Revision 3

Overview

Aerial Stab is a combat skill in Crimson Desert, available to Kliff. It belongs to the Stamina (Blue) branch of the skill tree. Aerial Stab is the third upgrade in the Stab skill line and unlocks once the base Stab ability reaches Level 3. Unlike the ground-based Stab, this variant can be aimed in any direction while airborne, including upward, which makes it valuable for both combat and vertical traversal.

Skill Details

Effect

Press R1 + Triangle while in mid-air to perform a Stab in the direction Kliff is facing. The input works with sword and shield equipped. Unlike ground Stab, the aerial version can be aimed freely: forward, diagonally downward toward enemies, or even straight upward. Kliff lunges in whichever direction the player is holding on the left stick at the moment of activation.

The attack carries the same Bleed-applying properties as the base Stab skill, so landing it from the air still inflicts Bleed on the target. This lets Kliff maintain damage-over-time pressure while staying out of reach of ground-based enemy attacks. The lunge distance is short but covers enough ground to close a gap between Kliff and an airborne or elevated target.

How to Acquire

Aerial Stab is an inner skill of the Stab ability. It becomes available once Stab reaches Level 3. Players must invest Abyss Artifacts into the base Stab skill to raise it to the required level. Stab itself is one of Kliff's starting skills and is automatically unlocked at the beginning of the game, so no Watch and Learn location or special quest is needed to begin the upgrade path.

Stab Skill Progression

Aerial Stab sits at the end of the Stab upgrade chain. Each level of Stab unlocks new inner skills and abilities:

Reaching Stab Level 3 requires a meaningful investment of Abyss Artifacts, but the payoff is substantial. Both Aerial Stab and Stab Rend Armor unlock at the same time, giving Kliff a strong aerial option and the ability to punch through boss Super Armor in one upgrade step.

Traversal and Exploration

While Aerial Stab is primarily a combat skill, it doubles as one of the most stamina-efficient methods for gaining vertical height. Because the skill can be aimed upward, Kliff can repeatedly use Aerial Stab in mid-air to climb well beyond what a normal Double Jump allows.

How It Works

After a Double Jump, hold the stick upward and press R1 + Triangle. Kliff performs a stab that propels him upward instead of forward. As long as he has stamina remaining, the input can be repeated in rapid succession. Each activation costs 40 Stamina but moves Kliff a noticeable distance upward, and the skill can be chained as many times as the stamina bar allows.

Stamina Efficiency

Compared to the common approach of Double Jump into Force Palm or Aerial Force Palm for vertical movement, Aerial Stab covers more vertical distance per point of stamina spent. The Force Palm method works well for moderate heights, but it burns through the stamina bar much faster when trying to scale tall structures like castle walls or mountainsides. Aerial Stab's 40-stamina cost per activation and its ability to be spammed in quick succession make it the more efficient choice for sustained climbing.

Practical Applications

• Reaching the tops of castle walls, towers, and other tall structures without needing to find a path or ladder.

• Scaling cliff faces and mountain ridges that would otherwise require a long detour on foot.

• Accessing treasure chests, Sealed Abyss Artifacts, and secret areas perched on high ledges.

• Skipping certain platforming sections in Abyss Dungeons by going straight up.

For a full breakdown of all movement options, see the Exploration and Traversal guide.

Tips

• Aerial Stab pairs well with Double Jump and Aerial Maneuver for extended aerial combos against large enemies and bosses.

• Because it inherits the Stab skill's Bleed application, using it from the air can stack Bleed damage while keeping Kliff out of reach of ground-based attacks.

• Use Aerial Stab to close distance on enemies positioned on elevated terrain or to punish bosses during recovery animations.

• When exploring, keep an eye on your stamina bar before starting a vertical Aerial Stab chain. Running out of stamina mid-climb will cause Kliff to drop. Consider eating a stamina-restoring meal beforehand if you are planning a big ascent.

• Combining Aerial Stab with Aerial Swing (from the Axiom Force tree) lets you cover both vertical and horizontal distances rapidly, making it easier to reach remote areas.

• The Stab Rend Armor perk unlocks at the same Stab level as Aerial Stab. Together they let Kliff pierce through Super Armor from the air, which is especially useful against heavily armored bosses.

Related Skills

• Stab (base skill, Level 1)

• Skewering Stab (inner skill, Level 2)

• Swift Stab (unlocks at Level 2)

• Stab Rend Armor (inner skill, Level 3)

• Echoing Stab

• Double Jump

• Aerial Maneuver

• Aerial Force Palm

• Aerial Swing