Cloud Castle Orbian

Overview

Cloud Castle Orbian is a main quest in Crimson Desert and the eighth and final mission of Chapter 11: Truth and Reality, concluding the Foreboding Shadow sub-chapter. It is one of the most visually spectacular sequences in the game. Kliff mounts Blackstar and launches an aerial assault on the Flying Fortress Orbian, a massive Abyss-powered structure hovering above Delesyia. The quest is divided into three distinct phases: the dragon siege, interior puzzles, and a final boss encounter.

Quest Details

Phase 1: Dragon Siege

You approach the fortress on dragonback, soaring through clouds and avoiding anti-air fire from the outer defenses. The dragon's fire breath is your primary weapon.

• Destroy outer turrets. Target glowing gun emplacements along the fortress walls. Use fire breath to destroy them. Weave between incoming projectiles while lining up attacks.

• Breach the hull plating. After eliminating turrets, target reinforced panels on the fortress's underside. Sustain fire to break through. The dragon repositions automatically during this segment.

• Land on the fortress. Once the hull is breached, Blackstar lands on a platform near the entry point. Kliff dismounts and enters the fortress interior.

Phase 2: Interior Puzzles

The interior of Orbian is a mechanical labyrinth that relies heavily on Axiom Force and Force Palm. Combat encounters are interspersed between puzzle segments.

• Activate the central console. In the first chamber, pierce the small central console with your sword and spin it to reveal a passageway to the next level.

• Clear the upper level. Climb the metal grate, defeat three enemies upstairs, then use Force Palm jump to reach the roof.

• Destroy the green glass bulbs. On the roof, locate and destroy five to six green glass bulbs scattered across the surface. Your map marks their positions.

• Destroy the top console. With the bulbs eliminated, attack the central console on the fortress top to open a side platform with access to the boss chamber.

• Navigate the spinning door. The door to the boss room rotates continuously. Use Axiom Force and Energy Surge in combination, then quickly mantle onto the door's edge as it spins past. This requires precise timing.

Phase 3: Boss Fight (Disc of Light)

The final encounter pits Kliff against a spinning disc of light that serves as the fortress's Abyss-powered core. The boss is invulnerable to melee attacks under normal conditions.

• Stun the boss. Use Force Palm and Energy Surge in combination to stun the disc. When stunned, it drops to the ground and becomes temporarily vulnerable.

• Attack with arrows. While stunned, switch to your bow and fire arrows rapidly. This is the only reliable way to deal damage. Each stun window lasts roughly 5 to 7 seconds.

• Repeat the cycle. Continue stunning and shooting until the disc's health is depleted. Expect 4 to 6 cycles depending on bow damage.

Critical Warning

You must carry arrows for this fight. If you enter this encounter without arrows, the boss is effectively impossible to defeat. You will need to leave, acquire arrows from a merchant, and redo the entire interior puzzle sequence from the beginning. Always carry a full stack before entering Cloud Castle Orbian.

Notes

• Defeating the disc of light triggers a cinematic in which the fortress begins to collapse. Kliff escapes on Blackstar as Orbian breaks apart and crashes into the landscape below.

• The chapter concludes with a cutscene showing the Greymanes regrouping and preparing for the final confrontation in the Abyss.

• The dragon siege phase is on-rails, meaning Blackstar handles movement automatically. Focus entirely on aiming and firing.

• Save manually before entering the fortress. The interior puzzles are lengthy, and leaving for supplies means restarting from the beginning.

Related Quests

• Previous: Whispers in the Wind

• Next chapter: Chapter 12: The Abyss

• Chapter walkthrough: Chapter 11: Truth and Reality Walkthrough

• See also: Main Story Walkthrough