Crimson Desert‘s Abyss Without Balance subquest is Kliff’s first proper foray into the Abyss, and it also serves as his introduction to some of the game’s puzzle-solving mechanics.

This quest is part of a chain within the overarching Traces main quest, taking place high up on a sky island, and it involves reaching the heart of the Abyss and solving a puzzle to restore the Ethereal Pathway Abyss.

Abyss Without Balance Quest Steps In Crimson Desert

After your meeting with Alustin in the Polar Opposite subquest, you’ll be tasked with restoring the Abyss, which automatically starts the Abyss Without Balance quest. Here are all the quest steps to complete this quest:

1. Go through the skybridge gate to the heart of the Abyss.
2. Activate the Abyss Nexus.
3. Remove the wall blocking the floor.
4. Synthesize the Abyss cell.
5. Activate the Abyss power supply.
6. Take the Abyss Artefact.

How To Restore The Ethereal Pathway Abyss

Here is how to do each of the above steps to complete the quest and restore balance to this part of the Abyss.

How To Active The Skybridge And Reach The Heart Of The Abyss

First up, walk through the skybridge gate, which is the triangular structure. Ahead a pillar-like alignment device will appear, which you can operate with Axiom Force.

You need to aim the ability at the switch and start rotating it with the D-pad in either direction until the switch starts glowing a bright blue and you hear an audio clue. This will cause the skybridge to activate and a pathway will open up before you.

In the next section, you must jump from one platform to another. There is nothing tricky involved here, but if you still find yourself lacking in your platforming skills, you can always lean on the precision jump mechanic.

Eventually, you will reach the intended location with the Abyss Nexus. Stand on the pressure plate to activate it. Up ahead, you will find the puzzle in the Ethereal Pathway Abyss.

How To Remove The Wall Blocking The Floor

The first step in solving the puzzle is removing the wall blocking the floor below.

To do so, you must grab one of the power cores, which is the floating block in the center of the area, using Axiom Force and place it on the deactivated lantern just like the other one beside it. Doing so removes the wall and opens up level below.

How To Synthesize The Abyss Cell

Next up, drop down to the floor below, where you must synthesize the Abyss Cell. You will notice a chip-like device in the middle and a ghostly figure next to a wall that appears to be showing you what to do with it.

Observe the ghost, and you will learn the Force Palm ability. Now that you have everything in place, grab the chip with Axiom Force, place it into the slot just like you would a CPU chip, and use Force Palm on it just as the figure does. This synthesizes the Abyss Cell.

How To Activate The Abyss Power Supply

In the final step of the puzzle, you need to activate the Abyss power supply, which is fairly straightforward. The objective for this part of the Abyss Without Balance is hanging in the middle of the powered device, which is the large circular contraption and striking it with Force Palm.

Climb toward the middle of the device, and once you are positioned, use Force Palm to activate it. With that done, you have completed the puzzle, and you simply need to make your way up and grab the Abyss Artefact that spawns above.

Abyss Without Balance Quest Rewards

While grabbing the Abyss Artefact completes Abyss Without Balance, you can go ahead and quickly finish the subsequent Woman in White subquest, during which you will learn the flight ability.

This also brings the Traces main quest, as well as chapter 1 The First Encounter, to a close, and you are rewarded with a Faded Abyss Artifact and a Palmer Pill.

Both of these items are consumables. Using the Faded Abyss Artifact respecs Kliff’s abilities where you have invested Abyss Artifacts, whereas the Palmer Pill is for when Kliff dies and you need to instantly revive him.