Overview
Equipment in Crimson Desert features a socket system that allows players to customize their gear with passive stat bonuses. Weapons, armor, and accessories have socket slots where jewels can be inserted to enhance specific attributes. Enchanter NPCs found in settlements provide services for optimizing loadouts and maximizing gear potential.
How Sockets Work
Gear pieces come with one or more socket slots. Each slot accepts a jewel that grants a passive stat bonus such as increased attack power, defense, health, stamina, or elemental resistance. Multiple jewels can be socketed into a single item (if it has multiple slots), allowing bonuses to stack.
The quality and type of jewels determines the magnitude of their bonuses. Higher-tier jewels provide stronger effects. Jewels are found through mining, boss drops, quest rewards, and exploration.
Enchanter NPCs
Enchanter NPCs are specialists found in settlements across Pywel. Interacting with an enchanter lets you optimize your loadout by:
Inserting jewels: Place collected jewels into available equipment sockets.
Removing jewels: Extract jewels from gear to transfer them to different equipment.
Viewing bonuses: See the cumulative stat effects of all socketed jewels in your current loadout.
Strategic Importance
The socket system is where build optimization begins to matter significantly. Before entering harder regions of Pywel, upgrading equipment and slotting appropriate jewels can make the difference between struggling and thriving. Combined with the Abyss skill tree and weapon choices, socketed jewels form the third pillar of character build customization.
Gear Sources
Equipment with sockets can be obtained through:
Source | Description |
|---|---|
Merchant purchases | Blacksmiths and tailors in settlements sell gear matching the region's specialties. |
Boss drops | Defeating bosses yields exclusive equipment often with more socket slots. |
Crafting | Crafted gear from gathered materials. Quality depends on materials used. |
Quest rewards | Story and side quests reward equipment at key progression points. |
Exploration | Hidden chests and secret areas contain rare gear. |