Overview
Crafting Manuals in Crimson Desert are key items that contain techniques and detailed information for creating new meals, elixirs, tools, weapons, armor, and more. Each manual teaches Kliff a specific set of recipes that can then be crafted at the appropriate station. Once a crafting manual has been read, the recipes it contains are permanently learned and the manual itself can be sold to any merchant for extra silver.
Crafting manuals are organized into several categories: cooking Recipes, Alchemy Recipes, Tool Blueprints, and equipment crafting books for weapons and armor. There are 67 equipment crafting books scattered across Pywel, with 19 of those dedicated specifically to weapon types and the remainder covering armor and accessories.
How to Find Crafting Manuals
Crafting manuals can be obtained through several methods throughout your journey across Pywel:
Merchants and vendors: Many crafting manuals are sold by NPCs in towns and settlements. The Hernand Equipment Shop run by Rhett carries basic weapon and armor volumes.
World exploration: Manuals are scattered across the open world. A small book symbol appears on the minimap when you are near a crafting manual, making them easier to spot.
Theft: Some manuals found in buildings must be stolen. Equipping a Mask before taking them prevents reputation loss.
Quest rewards: Certain side quests and main story missions reward crafting manuals upon completion.
Special NPC interactions: Some manuals are obtained through conversations with specific NPCs or by completing tasks for them.
Various copies of the same crafting books can be found scattered across Pywel. If you miss one in a particular location, you may find the same manual elsewhere during your travels.
Crafting Stations
Each type of crafting manual corresponds to a specific crafting station where the learned recipes can be produced:
Station | Location | Manual Types |
|---|---|---|
Smithy | Major towns (Hernand, others) | Weapon books, armor books, tool blueprints, projectile recipes |
Cauldron | Hernand, Witch's house, settlements | Alchemy recipes, drink recipes, dye recipes |
Open Flame / Bonfire | Camps, settlements, and the open world | Grilled cooking recipes (basic meals) |
Cooking Tool | Camps and certain settlements | Field grill and field pot recipes (advanced meals) |
Kuku Pot | Portable (obtained via Grimnir) | Special crafting and material reshaping |
Equipment Crafting Books
Equipment crafting books unlock the ability to forge specific weapons and armor at the Smithy. These books are organized into volumes by equipment type. Higher-tier volumes contain more powerful recipes that require rarer resources.
Weapon Crafting Books
There are 19 weapon crafting books across the following categories:
Book | Materials per Weapon | Example Weapons |
|---|---|---|
One-Handed Weapons of the World, Vol. I | Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | Glenmore Sword, Grace Rapier, Bekker Dagger, Balton Mace, Timberham Axe, Crude Club, Balton Hammer, Bekker Hammer, Pailunese Riteblade |
Two-Handed Weapons of the World, Vol. II | Iron Ore x10, Copper Ore x2-3 | Thalwynd Longsword and other two-handed weapons |
Ranged Weapons - Bows, Vol. I | Timber x10, Fine Timber x5 | White Wood Bow and other bows |
Ranged Weapons - Guns, Vol. I | Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | Starting firearms |
Additional weapon volumes (Vol. II, Vol. III, and higher) unlock progressively stronger weapons with rarer material requirements. The One-Handed Weapons Vol. I book can be purchased from Rhett at the Hernand Equipment Shop.
Armor Crafting Books
Armor crafting books unlock recipes for protective gear at the Smithy:
Book | Materials per Piece | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Plate Armor of the World, Vol. I | Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2, Cloth Pieces x9, Fleece x2 | Heavy protection; higher material cost |
Cloth Armor of the World, Vol. I | Cloth Pieces x10, Fleece x2 | Grey Wolf Cloth Cloak and other light armor; lower defense but lighter weight |
Accessory Crafting Books
The Accessories of the World, Vol. I book unlocks early-game jewelry crafting for Kliff. Higher volumes contain recipes for accessories with stronger stat bonuses. These can typically be found through exploration or purchased from specialty merchants.
Cooking and Alchemy Manuals
Cooking manuals teach new recipes for preparing meals at bonfires and cooking tools. These manuals are often found on shelves inside buildings throughout Hernand and other towns, marked with a small scroll icon on the map. Merchants at inns and food vendors also sell cooking recipes.
Alchemy manuals unlock new elixir and potion recipes at cauldrons. One of the most important alchemy manuals is the Palmar Pill recipe, found in a cave north of Hernand near the Witch's house. Some alchemy formulas must be discovered through exploration before they can be produced.
Tips
After reading a crafting manual, sell it to a merchant. The recipes are permanently learned and there is no reason to keep the physical item.
Check bookshelves and tables in every building you enter. Many manuals are tucked away in houses, shops, and caves.
Prioritize the Palmar Pill crafting manual early. It allows you to craft revival items that bring you back with 30% health after falling in combat.
Higher-tier crafting book volumes become available as you explore new regions of Pywel. Advancing the main story unlocks access to regions where stronger manuals are found.
The 67 equipment crafting books are spread across the entire continent. Thorough exploration of each region is essential to collect them all.