This Crimson Desert Beginner’s Guide details all the tips and tricks you need to kickstart your journey in Crimson Desert. Crimson Desert is a large open-world action RPG set in the land of Pywel, and it can feel a bit confusing at the start because there is so much happening at once. You will deal with different characters, combat styles, bosses, and exploration systems right from the beginning. Whether you focus only on the story or try to explore everything, the game can take a lot of time to complete.
Beginner’s Guide – Crimson Desert
The following are the things you will face in the early hours of the game, and you should know about them.
Story and Main Objective
The story follows Kliff and his group, called the Greymanes, who are mercenaries. At the beginning, their group gets destroyed, and your main task becomes finding the remaining members and rebuilding the Greymanes. Along with that, revenge is also an important part of the journey.
At the same time, the world is unstable. The king, named the Unifier, is in a coma, which allows different factions to fight for control. There is also a mysterious force called the Abyss, which seems to be connected to Kliff’s powers and plays a major role in the overall story.
World of Pywel and Its Regions
The game takes place in a huge world called Pywel, which is divided into five different regions. Hernand is the starting area and is filled with rivers, greenery, and mountains. Pailune is known as the home of the Greymanes. Deminiss focuses more on military and political activity, while Delsia is more advanced in science and technology. The Crimson Desert region itself is much harsher, with red sands, ruins, bandits, and very little safe civilization.
Above all these regions exists the Abyss, which appears as floating areas in the sky. These places seem to include different challenges like puzzles, combat encounters, and exploration tasks, adding another layer to the world.
Characters and Playstyles
The game mainly follows Kliff, who is the central character of the story. As you progress, you will unlock two more characters, including Damiane and Oongka. Each one fights differently and uses their own weapons and skills, which changes how battles feel. Damiane and Oongka both have their own sets of storylines, which are different from the main story.
There is no full character creation system, but you can still customize outfits, hairstyles, and other visual details. You can also customize mounts and some equipment to match your preferences.
Kliff is a balanced fighter and a good starting point to learn the basics. Damiane focuses more on fast and smooth combos, while Oongka is slower but much stronger, relying on heavy attacks and grappling moves. These characters are not just for variety; they also have their own side stories, which means you get extra missions and new experiences when you play as them.
Understanding Combat
Combat in Crimson Desert is flexible and not limited to fixed attack patterns. You can mix weapon attacks with punches, kicks, and grabs to create your own combos. If you are using a shield, you can block attacks or time it properly to parry and counter.
There are several important mechanics you should learn early. You can deflect arrows if you time it correctly, which helps a lot against ranged enemies. Dodging, sliding, and countering are very important for survival, especially in tougher fights. You can also grab enemies, which can stop nearby enemies from attacking for a moment. Another useful feature is picking up weapons during fights, since enemies can drop them and you can use them instantly.
Do not rush into large groups of enemies. Try to separate enemies and fight them in smaller numbers. Taking out ranged enemies first can also make fights easier.
Manage Your Stamina
Stamina is very important in combat. If it runs out, you become vulnerable to attacks. Learn how many attacks you can perform before your stamina is empty, and always save some energy for dodging or escaping.
Use Parry and Dodge Properly
Perfect parries are very effective in the early game, as most enemies cannot break your defense. Later, dodging becomes more important. There is also a faster “spirit dodge” that can help you escape dangerous situations.
Use Reflect Skill
The Reflect skill is very useful. In combat, it can stun enemies, and outside combat, it can reveal hidden items or points of interest. It can even help solve puzzles or interact with the environment. Some items have hidden uses, clues, or abilities. Always examine them instead of ignoring them.
Collect Artifacts for Skills
Artifacts act as skill points and can be earned by defeating enemies, exploring, or completing challenges. Some enemies also give you abilities directly when you defeat or observe them.
Complete Bounties for Rewards
Bounties are a quick way to earn money. Capturing targets and turning them in can give good rewards with less effort.
The Axiom Bracelet
The Axiom Bracelet is a special item connected to the game’s deeper combat systems. Its full use is not completely clear at first, but it plays an important role in how your abilities work. As you continue playing, you should pay attention to how it affects your skills and combat style.
Greymanes Base System
You will have a base connected to the Greymanes, which acts as a central hub. Here, you can bring back survivors, recruit new members, and send them on missions. These missions allow your allies to handle tasks or reclaim areas for you.
You can also upgrade and expand this base, add features like farms, and customize it over time. This makes it an important part of your overall progress.
Boss Battles and Phases
Some bosses are human enemies like knights, while others are large beasts. There are also steel-type bosses, which are mechanical enemies, and sorcery-type bosses that use magic. Each type behaves differently, so you need to adjust how you fight depending on the boss. This variety makes encounters more interesting and challenging.
Boss fights are more complex compared to normal enemies. Each boss has multiple phases, and when you reduce their health, the fight resets and becomes harder, and enters a new phase.
You will notice the boss’s health bar changing colors, from blue to green to red, which shows the current phase. The final phase is usually the most dangerous, so you need to be more careful and adjust your strategy.
Some bosses can drop special gear after being defeated. These items come with unique abilities that originally belonged to the boss. Using this gear can make a big difference in future fights, so it is a good idea to equip them as soon as you get them.
Travel and Movement
Moving around the world is designed to feel smooth and varied. You can use mounts to travel faster across long distances, while climbing and gliding help you reach difficult areas. Fast travel points can be unlocked by finding special locations, which contain Traces of the Abyss, across the map, which makes traveling between regions much easier.
You can also use mounts like horses, bears, and other creatures for faster travel. Later in the game, more advanced options like a dragon or a mech become available, giving you even more ways to move quickly and efficiently.
Carry Animals on Mounts
You can also carry animals while riding your mount. This can save time when transporting resources.
Upgrading and Crafting Gear
Your strength in combat depends heavily on your equipment. You can visit blacksmiths and other NPCs to upgrade your weapons and armor using materials you collect during your journey. Even small upgrades to your equipment can greatly improve your stats. Early upgrades are cheap but give strong benefits, so don’t ignore them.
Crafting is also an important part of the game. Instead of relying only on items you find, you can create your own weapons that offer useful bonuses. This becomes especially important when fighting stronger enemies or bosses, where better gear can make a big difference.
Factions
The world is filled with different factions. Some will help you and give you quests, while others will be hostile and control certain areas. Clearing enemies from these areas can unlock new resources, NPCs, and missions.
Side Activities and Sandbox Features
The game includes many activities beyond combat. You can gather resources by mining, fishing, cutting wood, and hunting animals. Cooking is also part of the system and helps during battles. Fishing can be a good way to make money. Cooked fish sells for a reasonable price, making it a useful early-game income method. Food helps you recover health, but many players forget to use it. Make sure to eat during fights to stay alive.
There is also a law system in place. If you steal or commit crimes, you can be chased by guards or even end up in jail. The penalties are high, and you can quickly lose all your money or end up with a large bounty. Your reputation seems to matter, meaning your actions can change how the world reacts to you. Early in the game, it is better to avoid crime unless you are sure you can handle the consequences. Side quests can unlock more inventory slots, allowing you to carry more items and loot.
Use Targeted Aim for Interaction
The world is full of objects and NPCs, and it can be hard to select what you want using just movement controls. There is a feature that lets you focus directly on objects or people. Using this makes exploring easier and helps you pick up hidden loot from small or hard-to-reach places.
Small hints and controls appear on the screen, usually at the bottom right. These prompts help you perform actions without opening menus, so always keep an eye on them.
Wear a Mask to Steal
Some items cannot be taken normally and require stealing. To do this, you must wear a mask first. This prevents accidental stealing, which is useful because it avoids unwanted trouble with guards.
Activate Bell Towers
Bell towers work like map reveal points. Activating them uncovers parts of the map, making exploration easier.
Be Careful with Fall Damage
Falling from heights can cause serious damage. Always keep some stamina to glide or slow your fall.
Rest During Night
Darkness can make it hard to see. Use beds, camps, or resting spots to pass the time and avoid problems at night.
Don’t Buy Early Tools
Items like shovels or basic tools can be found in the starting area, so avoid wasting money on them.
Use Your Lantern Fully
The lantern is not just for light. It can help find clues, reveal interactions, and assist in puzzles.
Pay Attention to Memories
When near a memory, your lantern and equipment will react. Watch for these signs to find and unlock them easily.
Don’t Over-Explore Too Early
Exploring too much before unlocking key systems can cause issues. It is better to progress the story first and then explore freely later.
Reload if Something Feels Wrong
If a puzzle or event is not working properly, it may be a small bug. Reloading your save can fix the issue.
Final Tips for Beginners
To enjoy Crimson Desert, take your time and explore everything instead of rushing through the main story. Learn how combat works early, unlock fast travel points whenever you can, and make good use of special gear from bosses. Also, don’t ignore side missions or the extra characters, as they add a lot more depth to the game.
If you play patiently and experiment with different systems, the world of Pywel becomes much easier.
That is all for this guide. Additional Crimson Desert guides are linked below:
This concludes our Crimson Desert Beginner’s Guide. If you want to add anything to this guide, feel free to use the comments section below.
