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Overview
Side quests in Crimson Desert are organized under factions, each with their own NPCs, storylines, and reward pools. While the main story drives the narrative forward, faction quests offer some of the most valuable rewards in the game, including unique equipment, inventory expansions, companion unlocks, rare crafting materials, and access to new gameplay systems. This guide highlights the side quests that have the biggest impact on your progression.
Hernand Commissions: Inventory Expansion
The Hernand Commissions are the single most important set of side quests to complete early. Each commission rewards a Medium Bag, which adds extra slots to your inventory. Since Crimson Desert has no storage chests, inventory space is one of your most valuable resources.
Hernand Commissions also introduce you to the game's core gathering systems. Completing them unlocks essential tools that open up crafting, cooking, fishing, and mining.
Commission | Why It Matters | |
|---|---|---|
Pickaxe + Medium Bag + Stone | Unlocks mining; without the Pickaxe you cannot mine ore veins at all | |
Unlocks one of the best mid-game healing recipes | ||
Logging Axe + Medium Bag + Bekker Shield + Timber x10 | Unlocks logging for Timber; Bekker Shield is a solid early weapon | |
Unlocks fishing for fish ingredients used in cooking | ||
Inventory expansion | ||
Inventory expansion | ||
Medium Bag + Timber x3 | Inventory expansion | |
Medium Bag + Iron Ore x3 | Inventory expansion + crafting materials | |
Medium Bag + Tough Meat x2 | Inventory expansion + cooking materials | |
Inventory expansion |
House Roberts: Mining Knuckledrill and Crafting Materials
The House Roberts faction quest chain is one of the most rewarding in the game. The full chain consists of ten quests across three arcs: Estate in Dismay (5 quests), Continuing Concern (4 quests), and Boulder from the Sky (1 quest). Completing the Estate in Dismay arc earns a Formal Alliance with House Roberts and approximately +400 Hernandian Contribution.
Quest Arc | Why It Matters | |
|---|---|---|
Estate in Dismay (5 quests) | Mining Knuckledrill, Gold Vein Map, Azurite x3, Bloodstone x3, Engraved Gold Earring | The Knuckledrill increases ore drops by 10%, making it essential for efficient mining and weapon crafting |
Continuing Concern (4 quests) | Freya's Elixir x1, Apollonia's Lesser Elixir x2, Meliara's Lesser Elixir x2 | Powerful elixirs that provide significant combat advantages; Freya's Elixir gives Attack +7 for 10 minutes |
Boulder from the Sky (1 quest) | Bulging Copper Pouches x3 | Monetary reward to fund purchases and upgrades |
House Celeste Bounties: Silver Farming
The House Celeste bounty board is one of the primary sources of income in the game. Bounties range from low-value marks to high-stakes hunts, with rewards scaling accordingly. Completing bounties also builds Hernandian Contribution.
Bounty Target | Reward | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
Easy | ||
Silver x2 | Easy | |
Silver x5 | Moderate | |
Silver x8 | Moderate | |
Silver x12 | Hard | |
Silver x12 | Hard | |
Silver x15 | Hard | |
Silver x25 | Very Hard |
Warren is the highest-paying bounty at Silver x25. Prioritize this hunt once it becomes available, as the Silver reward is substantial enough to fund multiple weapon upgrades.
Greymane Quests: Companion Unlocks
The Greymane faction quests unlock Companions that you can dispatch on missions to gather camp resources for improving the Greymane Camp. This system is extremely valuable because it passively generates resources while you focus on other activities.
Quest | Faction | Why It Matters | |
|---|---|---|---|
Pet Brown Dog | Companion that joins your party | ||
Strong early-game rewards and camp supplies | |||
Abyss Artifact x1, Feathers x4, Copper Ore x3 | |||
Greymane Commissions (7 quests) | Medium Bag x1 each | Seven additional inventory expansion bags |
Pororin Forest Guardians: Alchemy Unlocks
The Pororin Forest Guardians questline is arguably the most impactful faction quest chain beyond material rewards. Completing Trembling Woods grants access to Pororin Forest Village and its alchemy facilities. The follow-up quest, Pororin Research Institute, unlocks all standard-tier elixir formulas.
Quest | Rewards | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
Trembling Woods | Palmar Pill x1, Astrid's Lesser Elixir x1, access to Pororin Forest Village | Opens up the village and its merchants, alchemy stations, and new quest lines |
Standard elixir formulas (Freya's, Meliara's, Haiden's) | Unlocks the entire standard-tier alchemy system, dramatically expanding your combat preparation options |
House Lanford: Shadow Armor Set
The House Lanford questline White Blizzard rewards a complete armor set: the Shadows set. This is one of the few ways to obtain a full matching armor set from side content.
Quest | Rewards |
|---|---|
Helm of the Shadows, Plate Armor of the Shadows, Plate Cloak of the Shadows, Plate Gloves of the Shadows, Plate Boots of the Shadows |
The full Shadows armor set provides strong defensive stats and a cohesive visual appearance. This questline becomes available in the Lanford faction area.
House Serkis: Staglord's Shield
Quest | Rewards | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
A powerful unique shield and a skill point from the Abyss Artifact |
The Witch of Wisdom: Alchemy Materials
Quest | Faction | Rewards | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
Witches | Blue Lavenders x20, Peonies x20, Small Bones x20, Empty Bottles x20, Alchemy Formula: Freya's Lesser Elixir, Witch's Token | Massive supply of alchemy materials and a unique formula not available elsewhere |
Other Notable Quests
Quest | Faction | Rewards | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
Unique cosmetic cloak and combat accessory | |||
Hernand Commission | Silver x30 | The single highest Silver reward from any Hernand commission | |
Demeniss Commission | Pine Mushroom x5 + Mystical Pine Mushroom x1 | Rare alchemy ingredient unavailable elsewhere |
Priority Order
If you want to maximize your progression efficiency, tackle side quests in roughly this order:
1. Hernand Commissions (Rhett, Turnali, Annabella): Unlock your Pickaxe, Logging Axe, and Fishing Rod. These tools gate access to mining, logging, and fishing.
2. Remaining Hernand Commissions: Complete every commission for the Medium Bag inventory expansions. Inventory space is irreplaceable.
3. House Roberts (Estate in Dismay): Acquire the Mining Knuckledrill for the 10% ore drop bonus.
4. Pororin Forest Guardians: Unlock Pororin Forest Village and the standard elixir formulas.
5. House Celeste Bounties: Farm Silver through bounty hunts to fund upgrades and purchases.
6. Greymane Quests: Unlock Companions for passive resource gathering at camp.
7. House Lanford (White Blizzard): Obtain the full Shadows armor set when available.
8. Witches and remaining faction quests: Round out your alchemy materials and unique rewards.
Faction Quest Rewards Reference
Each faction offers unique rewards for completing their questlines. The table below summarizes the most valuable items from each faction's side quests. Faction quest rewards often include equipment and materials that cannot be obtained through other means, making these questlines well worth pursuing.
Faction | Best Rewards | Quest Name |
|---|---|---|
Gold Vein Map, Mining Knuckledrill, Azurite x3, Engraved Gold Earring | ||
Bounty hunts with highest silver payouts | Various bounties | |
Pororin Petal Hat, Palmar Pill recipe, Astrid's Lesser Elixir | ||
Blue Lavenders x20, Peonies x20, Alchemy Formula, Witch's Token | Witch of Wisdom quest |
Companion Questlines
Companion questlines are among the most important side content in Crimson Desert. Each companion has a personal storyline that deepens their background and strengthens the bond between them and Kliff. Completing these questlines and reaching maximum affection with at least four companions contributes toward unlocking the Definitive Ending.
Beyond the narrative payoff, companion quests often reward unique gear, recipes, or skill unlocks that are not available elsewhere. Prioritize these questlines alongside the faction quests listed above for the best combination of story and mechanical rewards.