Crimson Desert has secrets and mysteries around every corner, and the best part about these secrets is that the game doesn’t outright tell you the details for anything. While it may be appealing to some, it can be frustrating to others to miss out on certain things because they didn’t carefully examine every nook and cranny of the places they visited in the game. One such mission is the Witches on the Ground faction quest, where we have to hunt down witches and cleanse 16 Sanctums to clear the mission.

All Witch Locations & How to Cleanse All 16 Sanctums

In this long quest, we will be talking to five witches, and each Witch will have a list of Sanctums for us to cleanse. I did find the Witch accidentally south of Hernand, but no matter how many times I tried, she refused to talk to me. I found out eventually that I had to complete Chapter 4 and enter Chapter 5 to get her to talk and give me the quest. The Witch of Wisdom Elowen (The witch south of Hernand) is part of the Chapter 5 main questline, and it is not missable.

Requirement: You must defeat the first boss in Chapter 5 to get a letter “Unsealed Letter”, a key item. Read up on the document to start the Witches on the Ground faction quest.

So if you haven’t completed Chapter 4, don’t even try. Here is a brief overview of each Witch and their Sanctum cleansing tasks. Besides cleansing Sanctums, I will be listing all the hidden treasure boxes in all Sanctum areas. Some of them are well hidden and need a bit of exploring to figure out. Don’t worry, I will also pinpoint the highlights on the pictures to help you find the spot easily without getting lost.

• Witch of Wisdom
  • Sanctum of Benediction
  • Sanctum of Temperance
  • Sanctum of Penitence
  • Sanctum of Absolution
• Witch of Humility
  • Sanctum of Devotion
  • Sanctum of Veneration
  • Sanctum of Oblation
  • Sanctum of Faith
• Witch of Kindness
  • Sanctum of Exaltation
  • Sanctum of Solace
  • Sanctum of Deliverance
  • Sanctum of Atonement
• Witch of Strength
  • Sanctum of Expiation
  • Sanctum of Renunciation
  • Sanctum of Revelation
• White Crow the Witch
  • Sanctum of Mortification (Main Story – Chapter: 9 – The Sage of the Desert)

The last Sanctum, Sanctum of Mortification, is part of the Chapter 9 main questline. Even if you finish all 15 Sanctums, you will only get the trophy after clearing the Sanctum of Mortification, which unlocks at Chapter 9.

How to Cleanse the Sanctum?

I had no trouble finding the Sanctum, but cleansing them properly was the most confusing thing I had to deal with at the beginning. Basically, when you arrive at any Sanctum, we have to clear two primary objectives and one hidden objective:

• Liberate the Sanctum
• Cleanse the Sanctum
• Retrieved the Core of Sanctum

Liberate The Sanctum

It’s plain and simple, the very first thing you need to do is to kill all the enemies in the Sanctum area that will help you clear the Liberate the Sanctum objective, then we can move towards cleansing the place. Every Sanctum we enter, the very first thing is to get rid of all the enemies and bosses from the place.

Cleansing the Sanctum

In every Sanctum, you will find a strange machine. Interacting with the machine, activating its power, is the only way we can cleanse a Sanctum. You can try attacking the structure, but it won’t activate. These weird-looking structures will always have one or two missing pieces. These missing pieces are called Fusion Reactor Cores. Our job is to grab the cores and put them in the machine to activate the machine and cleanse the Sanctum.

After you kill the enemies in the zone, start the hunt for Fusion Reactor Cores in the Sanctum. Once you find a core, use your Axiom Force ability to seal the Fusion Reactor Cores inside the kuku pot.

Note: If you just finished Chapter 4, then you probably remember obtaining the pot. The kuku pot acts as a storage space for large objects. Since the reactor cores are large, they will be stored inside the pot. Once you seal the cores in the pot, you can view them through the kuku pot in your inventory.

Now head up to the machine at the top of the Sanctum, discard the Fusion Reactor Cores from the kuku pot on the ground. Now use Axiom Force again to put the cores in the machine. Simply placing the core is not enough; to activate the cores, you need to use Force Current or Force Palm abilities. Use abilities on both the Fusion Reactor Core to activate or cleanse the Sanctum.

Retrieving the Core

Now we come down to the hidden aspect of the Sanctum. Retrieving the core, most players leave after cleansing it, but they miss out on this hidden puzzle.

There is another mystery to the machine on the top of the Sanctum that I learned later in the game. Once both Fusion Reactor Cores are placed to activate the machine, head to the side of the machine, and you will see a strange panel with gems around it. You can activate the panel by hitting the center with the Blinding Flash skill.

Activation: You must hold Control + Left Click (PC) or LB + RB (Controller) to enter the stance. Basically, you are pressing your block and focus or attack button together to activate the stance. Once you are in the stance, let go of the block button (Control on PC and LB on Console) while holding the focus or attack button (Left Click on PC and RB on console), and then press the block button to use Focus Light.

The Blinding Flash skill will allow you to focus light on the center of the panel. Once the Focus Light hits the center, the gems around it will begin moving in a clockwise direction. As you can see from the picture, the gems are in a circular form with empty spaces between them. To complete the mini game, we have to hit Focus Light when the small gem in the circle crosses the center line, and let go of the block button when the center line has an empty space.

• Only use Focus Light when the gems (Yellow color) appear above the Center Line (Red color). If you have ever played Guitar Hero or any kind of rhythm-based game, then you will be familiar with the system.
• Don’t use Focus Light when you see an empty space (Green color)between the gems. You can stop using Focus Light by letting go of the block button while holding the focus or attack button.

Note: If you mess it up, then you can try again. The minigame will reset, and you can try from scratch.

Once the minigame ends, you will see a core coming out from the top of the machine. Core’s name will be linked to the name of the Sanctum. If you are doing a Sanctum of Absolution, then you will get the Core of Absolution after completing the minigame on the machine.

Elowen: Witch of Wisdom Location

Now we can begin our journey. The first Witch will be the one who appears during the Chapter 5 quest. Make your way to the Abyss Nexus at The Witchhood, south of Hernand. Here you will find the Witch’s House to start our quest. Talk to her, and we can move towards the first Sanctum.

Sanctum of Benediction

Sanctum of Benedictation is located south of Hernand, right under H and E. First things first, clear the area of enemies, then make your way to the top, where the machine is located. The rules are the same; we need to recover two Fusion Reactor Cores to activate the machine.

First Fusion Reactor Core

Take the stairs, right of the machine, and on your right, you will find the cube-shaped Fusion Reactor Core. Grab the core and then add it to the machine.

Note: You can follow the lamp lights on the path, and they will lead you to the core rooms.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

Take the staircase across the machine, and it will lead you to a locked door. I had a problem opening the door; shooting at it with the arrow won’t do. You must light the lamp on the side of the door to open it. Retrieve the circular Fusion Reactor Core and then add it to the machine.

Treasure Chest: In the Second Fusion Reactor Core room, you will find a treasure chest in the fireplace. Loot the chest before leaving. Compared to others, this one is easier to detect, as it is out in the open.

Note: Use Force Current or Force Palm to put them perfectly into the machine.

Now play the minigame with Blinding Flash on the machine to get the Core of Benediction.

Sanctum of Temperance

Now, the next one will take us southeast from Hernand and directly south of Unicorn Cliff, we enter the Sanctum of Temperance. The same rule as the last one: kill the enemies, then hunt for the Fusion Reactor Core.

First Fusion Reactor Core:

It’s hidden behind the trees or bushes on the right of the machine. You can burn the bushes by using Focus Light, the same Blinding Flash ability we will use in clearing the last portion of the puzzle.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

The second core is located in a hole across the machine. You have to do a tiny bit of jumping to get to the hole. Jump down the hole to recover the second Fusion Reactor Core.

Treasure Chest: Don’t leave the area where we found the second core; there is a hidden chest behind the grassy vines in the same location as the second Fusion Reactor Core. Again, use the Blinding Flash ability to burn the veins to access the chest.

That’s it, now place both of them on the machine to cleanse it. Now play the minigame on the panel to retrieve the Core of Temperance.

Sanctum of Penitence

You will find this place northwest of Willow River or west of The Ironwood. Kill all the enemies in the area, then move into the dilapidated castle across the machine. This Sanctum is a bit different than the last two; instead of two, we need to only hunt for one Fusion Reactor Core.

Fusion Reactor Core

Move to the broken castle across the machine, and you will find the only Fusion Reactor Core next to the staircase leading to the lower floor.

Treasure Chest

From the staircase, if you follow the lights, you will get to the area as shown in the picture. Get to the spot in the picture. If you stand in the yellow spot, the floor will break down, and you will find a treasure chest inside.

That’s it, you are ready, head up to the machine, jam the Fusion Reactor Core into it, and voila, you are done with Sanctum of Penitence. Don’t forget to play the minigame to recover the Core of Penitence.

Sanctum of Absolution

You will find the Sanctum southwest of Hernand, in the mountains. Kill all the enemies in the area to begin our hunt for two Fusion Reactor Cores. The most difficult part about this Sanctum is not the cores or the machine; it is the treasure chest. It’s hidden extremely well, and 99% of the players will miss out on it.

First Fusion Reactor Core

From the machine, turn right, take the stairs to get inside, now move immediately to your left, and you will find the first Fusion Reactor Core floating near the ceiling in the room.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

From the machine, turn right and go around the broken castle. Now follow the blue lamps to get inside. Keep heading down the narrow route with a broken floor, and you will come across a dozen yellow pots at the end.

Instead of jumping over it, use your sword to break it, and you will find the second Fusion Reactor Core. Take both of them and place them on the machine to start the cleansing process, and you will get Core of Absolution.

Treasure Chest: Now, I am saving the best for last. The treasure box in this Sanctum is hidden behind a wall. Move across the machine to the broken castle. Instead of heading inside, climb up on the broken walls and get to the specific wall shown in the picture.

After a little walk, the platform will be lowered with a button in the middle. Standing on the platform, using the Force Palm ability will allow you to push the hidden wall to get inside and find the treasure box.

Lyselia: Witch of Humility

Now move to the southeast of Pailune to find our next witch, the Witch of Humility. You will find a stranger holding on to her life on the broken bridge. Just pull her up to safety, and we can get started on the next batch of the Sanctum questline. After saving the stranger, you will need to head out to Serpent Smash to find the witch.

Like any witch, we will find her inside a cave in the Serpent Smash. You can come to the place earlier in the game, but the door to the cave will be locked. You must save the stranger on the bridge to get the door open and then talk to the witch to officially start the questline.

Sanctum of Devotion

Sanctum of Devotion is located southwest of Dewhaven in the Delesyia region. The fastest way to get to the spot is by travelling to the Abyss Nexus near the Cliff of Despair and making your way to the Sanctum of Devotion.

Now you know what to do: kill everyone in the spot to liberate it from the enemies. To solve this, Sanctum, we will need two pieces of Fusion Reactor Core, but fortunately for us, both of the cores are inside the same room.

First Fusion Reactor Core

Just from the machine, take the stairs to the right. Inside the room, you will find the core floating near the ceiling.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

In the same room where we found the first core. Here, you will find a broken hole in the corner of the left wall. Inside the hole, you will find the second Fusion Reactor Core.

Take out both of them and place them on the machine out front to cleanse the Sanctum, and you will receive Core of Devotion.

Treasure Chest

Here we have another clever treasure chest hiding spot. From the machine, take the stairs on the right to the Fusion Reactor Core room. But instead of heading inside, climb up on the wall, and then use your Force Palm on the highlighted spot on the wall in the picture to enter the hidden spot and get the treasure.

Sanctum of Veneration

Sanctum of Veneration is located right above U and S in Mount Benus, near the Blue Thicket area in Delesyia. The fastest way to get to the Sanctum will be to travel to the Abyss Nexus located northeast of Blue Thicket and make your way to the Sanctum.

Kill all the enemies in the area before we go for the core. To make things easier, for this Sanctum, we just have to grab only one Fusion Reactor Core.

Fusion Reactor Core

Just glide to the bottom of the castle, and you will find a suspicious wall near the end. Use Nature’s Grasp to lift the wall and find the Fusion Reactor Core inside.

Activation of Nature’s Grasp: On pc, F + Right Mouse Click (PC) and on Console, Y + B / Triangle + Circle to activate the ability.

Treasure Box

The area also contains the treasure box, like the last few, we need to use the Force Palm ability on the wall to get inside the hidden room. From the machine, turn around and head to the building highlighted in the picture.

You could clearly see the outline of the hidden wall on the second story of the building. Climb up on the wall and then use the Force Palm on the highlighted spot to flip the wall to get inside the room.

After grabbing the chest, use the Fusion Reactor Core on the machine and play the minigame with the Blinding Flash ability to obtain the Core of Veneration.

Sanctum of Oblation

Sanctum of Oblation is located on a little island, east of Delesyia. The fastest way to get there is by travelling to the Abyss Nexus northeast of Mount Benus and starting heading to the island to the east.

Fusion Reactor Core

Take the stairs left from the machine, then take another left into the building with tomb-like structures out front.

Now turn right, push through the narrow route, and take the stairs below. The route is linear; at the end, you will find a Fusion Reactor Core.

Treasure Chest

In the same room where we found the first core, you will find an unlit brazier. Light the brazier and leave the room by taking the staircase. Now, don’t take the staircase on the front; take the route on the right. Then, another right, and you will get to the treasure chest room.

The room will have a blue light lamp in the front, so you will not miss it. The door to the room stays locked until you light the brazier in the room, where we found the first Fusion Reactor Core.

Now make your way to the machine, use the core on the machine, and play the minigame to get the Core of Oblation.

Sanctum of Faith

The Sanctum is located southeast of Delesyia, near The Grey Forest. The fastest way to reach this place is by travelling to the Abyss Nexus at The Grey Forest and making your way to the Sanctum of Faith.

Here we have two Fusion Reactor Cores and a Treasure Chest to loot. While the items are hidden, they are not to the extent of others on the list.

First Fusion Reactor Core

From the machine, turn right, head through the archway, and you will find the first Fusion Reactor Core. The second one needs a bit of work to obtain.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

Note: The green arrow is pointing to the Treasure Chest in the Sanctum, and the Red arrow is the location of the second Fusion Reactor Core.

After getting the first core, leave the room, and you will see thorny vines blocking the route ahead. Using the Blinding Flash ability to burn down the vines until the way to the small room clears, head inside, and you will find the second Fusion Reactor Core.

Treasure Box

After grabbing the second Fusion Reactor Core, head up to the second floor of the same room. Here you will see an archway being blocked by grassy vines. Use the Blinding Flash ability to burn down the vines, and you will find a chest inside.

Now head back to the machine, put both fusion cores to activate the machine, and then play the minigame to get the Core of Faith.

Bari: Witch of Kindness

Travel to the Abyss Nexus at Wayward Woods, located a bit west of Pailune. Once you are in the spot, travel a bit south from the Abyss Nexus, and you will find a tiny camp with a person inside.

The stranger will be freezing in the cold, and you will spot a small unlit brazier near the camp. Go ahead and light the brazier to bring warmth to the stranger inside. After a bit of conversation, the stranger will reveal themselves to be none other than the third witch, Witch of Kindness.

Follow the objective marker and talk to her to bring her side of the Sanctum cleansing tasks.

Sanctum of Exaltation

This one is located near the Silver Wolf Mountain in the Pailune region. Travel to the Abyss Nexus under the Silver Wolf Mountain and make your way east from the spot to find the Sanctum.

First Fusion Reactor Core

Note: The Green arrow points to the treasure map spot, and the Red arrow showcases the breaking point of the wall.

Make your way to the circular spot by taking the stairs down from the machine. As seen in the picture, now we have to break a certain wall to let the water out. If you look at the picture above, we have marked the spot where you can use any of your abilities to break the wall down.

Once you break the wall, the water will come pouring out. Wait a little bit, then turn around and climb down the stairs. Here, you will see a giant dark room underneath, a little hard to make out the area, but you will find the first Fusion Reactor Core inside the dark room.

Treasure Chest

Right at the place where we broke the wall, you will see a guarded door with two unlit braziers on both sides. Light both of them and head inside to grab the treasure box.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

Get back to the place where we broke the wall, take the stairs on the right to get to the top, and you will see a giant hole on the floor with the Fusion Reactor Core at the bottom.

Now that you have both pieces of Fusion Reactor Core, head back to the machine at the top to install both of them and play the minigame to get the Core of Exaltation.

Sanctum of Solace

Travel to Pailune, and you will find an Abyss Nexus next to the A in Pailune. The Sanctum we are looking for is under the A in Pailune.

Unlike the rest of the Sanctums we cleared earlier, this one, where you have to face Antumbra’s Staff, is a boss fight. Defeat the boss to clear the stage, and we will be ready to clear the Sanctum. This Sanctum has two Fusion Reactor Cores and two Treasure Chests you don’t want to miss.

First Fusion Reactor Core

Turn around from the machine to cross the bridge halfway through, and then drop from the left side to the rectangular-shaped gap in the middle. Here you will find a broken hole in the side of the wall. Get inside, and you will find the Fusion Reactor Core behind the barricade.

Don’t worry, there are levers you have to pull to lift the barricade. Just use the grappling hook to lift the core to seal it in the kuku pot.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

Now get out of the hole, and start moving towards the right. You will find the second core in the tunnel, near the entrance.

Treasure Box #1

Now, if you move into the tunnel (Where we found the second Fusion Reactor Core), right at the end, you will find the Treasure Box hidden behind the secret wall. Use the Force Palm ability to flip the wall to get inside the hidden room.

Treasure Box #2

Head back to the boss room, and you will see a large tower reaching to the sky. Don’t worry, you don’t have to climb all the way to the top. After a bit of a climb, you will see the outline of the hidden wall. Use the Force Palm to flip the wall to enter the hidden room.

Now that you have both of the reactor cores, head back to the machine, activate it, and finish the minigame to get the Core of Solace.

Sanctum of Deliverance 

This Sanctum will be found near the Stormtalon Ridge, north of Hernand. Here, our goals stay the same; this Sanctum has two Fusion Reactor Cores and a single treasure chest. Unlike the other chest, it’s hidden in the same room as the core, so you can grab it easily.

First Fusion Reactor Core

From the machine, turn left, and keep on walking. After a few turns, you will come across a barricaded doorway with two braziers out front. Light both of them to move the barricade and recover the core inside. Don’t forget to loot the Treasure Chest too; it’s also in the same room as the core.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

Now leave the room, watch out for the hole in the ground on your way out. Climb up the wall on your left, and then climb another time to the rooftops at the top. And soon you will reach the rooftops, get to the spot shown in the picture to break the vulnerable part of the ceiling. Once broken, jump down, and you will find the second core.

After acquiring both cores, head back to the machine, put both pieces in, and finish the minigame with Focus Light to get the Core of Deliverance.

Sanctum of Atonement

This one will be easier to get to. Just head to ‘A’ in Hernand on the map, a bit west of Haunted Hill, and you will be at Sanctum of Atonement. Here we have two Fusion Reactor Core pieces and a single treasure box. All the pieces and the treasure chest are close to the machine.

First Fusion Reactor Core

From the machine turn around, at the corner to the right, you will see a hole in the wall. Climb up the wall, and on the other side of the hole, you will find the first Fusion Reactor Core.

You can get this one easily by simply sitting in the broken hole in the wall and using the grappling hook to obtain the Core.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

From the machine, turn around and head straight until you see a small gap on the right. Jump through, and then turn left, and you will find the second Fusion Reactor Core floating near the ceiling.

Treasurer’s Box

Near the machine, you will spot two braziers on both sides, light each one of them, and the door to the treasure chest will open. You can’t miss it, since it is right next to the machine.

Once you have all the pieces, add them to the machine and complete the minigame with Blinding Flash to get the Core of Atonement.

Areciel: Witch of Strength

Head to Tommaso Fork Posthouse, Tashkalp, in the Crimson Desert region. Here, you will find a beggar asking for money near the bounty board. Hand over the coins, and the boy will turn into a witch. Also, it totally caught me off guard with this transformation.

Now travel to Urdavah, near the Crimson Desert, to talk to the Witch of Strength.

Sanctum of Expiation

Head north of Demeniss, east of Drakesfall Gorge. You can travel to the Abyss Nexus near the Sanctum if you already have it unlocked. Or it will be a long road to the place.

First Fusion Reactor Core

Turn around from the machine, head straight, here, to your right, you will see an archway being blocked by grassy vines. Use the Blinding Flash ability to burn down the vines to recover the core inside.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

Leave the room where we got our first core, turn right, and climb on the walls to get through the doorway at the top. You can look at the picture of where you need to go. Once inside, you can see the puzzle through the designed window on your right. Just use the grappling hook to get the core.

Treasure Chest:

Leave the room where we got the second Fusion Reactor Core, drop down to the floor below, and head through the doorway shown in the picture. Use the Focus Light to burn down the vines, and then crawl through the narrow space, and it will take you to the treasure chest at the end.

Now that you have both cores in possession, head back to the machine and activate and play the minigame with Focus Light to get the Core of Expiation.

Sanctum of Renunciation

This one is at the northeast of Demeniss, west of Red River, northeast of Drywind Valley. There is an Abyss Nexus near the Red River, which will make your walking section a bit shorter.

First and Second Fusion Reactor Cores

From the machine, turn around, head straight until you are in a room filled with steel bars on both sides. There will be a hole within the steel bars, one on the left and one on the right. Head through both of the holes to retrieve the First and Second Fusion Reactor Cores.

Treasure Box

Now leave the steel bar room, the same way you came in. In the next room, before making your way to the machine, jump through the hole on the right. And you will see two unlit braziers in front of a door. Lit both braziers to access the treasure inside.

Use both of the Reactor Cores to activate the machine to get the Core of Renunciation.

Sanctum of Revelation

Travel to the little island, Serpent Marsh, south of Demeniss, to start our Sanctum cleansing. You are not going to be alone; it is one of the Sanctum, where you must defeat a boss to clear the place. Antumbra’s Spear can be a tough fight; be prepared for anything. Defeat him so we can begin cleansing the place.

First Fusion Reactor Core

Turn around from the machine, and then start heading right, get to the point shown on the map to grab the first Fusion Reactor Core.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

This one is a bit right from the machine, on the top of a platform above. Either you can jump and climb to grab it, or just use the grappling hook to grab and seal it in the kuku pot.

Weapon: Thorn of Dark Pursuit

Get to the building next to the machine, and you will pick up the weapon Thorn of Dark Pursuit.

Stats:

Here are some of the minor details of Thorn of Dark Pursuit.

• Attack: 22
• Refinement: Lv. 4
• Special: Warden of Darkness (Finisher)/ Attack 1/ Attack Speed 1

Treasure Box

Turn around from the machine, and you will find a chest in an open area, at the corner. I’ve marked the spot on the map for easier finding.

That’s how we have both cores; add both to activate the machine. Voila, now we have the Core of Revelation.

White Crow the Witch

Head a bit east of Pailune, south of Wayward Woods, and you will find the house of the last witch, White Crow the Witch.

The door to her will be locked until you have five Witch Tokens in your possession. If you have cleansed all the Sanctums for all four witches, then you will have the tokens in your inventory.

Interact with the door, and insert the Witch Tokens to open the door, loot the treasure, and talk to the White Witch. And we will unlock the information on the last Sanctum on the list, the Sanctum of Mortification.

Sanctum of Mortification

Sanctum of Mortification is located north of Demeniss, southeast of Denn River, west of The Crimson Wall.

First Fusion Reactor Core

From the machine, turn around, take the stairs, right at the end, jump, and head through the doorway on the right. Right at the entrance, you will find the first Fusion Reactor Core.

Second Fusion Reactor Core

Just get out of the room from the first fusion core. On your right, you see grassy vines covering the wall. Burn them to reveal a hidden barred window with a Fusion Core behind it. You don’t have to break it; just use the grappling hook to grab it through the barred window.

Treasure Chest

Turn around from the machine, head down the stairs, now turn left, and you will find a barred gate with two unlit braziers on both sides. Light both of them up to open the barricade, and you will find the treasure box.

That’s it, now put both cores that we picked up into the machine to complete the final Sanctum in the game and obtain the Core of Mortification.

Rewards:

Here is a short list of all the rewards you will get for completing the cleansing of all the Sanctums in the game.

• Lightbringer Trophy Achievement.
• Kuku Marni Laser Helmet
• Kuku Spear
• Enhanced Kuku Pot
• Vessel of Dark Pursuit
• Unlocking the Dark Element
• Memory of Tide item- Helps gain access to eight hidden caves behind Waterfalls.