ATAG Mech

Overview

The All-Terrain Armored Gear (ATAG) is a mechanized combat vehicle in Crimson Desert. Introduced during Chapter 10: Counterattack, the ATAG transforms Kliff into a walking tank loaded with heavy weaponry. The mech first becomes available during the defense of Gorthak, the Ironflame Orcs bastion in the Delesyia region, where mechanized creatures assault the fortress and conventional weapons are not enough to hold them back.

The ATAG comes equipped with a rapid-fire machine gun, a wide-area blast cannon, an EMP discharge, and a ramming maneuver. Multiple variations of the mech exist, with some outfitted with rocket fists, missile launchers, flamethrowers, and even jetpacks. You can check which version you have by looking at the "Mk" status indicator before entering the mech. After Chapter 10, the ATAG can be crafted for free-roam use through Marek at the Zargan Tankworks, provided you have the required parts and fuel.

How to Unlock

The ATAG becomes available during the Secret Weapon portion of Chapter 10: Counterattack, roughly 50 to 60 hours into the main story with minimal side exploration. The unlock sequence follows these steps:

1. Progress through the main story until Chapter 10 begins

2. Complete the quest Master of the Ironworks, which introduces the mech technology built by the Ironflame Orcs

3. Complete the quest Hidden Ace, where Kliff learns to operate the ATAG for the first time

4. Defend Gorthak against the mechanized creature assault in the Clockwork Insect Clash battle sequence

During the Chapter 10 story missions, the ATAG is provided automatically for the defense of Gorthak. You do not need to craft it for these scripted encounters.

Summoning Locations

Before permanently unlocking the ATAG through crafting, you can still use it in the Gorthak region after completing the Secret Weapon mission in Chapter 10. Look for the mech bay icon on the minimap when exploring Gorthak. Interacting with any of these mech bay points lets you deploy an ATAG for limited use, similar to how the Dragon can be summoned at specific locations.

After completing the full crafting chain and building your own ATAG, you can summon the mech freely in the open world (subject to cooldown). The mech bay points in Gorthak remain available as an alternative way to spawn a fresh mech, which is useful if your crafted ATAG is on cooldown.

Crafting Your Own ATAG

After completing the Chapter 10 storyline and helping the Ironflame Orcs, you can speak with Marek at the Zargan Tankworks to begin a quest chain that unlocks free-roam ATAG crafting. Completing this chain lets you build your own ATAG to use whenever you want, as long as you have the required parts and fuel.

The full ATAG can be crafted at Grimnir's Kuku Shop in Hernand. The crafting recipe requires:

The Small Kuku ATAG is an intermediate form created from the Kuku Iron Pot. Items stored inside a Small Kuku ATAG are retained even after conversion; you just need to dismiss it to access the stored inventory. Note that the Small Kuku ATAG is completely consumed if you later use it to create the Abyssal Fusion armor for the Blackstar Dragon.

The Kuku Iron Pot

The ATAG's crafting chain starts with the Kuku Iron Pot, which is obtained during Chapter 4: The Price of Knowledge through the Mysterious Pot main quest. This quest sends you to the Kilnden Workshop, located west of Hernand, where you meet a dwarf named Grimnir.

Grimnir tasks you with repairing three kilns before the workshop becomes operational:

• Kiln 1 (Disconnected): Reconnect the pipe on the left side, then activate the yellow levers

• Kiln 2 (Dismantled): Lift the three broken pieces using Axiom Force (L3), then perform an Aerial Force Palm to fuse them back together

• Kiln 3 (Fuel-Depleted): Collect five electrified orbs scattered nearby (two near clay jars, one below the kiln, one from a stone bird's eye socket, and one from a cave along the shore) and insert them into the receptacles

After repairing all three kilns, return to Grimnir, then pull the yellow lever at the stone pillar to receive the Kuku Iron Pot. The pot stores Abyss-type objects, machine parts, and contraptions in 230 slots (it cannot hold regular items like food or weapons). Use your Axiom Force on valid objects displaying the "Seal" action to store them.

Battery and Health System

The ATAG runs on a battery, which doubles as its health pool. Taking damage drains the battery, and when the charge is fully depleted, the mech becomes inoperable. There is no separate health bar and energy meter; they are one and the same. This means sustained combat will eventually force you out of the mech if you cannot manage incoming damage.

Repairing the ATAG

When your ATAG's battery runs out and the mech is rendered useless, you can restore it by visiting one of the ATAG factories found around Gorthak in the southeastern area of the map. Pull the lever at any ATAG factory to deploy a fresh mech.

In the field, the ATAG Welder upgrade (unlocked through research at Dewhaven Keep) allows you to repair the ATAG without returning to a factory. This is especially valuable during extended combat encounters in Delesyia where a factory may not be nearby.

Cooldown Management

The ATAG operates on a significant cooldown after each deployment, similar to the Dragon. Once your mech's battery is depleted or you voluntarily exit, a long real-world timer begins before you can summon it again. Two consumable items help manage this restriction:

The A.T.A.G. Power Module is the superior option since it fully resets the timer, but its recipe is a random drop from ruins dispatch missions and requires visiting a Witch to craft. The Emergency Power Device is easier to stockpile through regular dispatch missions. Keep both types in your inventory for maximum flexibility.

Base Weapon Systems

The ATAG comes equipped with four primary combat systems when you first pilot it:

The machine gun handles general combat, while the blast cannon is heavy artillery for bigger threats. The EMP discharge is situational but critical against mechanized enemies, and the ramming maneuver is the most efficient way to clear a path through enemy formations.

Upgrades Through Research

ATAG upgrades are unlocked through research projects at various institutes across the world. Three institutes in the Delesyia region focus specifically on ATAG enhancements, while additional upgrades are available from institutes in other regions.

Dewhaven Keep

Located in the southwestern part of Delesyia. The lead researcher requires 1x Diamond to unlock the project list. The Power Joints System Research (tier 2B) unlocks dispatch missions (130 Silver, 20 hours) to craft:

Gorthak Ironworks

Located in the northwestern part of Delesyia, near the Demeniss border. Requires 5x Gunpowder as the entry fee. The Machine Parts Research (tier 2B) unlocks dispatch missions (130 Silver, 23 hours) to craft:

This research also upgrades Oongka's Rocket Pack with the Vertical Flight ability.

Delesyia Castle Institute

Handles defensive and mobility upgrades. Requires 3x Copper as the entry fee. The High-Mobility Power Device Research (tier 2B) unlocks dispatch missions (120 Silver, 21 hours) to craft:

Additional Research Institutes

Institutes outside the Delesyia region also provide ATAG-related upgrades:

The ATAG Plating upgrades from Urdavah increase armor value and damage resistance, while the Thrusterpack from Scholastone adds enhanced aerial mobility options.

Mk Variants

The ATAG has multiple configurations, and you can check which version you are using by looking at the "Mk" status indicator displayed before entering the mech. Several components have tiered Mk upgrades:

Higher Mk levels provide stronger versions of each component. These tiered upgrades are unlocked through research dispatch missions at their respective institutes and require progressively more resources.

Combat Strategies

Against Mechanical Enemies

• Open with the EMP Discharge to stun and disable enemy mechanical units before they can attack

• Follow up with the Blast Cannon (or ATAG Cannon if upgraded) while enemies are stunned for maximum damage

• Switch to the Machine Gun to finish off weakened targets at range

• Save the Ramming Maneuver for emergencies or to break through encirclement when surrounded

Against Infantry

• The Ramming Maneuver is the most efficient tool against groups of foot soldiers, flattening entire squads in a single charge

• Use the Machine Gun for sustained suppression of ranged attackers who keep their distance

• The Flamespitter (if unlocked through Dewhaven Keep research) excels at area denial in tight spaces and choke points

• The ATAG Fist can handle melee threats that get too close to use ranged weapons against

General Tips

• The ATAG's battery is both power and health. Managing incoming damage is critical to staying operational during long engagements.

• If your battery runs out in the field, visit an ATAG factory near Gorthak and pull the lever to get a fresh mech. The ATAG Welder upgrade lets you repair without returning to a factory.

• The mech excels in open terrain where its ranged weapons have clear sightlines. Avoid narrow corridors where enemies can flank you and deplete your battery quickly.

• Combine the ATAG's firepower with Greymane companion abilities for overwhelming force during sieges.

• The ATAG is your primary offensive mount between dragon summons, which have long cooldown periods.

Delesyia Region Context

The Delesyia region is where players first encounter advanced mechanical technology in the game. The Ironflame Orcs faction based in Gorthak are responsible for building the ATAG mech, and their territory in the southeastern part of the region is the hub for all mech-related activities.

The region's southeastern area features active railroad tracks, and players can find the Delesyia Train, which can be grappled onto and ridden as an alternative form of transportation.

Three research institutes in Delesyia (Gorthak Ironworks, Delesyia Castle Institute, and Dewhaven Keep) form a triangle of ATAG upgrade facilities, each specializing in different enhancement categories. Visiting all three and funding their projects gives you access to the full range of ATAG weaponry and modifications.

High-Mobility Variant

In addition to the standard ATAG, a lightweight variant called the High-Mobility A.T.A.G. can be crafted. This variant trades armor plating for enhanced agility, featuring only 500 Health (half the standard models) but offering superior repositioning speed. It requires different crafting materials, including the Core of Temperance from the Sanctum of Exaltation and 400 Small Batteries. The High-Mobility model is designed for hit-and-run tactics and rapid reconnaissance rather than sustained bombardment.

Connection to Other Vehicles

The ATAG sits within a broader ecosystem of mounts and vehicles in Crimson Desert. While horses serve as your primary mode of travel and dragons dominate aerial combat, the ATAG fills the role of a heavy ground assault platform. It is particularly useful during the long cooldown periods between dragon summons.

The Small Kuku ATAG also is a crafting ingredient for the Abyssal Fusion, a mech armor designed for the Blackstar Dragon (unlocked in Chapter 11 through the Whispers in the Wind quest). Be careful when converting your Small Kuku ATAG for this purpose, as the mech is completely consumed in the process.

Dyeing and Customization

The ATAG can be dyed using the Dye System, allowing you to customize its color scheme to match your personal style. Like other equipment, the mech has multiple dyeable zones that can each be assigned different colors. You can access the dyeing interface at any Dyehouse or through the camp facilities.

Popular color combinations include red and gold for an Iron Man/Hulkbuster aesthetic, or matching the mech to your character's existing armor color scheme. The dye options are purely cosmetic and do not affect the ATAG's stats or performance. While regional Dyehouses are limited to their regional color families, Oliver at Greymane Camp can apply dyes from every region in a single location, making him the best option for customizing your mech. Oliver is recruited after completing the third camp expansion.

Related Articles

• Mounts

• Delesyia

• Weapons

• Dragon Riding

• Research Projects

• Kuku Iron Pot

• Kilnden Workshop

• Crafting

• Ironflame Orcs

• Companion Dispatch Guide

Research Institute Upgrades

Once you have the A.T.A.G. Mech blueprint from the Iron Flame Orcs side quest in Delesyia, you can take it to various research institutes (but not Porin) to unlock upgrades. Most of the upgrades are disappointing: boots and jetpack modules just add defense rather than changing how the mech plays.

Laser and Flame Spitter Standouts

Two upgrades are worth chasing: the A.T.A.G. Laser and the Flame Spitter. The laser is the real showpiece, one-shotting most enemies inside liberation points and turning clear runs into a formality. Once the research is done, you craft the laser itself through the Gorthak Iron Works dispatch.

Cooldown Reduction

The mech has a long real-time cooldown between uses. Mane's Masterium dispatch produces an Emergency Power Device after the Delissian researcher's High Mobility Power Device Research is finished. Each Emergency Power Device shaves 10 minutes off the mech's cooldown, and you receive 3 per dispatch run.