In its latest Features Overview video for Crimson Desert, Pearl Abyss finally gave us a peek at the progression mechanics alongside combat. As much of a powerhouse as Kliff can be, he’ll start with barely any skills, much less powerful equipment. Exploring Pywel and recovering Abyss Artifacts is a good way to get stronger, unlocking and upgrading skills as you go along.
But while some of these can be discovered through exploration, others will require taking on challenging bosses who covet the Artifacts for themselves. Don’t worry, though – by visiting a Blacksmith, you can purchase new weapons and upgrade the current arsenal to hit harder. Weapons also have slots for Abyss Gear, which add stats like Attack Speed, increased damage against strong enemies, and more critical hit chance.
Not all skills are earned from simply collecting Abyss Artifacts. You can also observe different individuals, including enemies, to unlock a powerful palm strike and even a belly flop for some area-of-effect damage. Finding the best weapons means tackling some truly out-of-this-world bosses, including some mechanical fleet and a massive dragon on the ground.
All of this just further reinforces that Crimson Desert is going to be an absolutely insane ride when it launches on March 19th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Head here for more details on the open world and what to expect.