The Best Skills And Abilities To Unlock Early In Crimson Desert

Do you want to know the best skills in Crimson Desert? Kliff is going up against countless hostiles, many of whom are just itching to give him the beating of a lifetime. Thankfully, you gain access to numerous abilities that can help turn the tide of battle. We’ve got all the tips for you in our guide, but be forewarned that certain images might contain minor spoilers.

Kliff’s combat caveats – Abyss Artifacts and the best abilities

Before we list down the top-tier skills that became integral in our playthrough, here are a few things you should know about how skills/abilities work in the game:

• Abyss Artifacts are akin to skill points. You can obtain them from various sources, such as enemy kills, quest completions, and vendor wares. You can then use them to unlock abilities, increase Kliff’s stats (i.e. health, stamina, and spirit), and upgrade equipment.
• Several skills can be unlocked via the “watch and learn” mechanic. Basically, if you notice an enemy performing a maneuver, time will slow down and Kliff might learn that ability. You won’t need to spend an Abyss Artifact on this skill at all.
• Faded Abyss Artifacts, meanwhile, are used to reset skill points. These, too, come from quest completions, exploration, and vendors.
• It also bears mentioning that you should continue to level up your attributes/stats. Having awesome skills is useless if Kliff dies in a single hit or he’s unable to act due to a lack of stamina or spirit.
• There are two other playable characters–Damiane and Oongka–and they have their own skill trees. Their health, stamina, and spirit should be similar to Kliff’s. However, you still need to upgrade the same types of abilities–i.e. If you level up Kliff’s Focus ability is leveled up separately from Damiane’s or Oongka’s.

Flight level 2: Swift Flight and Double Jump

Swift Flight is one of the best skills in Crimson Desert, especially for traversal and exploration. Although it does consume more stamina, it also allows you to glide faster in mid-air. This is perfect for clearing entire gaps, just as long as you still manage your stamina properly.

Double Jump is also a decent pick. The only downside is that, sometimes, it won’t trigger. Instead, Kliff would perform his usual glide maneuver.

Keen Senses level 3 and Evasive Roll

You need Keen Senses maxed out as soon as possible. If you don’t have the resources, just keep it at level 2 for a while. That’s because it unlocks Dodge, which is pretty much the all-important survivability skill in most action-adventure games.

Evasive Roll, meanwhile, is something you can “watch and learn” during the Hornsplitter boss fight in Chapter 2. If Dodge lets you move out the way before you get hit, then Evasive Roll ensures that you can still move once you do take damage. It can save you headaches, especially when facing a boss that does a flurry of attacks.

Focus level 3: Focused Insight

The reason why you want Focus at level 3 early on is because it unlocks Focused Insight. Focus already slows down time and allows you to regenerate your spirit resource. But, with Focused Insight, you’ll be able to instantly parry an incoming melee blow.

Blinding Flash Finisher (BFF)

Blinding Flash Finisher is one of the best skills in Crimson Desert. That’s why we’ve taken to calling it our “BFF.” You just need to cast Blinding Flash–i.e. the same ability you use to reveal fast travel points–when facing opponents. While your foes are stunned, keep striking them with your heavy attack to rip them to shreds.

Forward Slash level 3 and Nature’s Echo level 1

Forward Slash, for the most part, is just a fancy term for your heavy attack. As for Nature’s Echo, it replicates a particular attack that you just did. The level 1 version is enough, since it replicates your Forward Slash, triggering at least two instances of damage. In short, you’ll just be spamming your heavy attack to pulverize hostiles.

Turning Slash level 3

Turning Slash is akin to a special maneuver, since you need to press the light and heavy attack buttons to perform it. One unlockable perk, Proficiency, lets you chain a different skill into Turning Slash. Rend Armor, meanwhile, ignores enemy “super armor” to send them flying.

Focused Force Palm

What makes Focused Force Palm one of the best skills in Crimson Desert is its functionality in relation to puzzles and exploration. Here’s the gist:

• This ability can be learned during Chapter 4: The Price of Knowledge – Forbidden Knowledge.
• When you’re set to go to Scholastone, follow the road until you see a blocked passageway.
• You’ll notice a spirit guide that teaches you the ability via the “watch and learn” mechanic.

Now that you have the ability, you’ll be able to activate Focus and charge up your Force Palm. This so-called Focused Force Palm breaks through magical walls that contain rewards. One area, in particular, is where you find the item that’s needed to activate the Howling Hill camp teleporter.

Note: The Focused Force Palm ability is somewhat missable if you’re unable to acquire it during Chapter 4–i.e. you followed a different path to reach Scholastone and you advance the main quest. While it’s possible to learn it later during Chapter 9, you’re really better off unlocking it as soon as you can.

Force Current

Here’s another Crimson Desert skill that provides a quality-of-life improvement, especially for players who (a) are annoyed by puzzles and (b) get bored easily when gathering materials.

Force Current can be activated by using your Axiom Force grapple, and then pressing the button prompt for it. Energy will travel along the grapple, before causing an explosion.

• You can use Force Current to blow up mineral deposits and trees. This should speed up the gathering process.
• You may also use it when moving around objects as you attempt to attach them. Rather than finding the right angle or rotation, one Force Current should do the trick.
• Force Current also has the same effect as a Force Palm–i.e. pushing blocks and objects. The difference is that you can do this action from a distance.

Grappling level 5: RKO outta nowhere

The Grappling skill unlocks several pro-wrestling moves, including the Lariat Follow-Up, which is basically an RKO outta nowhere. Is it the most effective ability in the game? Probably not. Can it help you defeat bosses? We doubt it.

But is it fun to run up to unsuspecting people just to RKO them? You bet! You’ll definitely hear voices in your head if you keep getting too excited.

Focused Shot level 3 and/or Evasive Shot level 3

Both these ranged abilities offer added versatility when taking on countless enemies. If you only have a few Abyss Artifacts to spare, we recommend prioritizing Focused Shot. But, if you’ve amassed a lot already, then just get both.

• At level 3, Focused Shot allows you to slow down time while you’re aiming, as well as mark multiple targets. Once you let go, each target will get hit by a Charged Shot. You can spam this action, too, provided you have a ton of spirit.
• As for Evasive Shot at level 3, it lets you spin and dash around your foes swiftly, all while pelting them with arrows.

Nature’s Snare level 3

Aforementioned skills like Focused Shot and Evasive Shot will have Kliff raining arrows on his enemies, but how exactly does he deal with projectiles? Well, Nature’s Snare is your answer. It allows Kliff to create a barrier that absorbs all projectiles, be they arrows or spells. He can even shoot out the accumulated energy with pinpoint precision.

The controls for Nature’s Snare are a bit different depending on your setup:

• Gamepad: Activate Focus, then rotate the right thumbstick to make the barrier appear. Press the right thumbstick to shoot the accumulated energy.
• Mouse and keyboard: Activate Focus, then hold the right mouse button to make the barrier appear (no need to move your mouse around). Press the middle mouse button to shoot the accumulated energy.

That does it for our guide on the best skills to unlock in Crimson Desert. If you need the resources for upgrading, you can take a look at our Abyss Artifacts guide and Faded Abyss Artifacts guide. Moreover, since you’re going to use these abilities against terrifying foes, you should prepare for the battles ahead with the help of our boss guide.