In the current generation of the gaming world, the upcoming Crimson Desert is considered to be one of the most ambitious action RPGs. Developed by the famous game studio, Pearl Abyss, who also developed the popular Black Desert Online is behind this game. They are using their proprietary BlackSpace Engine to develop Crimson Desert. Leveraging this, they are creating a breathtaking open world filled with mercenaries, rebels, mythical beasts, and large-scale battles.
This Crimson Desert gameplay guide will give you the best tips and tricks to prepare for Pywel’s challenges.
Get Familiar With The Game’s Story
In Crimson Desert, you play as Kliff Macduff. He is a mercenary of the Greymane clan. It all starts when Drunken Black Bears ambush your clan. After that, Kliff gets separated from his allies and thrown into a conflict tearing the continent of Pywel apart.
Cassius Morten, who was a traitor to his lord, starts the rebellion. Across Pywel’s fractured lands, you’re going to face betrayal and the need to form alliances. But you have to survive all of that.
The story is not a simple kind of story for this RPG. Kliff’s growth depends on all the choices you make in the game. They can be forming allies and rising into leadership are all part of the journey.
Real-Time Large-Scale Battles
One of the notable characteristics is the size of combat, they are extremely large scale. Especially, when you compare it to Elden Ring or other RPGs.
Contrary to the majority of RPGs in which battles occur within enclosed environments, Crimson Desert puts you in actual real-time war zones. You’ll see hundreds of NPCs fight simultaneously while the artillery fire is raining above you and whole armies engaging each other over enormous battlefields.
You will get missions within battles as well like cannon shooting or watchtower destruction. Sometimes, there’s a need for supporting allied forces advancing. If you wish to survive these battles, don’t charge headfirst because positioning is everything. Leverage the confusion around you to outflank foes and attack when their defenses are extended.
Combat Mechanics
Combat is where Crimson Desert gameplay is quite different from other RPGs. Kliff’s skills are designed for flexibility. You can switch between weapons while in combat. You can also block, dodge, and string combos together. However, you have to time everything because bad timing on dodging leaves you vulnerable. On the other hand, good timing on counters allows for powerful follow-ups.
Kliff also has the Axiom Bracelet. It’s a power-up that enables elemental-charged attacks. It features fire that incinerates and explodes and ice that freezes an enemy solid plus the lightning that paralyses them. The trick is to pick and choose which element one will use against various foes to make battles last longer.
You also acquire “Artillery Whistling Arrows”. Using them summons allied reinforcements to shell enemy positions. Keeping these for boss battles or heavy packs of enemies will drastically turn the tide of a fight.
Boss Encounters
Boss battles count in this game. They are not spongy foes because each of them has different mechanics. One of the bosses, the towering Black Bear warrior. This boss relies on sheer strength to alter fight dynamics, so you need to dash away from wide swipes. Cassius Morten, by contrast, employs heavy mace blows and defensive shield play, requiring patience as well as precision.
Some encounters even allow cinematic strategies. All credit goes to the BlackSpace Engine. Against Cassius, you can trigger a finishing move by collapsing pillars on him. Look for these environmental cues, they reward sharp eyes and creativity.
Traversal and Exploration Aspects of Crimson Desert
Another important aspect of Crimson Desert alongside the combat is the exploration. As Kliff, you can ride horses for speed and efficiency. You can also do mounted combat using the horses as well. They can help you when you want to cut through the enemy lines.
You also gain access to the “Crow’s Wing”. This is an ability that lets you glide across terrain and it is useful for easy traversal as well as you can use it for tactical movement during fights.
Meanwhile, the “Axiom Force” provides both mobility and strategic maneuverability. These are the main skills that you need to master. Once you understand them, it becomes easy to survive the vast world of Pywel.
The continent itself is a character as you can climb cliffs as well as trek across plains. You will also witness storms rolling in thanks to the BlackSpace Engine’s dynamic weather. These environments affect visibility and combat pacing to some extent.
Additional Things You Can Do With Combat
Combat might hog the headlines, but Crimson Desert also features life activities. You can do:
- Fishing
- Cooking
- Resource collection
Factions and resource management are also a part of the game as well. Your choices here have repercussions in the overall game world. As an example, cooking provides buffs for prolonged combat. Managing resources means that your mercenary company can survive and thrive.
These mechanics ensure you’re never stuck in combat by yourself, you construct and define the world through lesser actions.
Crimson Desert Missions and Your Choices
Missions in the Crimson Desert gameplay aren’t mere linearity fetch quests. Most of them branch based on how you go about them. Do you attack a fortress directly or go around to cut off supply lines first? Choices even influence your mercenaries. Allies have history, and some will depart or arrive based on you as a leader. This relates back to the idea of Kliff taking on the role of leadership.
How To Play Crimson Desert
- You need to use elements wisely. The fire is great against clustered enemies. The ice works best for crowd control. Lightning disrupts shielded foes.
- Learn and watch enemy patterns. Bosses telegraph their strongest attacks. So, it’s better to learn patterns before committing.
- Save Whistling Arrows. Do not use them early. These should be reserved for critical situations, like overwhelming odds or bosses.
- Do not stay in one place, keep moving. Staying mobile prevents you from being overwhelmed during large-scale battles.
- Do not stick to one weapon. You need to switch mid-battle as it creates opportunities.
Release Window and Platforms
Crimson Desert was delayed into early 2026. But, you can expect it between January and March. It will launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. A Switch 2 version hasn’t been confirmed yet, but given the hardware rumors, it remains a possibility.
Pre-orders aren’t open yet, but wishlists are live on PC and consoles. Keep an eye out for announcements and also stay tuned to Electronic First Blog. We’ll share more details and news, once the release window nears.
Final Thoughts
Crimson Desert has the building blocks to be an RPG landmark. All aspects of the game shout ambition. If you learn one thing from this guide, it’s that you need to be prepared to be flexible. You will need to change, think on your feet, and utilize every trick in the book.
With these Crimson Desert gameplay tips, you’ll be able to make it through Pywel’s harsh wars when the game comes out.
