Overview
Dyes in Crimson Desert allow players to change the color of their armor and equipment. Dyes are crafted at a cauldron using a combination of flowers and insects, then consumed from the inventory to permanently learn the color. Once a dye is learned, all shades within that color family become available whenever you visit a dyehouse. Dyeing gear costs a small amount of currency but can be repeated as many times as desired.
How to Craft Dyes
To craft dyes, you need access to a cauldron. The most convenient cauldron is located in Hernand, in the building just north of where the rock, paper, scissors minigame is played. You can also find cauldrons in other locations across Pywel, including Shadow's Whisper Cave north of Hernand City. Place your gathered ingredients into the cauldron and select the recipe you want to create. If you do not have a specific recipe, you can choose the "Improvise" option and experiment with different combinations of flowers and insects to discover new dye colors.
How to Use Dyes
After crafting a dye, open your inventory and select the "Use" option on the dye item. This permanently learns the color. From that point onward, you can visit any dyehouse to apply the color to your gear. Consuming a single dye unlocks all shades associated with that color family at the dyer, so learning one red dye gives access to multiple red tones. Dyehouses are typically found on the outskirts of towns, identifiable by brightly colored fabrics hung out to dry. You can also find dye bottles while exploring the world or purchase them from merchants.
Verified Dye Recipes
The following dye recipes have been confirmed through in-game crafting. Each recipe requires specific flowers and insects gathered from the world. Flowers and insects are lightweight and easily collected while traveling, so pick up everything you pass.
Dye Name | Color | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
Bright Yellow Dye | Yellow | 10 Dunbaria, 3 Beetle, 3 Longhorn Beetle |
Dark Yellow Dye | Yellow | 10 Dunbaria, 3 Beetle, 1 Longhorn Beetle, 2 Stag Beetle |
Bright Red Dye | Red | 10 Peony, 3 Rhinoceros Beetle, 3 Longhorn Beetle |
Red Dye | Red | 10 Peony, 3 Rhinoceros Beetle, 1 Longhorn Beetle, 1 Stag Beetle |
Dark Red Dye | Dark Red | 10 Peony, 3 Rhinoceros Beetle, 1 Longhorn Beetle, 2 Stag Beetle |
Deep Red Dye | Deep Red | 10 Peony, 3 Rhinoceros Beetle, 3 Stag Beetle |
Rich Red Dye | Red | 10 Peony, 3 Rhinoceros Beetle, 2 Longhorn Beetle, 1 Stag Beetle |
Rich Purple Dye | Purple | 15 Lavender, 5 Blue Lavender, 2 Longhorn Beetle, 1 Stag Beetle |
Additional dye colors can be discovered by using the Improvise option at a cauldron with different flower and insect combinations. The ratio and type of insects used (Beetle, Longhorn Beetle, Stag Beetle, Rhinoceros Beetle) affect the shade produced.
Where to Find Ingredients
Dye crafting ingredients come from two main categories: flowers and insects. Both are gathered by exploring the open world, and they weigh very little in your inventory. The following table lists where to find key ingredients.
Ingredient | Type | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|
Dunbaria | Flower | Common across Hernand meadows and fields |
Peony | Flower | Hernand woodlands; very common in large patches |
Flower | South of Hernand near Muckroot Ranch | |
Blue Lavender | Flower | Anvil Hill in Hernand and surrounding areas |
Beetle | Insect | Common across Hernand woodlands; found on trees |
Longhorn Beetle | Insect | North of Hernand near cliffs and trees |
Stag Beetle | Insect | Hernand woodlands; found on tree bark |
Rhinoceros Beetle | Insect | Hernand region; less common than regular beetles |
Regional Dye Merchants
Across Pywel, there are ten dye specialists located in various towns. Each merchant specializes in dye colors associated with their region. You can spot dye merchants by the brightly colored fabrics hung out to dry near their shops.
Region | Dye Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Hernandian Dye (reds) | Run by Theoric, southeast of Hernand | |
Demenissian Dye | Available after reaching the Demeniss region | |
Pailunese Dye | Unlocked through story progression | |
Calphade | Calphadean Dye | Located in the town of Calphade |
Pororin | Pororin Dye | Available in the Deepwoods area |
Oliver's Dye Shop | Unlocked by progressing the Greymane faction questline at Howling Hill |
Tips
Pick up every flower and insect you encounter while traveling. Alchemy ingredients weigh very little and are always in demand.
Each learned dye unlocks all shades within its color family, so you do not need a separate recipe for every single tone.
Dyeing is purely cosmetic and does not affect your equipment's stats.
Use the Improvise option at the cauldron to experiment with new color combinations beyond the known recipes.
Some pre-made dye bottles can be found in the world or stolen from NPCs. Using a found dye works the same as using a crafted one.
The Dye Station at Greymane Camp is unlocked later through a life skills quest chain and provides another crafting location.