Church of Calf

Overview

The Church of Calf (also referred to as the Church of Calphade) is a notable landmark located in the Calphade region within Hernand. Situated in the village of Thalwynd, to the west of Calphade Castle, this church serves as both a place of worship and a point of strategic interest for explorers. The church houses a bell tower that reveals the surrounding map when rung, and it contains a hidden treasure chest with the Shield of Conviction, one of the best early-game shields available in Crimson Desert.

The Church of Calf falls under the jurisdiction of the Hernandian Parish of Solumen faction. During the events of Chapter 6, the church and its surrounding area become a contested zone when the Black Bears faction launches its assault on the Calphade region.

Location

The Church of Calf is situated in the far northeast of Hernand, within the Calphadean Territory. To reach it from the City of Hernand, travel north along the main road, passing over the mountain range. The church sits in Thalwynd Village, on the western side of Calphade Castle.

The surrounding area includes Deepfog Basin to the south and the Calphade region proper to the north and east. The road leading to the church passes through hilly terrain, so expect encounters with wildlife and hostile forces along the way, particularly as the story progresses.

How to Access the Treasure Chest

The treasure chest inside the Church of Calf is not accessible through the front door. Instead, players must take a vertical approach by climbing the exterior of the building to reach a broken window near the bell tower. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Travel north from Hernand into the Calphade region. The journey can be made via Haunted Hill or through the Deepfog Basin route.

2. Locate Thalwynd Village, the small settlement to the west of Calphade Castle.

3. Find the Church of Calf at the north end of the village. It is recognizable by its tall bell tower.

4. Climb the exterior wall on the right side of the bell tower. Look for handholds and ledges along the stone facade.

5. Near the top, locate the broken window directly below the bell. This opening is your entry point.

6. Enter through the broken window and drop down into the interior room.

7. Open the treasure chest inside to receive the Shield of Conviction and a Palmar Pill.

The broken window is not immediately obvious, so adjust your camera angle and scan the upper sections of the tower carefully. The climb itself is straightforward once you identify the correct wall to scale.

Items Found

The treasure chest inside the Church of Calf contains the following items:

The Shield of Conviction is especially valuable in the early-to-mid game because it combines accessibility with scalability. With a base defense of 8 and two Abyss Core slots already active at Refinement Level 2, it outperforms most shields available at this stage of the game. The Fortitude I core reduces stamina consumption when blocking, which benefits defensive playstyles significantly. The Aegis I core provides a flat damage reduction bonus that stacks with other defensive stats.

For players who follow the main quest through the Calphade region, a slightly stronger alternative becomes available later. The Shield of Betrayal is obtained as a reward for defeating Cassius Morten during the Chapter 6 questline "The Unyielding Shields." While the Shield of Betrayal shares the same Abyss Core types (Aegis I and Fortitude I), the Shield of Conviction remains the superior pickup for its timing, since it can be collected well before reaching Chapter 6.

Shield Comparison

Despite both shields sharing the same Abyss Core setup, the Shield of Conviction actually has higher base defense and a higher refinement level than the Shield of Betrayal. This makes the Church of Calf treasure chest one of the most rewarding early-game detours available in the Calphade region.

Points of Interest

Bell Tower

The Church of Calf features one of the bell towers that form part of the Toll of Pywel system. Climbing to the top of the bell tower and ringing the bell clears the fog of war from the surrounding area of the world map, permanently revealing nearby locations, activities, and points of interest. This mechanic works similarly to synchronization points in other open-world games: reach the high point, interact with the bell, and the map opens up around you.

It is worth ringing the bell before exploring the treasure chest below, since the revealed map will show other nearby activities and collectibles in the Calphade region.

Story Significance

The Church of Calf and its surrounding area play a role during Chapter 6 of the main story. When the Black Bears faction attacks the Calphade region, the church becomes a contested location. During the "Below the Banners" quest arc, players must destroy enemy supply wagons stationed at the Church of Calphade to cut off Black Bears logistics. This quest introduces the Nature's Grasp skill mechanic for environmental interaction.

Important note: The Calphade bell tower may become temporarily inaccessible during Chapter 6 because the area falls under hostile control. If you want to ring the bell and collect the treasure without interference, visit the Church of Calf before starting Chapter 6. You can return after the chapter concludes to ring the bell if you missed it.

Tips

• Visit the Church of Calf early. The Shield of Conviction is one of the strongest shields available before Chapter 6, and collecting it early gives you a significant defensive advantage.

• Ring the bell tower first before dropping down to the broken window. Clearing the fog of war reveals surrounding points of interest that you can visit on the same trip.

• The broken window is on the north side of the bell tower. If you cannot find it, rotate your camera upward and scan the upper sections of the church walls.

• The Shield of Conviction's Fortitude I core reduces guard stamina cost by 3%, making extended blocking more viable. Pair it with stamina-boosting gear for maximum effectiveness.

• If you are following the main story through Calphade, the shield is a free pickup along the way. There is no reason to skip it.

• The Shield of Betrayal from Chapter 6 has lower base stats than the Shield of Conviction, so the Church of Calf treasure remains relevant even after progressing further in the story.