Abyss Artifacts are powerful equippable items in Crimson Desert that grant unique passive abilities and can be upgraded to significantly enhance their effects. There are 12 Abyss Artifacts in total, each associated with a different aspect of combat, exploration, or survival. This guide covers every artifact, where to find them, the optimal upgrade path, and which artifacts are best for different playstyles.
What Are Abyss Artifacts?
Abyss Artifacts are ancient relics imbued with dark Axiom energy, scattered across Pywel. Each artifact provides a unique passive effect. You can equip two Abyss Artifacts simultaneously — one in the primary slot and one in the secondary slot. Effects stack if you equip two of the same artifact.
Artifact effects stack if equipped in both slots. Having two of the same artifact doubles the passive effect. Given the rarity of duplicates, most players equip two different artifacts for complementary bonuses.
All 12 Abyss Artifacts
| # | Artifact | Type | Base Effect | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crimson Blade Shard | Offense | +8% physical damage | Ch.1, Ancient Ruins boss |
| 2 | Void Pulse Core | Offense | +8% Axiom Force damage | Ch.2, Sunken Sanctum vault |
| 3 | Aegis of Ash | Defense | +10% damage reduction | Ch.2, Hollow Captain |
| 4 | Heart of the Leviathan | Survival | Regenerate 1% HP per 10s | Ch.3, Sea Monster reward |
| 5 | Storm Caller's Eye | Offense | 5% chain lightning chance | Ch.3, Driftmark lighthouse |
| 6 | Earthbound Seal | Defense | +15% stagger resistance | Ch.3, Buried Archives |
| 7 | Phantom Cloak Fragment | Utility | Stealth range reduced 25% | Ch.3, Ghost Hand camp |
| 8 | Infernal Heart | Offense | +12% fire damage, ignite chance | Ch.4, Ashenmoor cave |
| 9 | Frostbound Crystal | Offense | +12% ice damage, slow chance | Ch.4, Ironhold storage |
| 10 | Abyssal Sovereign's Crown | Mastery | +5% all stats, Axiom regen +10% | Defeat Abyssal Sovereign |
| 11 | Soul Harvester | Offense | Kills restore 2% max Axiom | Ch.4, Abyssal Rift Zone 4 |
| 12 | Timekeeper's Hourglass | Utility | Skill cooldowns reduced 8% | Post-game speedrun under 30m |
Abyss Artifact Upgrade System
| Upgrade Level | Material Required | Cost | Effect Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| +1 to +3 | Abyss Shards (common) | 200-500 Gold | +10% per level |
| +4 to +6 | Abyss Fragments (uncommon) | 800-1,500 Gold | +12% per level |
| +7 to +9 | Abyss Cores (rare) | 2,000-4,000 Gold | +15% per level |
| +10 | Abyss Sovereign Essence (legendary) | 10,000 Gold | +25% + mastery bonus |
Abyss Cores and Sovereign Essences are extremely limited. Abyss Cores drop from endgame bosses (approximately 15 total). Sovereign Essences drop only from the Abyssal Sovereign (2 per kill) and Tier 3 Boss Rematch. You can only max upgrade 2-3 artifacts per playthrough.
Best Artifacts by Playstyle
Best for DPS Builds
- Void Pulse Core — At +10, +80% Axiom Force damage. Best pure damage artifact.
- Infernal Heart — Fire damage and ignition stack with fire weapons for burst.
- Soul Harvester — Axiom restoration allows more frequent skill usage.
Best for Tank Builds
- Aegis of Ash — At +10, flat 25% damage reduction for all types.
- Earthbound Seal — Stagger resistance keeps you from being interrupted.
- Heart of the Leviathan — HP regeneration provides passive sustainability.
Mastery Bonuses (+10 Only)
| Artifact | Mastery Bonus | Build Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Crimson Blade Shard | Crits deal 50% extra damage | Makes crit builds viable |
| Void Pulse Core | Kills have 20% chance to reset cooldown | Enables infinite skill chains |
| Aegis of Ash | DR increases to 35% below 30% HP | Near-immortality at low HP |
| Abyssal Sovereign's Crown | +10% all stats, 25% Axiom regen | Best-in-slot for any build |
The Abyssal Sovereign's Crown is best for New Game+. Its +5% all stats at base level and Axiom regeneration make it versatile for any build. If you plan NG+, save a Sovereign Essence for this artifact.
Abyss Artifacts are the ultimate power-scaling system in Crimson Desert. Finding, upgrading, and mastering these artifacts provides deep progression that extends well beyond the main story.