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Crimson Desert

Early Progression Guide: What to Do First

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☆ Best: Side Quests | Weapons | Armor | Skills
★ Controls | Best Items | What to Do First
☆ Characters: Damiane | Oongka | Kliff

Early Progression Guide
This is a guide to early game progression for Crimson Desert. Find out what you should do to progress the game early on and what to do first in this guide.

List of Contents

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Early Progression Guide

Check IconDo Greymane Quests Early to Improve Camp
Check IconVisit Areas With Notable Rewards
Check IconObtain the Best Early Game Weapons
Check IconObtain the Best Early Game Armor
Check IconEarn Contribution Points by Doing Side Quests
Check IconUnlock Fast Travel Points
Check IconRefine Weapons and Armor
Check IconSell Documents and Boos
Check IconObtain a Pet Early On
Check IconSave Palmar Pill for Bosses
Check IconRob the Hernand Bank and Lioncrest Manor
Check IconGet Unlimited Arrows in Pororin Village
Check IconDo the Estate in Dismay Quest

Do Greymane Quests Early to Improve Camp

Unlock Camp Features.png

Completing Greymane quests unlocks additonal features of your camp. You can also send them on missions to earn resources.

Make sure you always have active missions in progress while performing other in-game activities, since missions can take time.

Camp Features and Management Tips

Visit Areas With Notable Rewards

1
Sanctum of Temperance Map Location
Location: Sanctum of Temperance
Loot: Odeck's Protector Plate Boots
2
Sanctum of Penitence
Location: Sanctum of Penitence
Loot: Blackwing Leather Gloves
3
Sanctum of Benediction
Location: Sanctum of Benediction
Loot: Leather Helm of the Fallen Kingdom
4
Icemoor Castle Ruins
Location: Icemoor Castle Ruins
Loot: Leather Cloak of the Fallen Kingdom

As soon as you are given free rein to roam Hernand, you can visit several areas and explore them to grab important loot.

Some areas are easier to traverse earlier rather than later. For example, the Witches' Sanctums can be looted without fear of enemy encounters, since enemies only appear once their respective questline is active.

Best Places to Visit Early

Obtain the Best Early Game Weapons

Hwando Chest

Players should try to obtain the best early-game weapons available, such as the Hwando, which is accessible early on and comes with good damage stats and Abyss Gear.

This makes battles easier due to the higher damage they deal, which can shorten encounters.

Best Weapons

Obtain the Best Early Game Armor

Hernand Castle vendor
Survivability is just as important, so players should obtain the best early-game armor to reduce damage from hits.

This also saves on refining costs, as you would only refine the armor pieces you intend to keep, rather than any armor you come across that is better than your currently equipped armor.

Best Armor

Earn Contribution Points by Doing Side Quests

Contribution Points
In order to prepare your characters for the battles to come, you can take on side quests and bounties to accrue Contribution Points.

Contribution points can then be used to purchase armor and accessories from vendors. These items are essential for progress because some encounters are difficult to beat with basic gear, such as the Hornsplitter.

How to Increase Contribution

Avoid Doing Crimes

Avoid Doing Crimes

Committing crimes and earning a wanted status will penalize you and reduce your Contribution Points. For this reason, avoid committing crimes such as stealing in regions where you're trying to earn Contribution Points.

Wanted System Explained

Unlock Fast Travel Points

Fast Travel

Fast travel allows you to quickly traverse from one area to another. With the game's large map, you should focus on unlocking fast travel points for each region early on. This will save you time when going back and forth between areas.

Fast Travel points are usually located where Mysterious Energies are, so these areas warrant exploration.

How to Fast Travel: All Fast Travel Points

Refine Weapons and Armor

Refine Weapons and Armor.png
Refining weapons and armor increases their attack and defense capabilities, making them more effective in combat. Make refining your gear a regular habit, as refined weapons and armor let you deal more damage and take less.

Refinement Guide

Sell Documents and Books That You Have Read

Sell books and documents.png

You can sell documents and books you've already read to free up inventory slots and earn silver. They won't add any value to your inventory once you've read them, so sell them as soon as you're done.

Best Items to Keep, Buy, and Sell

Obtain a Pet Early On

Obtain a Pet

Pets can gather loot for you, making them quite handy. You can find wild animals that you can domesticate by earning their trust and make them your own personal pet.

List of All Pets

Obtain Lost Loot at the Private Storage

Recover Items

Alternatively, you can pick up lost loot from the Private Storage back at camp. This is a handy backup in case your pets fail to grab overlooked loot.

Save Palmar Pill for Bosses with Multiple Phases

Save Palmar Pills for bosses

Gather Palmar Pills, as you may need them when facing bosses with multiple phases. Hold off on using them until the final phase so you don't have to start the encounter from the beginning.

Palmar Pill Recipe Location

Rob the Hernand Bank and Lioncrest Manor

Hernand Bank Lioncrest Manor
Bank Map Location
Manor Map Location

Robbing the Hernand Bank yields a hefty sum of over 40 Silver, which is a considerable amount in the early game. To rob it, all you need is a mask to hide your identity and a key.

You can also steal a Gold Bar in Lioncrest Manor. You can exchange it in the bank for 500 silver.

Although you should generally avoid committing crimes to avoid penalties, these two locations are exceptions because of the large value of loot you can obtain by robbing them.

How to Steal Items

Get Unlimited Arrows in Pororin Village

You can obtain the Sustained Supply Arrow, which is essentially an unlimited supply of arrows since they don't run out. You can obtain them from Lumiel, the Research Director in Pororin Village.

List of Pororin Forest Guardians Quest

Do the Estate in Dismay Quest

Marni

The Estate in Dismay quest becomes available as soon as Chapter 2 and should be one of the first side quests players complete. It provides Contribution Points for Hernand and the Mining Knuckledrill, which aids in mining.

Defeating Marni's Excavatron will reward you with the Mining Knuckledrill, which is useful for mining ores. You can also obtain it from the Bleed Bandits at Karin Quarry.

We recommend completing the Estate in Dismay questline after earning a few Abyss Artifacts to allocate to your stats. You should also prepare some food since the Karin Quarry mission can be challenging early on.

Estate in Dismay Walkthrough

Crimson Desert Related Guides

Crimson Desert - Wiki and Guides

Crimson Desert Guides

Meta Guides

Best Ways to Farm MoneyBest Ways to Farm Money Best Skills to Get EarlyBest Skills to Get Early Best Places to Visit EarlyBest Places to Visit Early
Best Abyss GearsBest Abyss Gears Best Ways to Farm Abyss ArtifactsBest Ways to Farm Abyss Artifacts Best ArmorBest Armor
Best WeaponsBest Weapons Best BowsBest Bows -

Beginner Guides

BeginnerBeginner's Guide Early Progression GuideEarly Progression Guide Can You Skip CutscenesIs There Transmog?
How to Fast TravelHow to Fast Travel Where to Store ItemsWhere to Store Items Can You Skip CutscenesCan You Skip Cutscenes
How to Steal ItemsHow to Steal Items How to Pass TimeHow to Pass Time How to Log TreesHow to Log Trees
Can You Hide Your HelmetCan You Hide Your Helmet? Death PenaltyDeath Penalty Explained Trust System Explained - Is Gifting Worth ItTrust System Explained
How Long Is Crimson DesertHow Long Is Crimson Desert? How to Heal Your Horse - BannerHow to Heal Your Horse How to Equip Abyss Cores - BannerHow to Equip Abyss Cores
All MissablesAll Missables and One-Time Events How to Play DuoHow to Play Duo How to Infiltrate Guarded AreasHow to Infiltrate Guarded Areas
Best Items to Keep, Buy, and SellBest Items to Keep, Buy, and Sell Wanted System ExplainedWanted System Explained Best Side Quests to CompleteBest Side Quests to Complete
What Are Mysterious EnergiesWhat Are Mysterious Energies? How to Unlock and Get PetsHow to Unlock and Get Pets List of Trophies and AchievementsList of Trophies and Achievements
How to fishHow to Fish How to Clear Fog of WarHow to Clear Fog of War Temperature Guide How to Deal with Cold and Hot ClimatesHow to Deal with Cold and Hot Climates
How to Respec SkillsHow to Respec Skills How to Find the Room the Key OpensHow to Find the Room the Key Opens Refinement GuideRefinement Guide
How to Craft EquipmentHow to Craft Equipment Arm Wrestling Minigame GuideHow to in Win Arm Wrestling How to Change CharactersHow to Change Characters
How to SaveHow to Save How to Sheathe Your WeaponHow to Sheathe Your Weapon Camp Guide and FeaturesCamp Features
How to Enter WaterfallsHow to Enter Waterfalls Do Enemies and Gatherables RespawnDo Enemies and Gatherables Respawn? PuzzlesList of Puzzles
How to Burn VinesHow to Burn Vines How to Make Fire ArrowsHow to Make Fire Arrows How to Cook FoodHow to Cook Food
Story ExplainedStory Explained How to Mine OresHow to Mine Ores Mouse and Keyboard or ControllerMouse and Keyboard or Controller?
How to Dye EquipmentHow to Dye Armor Trading SystemTrading System Explained Why Does Your Lantern Glow BlueWhy Does Your Lantern Glow Blue?
Where to Turn In BountiesWhere to Turn In Bounties What Are Supply ChestsSupply Chests Locations HUD ExplainedHUD Explained
Is There New Game PlusIs There New Game Plus? How to SlideHow to Slide What Are Unequippable EquipmentWhat Are Unequippable Equipment?
How to Tame HorsesHow to Tame Horses How to Take the White BirdHow to Take the White Bird's Letter Do Weapons Have DurabilityDo Weapons Have Durability?
How to Unlock BarberHow to Unlock Barber How to Win Archery ContestsHow to Win Archery Contests How to Farm Contribution Points Partial.pngHow to Increase Reputation
Advanced Combat Guidee.pngAdvanced Combat Guide How to SleepHow to Sleep When to Start ExploringWhen to Start Exploring?
Best HorsesBest Horses Black Market Locations and What to SellBlack Market Locations What Is the Yellow BarWhat Is the Yellow Bar?
HUD ExplainedHUD Explained Why Do You Glow GreenWhy Do You Glow Green? Unarmed Duel Minigame GuideHow to Win in Unarmed Duel
How to Level Up Your HorseHow to Level Up Your Horse How to Dispatch Comrades on MissionsHow to Dispatch Comrades How to Hire Contribution WorkersHow to Hire Contribution Workers
Best Places to Mine OresBest Places to Mine Ores How to Use Item AbilitiesHow to Use Item Abilities How to EavesdropHow to Eavesdrop
How to Increase Research KnowledgeHow to Increase Research Knowledge What Are Camp ProvisionsWhat Are Camp Provisions? How to Level Up ComradesHow to Level Up Comrades
All Character Creation OptionsAll Character Creation Options How to PickpocketHow to Pickpocket Should You Sell RecipesShould You Sell Recipes?
How to Upgrade Your CampHow to Upgrade Camp How to Increase Defense.How to Increase Defense Movement Speed ExplainedMovement Speed Explained
Attack Speed ExplainedAttack Speed Explained Critical Chance ExplainedCritical Chance Explained -

Character Progression Guides

8How to Unlock Core Slot - BannerHow to Unlock Core Slot Leveling System Explained - BannerLeveling System Explained How many Skill Points Can You Get? - BannerHow Many Skill Points Can You Get?
How to Equip Abyss Cores - BannerHow to Equip Abyss Cores How to Increase HealthHow to Increase Health How to Increase SpiritHow to Increase Spirit
How to Increase StaminaHow to Increase Stamina How to Unlock Elemental SkillsHow to Unlock Elemental Skills -

Combat Tips

How to Beat Flying Enemies - BannerHow to Beat Flying Enemies How to HealHow to Heal Can You Defeat MyurdinCan You Defeat Myurdin? (Tutorial Boss)
How to Perfect DodgeHow to Perfect Dodge How to Parry AttacksHow to Parry Attacks How to Lock on Targets How to Lock On Targets
How to Defeat Enemies with a ShieldHow to Defeat Enemies with a Shield - -

Settings Guides

List of All ControlsList of All Controls Best SettingsBest Settings Difficulty Explained - BannerDifficulty Explained

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Crimson Desert Walkthrough Team
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