Crimson Desert: complete guide to Abyssal Artifacts (locations, challenges, farming)

Forget the classic level systems. Crimson Desert has decided to do things differently: no XP bars that go up automatically, no ding-ding level up. Your progress is entirely through the Abyssal Artifacts — consumable items that give you one skill point each.

Concretely, each Artifact recovered allows you to invest one point in the skill tree. This means: new attacks, more life, more endurance, spirit bar that rises... In short, everything that allows you to survive more than 3 seconds facing a boss. We will illustrate our point with screenshots from the website. powerpyx .

And the thing is, there are everywhere Hidden in puzzles, sealed on roadside altars, given as quest rewards, sold by merchants... The problem isn't finding them, it's knowing where to look first .

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Guide updated for October 2026 (after patch 1.05 and re-blockades): the 3 Artifact types, every way to obtain them — including repeatable re-blockade farming — and known Hernand locations to start strong.

The simplest. You pick it up, you use it from your inventory, a skill point . No condition, no challenge. These Artifacts mainly come from Abyssal Braziers (Abyss Braziers in English) - structures found on the map after solving a puzzle or a trial. Small bonus: each activated Brazier also becomes a teleportation point Two in one.

You also receive them as a reward for main quests, by defeating bosses, or simply by filling the combat XP bar next to your minimap. This bar fills up when you eliminate enemies — once full, an Artifact drops automatically.

Those, it's a bit more complex. You find them on roadside altars or near sanctuaries. When you pick one up, it is locked: a specific challenge appears on the screen. Like "Kill 3 enemies with a sword in 30 seconds" or "Walk 10 meters on a rope". Various stuff.

Once the challenge is completed, the Artifact is highlighted in blue in your inventory. At that moment, you click on it and unlock your skill point. As a bonus, some sealed Artifacts also provide Abyss Gears (runes to embed in your weapons and armor) and sometimes a Faded Abyssal Artifact .

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This one does not provide any skill point. Its role is different: it allows you to reset your skill tree . A complete respect, though. Be careful — when you reset, all your characters (Kliff, Damiane, Oongka) reset all at once since they share the same pool of Artifacts. Need to know before clicking.

They are found as a reward for certain Sealed Artifact challenges, in locked chests (like the one in Hernand Castle with the Mystic Key), and at the beginning of Chapter 2. They are rare, so keep them precious.

There is not just one way to farm. Here is the list of known sources as of October 2026 (post patch 1.05):

• Combat XP bar — Kill mobs in the open world. Every time the bar next to your minimap fills up, you receive an Artifact. No known limit. Blockaded areas are perfect for this: lots of enemies concentrated in the same place.
• Re-blockades (patch 1.05) — Liberated strongholds can re-blockade. Set frequency to War (Settings > Gameplay), cycle forts without destroying support buildings, and refresh the map (save/load, sleep, fast travel). A frequently cited spot near Hernand is Roothold Fortress (northeast). A legitimate, repeatable way to fill the XP bar.
• Boss — Most main bosses drop an Artifact upon their death.
• Main quests — The scenario distributes them regularly. Chapter 1, 2, 5... Each arc has its rewards.
• Abyssal Braziers — Scattered on the map, often behind a puzzle or a platform challenge. Also fast travel points.
• Sealed artifacts — On the altars by the roadside. Complete the challenge to unlock.
• Abyssal Island — Full of puzzles that reward Artifacts.
• Mysterious Energies — Light circles on the map. Interact with the associated Braziers to retrieve an Artifact.
• Merchants — Patrigio sells Artifacts for 28.5 silver coins each. Limited stock. After Chapter 3, the shops in the Witch's Lair also offer them.
• Success — Some achievements unlock an Artifact as a final reward.

Tip: take out your lantern near teleport points (and Abyss Nexuses). You will see faint glows on the horizon pointing to nearby Artifacts. Same trick on horseback or in flight — the lantern makes sealed Artifacts shine white at range.

No need to go to the end of the world. Hernand is packed with Artifacts from the first hours — then re-blockades (patch 1.05) take over for long-term farming. For the early game:

1. Fill up your XP bar by cleaning enemy camps around Hernand. Blocked areas bring in the most.
2. Pick up the Sealed Artifacts on the main roads. There are about ten of them just in Hernand.
3. Solve the puzzles of Braseros - they are marked by question marks on the map.
4. Advance the scenario — each chapter provides several of them.

Once a few strongholds are liberated, switch to re-blockades: set frequency to War, loop human-heavy forts (skip the slowest ones), and leave barracks / first-aid huts standing so combat stays active longer. Roothold Fortress (northeast of Hernand), with a nearby Abyss Nexus, is often recommended for chaining waves and filling the XP bar.

During Chapter 3, a one-off spot remains useful: the totems on the mountain just before the Reed Devil boss spawn enemies in a loop — but once the boss is defeated, the totems disappear. Use it before Reed Devil; afterward, prefer re-blockades for sustainable farming.

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The Braseros are harder to reach but give classic Artefacts that can be used directly. Here are the ones known in the Hernand area:

At the top of a small plateau to the southwest of Anvil Hill, in the loop of the Nas River. Be careful when climbing: Gypsum, poisoned hands, and the purple flowers at the top drain your life Manage your timing and your care.

Accessible during the quest Chapter 1: Polar Opposites You must solve the puzzle of the door to access it. The Artifact is behind.

Puzzle reward at the end of Chapter 1: Abyss without Balance One of the first ones you naturally recover by following the story.

Unlockable during Chapter 2: Unexpected Gift , after obtaining Nature's Grasp and solving the associated puzzle.

On the cliff overlooking Sunset Valley. Brazier with a breathtaking view - and an Artifact as a bonus.

Near a reed field. Look for a Bloodstone Vein and climb the wall just above. The Brazier is at the top.

Big ascent in the mountains to the west of Hill of the Abandoned. It's physical, but worth it.

South of Glenbright Manor, in the Highlands of Hernand. A statue puzzle protects the Brasero, surrounded by brambles. Two statues are coupled (1-4 and 2-3). Turn the dial of statue 1 a quarter turn to the left, then that of statue 2 a half turn. The puzzle solves automatically.

In a pit near Howling Hills. The puzzle is one of the most twisted in the game. The reward is worth it: an Artifact and Memories of Abundance.

The Faded Artifacts are rare and precious. Here are the confirmed locations in Hernand:

• Keeping Balance on the Wind — Challenge of the Sealed Artifact under Unicorn Cliff (see table). Gives a smudge as a bonus.
• Shield of Unchanging Will IV — Shield Challenge near Karin Quarry. Also a smudge as a reward.
• Night of the Silent Banner Pike — Stealth Night Challenge, Halsius Apothecary Road.
• Desperate Rescue — Challenge of care on the road to Sunset Valley.
• Mystical Key Chest — In the locked room of Hernand Castle, during the quest Chapter 1: Mystical Key.
• Start of Chapter 2 — You automatically receive one at the beginning of Chapter 2: Golden Greed, when you return to town.

Tip: Do not waste your Faded Artifacts lightly. Since the respec affects ALL your characters at once, make sure you have a well-thought-out build before resetting.

Yes. Starting from the refinement +5 of your equipment, you will need Abyssal Artifacts to continue improving your weapons and armor. So, balance your expenses between the skill tree and refinement. Don't spend everything on one side.

More than a hundred throughout Pywel, according to in-game data. The Hernand area contains about a dozen, but each new region adds more. Check your journal to track your progress.

No: you can fill it as many times as you want. It is still the engine of repeatable farming. As of October 2026, the cleanest post-patch 1.05 combo remains: XP bar + re-blockades (War frequency) on strongholds, enemy camps, and sealed Artifacts in parallel.

Take out your lantern. Sealed Artifacts emit a visible white glow from afar when your lantern is lit. Also works on horseback and in flight. A reflex to adopt as soon as you explore a new area.

At 28.5 pieces of silver per unit, it's expensive. The stock is limited as well. It's a supplement, not a main source. Prioritize exploration and combat. The merchant is for the points you lack when you're 1 or 2 away from a skill you absolutely want.