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Back Alley Shop
March 30, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Initial comprehensive article on Back Alley Shop locations, inventory, and mechanics
Back Alley Shops are underground vendors scattered across the world of Pywel in Crimson Desert. Unlike legitimate merchants, these shady dealers specialize in selling criminal tools such as Masks, keys, and Disguise Cloaks. They also act as fences, allowing players to sell stolen goods that regular vendors refuse to accept. Back Alley Shops are a core part of the Crime System and serve as both the entry point and the cash-out point for players who want to engage in theft.
Once you discover a Back Alley Shop, it appears on your map as a red circle icon with a mask symbol. Every major settlement has at least one Back Alley Shop, making them accessible throughout the game.
The first Back Alley Shop most players encounter is located in the City of Hernand area. Additional shops become available as you explore new regions and settlements across Pywel.
The primary Back Alley Shop is operated by Grimrak, a goblin vendor located southeast of Hernand. His stall sits at the end of the road closest to the river, on the west side. To find him, head east out of Hernand, past the large model castle on the left, then turn left down the road and follow the track until you reach the vendor. The Livestock Black Market sits directly opposite Grimrak's stall, making it convenient to sell stolen animals and general stolen goods in the same trip.
Grimrak serves a dual role. He sells criminal supplies (masks, keys, disguises) and also purchases stolen goods from the player. This makes his shop a one-stop location for anyone involved in the Crime System.
A second Back Alley Shop is located just south of St. Halssius's House of Healing, east of Hernand. This shop carries the same general inventory as Grimrak's shop, including three standard keys per restock cycle. It provides an alternative buying location for players operating in the eastern part of the Hernand region.
Back Alley Shops exist in every major town beyond Hernand, each with corresponding black markets. As you progress through the story and unlock new regions, keep an eye out for the red mask icon on your map to find additional shops.
Back Alley Shops carry a selection of items tailored to criminal activities. Prices are listed in Copper and Silver denominations (100 Copper equals 1 Silver).
Item | Price | Stock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
10 Copper | 1 | Required to steal; equips in the Weapons radial menu | |
Key | 30 Copper | 3 | Opens locked doors; consumed on use |
Varies | 1 | Reduces NPC detection range while worn | |
23.74 Silver | 1 | Alternative disguise for stealth activities | |
Prison Key | 26 Copper | Limited | Opens prison cell doors specifically |
In addition to the items listed above, some Back Alley Shops also carry ammunition, food supplies, and crafting blueprints that are not available from mainstream vendors. The exact supplementary inventory varies by location.
Back Alley Shops restock their inventory roughly once every one to two in-game days. Each shop carries exactly three standard keys per restock cycle, and the Mask slot refills to one unit per cycle. Some players report that leaving the area and returning can trigger a faster restock, though this is not guaranteed.
If you need keys or masks urgently and the local shop is out of stock, visit a different Back Alley Shop in another settlement. Each shop maintains its own independent inventory and restock timer.
Items acquired through theft, pickpocketing, or poaching cannot be sold to regular merchants. Attempting to sell stolen property at a normal vendor will not show those items in the sell list. Instead, you need to bring them to a Back Alley Shop or the appropriate specialized fence. For a detailed breakdown of fencing categories and profit strategies, see the Selling Stolen Goods article.
There are three categories of underground dealers for stolen property:
Dealer Type | Accepts | Location Notes |
|---|---|---|
Back Alley Shop (General) | Vases, paintings, coin pouches, artifacts | Grimrak's shop southeast of Hernand and equivalents in other towns |
Livestock Fence | Stolen animals (must be carrying or riding the animal) | Opposite Grimrak's stall in Hernand |
Wagon Fence | Stolen carts and wagons | East of Hernand (south of Halssius Apothecary) and north of Unicorn Cliff |
Before you can interact with the Crime System, you need to purchase a Mask from any Back Alley Shop. The Mask must be actively equipped through the Weapons radial menu, where it occupies its own dedicated slot separate from helmets and armor. Without a Mask equipped, the steal prompt on any item remains greyed out.
Locate a Back Alley Shop on your map (red mask icon)
Purchase a Mask for 10 Copper
Equip the Mask through the Weapons radial menu
Approach items or NPCs to see the steal prompt
Sell any stolen goods back at a Back Alley Shop or the appropriate fence
Every theft costs 5 Contribution XP per item regardless of whether you are caught. A red detection zone appears on the minimap when you commit a crime, and a timer starts. A bounty only sticks if someone witnesses the act during the timer window. Stealing in an isolated building and waiting out the timer without stepping into a public space lets you walk away with no bounty, though you still take the Contribution hit.
If you do accumulate a bounty, it can be cleared by escaping the detection zone before the timer expires, purchasing a Writ of Absolution at the church confessional (the Silver cost equals the bounty amount), or going to jail (which costs Silver plus an additional Contribution penalty). The cheapest recovery method for accidental crimes is to reload the most recent autosave.
The Bank Robbery Guide pairs well with Back Alley Shops. Purchase a Mask and Key from Grimrak for a total of 40 Copper, then rob the Hernand Bank for roughly 30 to 55 Silver in return.
Back Alley Shops are the only reliable source of keys early in the game. You can also find keys by looting enemy bodies, but the drop rate is inconsistent.
Strongbox puzzles found in manors and estates contain valuable artifacts. Check the Strongbox Puzzle Locations and Solutions guide for details on rewards.
If you need a Mask but lack the Copper, you can loot one from defeated Bleed Bandits starting in Chapter 2, or earn one as a reward from the Jeffrey bounty at the Guard Station west of Hernand.
The Mask needs to be equipped before you enter a room you plan to steal from, not after you find the items. Equipping it mid-theft does not work.
