Overview
The bounty system in Crimson Desert allows players to hunt down and capture outlaw targets in exchange for currency and Contribution reputation. Bounty notices appear on posts, walls, and notice boards throughout the world, marked by purple bounty poster icons on the minimap. Each bounty provides details about the target, including their name, appearance, crimes, and last known location. The system becomes available at the start of Chapter 2 of the main story.
How Bounties Work
When you find a bounty notice (marked by a purple icon on the minimap), interact with it to examine the poster. Hold L1 (PlayStation) or LB (Xbox) to inspect the details, which include the target's name, bounty price, race, age, gender, and information about their crimes. Picking up a bounty marks the target's last known location on your map.
How to Capture Bounties Alive
Capturing a bounty target alive earns the full reward. Killing the target instead results in only half the bounty payout. Follow these steps to take a bounty alive:
Step 1: Travel to the marked location on your map and locate the target. Most targets are recognizable by their appearance matching the poster description.
Step 2: When the target spots you, they will attempt to flee. Chase them down.
Step 3: Press the tackle button (Cross on PS5, A on Xbox) when the prompt appears to pin the target to the ground.
Step 4: Punch the target several times until the "Tie Up" option appears. Select it to restrain them.
Step 5: Call your horse and place the restrained target on its back. Kliff will automatically carry the prisoner while riding.
Step 6: Ride to the Guard Station or jail in Hernand (north Hernand city). Remove the target from your horse and approach the guards to claim your reward.
You cannot fast travel while carrying a bounty target, so plan your route accordingly. Some targets may have hostile companions nearby that need to be dealt with before you can subdue the main target.
Known Bounty Targets
There are nine bounties in the starting region of Hernand. The first eight can be picked up from bounty posters around Hernand city, while the ninth appears near the Equinsher Saddlery in Chapter 8. The following are confirmed bounty targets with verified details:
Target | Location | Reward | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey | Wandering in the City of Hernand | 1 Silver, 1 Mask | Tutorial bounty. Found in the city streets. Tackle and punch three times to capture. |
Bianca | Church of Hernand or Hillside Manor | 5 Silver, +300 Hernandian Contribution | Third bounty available. Hitman responsible for murders in Hernand. Check the church kitchen first. |
Simon de Montfort | Scholastone at the Everfrost Basin | 8 Silver | Poster found around the Hernand Farmhouse area. Target flees on detection. |
Blix | Unicorn Cliff, near Hornsplitter's camp | 15 Silver | Works under the Hornsplitter gang. Only appears before 1:00 PM in-game time. Arrive early. |
Warren | Pororin, southern Deepwoods | 25 Silver | Requires completing "The Unreachable Village" quest to access the area. |
Rewards
Bounty hunting provides two types of rewards:
Currency: Silver coins awarded on delivery. The full amount is paid for live captures; killing the target halves the payout.
Hernandian Contribution: Reputation points with the Hernand faction. Contribution unlocks items at the Contribution Shop, including exclusive armor sets and horse bardings.
Bounties are one of the best ways to earn both money and Contribution in the early and mid game. Completing bounties consistently builds your reputation with Hernand, unlocking increasingly valuable rewards at the Contribution Shop.
Tips
Always capture bounty targets alive to receive the full reward. Killing them halves the payout.
Check for bounty notices every time you visit a town. New posters appear as you progress through the story.
Some targets only appear at specific times of day. Blix, for example, only shows up before 1:00 PM.
If you cannot find your target, try sleeping at a bed or campfire and returning at a different time of day.
Use your horse to carry captured bounties back to the guard station faster. Kliff will automatically hold the prisoner while riding.
Deal with any hostile companions near the target before attempting to tackle and restrain the bounty.
Bounty rewards scale with difficulty. Later bounties in more dangerous regions offer significantly higher payouts.
Completing bounties contributes to your Hernandian Contribution, which unlocks exclusive gear at the Contribution Shop.