Crimson Desert Abyss Artifacts Guide — How to Find, Use, and Upgrade Them
Complete guide to Abyss Artifacts in Crimson Desert, including all 6 ways to obtain them, the skill tree system, Abyss Cores, and how Sealed Artifacts work.
Abyss Artifacts are the most important progression currency in Crimson Desert. They function as skill points that you spend to unlock nodes in the skill tree and increase your base stats. Understanding how to find and use them efficiently is the difference between a struggling character and a powerful one.
What Are Abyss Artifacts?
Abyss Artifacts serve as skill points. You spend them to unlock nodes in Kliff's skill tree, which is divided into three color-coded branches:
- Red Tree — Stamina, flight-related abilities
- Blue Tree — Health, unarmed combat
- Green Tree — Spirit-based skills
You can also spend Artifacts directly on increasing your base stats (Health, Spirit, Stamina). There is no class system — your playstyle is entirely defined by how you allocate your Artifacts across the tree.
Abyss Artifacts vs Abyss Cores
These are two different systems that are easy to confuse:
- Abyss Artifacts = Skill points spent in the skill tree
- Abyss Cores (Abyss Gears) = Socketable gems embedded into weapons and armor for additional effects
Abyss Cores are unlocked after completing Chapter 5 ("Exposed Plot") during the Witch of Wisdom questline. They are managed through Elowen the Witch at the Witch's House in The Witchwoods of Hernand.
Abyss Core Socket Limits
| Equipment | Max Sockets |
|---|---|
| Head | 1 |
| Torso | 3 |
| Gloves/Boots | 2 each |
| Ranged/Two-Handed Weapons | 5 |
| One-Handed Weapons | 3 |
| Off-Hand Equipment | 2 |
| Cloaks, Rings, Jewelry | 0 |
Adding sockets costs Silver progressively. Maximum sockets on any piece costs roughly 105 Silver total.
6 Ways to Obtain Abyss Artifacts
1. Kill Meter
A yellow XP bar near your minimap fills as you kill enemies. Filling it completely awards 1 Abyss Artifact. This is repeatable infinitely — every time the bar fills, you get another Artifact. Grinding enemies is the most reliable long-term source.
2. Boss Drops
Defeating major bosses awards Abyss Artifacts as guaranteed drops. Story bosses tend to give the most.
3. Sealed Abyss Artifacts (141 Total)
There are 141 Sealed Abyss Artifacts hidden throughout the world. They are not marked on the main map but appear as purple icons on the minimap when you are nearby.
To find them, use your sword's Guiding Light ability (CTRL + Left Click on keyboard, LB+RB on Xbox, L1+R1 on PlayStation). A blue glimmer appears in the direction of the nearest Sealed Artifact.
Each Sealed Artifact has a challenge tally — a task like "defeat X enemies with a specific weapon type" or "travel Y distance mounted." Completing the challenge unlocks the Artifact's reward.
Use the Guiding Light ability (CTRL + Left Click) constantly while exploring. The blue glimmer points toward nearby Sealed Abyss Artifacts that you would otherwise walk right past. There are 141 hidden in the world — finding them all dramatically accelerates your progression.
4. Quest Rewards
Main story quests (especially Chapters 2 and 4) and side quests award Artifacts. The side quest "Greymanes' Grounds of the Sunrise" is notable for its Artifact reward.
5. Abyss Puzzles
Solving puzzles at Ancient Ruins, Abyss Cressets, and Abyss Islands spawns Artifacts. These puzzle locations are scattered across every region and often require specific abilities to solve.
6. Vendor Purchases
Purchase Artifacts from Witch vendors in Pywel regions and from Patrigio the Wandering Merchant for approximately 28.50 silver each. This is expensive but useful for filling out your skill tree in the endgame.
Best Early Skills to Unlock
If you are unsure where to spend your first Artifacts, prioritize:
- Keen Senses (Level 1–3) — Unlocks Parry, Enhanced Dodge, and Counter. The most important defensive skills in the game.
- Swift Flight — Faster mid-air gliding, essential for traversal and reaching hidden areas.
- Blinding Flash Finisher — Stun enemies with Blinding Flash, then follow up with a heavy attack for massive damage.
Respeccing with Faded Abyss Artifacts
Faded Abyss Artifacts are respec tokens that reset all your allocated skill points so you can rebuild your skill tree from scratch. You can also respec at the Eldertree in Hernand (first respec is free, subsequent ones cost increasing gold).
To craft a Faded Abyss Artifact: use a Witch cauldron with 1x Abyss Cell + 2x Mercury. This requires the "Research on the Abyss Energy Restoration Phenomenon" blueprint, found through exploration.
Past Refinement Level 4, upgrading weapons and armor also requires spending Abyss Artifacts — the same resource you use for skills. This creates a real tradeoff between combat skills and gear upgrades. Plan your Artifact spending carefully and do not over-invest in Refinement before your core skills are unlocked.
Watch and Learn System
Crimson Desert has a unique mechanic where protagonist Kliff can absorb enemy techniques by observing them. During certain enemy attacks, time slows and a prompt appears. Activating it lets Kliff learn the technique — adding it to your skill tree for free without spending an Artifact.
This is how you can learn abilities like Counter without investing in Keen Senses Level 3 — observe the Hernand Guard at Lion Crest Manor's arena.
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