Beginner's Checklist — 30 Things to Do First

Complete beginner's checklist for Crimson Desert. 30 essential things to do in your first 10 hours, from early game choices to optimal progression paths.

First 30 Minutes

1. Choose your starting weapon — Sword (balanced), Spear (reach), or Bow (ranged). You can switch later, so don't stress.

2. Complete the tutorial — Learn basic combat, dodging, and crafting. Don't skip — the tutorial rewards last throughout the game.

3. Talk to everyone in Hernand — NPCs with names give quests. Many side quests expire after story progression.

4. Buy the Pack Mule (1,500g) — The cheapest mount. Essential for carrying loot back to town.

First 2 Hours

5. Join a faction — Crimson Vanguard (combat) or Traders Consortium (economic). You can join others later.

6. Start the 'River Crossing' quest — Unlocks the River Skiff boat mount for free.

7. Craft your first weapon upgrade — Smithing Level 5 unlocks the first upgrade path. Bring Iron Ore to the Hernand forge.

8. Find the Fat Cat — Sleeping in the tavern kitchen. Free pet with carry weight bonus.

9. Read every lore book you find — Knowledge entries provide passive bonuses and point to hidden locations.

10. Cook Grilled Meat — The simplest food buff. +5% attack for 15 minutes.

Hours 2-5

11. Complete Chapter 1 — Defeat White Horn (weak to fire, dodge left on charge attack).

12. Unlock the Crimson Vanguard or Traders Consortium — Complete the initiation quest for your chosen faction.

13. Buy or craft a full armor set — Don't mix and match pieces; set bonuses are crucial.

14. Explore the Hernand sewers — Find the Underground Network entrance behind the tavern.

15. Get the Ranger's Cloak recipe — Reach Tailoring Level 10 for the best early exploration gear.

16. Start the 'Dust and Bones' quest — Unlocks the Desert Strider mount, essential for desert exploration.

17. Farm 20 Iron Ore — You'll need these for crafting throughout the game. Use the Hernand → mountain path route.

18. Kill 5 of each common enemy — Completes Bestiary entries that reveal enemy weaknesses.

Hours 5-10

19. Complete Chapter 2 — Defeat Lucian Bastier (parry mechanic, attack from behind after his combo).

20. Reach Reputation Rank 2 with your primary faction — Unlocks better vendor items and the first unique rewards.

21. Craft Warlord's Stew x5 — The best all-around combat buff food. Recipe from Cook Tobias (500g).

22. Find 5 lore scrolls — Check dungeon boss rooms and ancient ruins. Each contributes to the 'Weapons of Legend' collection.

23. Upgrade your weapon to +3 — Smithing Level 15 unlocks Tempered Steel Ingots for Tier 3 upgrades.

24. Get the Battle Hawk or Healing Sprite — Combat pet from Crimson Vanguard (Rep 2) or support pet from Church of Solumen (Rep 3).

25. Complete the 'Eagle Eye' challenge — Unlocks the Ring of the Archer accessory. Score 10 bullseyes at the archery range.

26. Explore the Northern Caves — Find the Crystal Fox den (bomb the cracked wall) and mine Crystal Dust.

27. Join the Church of Solumen — No faction conflicts. Donate gold for instant reputation and healing items.

28. Complete 3 side quests — Side quests give unique rewards and XP that help with main story progression.

29. Save 10,000 gold — You'll need this for mid-game purchases (faction mounts, recipes, and gear upgrades).

30. Plan your build — Check the Skill Builds Guide and decide which skills to prioritize. Respec cost increases with level.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Don't sell materials — Keep all crafting materials. You'll need them later, and buying them back costs more.

Don't skip side quests — Many side quests provide unique items and faction reputation that cannot be obtained elsewhere.

Don't join conflicting factions early — Crimson Vanguard vs. Traders Consortium and House Celeste vs. Greymanes are permanent choices.

Don't neglect cooking — Food buffs are essential for boss fights. Warlord's Stew alone is worth the 500g recipe cost.

Don't hoard skill points — Spend them as you get them. A Lv3 skill now is more useful than a Lv5 skill later.