The Spire of Ringing Truth is one of Crimson Desert's more involved spire puzzles, combining vertical platforming with a tough boss encounter at the bottom. The entire challenge boils down to scaling a frozen tower, knocking a massive bell loose to smash open the basement floor, and then surviving a fight against Priscus the Ancient in the chamber below.
Quick answer: Climb the interior scaffolding to the top of the spire, destroy the wooden planks suspending the bell with ranged attacks or Axiom Force, then drop into the newly opened basement and defeat Priscus the Ancient using Nature's Snare Lv. 2 to ground him for melee follow-ups.
Where to find the Spire of Ringing Truth
The spire sits in the snowy mountains of the Pailune region in Pywel, east of Upper Nas River and west of the Wayward Woods. The surrounding area inflicts freezing, so equip frost-resistant armor before you arrive. The Kuku Breeze-Step Boots are especially worth picking up beforehand — they let you jump and glide between platforms inside the tower, which dramatically cuts down the time and stamina you spend climbing.
Climbing the tower interior
You can technically scale the spire from the outside, but doing so forces you to rest at narrow ledges to recover stamina while the cold chips away at your health. The interior route is far more forgiving.
Step 1: Enter the spire and head past the initial staircase. Look for the scaffolding near the base of the tower and start climbing upward.
Step 2: Work your way up by finding platforms with adjacent ladders. Take your time — rushing leads to missed handholds and wasted stamina. Some platforms are pinned to the walls and won't lower until you hit them with a ranged attack, so keep your bow ready.
Step 3: If you have the Kuku Breeze-Step Boots, use their jump-and-glide ability to leap between platforms instead of relying solely on ladders. Aerial Maneuver from the Axiom Force skill set works as an alternative for bridging gaps between distant platforms.
Dropping the bell to open the basement
Step 1: Once you reach the top of the spire, you'll spot a large old bell suspended from the ceiling by wooden planks.
Step 2: Fire arrows at the planks or use the Axiom Force to break them. When the supports give way, the bell crashes through the floor below, smashing open a path into the basement.
Step 3: Glide or climb back down to ground level and drop through the hole the bell created. This leads directly into the boss arena.
Defeating Priscus the Ancient
Priscus the Ancient is a fast, airborne enemy who spends most of the fight zipping around the arena and pelting you with ranged attacks. Brute-forcing this encounter with melee alone is extremely difficult because he rarely stays grounded long enough to hit. The fight rewards preparation and patience over aggression.
Recommended abilities and gear
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Nature's Snare Lv. 2 (Nature's Retribution) | Pulls Priscus out of the air, creating melee windows |
| Focus | Slows the pace of the fight, making his attacks easier to read and dodge |
| Bow | Deals chip damage while Priscus is airborne and out of melee range |
| Darkbringer (two-handed sword) | Heavy attacks fire homing orbs that track Priscus automatically |
Priscus the Ancient fight strategy
Step 1: Stay near the center of the arena. Priscus circles the outer edges while airborne, and positioning yourself centrally gives you the best angle to track his movement and react to incoming projectiles.
Step 2: Watch for the wind-up animation on his ranged attack. The moment you see it, activate Nature's Snare to yank him to the ground.
Step 3: Rush him immediately with melee combos while he's grounded. You only have a short window before he takes off again, so commit fully and then back off to reset.
Step 4: Repeat the snare-and-punish cycle. Between snare cooldowns, use your bow or the Darkbringer's homing orbs to keep dealing damage while he flies.
Rewards for clearing the Spire of Ringing Truth
Killing Priscus the Ancient drops three rewards:
| Reward | Type |
|---|---|
| Ancient's Necklace | Accessory (spirit regeneration) |
| Blessing of the Immortal | Blessing |
| Ancient Retribution | Skill unlock |
What comes after the spire
Once Priscus falls, an Abyss Gate opens in the basement. Passing through it begins the Ether Rest Abyss puzzle, which is a separate challenge entirely. Make sure you're topped off on health and supplies before stepping through — there's no turning back once you enter.
The Spire of Ringing Truth is one of several spire puzzles scattered across Crimson Desert's world, each with its own traversal gimmick and boss. If you found the platforming here manageable with the Kuku Breeze-Step Boots, they'll serve you well in the other spires too.