The Demeniss region in Crimson Desert is packed with strongboxes hidden behind fake bookshelves, locked inside castles, and tucked away in tribunal buildings. Each one uses a different puzzle mechanic, and some are genuinely tricky to crack without knowing the solution ahead of time. Below you'll find the location and exact solution for every known Demeniss strongbox, including the City of Demeniss, Demeniss Tribunal, Brookfield Manor, Eastern Court, and Demeniss Castle.
Quick answer: There are at least five strongboxes in the greater Demeniss area. Two sit inside the City of Demeniss walls (one cylinder puzzle, one musical), one is in the Demeniss Tribunal (musical), one in Brookfield Manor (musical), one in the Eastern Court (dial/tumbler), and one inside Demeniss Castle (picture-alignment). You must wear a mask before you can steal from any of them.
City of Demeniss — North Strongbox (Cylinder Puzzle)
The north strongbox is inside a building in the northern half of the City of Demeniss grounds. Once you get inside, head downstairs to the lower level. At the bottom of the stairs, look slightly to your left for a bookshelf against the wall. This is a fake wall — interact with the bookshelf to reveal a secret room containing the strongbox.
The puzzle uses a row of metal cylinders that must be lowered to the correct height. The silver tops of each cylinder need to sit just above the wooden paneling line, with the gold portions fully below it. From left to right, lower each cylinder the following number of times:
| Cylinder (left to right) | Number of Lowerings |
|---|---|
| 1st | 4 |
| 2nd | 5 |
| 3rd | 2 |
| 4th | 5 |
| 5th | 2 |
After adjusting all five, press the button on the right side and then turn it right. If the black lines on the cylinders sit just above the wood and the silver/gold sections are properly separated, the strongbox will unlock. The reward is a Recipe: Meal item.
City of Demeniss — South Strongbox (Musical Puzzle)
The south strongbox is also behind a fake bookshelf, this time in a building in the southern part of the City grounds. The approach is identical: enter the building, go downstairs, and look for a bookshelf to your left at the bottom of the stairs. Push through it to find the hidden room.
This strongbox has a set of eight piano-like keys arranged in two rows — three keys on the top level and five on the bottom level. Turn the handle on the right side of the box to hear the tune you need to replicate. The key sequence, numbered left to right on each row, is 1-5-2-6-5, which translates to:
Step 1: Press the first key on the top row.
Step 2: Press the second key on the bottom row.
Step 3: Press the second key on the top row.
Step 4: Press the third key on the bottom row.
Step 5: Press the second key on the bottom row again.
Play the correct tune and the strongbox opens, yielding a Tavarian Necklace.
Demeniss Tribunal Strongbox (Musical Puzzle)
The Tribunal building sits within the city walls. Climb up and open a window to sneak inside — the front entrances won't work for this one. Once you're in, locate the strongbox.
This is another musical puzzle using the same eight-key layout (keys 1–3 on top, keys 4–8 on the bottom). The key sequence is: 6-4-2-6-5-3-1. Play those keys in order, and the box will unlock, rewarding you with an earring.
Brookfield Manor Strongbox (Musical Puzzle)
Brookfield Manor is still within the Demeniss city walls. Sneak around the side of the building, pass through some potted plants, and climb through a window. Inside, find the bedroom and look for a bookshelf next to the bed. Push through it to reveal another hidden room with a strongbox.
This is yet another musical puzzle. Listen to the tune by winding the side gears, then match the notes on the eight keys. The reward for solving it is an Extravagant Meal recipe. The exact key sequence can vary slightly depending on how you number the keys, so use the side gears to confirm the melody if you're unsure.
Eastern Court Strongbox (Dial/Tumbler Puzzle)
The Eastern Court area may have a boss and enemies you need to clear before you can safely access the strongbox, so come prepared for a fight. Once the area is secure, sneak down to the strongbox location.
This puzzle works differently from the others. You slowly turn a dial and listen carefully for audio cues. The process goes like this:
Step 1: Begin turning the dial slowly in one direction. Listen for a faint rumbling sound.
Step 2: When you hear the rumble, stop immediately. After a brief pause, you'll hear a distinct click confirming that tumbler is set.
Step 3: Repeat the process — turn the dial again, wait for the next rumble, stop, and listen for the confirming click.
Step 4: Once all tumblers click into place, the strongbox opens.
There are only a few of these dial-style puzzles in the entire game. The trick is patience — turn slowly and stop the moment you hear any change in sound. The reward is a necklace and earring set.
Demeniss Castle Strongbox (Picture-Alignment Puzzle)
Demeniss Castle doesn't welcome visitors, so you'll need to sneak in. Find a way through the perimeter and locate a bookshelf inside the castle that conceals the strongbox room. Push through it to access the puzzle.
This strongbox uses a picture-alignment mechanism with multiple rotating cylinders. You need to spin each cylinder a specific number of clicks so that the image segments line up into a complete picture. Counting clicks from the default position:
| Cylinder (left to right) | Clicks |
|---|---|
| 1st | 6 |
| 2nd | 8 |
| 3rd | 10 |
| 4th | 8 |
| 5th | 4 |
After rotating all five cylinders, press the button in the top right. If the image is fully aligned, the strongbox unlocks. This is one of the longer puzzles in the game, so take your time counting each click carefully.
General tips for Demeniss strongboxes
Every strongbox in Crimson Desert requires you to wear a mask before you can steal its contents. If you don't have one, purchase a mask from a vendor before attempting any of these puzzles — without it, the steal prompt simply won't appear.
Many of the Demeniss strongboxes are hidden behind fake bookshelves. If you're in the right building but can't find the puzzle, look for bookshelves on the ground floor or basement level and try interacting with them. The game gives no obvious visual indicator that a bookshelf is a secret door, so it pays to check every one you see in manor and castle interiors.
Solving these puzzles nets you a mix of jewelry (earrings, necklaces, rings) and meal recipes. The jewelry pieces can often be refined for passive stat bonuses, making them worth the effort even if you've outleveled the area. Meal recipes grant powerful buff-boosting feasts once you gather the required ingredients.