The Spire of Frost is one of several optional tower challenges scattered across the world of Pywel in Crimson Desert. Tucked into a frozen landscape along the border of Demeniss and Beighen, the tower demands you survive brutal cold and airborne enemies while tracking down seven ice-encased stone lanterns. Lighting all of them completes The Frostwarden side quest, rewards you with the Frostcursed Plate Boots, and opens an Abyss Gate leading to the Passage of Malice.
Quick answer: Melt the ice on the entrance lantern with Blinding Flash (Concentrating Light) or any fire/explosive attack, then climb the tower lighting all seven stone lanterns in sequence. The final lantern is in the chamber near the top.
Spire of Frost location
The Spire of Frost sits at the southeastern tip of Pailune, north of Demeniss proper. Travel east along the road from Beighen village, and you'll reach the frozen area surrounding the tower. No main quest sends you here — it's entirely optional side content, so you can visit whenever you feel ready.
Preparation and environmental hazards
The frozen landscape around the spire inflicts constant cold damage. Spend too long exposed, and Kliff will freeze in place for several seconds, leaving you vulnerable. Antumbra wizards patrol the area on top of that, zipping through the air and pelting you with energy projectiles. Coming unprepared is a quick way to die.
How to enter the Spire of Frost
Step 1: Approach the southern side of the tower. You'll see a frozen stone lantern next to the doorway at the base of the structure.
Step 2: Melt the ice covering the lantern. Cast Blinding Flash and follow the on-screen prompt for Concentrating Light. Alternatively, strike the lantern with fire-imbued or explosive weapons — fire arrows, fire spears, or Flame Strike all work.
Step 3: Once the ice is gone, interact with the stone lantern to light it manually. The doorway opens immediately. This counts as lantern one of seven.
All seven lantern locations
Every lantern in the spire is frozen and must be thawed with fire or an explosion before you can light it. The method is always the same: break the ice with Blinding Flash (Concentrating Light), Flame Strike, or a fire/explosive weapon, then interact with the lantern to ignite it. Below is the full sequence.
| Lantern | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern entrance doorway | Opens the tower door |
| 2 | Interior spiral staircase, partway up | Straightforward — climb the stairs from the entrance |
| 3 | Exterior spiral steps after turning right at the top of the interior stairs | An Abyss Cell is on the wall just before this lantern — seal it first |
| 4 | Upper interior floor, near a wall opening | A second Abyss Cell is stuck in ice right before the opening |
| 5 | Exterior staircase section, near an arch leading outside | Continue climbing after lantern 4 |
| 6 | Outdoor steps after exiting the tower again | Move quickly — frost builds fast on the exterior |
| 7 | Chamber near the top of the tower | Final lantern; triggers a cutscene and quest completion |
The tower alternates between interior staircases and exterior spiral steps. Each time you step outside, the cold intensifies, so light lanterns as fast as possible on the outer sections to reduce the rate at which you freeze.
Abyss Cells inside the spire
Two Abyss Cells are embedded in ice along the exterior staircase sections. Use your Axiom Force grapple to pull each one free and seal it into your Kuku Iron Pot. The first appears on the wall just before the third lantern on the outer steps. The second is stuck in the ice near the wall opening that leads to the fourth lantern. Both are easy to miss if you're rushing past the cold, so keep an eye on the walls as you climb.
Rewards and what happens after
Lighting the seventh and final lantern triggers a short cutscene. The Frostwarden side quest completes, and you receive the Frostcursed Plate Boots. The Spire of Frost region is also marked as liberated by the Greymanes faction.
An Abyss Gate appears in the top chamber once the last lantern is lit. Interacting with it sends you into the Passage of Malice, the first stage of the Abyss branch tied to this spire. The gate stays accessible for return visits, so you don't need to rush through it immediately.
The Spire of Frost is one of multiple spire challenges in the Demeniss region, alongside the Spire of Insight and others. If you enjoyed the lantern-lighting format here, the remaining spires offer their own distinct puzzle mechanics and Abyss branches worth exploring once you're geared up.