Crimson Desert has a vast open world blanketed by a thick fog of war. Navigating it without a revealed map makes early exploration frustrating. Bell Towers are your main tool for permanently lifting that fog. Furthermore, tracking all eight of them down will give you a clear picture of the entire world as you progress through the story.
1. How Bell Towers Work in Crimson Desert
A Bell Tower.
Bell Towers in Crimson Desert function similarly to viewpoints in other open-world games. Each tower sits in or near a major city. Ringing the bell at the top permanently reveals a large portion of the surrounding region on your map.
After you ring a bell, a mysterious Shai child will appear. Then, they exchange a brief dialogue with you and lift the fog from the revealed area.
There are eight Bell Towers in total, spread across five regions: Hernand, Pailune, Demeniss, Delesyia, and the Crimson Desert region. Most are found naturally as you progress through the main story. However, a few require puzzle-solving or meeting chapter-based conditions before they become accessible.
There are no blanket restrictions on Bell Towers. Most can be rung freely as you naturally move through the regions. However, a handful are tied to specific chapters. Therefore, it is worth knowing which ones to prioritize early and which to save for later.
All Bell Towers Locations
| Bell Name | Location | Region Revealed | Restriction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell of Hernand | Hernand Town | Central Hernand | None |
| Bell of Scholastone | Scholastone Institute | Western Hernand | None |
| Bell of Calphade | Church of Calphade, Thalwynd | Northern Hernand | Not available during Chapter 6 |
| Bell of Pailune | City of Pailune | Pailune | After Chapter 7 |
| Bell of Demeniss | City of Demeniss | Demeniss | After Chapter 8 |
| Bell of Delesyia | City of Delesyia | Delesyia | None |
| Bell of Tommaso | City of Tommaso | Southern Crimson Desert | None |
| Bell of Varnia | Varnia, Whitesand Retreat | Northern Crimson Desert | None |
2. All Hernand Bell Tower Locations
The Hernand region requires three separate bells to fully uncover. They are spread across Hernand Town in the center, the Scholastone Institute to the southwest, and the Church of Calphade to the north. You will pass near all three naturally while following the main story through the early chapters, so it is worth ringing each one as you move through the area.
Bell of Hernand
Hernand Town’s Bell Tower location.
The Bell of Hernand is the first bell most players will encounter and the easiest to find. Head to Hernand Town and look for the bell tower near the city bank, beside a residential building with a dark purple roof. Climb the white tower with the brown brick pointed roof and ring the bell at the top.
This bell has no chapter restrictions and can be rung as soon as you arrive in Hernand. Ringing it reveals the central Hernand area on your map.
Bell of Scholastone
Scholastone Institute’s Bell Tower location.
The Bell of Scholastone is located at the Scholastone Institute, a prestigious academy found southwest of Hernand City and directly west of Greymane Camp. Enter through the main entrance, turn right, and climb to the second-floor outdoor garden. At the far end of the alley, beneath a small stone gazebo, you will find the bell.
If the Shai child does not appear after you ring the bell, other NPCs in the area may be blocking the encounter. Progress through the Scholastone section of the main story to clear the courtyard first. You will pass through this area naturally around Chapter 3 or 4.
Bell of Calphade
Church of Calphade’s Bell Tower location.
The Bell of Calphade is found at the Church of Calphade in Thalwynd, a small village in the northern part of Hernand, northwest of Deepfog Basin. Head to the north end of the village center, find the church, and climb to the top of the spire to ring the bell. This reveals the northern Hernand region on your map.
This bell can be rung freely before or after Chapter 6. The area becomes directly involved in the chapter’s story events during that period, so it is recommended to ring the bell before you reach Chapter 6. If you attempt it mid-chapter, the cutscene with Shani will not trigger correctly.
3. Pailune Bell Tower Location
Pailune’s Bell Tower location.
The Pailune region has a single bell located in the heart of the City of Pailune. The tower is a red wooden structure near the harbor and fishing docks in the eastern part of the city, and the area is filled with hostile enemies until the city is liberated. This is one of the more combat-intensive bell towers in the game.
To reach the top, look for the ladder on the back side of the red tower. Enemies will follow you up the ladders, so taking out the lower one can stop them from reaching you. The Shai child will not appear until you are alone and no enemies remain near the structure, so clear the area first before interacting with the bell.
This tower is only accessible after Chapter 7, once Pailune has been liberated through the main quest.
4. Demeniss Bell Tower Location
Demeniss’ Bell Tower location.
The Demeniss bell is the only one in the game that requires a short puzzle to access. The tower stands in the southeast part of the City of Demeniss, near the Cathedral, and is one of the tallest buildings in the game, making it easy to spot from a distance. Simply climbing to the top will not reveal the bell—you need to trigger a mechanism first.
How to Solve the Demeniss Bell Puzzle
- Approach the Church of Demeniss and take the covered stairs to the right of the entrance door.
- This brings you up to the bridge spanning between the two steeples.
- Begin climbing up the steeple and move horizontally toward the opposite side.
- Look for a platform with gears nearby and two banners hanging above it.
- Grab one of the banners and hang from it. Your weight will drag the banner down.
- As the banner lowers, the bell above will rise and become accessible.
- Climb to the tower top and ring the bell to reveal the Demeniss region.
Most guards in Demeniss are hostile until Chapter 8. You can still access the bell earlier by ignoring or defeating them, but waiting until the city becomes peaceful makes the climb considerably easier.
Climbing the banner.
5. Delesyia Bell Tower Location
Delesyia’s Bell Tower location.
The Delesyia bell is found in the northwest district of the City of Delesyia, across from Delesyia Castle. The tower is distinctive, covered with spinning gears and pipes, which makes it easy to identify among the surrounding buildings. Head to the gates of the castle, turn left toward the prison area, and look for the green clocktower.
Climb the exterior of the tower, avoiding the pipes since they cannot be gripped. Several nearby buildings offer a good starting point for the ascent. At the very top, rotate yourself sideways through the open archway to enter the bell area and ring it. No special mechanics or chapter conditions are required here.
6. Crimson Desert Region Bell Tower Locations
The Crimson Desert region contains two bells: one in the city of Tommaso to the south and one in the village of Varnia to the north. Both towers sit within their respective settlements and require no specific story progress to access. Varnia is the more remote of the two, deep in the northern reaches of the region, and is notably difficult to reach on foot without a dragon or reliable mount.
Bell of Tommaso
Tomasso’s Bell Tower location.
The Bell of Tommaso is found in the City of Tommaso, located in the Tashkalp area of the Crimson Desert region. Head toward the north side of the city and find the main tower near the city market. You can identify it by the blue tarp on the building’s exterior.
There are two routes to the top: use the interior ladder accessed through a balcony and a locked door, or simply scale the exterior of the tower directly. No special mechanics are required at the top. Interact with the bell and ring it to reveal the southern Crimson Desert on your map.
Bell of Varnia
Varnia’s Bell Tower location.
The Bell of Varnia is found in the village of Varnia, in the far northern area of the Crimson Desert region. Follow the single pathway through Varnia Gorge and across the river, then follow the main path as it spirals upward toward the Whitesand Retreat area.
The tower is inside the main building with a large dome, clearly visible from anywhere in the city. To reveal the bell, you need to interact with the lever mechanism near the top of the tower. Push the bar to the left and rotate it counter-clockwise in a full circle. This causes the glass flower to bloom and the bell to lower into range. Climb higher, interact with the bell’s clapper, and ring it to reveal the northern Crimson Desert.
