Crimson Desert: Best Early Game Weapons, Armor, and Equipment Locations

In the expansive continent of Pywel within Crimson Desert, players can uncover unique treasures in the form of powerful weapons, armor pieces, and special equipment. These aren’t just mere tools for defense or offense; they house potent Abyss Cores, which imbue the protagonist, Kliff, with distinct abilities.

This comprehensive guide details the locations of all unique weapons and gear discovered so far, providing you with the essential equipment needed to overcome challenging early-game bosses.

This guide is actively being updated, so please check back regularly for new additions!

All Unique Weapon Locations

Unique weapons in Crimson Desert possess powerful modifiers and cannot be enhanced by duplicates. Many are acquired by defeating bosses or completing specific quests. Below, you’ll find a table of the top swords we’ve identified thus far, followed by detailed guides on their exact locations. This selection covers the best one-handed and two-handed swords known in Crimson Desert’s early game, categorized by attack power and situational utility.

The following table includes technical data extracted from various zones in Pywel and precise instructions on how to obtain each item.

Table of Best Early Game Swords

Remember, don’t evaluate equipment solely based on its base Attack stat. Swords like the Hollow Visage (Katana) — with an attack of 15 — compensate with a Level 2 Attack Speed, often proving more lethal in DPS (damage per second) than heavier, slower alternatives.

Most of these swords feature core slots. If you find a sword with a special ability you favor (like the shadow wave of the Vessel of Dark Pursuit), you can often extract its core and transfer it to a weapon with a higher base attack, such as the Fated Shadow, at a blacksmith in major cities like Hernand or Demeniss.

Unique weapons have a refinement limit (e.g., 3/10 or 5/10 when discovered). Ensure you have rare materials like Black Iron Ore to upgrade them to their maximum potential.

Hwando

• Description: A special one-handed sword.
• Location: Found in a side building near Lioncrest Manor. To obtain it, first visit the Back Alley Shop and purchase the key for 30 coins. Once at Lioncrest Manor (northwest of the city), climb the western side of the house and enter through an open window. You will find a locked door on the second floor; use the key to unlock it and collect the weapon.

Mining Knuckledrill

• Description: Excellent for mining.
• Location: Reward for completing ‘The Stolen Quarry’ quest, given by House Roberts. You’ll need to defeat the Marni Digs boss.

Legionary’s Gladius

• Description: A balanced sword with high attack speed.
• Location: Go north from Hernand Castle to the large bridge. Head towards the cliffs near the base of Three Saints’ Falls. On the right side of the cliffs, you’ll find a Statue of Justice. Light the two candles it holds to open a secret gate containing the chest.

Volono Sword

• Location: Found in a camp in a specific area of the map. Look for a tree stump near a small pond surrounded by flowers; the sword is stuck right there.

Sorcerer’s Staff

• Location: Head towards the confluence of two rivers where a waterfall forms. Jump down and enter the cave on the right side. Defeat the Grave Walker and light the two lamps on the locked door to access the staff.

Hollow Visage (Katana)

• Location: Near the Sanctum of Temperance, head south towards the river. Bypass the enemy village by going right. You’ll find a waterfall with a cave hidden behind a ledge. Use the forward lunge ability to cross the water and enter.

Sword of the Lord

• Location: Reward for defeating Kailok the Hornbreaker during Chapter 2, as part of the main quest “The End of Greed”.

Goblin King’s Treasure Dagger

• Location: Hidden in a chest beneath the Mudridge Cabin. Carefully check the crawl space under the structure.

Vessel of Dark Pursuit

Obtained in the Sanctum of Absolution in Chapter 5, after defeating the boss. It is a two-handed sword that launches shadow projectiles with the “Turning Slash” ability.

Tauria Curved Sword

• Location: Automatic reward after defeating the Crowcaller boss at the end of Chapter 5.

Ring of Earth

Found by interacting with a specific spot among the tombstones at Reedfield Graves.

Fallen Kingdom’s Rapier

Located in the Icemoor Castle Ruins in Hernand. Ascend to the upper level, turn right, and descend the stairs. Look for a cave entrance blocked by wooden planks. Break the planks to find the weapon near a barrel next to a chest.

• Attack: 17
• Attack Speed: Lv. 2

Tammaso’s Dagger-tipped Spear and Sydmon’s Spear

Both are found in the Icemoor Castle Ruins. They are impaled in the walls within the ruins, near the rapier’s location.

• Attack (Tammaso): 16
• Attack (Sydmon): 17
• Attack Speed: Lv. 1

Kylus’ Dagger

Kylus’ Dagger is given to you by a woman in Hernand, in the same area where you defeated the Staglord boss.

• Attack: 16
• Attack Speed: Lv. 1
• Critical Hit Chance: Lv. 5

Survivor’s Solitude

Found in a chest behind a waterfall east of the Scholastone Institute, following the river from Lake Kharonso. You must use a charged lunge against the waterfall to cross it.

• Attack: 17
• Attack Speed: Lv. 1

Fated Shadow

Considered one of the best one-handed swords in the game. It becomes available in Chapter 9. After the fight with the Goyen boss, ascend the stairs at the back of the arena and enter the cave room to find it on a weapon stand.

The Golden Sword

Reward for completing the “Spire of the Stars” in Chapter 4. After solving the Abyss puzzles in the Vault of Vengeance, you can collect it.

• Attack: 16
• Attack Speed: Lv. 1

Acorn Mace

Found above the Demenissian Ruins, north of the Steel Mountains. You need to climb the ruins to find it resting on the ground.

Soul Spear

Located in the Tomb of Frozen Souls. You must descend onto a ledge below the cliff, enter the mountain, and use gliding to reach a specific platform in the center of the chasm. Caution: the area is teeming with elite enemies.

Sior Blaster (Pistol)

This unique firearm is found in the Bowsprit region. It is kept in a chest inside a cave guarded by mechanical soldiers.

Unique Shield Locations

Rhonid Large Shield and Brass Guardian Gauntlets

• Location: Both are found inside Lioncrest Manor. Enter through the window, steal the key from the tea table in the hallway, and use the door on the left to find the shield. The gauntlets are in a chest in the first room of the lower-level hallway.

Stag Lord’s Shield

Obtained by defeating the Staglord boss during the initial story missions. It offers excellent defense against physical attacks.

Mirror of Night Shield

Hidden in the Shadow’s Whisper Cave. Requires reflecting light onto a mechanism to unlock the chest.

Shield of Betrayal

Found in a secret crypt under the Castlewood ruins. Offers bonuses to counterattacks.

Unique Armor Locations

Frostcursed Set

This plate set is divided into various pieces hidden in caves behind waterfalls in the Tariv region and snowy areas:

• Helm: Found at Chattering Rocks, behind vegetation that needs to be burned away.
• Cloak: In the Sanctum of Expiation.
• Gloves and Boots: In separate caves north and west of Tariv.

Dark Ringleader’s Set

Pieces are scattered in caves hidden behind waterfalls:

• Cloak: Echoing Tunnel.
• Gloves: Cloudmist Cave.
• Helm: Shadowheart Grotto.
• Armor: Blade Cavern.

St. Hallsius’ Attire

Sold by a guard outside the House of Healing for 10 silver coins during Chapter 3.

Blackwing Set

• Boots: Hidden under a secret floor in the House of Healing tower (use the Palm of Force on the revealed symbol).
• Gloves: In the ruins next to the Sanctum of Penitence.
• Cloak: In Pororin Village, inside a shed blocked by wooden planks.
• Mask and Armor: Reward for defeating the Crowcaller boss at the end of Chapter 5.

Bolton Plate Armor

Can be purchased from Hernand’s contribution vendor once an adequate reputation level is reached.

Accessory Locations

Finely Crafted Gold Necklace

Found in Stellen Manor. To unlock it, solve the cylinder puzzle by pressing them in the following rotation order: 5, 2, 4, 3, 5.

Saint’s Necklace

Found in the same manor as the previous necklace. Puzzle order: 2, 3, 4, 5, 5.

Flower Petal Earrings

Reward for a speed challenge near the Windbloom springs region.

Mounts and Other Items

Cloudcart Blueprint

Hidden in the secret basement of Glenbright Manor. Necessary to construct the flying cart.

Royler (Unique Horse)

Found near the lake next to the Snowgrass Refuge. It’s a horse with superior stamina stats.

Poisoned Arrows (Dragon Poison)

Recipe obtainable by completing challenges in the Sanctuary of Attonement.

Tips for Collectors

Remember that many of these items are linked to removable Abyss Cores. If you find a weapon with lower base stats but an incredible ability, you can often extract the core and insert it into your preferred equipment at a blacksmith in major cities like Hernand or Demeniss.