Overview
Gold bars are one of the most valuable items in Crimson Desert, functioning as high-denomination currency. Each gold bar can be exchanged for 500 silver at banks throughout Pywel. They are rare drops and rewards, but multiple methods exist for obtaining them consistently. This guide covers every known way to find and create gold bars.
Gold Bar Value
Exchange Location | Value per Gold Bar |
|---|---|
Bank | 500 silver (best rate) |
Merchants | ~190 silver (poor rate) |
Always exchange gold bars at a bank. Selling to merchants gives you less than half the bank rate. The Hernand bank is the earliest accessible exchange point in the game.
Lioncrest Manor (Earliest Gold Bar)
The first gold bar you can obtain is hidden inside Lioncrest Manor, located in northern Hernand. To steal it:
Step 1: Obtain a mask from a black market trader, bandits, or as a reward from the Jeffrey bounty quest.
Step 2: Complete Bruna's Request first. This reduces the number of NPCs inside the manor to just 2 guards, making the theft much easier.
Step 3: Head to the back of the building and climb through a window to enter.
Step 4: Equip your mask, approach the fireplace on the first floor, and choose the steal option.
Step 5: The gold bar is hidden beneath the fireplace. Even if guards catch you (resulting in jail time and a fine), you keep the stolen gold bar.
The gold bar at Lioncrest Manor respawns after a set number of in-game days, making it a repeatable source. Visiting during daytime tends to be easier because fewer NPCs are present.
Crafting Gold Bars
You can craft gold bars using recipes obtained through exploration and progression.
Spire of Insight Recipe
Complete the Spire of Insight puzzle in southern Hernand to find the gold bar crafting recipe pinned to a bookshelf during the final riddle. The recipe allows alchemical transmutation of specific materials into gold bars:
Recipe | Ingredients |
|---|---|
Gold Bar (Alchemy) | 3x Brimstone + 3x Mercury + 10x Silver Ore |
Gold Bar (Refined) | 3x Gold Ore + 1x Golden Apple |
Brimstone is gathered from Brimstone Springs. Mercury can be found in freezing pools in Silver Wolf Mountain and Hexe Sanctuary. Silver Ore is mined from various deposits throughout the Hernand region.
Mining Gold Ore
Gold Ore is a key ingredient for the refined gold bar recipe. To access Gold Ore deposits:
Step 1: Travel to Karin Quarry, located north of Rocca's Hill in the Hernand region.
Step 2: Defeat the Marni Excavator boss inside the quarry.
Step 3: The Marni Excavator drops the Gold Vein Map, which reveals the locations of 10 caves containing Gold Ore deposits across Pywel.
Once you have the Gold Vein Map, the gold ore cave locations appear on your world map, making it easy to plan mining routes.
Traveling Goblins
Occasionally, a traveling goblin carrying a treasure chest can be spotted wandering the roads of Pywel. If you spot one, approach it and it will drop its treasure chest and run away. The chest contains one gold bar. Traveling goblins are rare spawns and their appearance is unpredictable, so this is not a reliable farming method.
Investment Returns
You can invest gold bars at banks to earn passive returns over time. This uses the bank investment system where deposited gold generates silver interest. While the returns are modest, this is a way to grow your wealth without active effort.
Tips
Always sell gold bars at a bank for 500 silver. Never sell to regular merchants.
The Lioncrest Manor gold bar respawns, so revisit periodically for easy silver.
Prioritize getting the Gold Vein Map from Karin Quarry early. Ten gold ore cave locations are revealed at once.
Keep Golden Apples when you find them. Combined with gold ore, they produce gold bars without needing Brimstone or Mercury.
If you have excess gold bars, consider investing them at the bank for passive income rather than exchanging immediately.