss in Crimson Desert, so it’s good to be well-equipped before you fight it. If you’re new to the game, spend some time getting better gear before heading to the Sanctum of Absolution to take it on.

Tips to Fight Antumbra’s Sword

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind before battling Antumbra’s Sword in the Sanctum of Absolution, which will make the fight a little simpler.

  • Make sure you have at least three Palmar Pills in your inventory to continue the fight if you get downed.
  • Refine/upgrade all your equipment (weapons and armor) to tier three or four.
  • Invest Abyss Artifacts into the focus node on the skill tree to unlock Focus level 3 (explained later).
  • Have a decent supply of food items to heal (clear soup is a good option).

How to Beat Antumbra’s Sword (Fighting Strategy)

When you begin fighting Antumbra’s Sword, simply wait for it to swing its sword – you’ll need to parry that attack. Because you’ve unlocked Focus level 3, activate Focus mode by pressing both thumbsticks on your controller, or the X key if you’re using a keyboard.

When Antumbra’s Sword is about to strike, repeatedly press the block button (LB/L1/CTRL) to reliably parry the attack. This will briefly stun the boss, giving you time to attack with a combo before going back into Focus mode. Keep blocking and attacking until the boss is staggered long enough to defeat it with several more combos.

This is a good way to defeat Antumbra’s Sword, but precise timing and well-executed focus mode are crucial. Otherwise, the boss can quickly defeat you.

Okay, so now that I’ve explained how to beat Antumbra’s Sword using the ‘cheese’ strategy, let me tell you about the two attacks you really need to watch out for. Basically, if you see the boss start to glow red, get ready! That means it’s about to do an attack you can’t block or parry. The first one is a series of sword slashes, but thankfully, they’re pretty easy to dodge if you move between the swings.

This attack happens mostly when the boss swings in a circle, and then creates ghostly copies of itself. You’ll need to quickly and repeatedly dodge to avoid the incoming attacks. As soon as the boss finishes this attack, immediately activate focus mode.

Reward for Defeating Antumbra’s Sword Boss in Crimson Desert

After you beat Antumbra’s Sword in Crimson Desert, you’ll be rewarded with an Abyss Artifact and the Vessel of Dark Pursuit, a powerful two-handed sword. This weapon is excellent for progressing through the game, and with some upgrades, it can even remain effective in the late game.

This sword has a unique attack called Wound of Darkness. It replaces the Turning Slash and lets you perform the same vertical attack used by the boss.

Sanctum of Absolution Puzzle Solution in Crimson Desert

After defeating Antumbra’s Sword and freeing the Sanctum of Absolution in Crimson Desert, you’ll need to solve a puzzle to purify it. To start, go up the stone stairs and enter the building across from where you fought Antumbra’s Sword. There, you’ll find a group of clay pots you can break open to obtain the first Fusion Reactor Core. Just use Axiom Force to pick it up and store it in your Kuku Pot.

Climb onto the platform to move forward, and the floor will give way, dropping you down to a lower level. Be careful—a fire trap will activate as soon as you fall! Immediately turn right and enter a room, where you’ll find the second Reactor Core floating in the air. Grab it and place it inside your Kuku pot to seal it.

Just put the round pillar Reactor Core onto one of the damaged pillars. Then, jump onto the Reactor Core and use an Aerial Force Palm to secure it – basically, jump and perform the Force Palm while you’re in the air.

Carefully remove the cube-shaped Reactor Core from your Kuku Pot and place it into the square opening on the main machine. You’ll need to apply some force to get it to fit properly later.

Completing the Sanctum of Absolution puzzle in Crimson Desert will reward you with the blueprints for both the Enhanced Kuku Pot and the Kuku Spear.

How to Enter the Treasure Chest Room in Sanctum of Absolution in Crimson Desert

In the Sanctum of Absolution in Crimson Desert, you can find a locked room containing a treasure chest with a unique piece of equipment. It’s situated directly above the spot where you break the clay pots to obtain the initial Reactor Core.

To open the door, stand facing it and perform a Focused Force Palm. As you’re powering up the attack, direct it towards the square indentation on the wall to activate the switch.

Go to the side of the room opposite the entrance to the Sanctum. The picture above shows where the wall has moved.

It’s easy to find: look for a section of wall that’s been flipped a few feet off the ground. This creates a small platform where players can stand and perform a Force Palm attack against the remaining wall – the exact location is shown in the image above.

After completing this step, the wall will rotate, allowing players access to the previously locked room and the treasure chest inside. Opening the chest rewards you with Sunset Reed Cloth Boots, which include special Abyss Gears. You can either wear the boots as they are, or remove the gears to upgrade other gear.

To leave the treasure chest room in the Sanctum of Absolution in Crimson Desert, simply light the stone lantern. This will unlock the door and let you escape.

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2026-03-23 06:08