Overview
Above the Law Challenges are a set of 10 challenges in Crimson Desert that belong to the Life category. Despite being classified under Life rather than Combat, these challenges center on criminal activities: destroying banner pikes under cover of darkness, stealing and selling livestock, pickpocketing NPCs across multiple regions, and dealing with fences. Completing all 10 Above the Law Challenges unlocks the Shadowlord trophy and achievement.
Each challenge is unlocked by picking up a Sealed Abyss Artifact scattered along roads in Hernand and the surrounding regions. The criminal nature of these tasks means you will be building up your crime reputation, which has consequences for how guards and townsfolk react to Kliff.
How Above the Law Challenges Work
Crime in Crimson Desert has a detection system. If you are caught stealing, destroying property, or pickpocketing, guards will pursue you and your crime level rises. Several Above the Law Challenges specifically require you to avoid detection (like the banner pike destruction challenge), while others do not care whether you are caught.
Stolen goods cannot be sold to regular merchants. Instead, you sell them to a fence, a black market dealer who operates outside the law. Livestock like goats and pigs can be sold to specific NPCs like Bram at the Greymane Camp's ranch or to fences in the world.
All Above the Law Challenges
# | Challenge Name | Objective | Location | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Night of the Silent Banner Pike | Destroy 10 banner pikes at night without being detected | Hernand, intersection east of Halssius Apothecary | 1x Abyss Artifact, 1x Destruction II |
2 | The Herder's Lament | Sell 3 goats to Bram at the camp's ranch | Hernand, roadside northwest from Torchlight Beacon | 1x Abyss Artifact |
3 | Above the Law Challenge 3 | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | Abyss Artifact |
4 | Above the Law Challenge 4 | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | Abyss Artifact |
5 | Fisher of Black Fishing Lines | West of Crimson Mountains Fortress | 1x Abyss Artifact, 1x Disarm II | |
6 | Under a Starlit Sky | Sell 10 pigs to the fence | 1x Abyss Artifact, 1x Faded Abyss Artifact | |
7 | Above the Law Challenge 7 | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | Abyss Artifact |
8 | Above the Law Challenge 8 | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | Abyss Artifact |
9 | Above the Law Challenge 9 | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | Abyss Artifact |
10 | Above the Law Challenge 10 | To be confirmed | To be confirmed | Abyss Artifact |
Detailed Walkthroughs
1. Night of the Silent Banner Pike
Pick up the Sealed Abyss Artifact at the intersection east of Halssius Apothecary in Hernand. You need to destroy 10 banner pikes at night without being detected by anyone. Banner pikes are the tall flagpoles at enemy camps, outposts, and along roads.
Wait until nighttime (rest at a camp to advance time). Approach banner pikes in isolated areas away from guards. Destroy each one quickly and move to the next before patrols circle back. Outposts at the edge of enemy territory tend to have banner pikes with less guard coverage. If you are detected at any point, the counter may reset, so play it cautiously.
2. The Herder's Lament
The artifact is on the roadside northwest from the Torchlight Beacon in Hernand. The challenge is to sell 3 goats to Bram at the Greymane Camp's ranch.
First you need goats. You can "acquire" them from farms in the Hernand countryside. Approach a goat, interact with it, and lead it away. This counts as theft if a farmer sees you. Once you have a goat, bring it to Bram at the camp's ranch and sell it. Repeat three times. Doing this at night reduces your chance of being caught during the theft.
5. Fisher of Black Fishing Lines
Found west of the Crimson Mountains Fortress. This challenge requires pickpocketing NPCs in three different regions: Hernand, Demeniss, and Delesyia. Approach NPCs from behind, and use the pickpocket prompt to lift items from their pockets.
Pickpocketing has a detection chance based on your skill level and the target's awareness. Town NPCs during busy market hours are harder to pickpocket unnoticed. Try targeting NPCs who are alone, sitting down, or otherwise distracted. You only need to successfully pickpocket at least once in each of the three regions.
6. Under a Starlit Sky
The artifact is west of Calphade Farmhouse at the field edge in Hernand. Sell 10 pigs to the fence. Pigs are found at farms across Hernand. Steal them (preferably at night), then locate a fence to sell them to.
Fences are black market merchants who buy stolen goods without asking questions. There should be one near the Greymane Camp and others in larger towns. Ten pigs takes some effort to gather, so work on this over multiple play sessions. The reward includes a Faded Abyss Artifact on top of the standard Abyss Artifact.
Tips
Wait until night for stealth-based challenges. Guards have reduced vision and patrols thin out after dark.
Stolen livestock must be sold to specific NPCs (Bram) or fences, not regular merchants.
Pickpocketing works best on distracted or isolated NPCs. Target people sitting on benches or standing alone.
Your crime level affects guard behavior. If it gets too high, lay low or leave the region until it cools down.
Above the Law Challenges reward Destruction, Disarm, and other useful Abyss passives.