Overview
Dawn Cave is a hidden Waterside Cave tucked behind a waterfall on the Mountain of Frozen Souls in the Hernand region. It sits south of Hernand proper, just northeast of the area where The Reed Devil boss encounter takes place in the surrounding reed fields. At daybreak, the morning sun pierces through the heavy torrents, shattering into brilliant glints that illuminate the cavern's interior with dancing light. The cave gets its name from this sunrise effect, which paints the stone walls in warm amber and gold tones.
Inside the cave, players will find a treasure chest containing the Hollow Visage, a unique one-handed sword that is effectively the weapon wielded by The Reed Devil itself. Because the cave sits so close to the boss arena and the weapon mirrors what the boss carries, many players consider this one of the most thematic hidden discoveries in the early game.
Location and How to Reach It
Dawn Cave is located in the southern portion of the Hernand region, on the Mountain of Frozen Souls. The cave entrance is concealed behind a waterfall that spills over a cliff face. If you stand on the cliff above and look over the edge, you can spot the point where water flows outward from the rock; the waterfall is directly below.
The easiest approach is to start at the top of the mountain and glide down to the stone platform beside the waterfall. Look for a small ledge or platform at the base of the falls. Waterside Caves in Crimson Desert are marked by stacked stones near the entrance, so keep an eye out for that visual cue as you descend.
An Abyss Cresset sits on the rocks southeast of the Reed Devil boss arena, above the fight area. Activating it unlocks a fast travel point, making return trips to Dawn Cave and the surrounding area much faster. If you have already unlocked this Cresset, you can teleport directly to it and then head northeast toward the waterfall.
Entering the Cave
Like all Waterside Caves in Crimson Desert, Dawn Cave requires the Stab skill to enter. Players must stand in front of the waterfall and perform a Stab to pierce through the cascading water. The skill disrupts the water flow for a brief moment, creating an opening that lets you pass through into the hidden chamber beyond.
Controls for the Stab skill:
Platform | Input |
|---|---|
PlayStation | Hold R1 + Square, then release |
Xbox | Hold RB + X, then release |
PC (Keyboard) | LShift + Right Mouse Button |
The Stab skill is learned naturally during the main story. If you have not progressed far enough to acquire it through the campaign, you can also unlock it early from the Blue branch of the Skill Tree. You will not be able to enter any Waterside Cave until you have this skill.
Loot
The primary reward inside Dawn Cave is the Hollow Visage, a fast, katana-style one-handed sword found in a treasure chest. It is one of the strongest early-game weapons available and comes fully equipped with three Abyss Gear slots already filled.
Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
Weapon Name | |
Type | One-Handed Sword |
Base ATK | 14 |
Attack Speed +1 | |
Attack +1 |
The combination of raw attack speed and built-in critical rate bonuses makes Hollow Visage one of the best one-handed weapons you can obtain in the early chapters. Its Abyss Gear slots can be swapped for higher-tier Abyss Artifacts as you progress further into the game, so the sword scales well into the mid-game too. Many players use it as their primary weapon throughout much of the campaign.
Connection to The Reed Devil
Hollow Visage is the same sword carried by The Reed Devil, the Chapter 3 boss encountered during "The Face Behind the Mask" quest. The boss wields this blade during the fight, and finding it inside Dawn Cave lets you claim the weapon for yourself. Because Dawn Cave sits just northeast of the Reed Devil's arena in the reed fields, it is possible to pick up the sword before or after the boss encounter. Grabbing it beforehand can give you a significant advantage, since the weapon's crit rate and speed bonuses pair well with an aggressive playstyle against the boss.
Nearby Points of Interest
The area around Dawn Cave and The Reed Devil's arena contains several other notable locations worth visiting on the same trip.
Location | Direction | Notable Loot or Feature |
|---|---|---|
Southeast, past the abandoned clifftop cabin | ||
Abyss Cresset | Southeast, on rocks above the boss arena | Fast travel point |
Further south on the Mountain of Frozen Souls | Major sub-region with additional caves | |
Reed Devil Boss Arena | Southwest of the waterfall | Chapter 3 boss encounter |
If you are farming Abyss Gear in the early game, visiting Dawn Cave and Echoing Waves Cave on the same loop is highly efficient. Dawn Cave provides a powerful weapon, while Echoing Waves Cave provides a strong armor piece. Combined, they give you a solid equipment foundation before tackling The Reed Devil or pushing further south.
Tips
Look for stacked stones near the waterfall platform. These mark the entrance to every Waterside Cave in the game and confirm that a cave is accessible behind the falls.
If you are having trouble spotting the entrance from below, try approaching from the mountain peak above and gliding down. The waterfall and its platform are much easier to identify from a higher vantage point.
You can visit Dawn Cave as soon as you have the Stab skill and can reach the Hernand region. There is no level gate or quest prerequisite for entering the cave itself.
Hollow Visage pairs especially well with a sword-and-shield loadout. The attack speed bonus lets you land quick hits between blocks, which is valuable against fast bosses like The Reed Devil.
After collecting the loot, check the Abyss Cresset southeast of the boss arena for a fast travel point. This saves a long walk back if you want to return later.