Puzzle item

A puzzle item is an item in Hexen that must be found and placed at a precise location so as to progress in the level. They are as such similar to the keys, but are lost after use and are not generally used directly on doors. In the world of Hexen, there are 17 different items that are used in seven separate puzzles.

Puzzle items are stored in the inventory along with artifacts.

Hub 1: Seven Portals

Mainly, the player progresses in the hub by finding switches, but there also are two puzzles that need special items. One item is mandatory and connects with the elemental theme of this hub, while the other item is found and used in the secret level.

Flame Mask

The Flame Mask is a grey mask with red eyes, horns, and a long moustache. This item is found in Guardian of Fire and is used in Guardian of Ice. When it is placed in the correct spot, it causes lava to appear which melts a block of ice and makes the fire key accessible.

In Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, the Flame Mask is used on two levels in the first hub to complete certain puzzles.

Heart of D'Sparil

The Heart of D'Sparil in Bright Crucible

The Heart of D'Sparil is a red gem (the image shows it placed in its pedestal) that is found and used in Bright Crucible. Since it is used in a secret level, the reference to D'Sparil, Korax's younger brother and final boss of Heretic, is considered an Easter egg.

In Deathkings, the heart is found in Constable's Gate, where it is the primary objective of the hub.

Hub 2: Shadow Wood

There are no puzzle items in this hub.

Hub 3: Heresiarch's Seminary

The hub includes a single puzzle for which specific items are required. Inside the seminary is a round mosaic depicting a solar system. Around the sun, there are six holes carved for the planets. One of the holes has already been filled with a red gemstone. To proceed, the player has to gain access to two of the hub's levels that hold the missing five gemstones. Once the gems are found, they need to be placed in the hole in the mosaic to complete the picture. Doing so solves the puzzle and opens portals to the three remaining levels.

The following items can be revealed in the Silent Refectory:

• Emerald planet 1
• Ruby planet
• Sapphire planet 1

The Orchard of Lamentations hides the two remaining planets.

• Emerald planet 2
• Sapphire planet 2

• 

  Initially, the solar system lacks five planets.

• 

  Emerald planet 1.

• 

  Ruby planet.

• 

  Sapphire planet 1.

• 

  Emerald planet 2.

• 

  Sapphire planet 2.

In Deathkings, the emerald and sapphire planets are required to solve another mosaic in the first hub, Blight, and open the portal to Constable's Gate. The hub has four portals, each leading to a different level that holds a single gem. The ruby planet is hidden in the hub itself, and is used to access the secret level Pyre.

Hub 4: Castle of Grief

Whereas the previous hubs had switches as central puzzle elements, the castle hub instead features a variation of special items. Seven items are used in three unique puzzles, each of which is obligatory to be solved.

The clock

In the hub map, there is a great clock in one of the compartments of the castle, which is missing four gears. All four gears are found inside the castle. Once the gears have been placed in the clock mechanisms, the clock starts ticking again. Subsequently, an entrance to another central level of the hub, Gibbet, is opened. The gears can be distinguished from each other by their different colors and materials.

• Clock gear (bronze in steel)
• Clock gear (bronze)
• Clock gear (steel in bronze)
• Clock gear (steel)

The books

There is a portal in a cave behind the Castle of Grief which takes the player to the Forsaken Outpost, which is occupied by Korax's minions. Hidden in this level are two books, the Daemon Codex and the Liber Oscura.

The latter book is found first, lying on a pedestal in the southern section of the stronghold. When the player crosses the line around the book, new areas are opened on the map, among them an alcove that holds the rusted key. With it, the player can unlock the northern section where the former book is hidden.

The books must be returned to the library in Gibbet. The target shelf differs from the others by having a brown mask attached to its top. By examining the shelf carefully, an imperfect line of books, similar to those found earlier, can be seen to spell K R X. Since Daemon Codex has the letter O in its back and Liber Oscura has the letter A consistently, they need to be placed into the gaps in the line so that it starts to spell K O R A X. When it does, many of the bookshelves lower, one of which reveals yet another puzzle item, Yorick's Skull.

Yorick's statue

In the east of the center area in Gibbet, there is a pillar hall with some stained glass decorations. A headless statue is standing in the room’s northern end. If the player has solved the book puzzle, they should possess the item that is required. By inserting Yorick's Skull into the statue, the player triggers an earthquake which collapses the floor of the pillar hall. However, the area under an open sky remains normal, providing a route for the player to exit. The water level of the pool in the center area has lowered, uncovering the teleportation device to a new level, Effluvium.

Hub 5: Necropolis

Before the player can confront Korax, they must first "face their own Masters", Zedek, Traductus and Menelkir, in their tombs. Each member of the trio guards a puzzle item that resembles the final weapon of their class. Once the player has defeated a foe, an item gets released for them to collect:

• Glaive Seal (guarded by Zedek)
• Holy Relic (guarded by Traductus)
• Sigil of the Magus (guarded by Menelkir)

When the items have been gathered, the player must return to the cemetery and position them into their corresponding slots in a board at the tomb of which gate is locked. The action opens the gate and allows the player to enter the epilogue map of the game, Dark Crucible, for the final showdown with Korax.

Heretic + Hexen

The Heretic + Hexen re-release introduces many new puzzle items, which are used in both the "enhanced" versions of the original Hexen and Deathkings levels, and in the new Vestiges of Grandeur hub.

Chapel crests

The Dragon Crest, Wolf Crest, and Griffin Crest are added to the Heresiarch's Seminary hub. Each chapel contains one of each of the other chapel's crest. Both of a chapel's crests must be used in the chapel to complete its puzzle, e.g. the two wolf crests must be recovered from the Dragon Chapel and Griffin Chapel, and then used in the Wolf Chapel.

Masks

The Death Mask and Fetid Mask complete the existing Fire Mask to create a collection. Both are used in the enhanced versions of the first Deathkings hub, four death masks must be placed in Catacomb and three fetid masks must be placed in Sump. A death mask is also optionally found and used in the Elemental Temple secret map of Vestiges.

Chalices

Exclusive to the Vestige of Grandeur hub, the Coiled Chalice, Gilded Chalice, Earthen Chalice, Molten Chalice, and Rimed Chalice are needed to access both the secret level Garden of Medea and the boss level of the hub.

Idols

Exclusive to the Elemental Temple secret level of the Vestiges of Grandeur hub, the Skull Idol, Demon Idol, and Dragon Idol must be collected and placed on their pedestal to obtain the Wings of Wrath in the hub.

Books

The Lurid Atlas and the Malum Vulgata complete the book collection made by the Daemon Codex and Liber Oscura. Just like these two books have the O and A of "KORAX", the Atlas and Vulgata have the C and second E of "SECRET" in a new pair of bookshelves textures. These books are not actually used anywhere in Heretic + Hexen, neither in the enhanced Hexen and Deathkings levels nor in Vestiges of Grandeur. They correspond to an older design for the KORAX bookshelf, found in the Raven Vault, and put in the game to serve as a ready-made mapping resource.

Data

Data not listed for the other items is the same as for the Flame Mask. The puzzle ID is needed for the UsePuzzleItem ACS function.

Flame Mask data
Thing type	9014 (decimal), 2336 (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZSKULL2 (66)
Radius	20
Height	16
Sprite	ASK2
Frames	1 [A]
Class	Key Pickup
Flags	513 (decimal) 00000201 (hex)
Flags list	0: Can be picked up 9: No gravity
Flags2	0 (decimal) 00000000 (hex)
Puzzle ID	9

Heart of D'Sparil data
Thing type	9003 (decimal), 232B (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEMBIG (58)
Sprite	ABGM
Puzzle ID	1

Emerald planet 1 data
Thing type	9005 (decimal), 232D (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEMGREEN1 (60)
Sprite	AGMG
Puzzle ID	3

Emerald planet 2 data
Thing type	9009 (decimal), 2331 (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEMGREEN2 (61)
Sprite	AGG2
Puzzle ID	4

Ruby planet data
Thing type	9004 (decimal), 232C (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEMRED (59)
Sprite	AGMR
Puzzle ID	2

Sapphire planet 1 data
Thing type	9006 (decimal), 232E (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEMBLUE1 (62)
Sprite	AGMB
Puzzle ID	5

Sapphire planet 2 data
Thing type	9010 (decimal), 2332 (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEMBLUE2 (63)
Sprite	AGB2
Puzzle ID	6

Daemon Codex data
Thing type	9007 (decimal), 232F (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZBOOK1 (64)
Sprite	ABK1
Puzzle ID	7

Liber Oscura data
Thing type	9008 (decimal), 2330 (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZBOOK2 (65)
Sprite	ABK2
Puzzle ID	8

Clock gear (bronze in steel) data
Thing type	9021 (decimal), 233D (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEAR4 (73)
Sprite	AGR4
Frames	8 [ABCDEFGH]
Puzzle ID	16

Clock gear (bronze) data
Thing type	9019 (decimal), 233B (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEAR2 (71)
Sprite	AGR2
Frames	8 [ABCDEFGH]
Puzzle ID	14

Clock gear (steel in bronze) data
Thing type	9020 (decimal), 233C (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEAR3 (72)
Sprite	AGR3
Frames	8 [ABCDEFGH]
Puzzle ID	15

Clock gear (steel) data
Thing type	9018 (decimal), 233A (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZGEAR (70)
Sprite	AGER
Frames	8 [ABCDEFGH]
Puzzle ID	13

Yorick's Skull data
Thing type	9002 (decimal), 232A (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZSKULL (57)
Sprite	ASKU
Puzzle ID	0

Glaive Seal data
Thing type	9015 (decimal), 2337 (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZFWEAPON (67)
Sprite	AFWP
Puzzle ID	10

Holy Relic data
Thing type	9016 (decimal), 2338 (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZCWEAPON (68)
Sprite	ACWP
Puzzle ID	11

Sigil of the Magus data
Thing type	9017 (decimal), 2339 (hex)
Enum	MT_ARTIPUZZMWEAPON (69)
Sprite	AMWP
Puzzle ID	12

Associated objects

These map objects are where certain puzzle items must be used.

Heart of D'Sparil pedestal data
Thing type	9012 (decimal), 2334 (hex)
Enum	MT_ZGEMPEDESTAL (56)
Radius	10
Height	40
Sprite	GMPD
Frames	2 [A: empty, B: filled]
Flags	2 (decimal) 00000002 (hex)
Flag list	1: Solid
Flags 2	0

Yorick's statue data
Thing type	9011 (decimal), 2333 (hex)
Enum	MT_ZWINGEDSTATUENOSKULL (55)
Radius	10
Height	62
Sprite	STWN
Frames	2 [A: empty, B: filled]
Flags	2 (decimal) 00000002 (hex)
Flag list	1: Solid
Flags 2	0

Heretic + Hexen

These new puzzle items are defined in the EXDEFS lump EX_BPUZZ in hexen.wad. The items inherit the values of Yorick's Skull (most of them) or the Daemon Codex (the two new books), so data not listed is the same as the Flame Mask above. As they are defined in EXDEFS, they do not have a position in an enumeration, and instead have a class name.

Dragon Crest data
Thing type	3117 (decimal), C2D (hex)
Class name	PuzzCrestDragon
Sprite	ACRD
Puzzle ID	17

Wolf Crest data
Thing type	3118 (decimal), C2E (hex)
Class name	PuzzCrestWolf
Sprite	ACRW
Puzzle ID	18

Griffin Crest data
Thing type	3119 (decimal), C2F (hex)
Class name	PuzzCrestGriffin
Sprite	ACRG
Puzzle ID	19

Death Mask data
Thing type	3120 (decimal), C30 (hex)
Class name	PuzzMaskIce
Sprite	AMSI
Puzzle ID	20

Fetid Mask data
Thing type	3121 (decimal), C31 (hex)
Class name	PuzzMaskSwamp
Sprite	AMSS
Puzzle ID	21

Coiled Chalice data
Thing type	3122 (decimal), C32 (hex)
Class name	PuzzChalice1
Sprite	ACH1
Puzzle ID	22

Gilded Chalice data
Thing type	3123 (decimal), C33 (hex)
Class name	PuzzChalice2
Sprite	ACH2
Puzzle ID	23

Earthen Chalice data
Thing type	3124 (decimal), C34 (hex)
Class name	PuzzChalice3
Sprite	ACH3
Puzzle ID	24

Molten Chalice data
Thing type	3125 (decimal), C35 (hex)
Class name	PuzzChalice4
Sprite	ACH4
Puzzle ID	25

Rimed Chalice data
Thing type	3126 (decimal), C36 (hex)
Class name	PuzzChalice5
Sprite	ACH5
Puzzle ID	26

Skull Idol data
Thing type	3127 (decimal), C37 (hex)
Class name	PuzzIdol1
Sprite	AID1
Puzzle ID	27

Demon Idol data
Thing type	3128 (decimal), C38 (hex)
Class name	PuzzIdol2
Sprite	AID2
Puzzle ID	28

Dragon Idol data
Thing type	3129 (decimal), C39 (hex)
Class name	PuzzIdol3
Sprite	AID3
Puzzle ID	29

Lurid Atlas data
Thing type	3130 (decimal), C3A (hex)
Class name	PuzzBook3
Sprite	ABK3
Puzzle ID

Malum Vulgata data
Thing type	3131 (decimal), C3B (hex)
Class name	PuzzBook4
Sprite	ABK4
Puzzle ID

Associated objects

Those work similarly to the Heart of D'Sparil pedestal and Yorick's statue. Data not listed for the other chalice pedestals is the same as for Coiled Chalice pedestal, data not listed for the other idols is the same Skull Idol pedestal.

Coiled Chalice pedestal data
Thing type	3222 (decimal), C96 (hex)
Class name	PedestalChalice1
Radius	12
Height	24
Sprite	PCH1

Skull Idol pedestal data
Thing type	3227 (decimal), C9B (hex)
Class name	PedestalIdol1
Radius	10
Height	40
Sprite	PID1

Gilded Chalice pedestal data
Thing type	3223 (decimal), C97 (hex)
Class name	PedestalChalice2
Sprite	PCH2

Earthen Chalice pedestal data
Thing type	3224 (decimal), C98 (hex)
Class name	PedestalChalice3
Sprite	PCH3

Molten Chalice pedestal data
Thing type	3225 (decimal), C99 (hex)
Class name	PedestalChalice4
Sprite	PCH4

Rimed Chalice pedestal data
Thing type	3226 (decimal), C9A (hex)
Class name	PedestalChalice5
Sprite	PCH4

Demon Idol pedestal data
Thing type	3228 (decimal), C9C (hex)
Class name	PedestalIdol2
Sprite	PID2

Dragon Idol pedestal data
Thing type	3229 (decimal), C9D (hex)
Class name	PedestalIdol3
Sprite	PID3

Trivia

• Liber Oscura translates from Latin as "dark book". "Oscura" is the correct spelling of the word in Italian and Spanish, both of which descend from Latin; however, the word is misspelled in Latin, and its correct variant would be "obscura".
  • In addition, the grammatical gender of the adjective "obscura" (feminine) does not agree with the noun "liber" (masculine), which should be "obscurus".
• Yorick's Skull is a reference to the scene in William Shakespeare's Hamlet where the titular character contemplates mortality while brooding over the skull of a jester named Yorick. In an early beta of Hexen, the puzzle item was originally a human skull to be placed in the statue's hand for it to look at. The most likely reason for the change to the decapitated statue of the release version would be to provide a clearer visual hint towards the puzzle's solution. The PlayStation and Saturn ports of Hexen have kept the original sprites from the beta.

Sources

• The Spoiler Center - Walkthrough of Hexen (archived 🏛)