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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

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.

3. The Vanished Wagon

The artifact is on the roadside northeast of Calphade Beacon in Hernand. Sell 3 wagons to the Fence. Wagons are large vehicles found at farms and along roads. Steal a wagon by climbing onto the driver's seat while undetected, then drive it to the Fence. The Fence buys stolen goods without questions, so just deliver three wagons to complete the challenge.

4. Trespassing

The artifact is in Vellua in the Hernand region. Open 20 locked doors across the world. Locked doors are found in houses, shops, and restricted areas throughout all regions. You need lockpicks to open them, which can be purchased from merchants or crafted. The challenge counts cumulative unlocks, so you can work on it gradually as you explore.

7. Hands Quicker than Eyes

The artifact is south of the Desert Ruins. Steal 5 objects within 10 seconds. This requires quick pickpocketing in a crowded area. Visit a busy marketplace or town square where multiple NPCs are close together, then rapidly pickpocket 5 of them in succession. Having a high pickpocket skill level helps reduce the chance of detection during the speed run.

10. The Crow's Crown and the Last Chivalry

The artifact is south of the Masterium Northeast Gate in Delesyia. The objective is to arrest the worst criminal. This challenge involves tracking down and apprehending a notorious outlaw. Follow the bounty board clues and investigation trail to find the target.

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.

See Also

• All Challenges