How to Fish
Fishing is one of Crimson Desert's most relaxing and profitable side activities. It's also a great source of food, crafting materials, and rare items.
Fishing Guide
- Get a fishing rod: Purchase a basic fishing rod from a merchant in any major settlement, or receive one through an early side quest.
- Find water: Locate a body of water — rivers, lakes, ponds, and the ocean all work. Different locations have different fish species.
- Equip and cast: Equip the fishing rod, face the water, and press the cast button. Aim for deeper water for better fish.
- Wait for a bite: Watch the float and listen for audio cues. When a fish bites, the float will dip and you'll hear a splash sound.
- Reel in: Press the reel button at the right moment. Timing is key — reel too early and the fish escapes, too late and it gets away.
- Fight the fish: Larger fish require a mini-game where you manage line tension. Keep the tension in the safe zone — too tight and the line breaks, too loose and the fish escapes.
Fishing Tips
- Different fish are active at different times of day — some only bite at night.
- Upgrade your fishing rod for better fish and faster catches.
- Use bait to attract specific fish species and increase bite rate.
- Fish can be cooked for food buffs, sold for gold, or used in crafting.
- Rare fish are found in remote, hard-to-reach fishing spots.
Where to Buy Storage
Storage is essential for managing your growing inventory of materials, gear, and consumables. Here's how to expand your storage:
Storage Expansion Methods
- Camp storage upgrades: The primary way to expand storage is through the storage facility at your camp. Interact with the storage NPC and purchase upgrades using camp funds and materials.
- Settlement storage: Major settlements may offer additional storage chests or warehouse space for rent or purchase.
- Bank storage: The bank in major cities may offer secure storage for valuable items.
- Storage items: Some rare items or consumables temporarily increase inventory capacity.
💡 Storage Tip
Prioritize storage upgrades early in the game. You'll accumulate materials rapidly, and running out of storage forces you to either discard valuable items or make frequent trips back to camp. Aim for at least 2-3 storage upgrades before leaving the starting region.
How to Get More Than 5 Contribution Points
Contribution points are a valuable resource that unlocks various features, upgrades, and opportunities. Many players hit an initial cap of 5 points — here's how to get more:
Earning Contribution Points
- Complete quests: Main quests, side quests, and daily quests all reward contribution points. This is the primary source.
- Turn in bounties: Apprehending outlaws and turning in bounties at bounty boards rewards contribution points.
- Explore and discover: Discovering new locations, landmarks, and points of interest may reward contribution points.
- Crafting and gathering milestones: Reaching certain crafting or gathering thresholds may reward contribution points.
- Story progression: Advancing the main story often increases your contribution point cap.
Increasing the Cap
The initial contribution point cap may be 5, but you can raise it by:
- Progressing through the main story (each act may increase the cap).
- Upgrading specific camp facilities that boost contribution capacity.
- Completing specific contribution-related questlines.
- Reaching certain reputation or affinity levels with factions.
📊 Contribution Strategy
Don't hoard contribution points — spend them on valuable upgrades and features as you earn them. The cap exists to encourage strategic spending, not saving. Prioritize upgrades that provide long-term benefits (storage, camp facilities, feature unlocks) over temporary boosts.
How to Get a Hat
Hats and head accessories are cosmetic and sometimes stat-boosting items. Here's how to acquire them:
- Merchants: Clothing and accessory merchants in major settlements sell various hats and headgear.
- Quest rewards: Some quests reward unique hats and head accessories as completion rewards.
- Enemy drops: Certain enemy types (particularly bandits and military enemies) may drop hats.
- Crafting: Some hats can be crafted at the camp using materials and patterns.
- Exploration: Hidden chests and secret areas may contain rare or unique hats.
- Barber / appearance NPCs: Some appearance-related NPCs may offer hats or head customization options.
How to Dual Wield
Dual wielding allows you to equip two weapons simultaneously for a unique combat style. Here's how it works:
- Unlock dual wielding: Dual wielding is typically unlocked through a specific skill, quest, or character progression milestone. Check your skill tree for dual wield-related nodes.
- Equip two weapons: Once unlocked, equip a weapon in both your main hand and off-hand slots. Not all weapon combinations are compatible — check compatibility in the equipment menu.
- Learn dual wield combos: Dual wielding has unique attack patterns and combos. Practice in combat to learn the timing and chain attacks effectively.
- Use dual wield abilities: Dual wielding unlocks special abilities and ultimate attacks that are only available with two weapons equipped.
⚠️ Dual Wield Note
Dual wielding typically reduces defensive capabilities — you can't use a shield while dual wielding, and you may take increased damage. It's a high-risk, high-reward playstyle best suited for players who have mastered dodge timing and combat mechanics.
How to Go First Person
First-person mode provides an immersive perspective for exploration, combat, and detail observation. To switch to first-person:
- Toggle button/key: Press the first-person toggle button/key (check your keybindings — it's typically a dedicated camera toggle).
- Camera zoom: On some platforms, zooming the camera all the way in with the right stick or mouse wheel switches to first-person.
- Combat in first-person: First-person combat is possible but takes practice. Melee combat in first-person can be disorienting — it's best for ranged combat and exploration.
💡 First-Person Tip
Use first-person mode for exploration — it reveals details, collectibles, and markings you'd miss in third-person. It's also great for appreciating the game's environments and architecture. Switch back to third-person for most combat encounters.
How to Pickpocket
Pickpocketing is a stealth mechanic that allows you to steal items from NPCs. Here's how it works:
- Unlock pickpocketing: The pickpocket ability is typically unlocked through a specific quest, skill, or faction progression.
- Approach from behind: Crouch and approach an NPC from behind without being detected. Stay in their blind spot.
- Initiate pickpocket: When in range and undetected, the pickpocket prompt will appear. Press it to begin the pickpocket mini-game.
- Complete the mini-game: Pickpocketing involves a timing or tension mini-game. Succeed and you steal the item; fail and you may be detected.
- Manage consequences: Being caught pickpocketing increases your bounty and may cause NPCs to become hostile. Pay off bounties regularly.
⚠️ Pickpocket Warning
Pickpocketing is a crime in Crimson Desert. Getting caught increases your bounty, which can restrict fast travel and make guards hostile. Only pickpocket when you're confident you won't be caught, and always have an escape plan. Some NPCs carry valuable items, but the risk may not always be worth it.
How to Eavesdrop
Eavesdropping allows you to listen in on NPC conversations to gather information, unlock quests, or discover secrets.
- Find conversing NPCs: Look for groups of NPCs talking to each other — they're often found in settlements, taverns, and marketplaces.
- Approach stealthily: Crouch and approach the conversation without being noticed. Stay within earshot but out of direct line of sight.
- Initiate eavesdrop: When in range, the eavesdrop prompt may appear. Press it to begin listening.
- Stay hidden: Remain undetected for the duration of the conversation. If detected, the NPCs may stop talking or become hostile.
- Gather information: Successfully eavesdropping may reveal quest hints, secret locations, item locations, or unlock new dialogue options.
Horse Riding & Management
Horses are your primary means of fast ground transportation in Crimson Desert. Here's everything you need to know:
Horse Basics
- Acquiring a horse: Get your first horse through the main story or purchase one from a stable. Better horses are available from stables in major settlements or through taming wild horses.
- Calling your horse: Use the horse whistle to summon your horse. It will run to your location (if nearby) or you can fast travel to a stable to retrieve it.
- Making horses go faster: Horses have stamina — sprinting consumes stamina. Manage your horse's stamina for sustained speed. Upgrade your horse's stats through training and better gear for faster speeds.
- Healing your horse: Horses can take damage in combat. Use horse healing items or visit a stable to fully heal your mount. Horses with low health may be slower or unable to sprint.
- Naming your horse: You can name your horse at a stable or through the horse management menu. Naming is purely cosmetic but adds a personal touch.
- Horse armor: Equip horse armor for protection and stat bonuses. Horse armor is purchased from stables, crafted, or found as loot.
🐴 Horse Pro Tip
Always have your horse summoned when exploring open areas — it saves enormous time and can be used in combat for mounted attacks. Learn to dodge while mounted to avoid enemy attacks. Visit stables regularly to heal, repair, and upgrade your horse.
Bounty System & Crime
The bounty system tracks your criminal activities in Crimson Desert. Here's how it works:
- Crimes that increase bounty: Theft, pickpocketing, assault on NPCs, murder, trespassing in restricted areas, and other illegal activities.
- Bounty consequences: Higher bounties cause guards to attack on sight, restrict fast travel, and may prevent access to certain settlement services.
- Paying off bounty: Visit a bounty board or law NPC in a settlement to pay off your bounty with gold. Higher bounties cost more to clear.
- Bounty decay: Bounties slowly decay over time if you avoid committing crimes. This is a slow process — paying is faster.
- Getting rid of bounty: In addition to paying, some quests or story moments may clear your bounty. Check with law-related NPCs for options.
How to Wait / Pass Time
The wait function allows you to skip to a specific time of day, which is useful for:
- Accessing NPCs who only appear at certain times
- Fishing for night-only fish species
- Waiting for shops to open or close
- Triggering time-specific events or quests
- Changing lighting for screenshots
To wait, access the wait function through the menu or a specific button/key. You can typically wait for 1-24 hours, or until a specific time of day. Waiting may be restricted in combat or certain story sequences.
Where to Sell Donkeys & Mounts
If you have extra mounts (donkeys, horses, etc.) you want to sell:
- Stables: Visit a stable master in any major settlement. Stables typically buy and sell mounts.
- Mount merchants: Some specialized merchants deal exclusively in mounts and may offer better prices.
- Market/auction: If the game features a player market or auction house, you may be able to sell mounts there.
- Note: Not all mounts may be sellable — story mounts or special mounts may be bound to your character.
Gameplay FAQ
Yes, the entire Crimson Desert campaign and all gameplay systems can be played offline. You don't need an internet connection for fishing, horse riding, crafting, exploration, or combat. An internet connection is only needed for game downloads, patches, and online community features.
Crimson Desert features character relationships and companion affinity systems, but it is not primarily a romance-focused game. You can build relationships with companions through dialogue, gifts, and personal quests, which unlocks bonus stats and story content. The game focuses more on narrative and companion bonds than traditional romance mechanics.
If you're unable to play Crimson Desert, common issues include: game not fully downloaded/installed, system requirements not met, server maintenance (for online features), platform-specific issues, or regional restrictions. Check that your system meets the minimum requirements, verify game files, and ensure your platform is supported (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, macOS). For persistent issues, check the official Pearl Abyss support channels.
The Marni Helmet is a specific piece of headgear. Upgrade it through the enhancement/refinement system at a blacksmith NPC in town or at your camp's gear upgrade facility. Gather the required upgrade materials (specific ores, enhancement stones, Marni-specific components), open the upgrade interface, select the Marni Helmet, and attempt the enhancement. Higher upgrade levels have lower success rates — use protection items to prevent downgrading or destruction. The Marni Helmet may also have a unique upgrade path requiring specific quest items — check the item description for upgrade requirements. This explains how to upgrade marni helmet crimson desert players seek to enhance — use the refinement system with Marni-specific materials.
Hats and headgear are obtained through multiple methods: crafting at a hat/gear crafting station (once the recipe is learned), purchasing from armor and clothing vendors in major towns, as loot from enemies, bosses, and treasure chests, as quest rewards, or through the barber/wardrobe system for cosmetic hats. Check armor vendors in major settlements for basic hats early in the game. Higher-tier and unique hats require crafting, boss drops, or specific quest lines. Some hats provide stat bonuses while others are purely cosmetic.
Fishing is a gathering mini-game. Equip a fishing rod (purchased from a vendor, crafted, or obtained early), approach a body of water (river, lake, coast, pond), cast your line by pressing the fishing prompt, and wait for a bite (indicated by a visual/audio cue and a bobber movement). When you get a bite, complete the timing mini-game — press the prompt at the right moment to reel in the fish without the line breaking. Different fish species are found in different locations, times of day, and seasons. Fishing yields cooking ingredients, valuable rare fish, and quest items.
Eavesdropping is a stealth mechanic used in certain quests and for gathering information. Approach a target NPC or a conversation from behind or from cover (walls, crates, bushes), stay out of the target's line of sight (watch the detection indicator), and press the eavesdrop prompt when in range. Some eavesdropping sequences require you to follow the target while staying hidden — use cover and crouch to avoid detection. If detected, the eavesdrop fails, you may incur a bounty, and the target may become hostile. Eavesdropped information may unlock new quests, dialogue options, or camp upgrades.
The baby wyvern is a rare pet or companion obtained through a specific quest line, as a rare drop from a wyvern boss or nest, or through a high-tier taming/breeding mechanic. It may require progressing through a specific storyline, defeating an adult wyvern to find its nest, or completing a lengthy quest chain. The baby wyvern, once obtained, may serve as a pet that follows you and provides unique buffs or abilities. Check the pet/companion guide for the exact unlock method, as rare pets often have multi-step acquisition requirements.
Waiting or passing time is done at a camp or safe location by interacting with a bed, campfire, or rest point. Choose the 'wait' or 'rest' option and select how long to wait — you can wait until morning, until evening, for a set number of hours, or until a specific time. Waiting advances in-game time and may restore health, stamina, and companion condition. Some NPCs, quests, fish species, and enemies are only available at specific times of day, so waiting can be useful. You cannot wait during combat or in hostile areas.
Bounties can be cleared through several methods: pay the bounty fine at a bounty board or guard office in a town (costs currency proportional to the bounty level), serve jail time (wait in a prison cell for the sentence duration — free but time-consuming), use a pardon or amnesty item (rare, obtained from quests or high-level vendors), or evade capture until the bounty decays over time (very slow, and guards still attack on sight). While a bounty is active, guards attack on sight in towns, some services are restricted, and fast travel may be limited. See the bounty system section for details on bounty levels and consequences.
Mercenary dispatch missions are managed through your camp's mercenary quarters or mission dispatch board. Open the dispatch interface, browse available missions (gathering, scouting, combat, trading, exploration), select a mission to view requirements and rewards, assign mercenaries from your roster (matching mercenary level/skills to mission difficulty improves success rate), confirm the dispatch, and wait for the mission to complete in real time or in-game time. Mercenaries return with rewards, experience, resources, and sometimes rare items. Higher-level mercenaries and upgraded mercenary quarters unlock harder, more rewarding missions.
Money pouches are currency containers that hold a random or fixed amount of currency. They are obtained as loot from enemies (especially bandits, thieves, and human enemies), from treasure chests and hidden stashes, as quest rewards, or purchased/exchanged at certain vendors or gambling NPCs. Open a money pouch from your inventory to add its currency value to your funds. Money pouches are commonly found in bandit camps, as random world drops, and as rewards for mercenary dispatch missions. They are a convenient way to store and transfer currency.
Sliding is a movement and combat technique. Perform a slide by pressing the dodge/roll button while sprinting at full speed, or by using a specific slide skill if your class or weapon has one. Sliding can be used to dodge under enemy attacks, pass through low spaces or gaps, close distance quickly to enemies, or transition into a sliding attack. It consumes stamina and has a short cooldown. Sliding is also useful for traversing downhill terrain quickly. Practice the timing — slide too early and you may not clear the obstacle; slide too late and you may take damage.