In Crimson Desert, the Sanctum of Temperance is one of the earlier puzzles in the Elowen questline that many players initially underestimate. Even though the sequence looks simple at first, many still get stuck because several steps have to be completed in the correct order and important elements are easy to miss.
In this guide, we show you the full solution—from unlocking the area to fully completing the puzzle. To solve the Sanctum of Temperance, you need to insert a component, find an Energy Core, and then correctly activate both elements with your Power Gauntlet. Many players get stuck here because the game does not clearly show which order the individual steps have to be triggered in and which action actually counts.
Sanctum of Temperance location
You can find the Sanctum of Temperance in Crimson Desert southeast of the Graymanes Camp in the Hernand region. On the map, it is usually marked with a question mark. A key requirement is that you must have unlocked the Witch of Wisdom, otherwise the sanctum cannot be activated.
At the location, you will find a larger ruin structure with a central mechanism that is essential to the puzzle. As soon as you enter the area, several enemy waves will appear. Only after all enemies are defeated and the area has been fully cleared will the sanctum activate and unlock the puzzle.
How the Sanctum of Temperance puzzle works
The puzzle in the Sanctum of Temperance in Crimson Desert consists of several clearly connected steps. First, you need to clear a blocked entrance, then insert a component, and after that recover and correctly activate an Energy Core.
At the start, the entrance to a building is blocked by bushes that you need to burn away using your light-reflection ability. Only then can you reach the missing component and pull it out of the building with your Axiom power.
The order is important here: insert the component into the designated pillar first and activate it with your Power Gauntlet. Only after that will the next area become fully accessible, where you can find the Energy Core. I personally needed a moment here as well, because the mechanism does not react immediately if a step is only half-completed—only when the component is truly seated correctly does the puzzle move on.
After that, you need to recover the Energy Core, bring it back to the mechanism, and activate it with your Power Gauntlet as well. The Sanctum of Temperance puzzle is only completed once all steps have been carried out correctly.
Clear the entrance and secure the component
To the right of the central mechanism in the Sanctum of Temperance, you will find an entrance to a building that is blocked by dense bushes. These plants initially prevent access to the next area.
Use your light-reflection ability to set the bushes on fire and clear the entrance. It takes a moment for the plants to burn away completely. Many players move on too early here, even though the bushes are still dealing damage—really wait until the fire has fully gone out.
Make sure to wait until the fire has completely died out before entering the area. If you go in too early, you will take continuous damage.
Inside the building, you will find a missing component for one of the sanctum’s pillars. Pick it up with your Axiom power and pull it out of the building so you can place it in the next step.
Repair the pillar and activate the mechanism
Bring the component back to the central area of the Sanctum of Temperance and place it onto the front-left pillar of the mechanism. This pillar is slightly damaged and accepts the missing piece.
As soon as the component is positioned correctly, green effects will appear around the spot. This shows that you have aligned it properly and can let go.
Then climb onto the inserted component, jump slightly upward, and use your Power Gauntlet to drive it down into the pillar. This fully repairs the pillar and prepares the sanctum mechanism.
Only after this step will the next section of the puzzle unlock, where you can find the Energy Core.
Find and pick up the Energy Core
Now head to the rear section of the Sanctum of Temperance. There, you will find a clearly visible hole in the floor that you can jump down through. After the jump, you land in a lower area where the Energy Core is located. It lies openly on the ground and is easy to spot.
Pick up the Energy Core with your Axiom power. Depending on your game progress, it may be stored automatically in the Kuku Iron Pot. If that happens, open your inventory, select the Kuku Iron Pot, and drop the Energy Core so it appears in front of you again. Then pick it up once more with your Axiom power.
After that, bring the Energy Core back to the central mechanism in the sanctum so you can insert it in the next step.
Insert the Energy Core and complete the puzzle
Bring the Energy Core back to the central mechanism in the Sanctum of Temperance and place it in front of the designated slot. This is clearly visible on the main device. Make sure the core is aligned correctly. Once it is positioned properly, visual effects will indicate that the placement is correct. A common mistake is that the Energy Core is inserted, but not hit properly—if you do not activate it cleanly with your Power Gauntlet, it will look like nothing happens.
Then use your Power Gauntlet to strike the Energy Core into the slot and fully activate the mechanism. After this step, the sanctum will be fully completed and the cleansing successfully finished. At that point, the Sanctum of Temperance puzzle is solved.
As a reward, you receive, among other things, blueprints for the Kuku Boltspitter and the Kuku Lightning Spear.
Sanctum of Temperance in short: Quick solution
First, defeat all enemies in the area so the Sanctum of Temperance activates. Then burn away the plants at the entrance to clear the path.
Take the component out of the building, place it on the pillar, and activate it with your Power Gauntlet.
Then jump down through the hole in the floor, pick up the Energy Core, and bring it back to the central mechanism.
Insert the Energy Core and activate it with your Power Gauntlet as well. After that, the Sanctum of Temperance puzzle is fully completed.
FAQ: Common questions about the Sanctum of Temperance
Why isn’t the puzzle working?
Usually, the steps were not completed in the correct order or the Energy Core was not activated with the Power Gauntlet. Make sure the component was inserted and activated first before using the Energy Core.
How do I open the entrance in the Sanctum of Temperance?
The entrance is blocked by plants. Use your light-reflection ability to burn away the bushes and clear the access point.
Where can I find the Energy Core?
The Energy Core is located in the lower section of the sanctum. You can reach it through a hole in the floor in the rear part of the ruins.
Why does nothing happen when I insert the Energy Core?
In that case, the Energy Core was placed but not activated. Use your Power Gauntlet to drive it into the slot and trigger the mechanism.
What should I do if the Energy Core disappears into my inventory?
The Energy Core is sometimes stored automatically in the Kuku Iron Pot. Open your inventory, select the pot, and drop the core again so you can keep using it.
Is the Sanctum of Temperance worth it?
Yes, you receive valuable rewards as well as progression within the Elowen questline. You also unlock additional content and mechanics in the game. As part of the rewards, you receive blueprints for the Kuku Boltspitter and the Kuku Lightning Spear.
Our conclusion on the Sanctum of Temperance
The Sanctum of Temperance is one of the clearly structured puzzles in Crimson Desert, where the correct order of steps is the most important factor. Once you clear the entrance, insert the component correctly, and activate the Energy Core, the puzzle can be completed reliably.
Compared to other sanctum puzzles, the mechanic is straightforward, but it still requires clean execution of every step. The combination of environmental elements, Axiom power, and the Power Gauntlet is exactly why many players get stuck at first.
After completing it successfully, you will earn valuable rewards and important progression within the Elowen questline. Once you know the sequence, the Sanctum of Temperance is one of the easier but still central puzzles in the game.
