Where is Cornifer in Ancient Basin?
Small cavern in the upper Ancient Basin. Drop from the Royal Waterways route to the room below, then move into the cavern on the right.
Missed him? Every Cornifer location and what Iselda charges instead.
The Ancient Basin is what is left of the kingdom under the capital: empty corridors, Lightseeds, and a long fall from the City of Tears lift. It is almost colourless and almost empty, which is the point. Most players arrive here after the City of Tears with the Crystal Heart and the Mantis Claw already in hand.
Cornifer is in a small cavern here despite the area feeling abandoned. Coming down from the Royal Waterways, drop to the room directly below and work your way into the small cavern on the right. His map is 112 Geo, Iselda's is 150, making this one of the three priciest Cornifer maps. The Basin is not large, but it branches toward the Abyss, the Palace Grounds and the tram, and mislabelling those branches costs real time.
Broken Vessel is the main boss, fought in a pit in the east. It is a fast, erratic fight against a corrupted Vessel, and it drops the Monarch Wings, the double jump. Monarch Wings are the last major movement upgrade most players get and they unlock the Abyss, several Kingdom's Edge ledges and a pile of collectible rooms across the whole map. The Broken Vessel also returns later as the Lost Kin dream boss.
Three exits matter. West and down leads to the Abyss, which needs both Monarch Wings and the Lumafly Lantern to survive. East is the Hidden Station, a Stag Station and a tram terminus that connects to Deepnest with the Tram Pass. The Palace Grounds in the east is where you use the King's Brand, earned in Kingdom's Edge, to open the way into the White Palace.
The Basin also holds two grubs, a Pale Ore near the tram, the Sly-adjacent Simple Key door, and the Hidden Station bench. Clear it in one pass after you have the Wings and you will not have to return except for the White Palace.
Places inside Ancient Basin
- Palace Grounds
- Hidden Station
- Broken Vessel's pit
- Abyss descent
- Tram terminus
Tips
- Broken Vessel drops Monarch Wings, the double jump. It is the last big movement unlock.
- Bring the Lumafly Lantern. The lower Basin and the Abyss are both dark.
- The Hidden Station tram needs the Tram Pass from Deepnest.
- Use the King's Brand at the Palace Grounds to open the White Palace.
- Lightseeds float toward you and explode. Keep moving rather than trying to trade hits.
- There is a Pale Ore near the tram. Grab it on the way through for a nail upgrade.
All 16 locations in Ancient Basin
Benches (2)
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Central Basin
A Toll Machine guards this bench in the middle of the Basin. Worth paying before the Broken Vessel.
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Palace Grounds, east Basin
Outside the gate of the White Palace, next to the Hidden Station.
Stag Stations (1)
Trams and Lifts (2)
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Northernmost Ancient Basin
The middle stop on the lower tram line. It saves the long climb back through Deepnest.
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East tram tunnel, below the Kingdom's Edge entrance
The eastern stop on the lower tram line. Its exit leads up into the south-west of Kingdom's Edge.
Cornifer (1)
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East Ancient Basin
The last map he draws, in the gloom below the City. Iselda charges 150 Geo.
Grubs (2)
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West Ancient Basin
Dash with the Mothwing Cloak and glide with the Monarch Wings to reach the jar.
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Central Ancient Basin
Break the cracked floor with Desolate Dive to drop into the room holding the jar.
Vessel Fragments (1)
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Fountain in the Ancient Basin
Drop Geo into the fountain below the Pale King statue until 3000 Geo has been paid, then take the fragment from the water.
Pale Ore (1)
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West of the Basin tram station
West of the tram station near the main Ancient Basin entrance. Defeat the two Lesser Mawleks guarding it.
Abilities and Spells (1)
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Chamber past Broken Vessel, Ancient Basin
The double jump, which opens up huge parts of the map. Defeat Broken Vessel in the Ancient Basin and continue into the room beyond. You need the super dash to reach this part of the Basin.
Keys and Items (1)
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South-west Ancient Basin
Held by a Royal Retainer corpse that a Mawlurk has swallowed. Kill the Mawlurk to reach it.
Bosses (2)
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Infected arena, Ancient Basin
A ruined Vessel that leaps wildly and drops infection blobs. Stay under it during the jumps, punish the landing, and clear the blobs before healing.
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Broken Vessel's corpse, Ancient Basin
The dream form of Broken Vessel, quicker and constantly spawning balloons that fill the arena. Kill the balloons on sight and only heal when it is mid jump on the far side.
Secrets and Lore (2)
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Central Ancient Basin
A fountain under a statue of the Pale King that pays out a Vessel Fragment once you have dropped a total of 3000 Geo into it. The total is remembered between visits, so you can pay in instalments.
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East Ancient Basin
The ruined approach to the White Palace, marked by a dried up moat and a huge broken gate. Dream Nail the Kingsmould corpse in front of the gates to enter the White Palace.
