HIGHLIGHTS
- The Precipice is a secret area in Blue Prince that activates an elevator to the chamber after unlocking it.
- Inside it, players find a unique chessboard puzzle where they must place six chess pieces found in specific rooms.
- After you solve the puzzle, it grants a choice of powerful permanent abilities related to each chess piece.
Blue Prince is set within the mysterious Mount Holly Estate, lies The Precipice.
It is one of the hidden underground chambers with rewarding secrets, combining environmental puzzles and strategic gameplay.
This secret area has a large, uniquely shaped chessboard puzzle that corresponds to the layout of the Mount Holly Estate.
Access The Precipice In Blue Prince
The Precipice in Blue Prince is a hidden underground area. Players can unlock it by lighting four gas valves on a stone balcony in the estate’s Grounds.
You can locate these four gas Valves in Apple Orchard, Gemstone Cavern, Hovel, and Schoolhouse.
When you activate these valves, it lights four braziers on a stone balcony, which in turn raises an elevator that leads down to the Precipice.
However, draining the fountain and lighting candles in a nearby mine tunnel using the Burning Glass tool can also open the path to this secret chamber.
The Chess Puzzle
Inside the Precipice, there is a 5×9 chessboard puzzle that mirrors the layout of the Mount Holly Estate.
This grid corresponds to the estate’s rooms. Players need to place six chess pieces: Pawn, Knight, Bishop, Rook, Queen, and King on the squares representing the rooms where those pieces are found.
Each chess piece appears in a specific room throughout the estate. Players can find some pieces in multiple rooms, allowing players some flexibility:
| Chess Piece | Common Rooms Where It Appears |
|---|---|
| Pawn | Parlor, Den, Storage, Guest, Dining, Walk-in Closet, Drawing Room, Bedroom, Dorm, Free Room, Solar, Lost and Found |
| Knight | Armory, Treasure Room |
| Bishop | Russian Room, Attic, Bookshop |
| Rook | Clock Room, Conservatory |
| Queen | Study, Ladyship’s Chambers |
| King | Office, Throne Room |
Solving The Puzzle And Unlocking Powers
When you place all six chess pieces on their corresponding squares, it solves the puzzle.
As a result, statues of each chess piece rise from the floor, allowing you to select one piece to gain a permanent ability for your run.
| Chess Piece | Power Description |
|---|---|
| Pawn | Upon reaching Rank 8 each day, choose the Knight, Bishop, Rook, or Queen’s power for that day. |
| Knight | Adds the Armory room to your drafting pool, granting access to powerful items like The Axe. |
| Bishop | Eliminates tithes and grants 30 gold the first time you enter each day. |
| Rook | Allows up to four redraws when drafting the four corner rooms of the estate. |
| Queen | Reduces the number of steps needed to move through rooms in the Queen’s (West Wing) area. |
| King | Each day, select a color; rooms of that color are more likely to appear during drafting. |
The King’s power is especially for its influence on drafting probabilities, while the Knight’s power is valuable for access to the Armory’s potent items.
