Crimson Desert, developed by Pearl Abyss, is scheduled to launch on March 19. The game will be available on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. The upcoming title combines an open-world setting, story-driven gameplay and combat mechanics. The game is finally set to arrive after several years of development since its 2019 announcement.
The studio recently released an official video detailing the game’s skill system and character abilities, offering a clearer look at how players will progress in gameplay. Unlike traditional experience-based progression systems, Crimson Desert will allow players to unlock and strengthen abilities by discovering specific items and learning techniques from other characters, including both allies and enemies.
Here’s what we know about the game’s skills and abilities:
Crimson Desert skills and abilities explained: Here’s how they will work
Abyss Artifacts are at the centre of Crimson Desert’s progression system. These items allow the protagonist, Kliff, to get stronger and acquire new skills through the game’s skill tree. You can think of Abyss Artifacts as skill points earned by doing various activities in the game.
Players can collect Abyss Artifacts in several ways, including completing quests, defeating stronger enemies in combat, and exploring the game world.
Exploration can take place both on the ground and in the Abyss, an elevated part of the overworld.
Once collected, the artifacts can be used to improve basic character attributes such as health or stamina, or to unlock new combat and exploration abilities. Some abilities allow players to use weapons in different ways during combat.
Certain skills can also be learned from non-playable characters rather than being unlocked only through artifacts. The game’s description indicates that some abilities “cannot be learned from Artifacts alone,” suggesting that players may need to observe characters performing certain moves before gaining access to them.
For example, one scenario shows the protagonist watching a non-hostile character perform a palm strike and then learning the technique. In another example, the protagonist observes an enemy use a body slam attack and later replicates it in combat.
This system encourages players to explore the environment and observe character behaviour, rather than immediately defeating every opponent they encounter.
