Overview
Below the Banners is the second quest arc of Chapter 6: Cracks in the Shield in Crimson Desert. Following the events of Blazing Beacon, this arc expands the battlefield operations across three quests. Kliff must raise banner pikes at strategic locations around Calphade, rescue wounded soldiers, and destroy enemy supply lines. Heavy combat characterizes every mission in this arc.
Chapter Context
With the first banner raised during the Blazing Beacon arc, allied morale has begun to recover. However, the Black Bears still hold key positions around Calphade. The Greymanes must push deeper into contested territory, reclaiming the siege armory, gunpowder mill, and the district of Thalwynd. Allied guard posts to the west of the battlefield provide medical support, offering HP recovery once every 5 in-game hours.
Quest Progression
Quest | Key Objective | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Cradle of Defense | Raise banner pikes at three locations: Siege Armory, Gunpowder Mill, and Thalwynd | Heavy enemy presence at all three sites; artillery hazards at Thalwynd |
The Touch of Deliverance | Rescue an injured soldier from an enemy-occupied area northeast of the guard post | Transport the rescued soldier back via mount |
Fire on the Frontlines | Destroy enemy supply wagons at the Church of Calphade | Use Blinding Light skill to ignite wagons before attacking |
Notable Encounters
Cradle of Defense
The first quest requires raising banners at three distinct locations, each guarded by enemy forces. The Siege Armory and Gunpowder Mill feature standard Black Bears infantry, but Thalwynd is significantly more dangerous due to artillery towers that bombard the area. Use time-slowing abilities to manage the artillery threat. Beware of grappling enemies that trigger QTE sequences. The Tauria Curved Sword paired with Nature's Echo is highly recommended for crowd control at these locations.
Fire on the Frontlines
At the Church of Calphade, enemy supply wagons must be destroyed to cut off Black Bears logistics. The key mechanic here is using the Blinding Light skill to ignite the wagons before attacking them physically. Complete destruction of all wagons is required to advance the quest.
Rewards
This quest arc does not grant specific item rewards. Completion advances the story to the Turning Tides arc.
Tips
Visit the allied guard posts to the west of the battlefield between objectives to recover HP. They can be used once every 5 in-game hours.
At Thalwynd, prioritize taking out the artillery positions before raising the banner. The bombardment can interrupt Nature's Grasp and force you to restart the carry.
For Fire on the Frontlines, equip Blinding Light before entering the church area. Without it, destroying the wagons takes considerably longer.
Thin out enemy groups before attempting to carry banners. Being attacked while holding a banner pike causes you to drop it.
After completing this arc, the story continues with Turning Tides.