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11 Overview
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33 The continent of Pywel is home to 110 named factions recorded in the in-game Knowledge Library. These factions range from powerful noble houses and military organizations to mercenary bands, outlaw groups, merchant guilds, academic institutions, and religious orders. Each faction controls territory, offers quests, and reacts to the player's actions across the open world.
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66 Pearl Abyss has described the faction system as comparable to the side content in The Witcher 3: factions serve as significant actors in the world and provide substantial quest content for players to engage with. While factions shape which areas are accessible, which NPCs are friendly, and what services are available, they do not alter the main story or its ending. The developer stated: "They're not like the factions seen in, say, Fallout. Whether as allies or potential enemies, neither will affect the main story or ending."
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88 Factions in Crimson Desert are classified into four types: Core factions that play a central role in the story and world, Hostile factions that oppose the player or other groups, Religious organizations devoted to faith and spirituality, and Other factions covering merchants, tribes, and miscellaneous groups. They are spread across the five main regions of Pywel: Hernand, Pailune, Demeniss, Delesyia, and the Crimson Desert. The player interacts with factions through quests, the Contribution system, and the liberation mechanic that allows occupied settlements to be freed from hostile control.
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1111 Core Factions (19)
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1313 IconNameRegionTypeBeighen TribePailune Core-Blue FangsPailune CoreGoldleaf Merchant GuildHernand CoreGreymanesHernand CoreHouse AzerianDemeniss CoreHouse ByronDemeniss CoreHouse CelesteHernand CoreHouse GraceHernand CoreHouse LanfordHernand CoreHouse MarshellDemeniss CoreHouse SerkisHernand CoreHouse WellsDemeniss CoreIronflame OrcsDelesyia CoreMarniDelesyia CorePailune MilitiaPailune CoreSage of the DesertCrimson Desert CoreScholastone InstituteHernand CoreSociety of ProgressDelesyia CoreUrdavahCrimson Desert Core
1414 Hostile Factions (21)
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1616 IconNameRegionTypeBastier's InquisitorsDemeniss HostileBlack BearsPailune HostileBleed BanditsHernand Hostile-Cassius MortenHernand Hostile-Crow BrothersPailune HostileDancing Catfish PiratesHernand Hostile-DusksongCrimson Desert Hostile-Fundamentalist GoblinsHernand HostileGoldenscale BanditsCrimson Desert Hostile-Hornsplitter's GuardsHernand HostileLonely JackalsPailune HostileMistwood HuntersPailune Hostile-Reed DevilHernand HostileSandfang MaraudersCrimson Desert HostileSavage FangsCrimson Desert Hostile-Southern BanditsHernand HostileSt. Halssius's House of HealingHernand HostileThe FacelessCrimson Desert HostileThe HelmsCrimson Desert HostileThe WyvernflamesDelesyia HostileWolf TrackersHernand Hostile
1717 Religious Factions (4)
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1919 IconNameRegionTypeAntumbra OrderPywel ReligiousChurch of SolumenPywel ReligiousHernandian Parish of SolumenPywel ReligiousJijeong SchoolPywel Religious
2020 Other Factions (32)
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2222 IconNameRegionTypeAeserion, the Great SerpentPywel OtherArcosa TribeCrimson Desert OtherBeggar's AllianceHernand OtherBursada Ruins Research TeamCrimson Desert OtherCogknightsDelesyia OtherDelesyia National InstituteDelesyia OtherDelesyian Aerial ForceDelesyia OtherGearmelt ConfectioneryDelesyia OtherGiant Yard's Research GroupCrimson Desert OtherHouse AlfonsoHernand OtherHouse ElemoreDemeniss OtherHouse FelixHernand OtherHouse RobertsHernand OtherHouse ThorelDemeniss OtherIronwheel of DewhavenDelesyia OtherKharonso Troll AllianceHernand OtherKnytlingar ClanPailune OtherLongleaf TribePailune OtherLords of Unclaimed LandsCrimson Desert OtherMarni's TinkertonsDelesyia OtherMuiquun OutlawsCrimson Desert OtherPororin Forest GuardiansHernand OtherRedfox MerchantsDelesyia OtherRedwind Merchant GuildCrimson Desert OtherSilvermoon Trade CollectiveDemeniss OtherSkoghorn TribePailune OtherStjar ClanPailune OtherTariv SorcerersDemeniss OtherTommasoCrimson Desert OtherVarniaCrimson Desert OtherVellua Fishermen's GuildHernand OtherWhitesand RetreatCrimson Desert Other
2323 Other Known Factions
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2525 The following factions are also known to exist in Crimson Desert but are not yet catalogued in the main faction database.
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2727 NameRegionCalphade RebelsUnknownDesert CultCrimson DesertGwen Kraber's ForcesUnknownHouse SpencerHernandThe Black Bear ForcesPailune
2828 Faction Mechanics
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3030 Faction Standing and Reputation
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3232 Each faction has a standing that reflects the player's relationship with it. Standing progresses from hostile (War) through Neutral and eventually to Alliance. Completing quests, assisting faction members, and performing positive actions for a group increases standing. Criminal behavior and hostile acts decrease it.
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3434 Reaching Alliance status with a faction unlocks several benefits. Allied faction troops may appear to assist the player during ambushes in the open world. New vendors become available, additional quests open up, and previously restricted resource nodes become accessible.
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3737 StateEffectAt WarHostile. The faction's forces attack on sight. Resources in their territory are contested or blockaded.NeutralThe faction tolerates the player's presence. Trade and movement through their territory is possible without conflict.AllianceFriendly. The faction provides support, access to unique vendors, assistance during battles, and resource nodes in their territory.
3838 These states shift based on liberating territory, completing quests, making dialogue choices, and engaging in combat. Improving relations with one faction may damage relations with their rivals.
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4040 Contribution System
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4242 The Contribution system is directly tied to faction reputation. Each region tracks a Contribution metric (such as "Hernandian Contribution") that rises or falls based on the player's actions. Positive actions like completing quests, paying alms, and helping NPCs increase Contribution. Criminal activities reduce it, with penalties ranging from -5 for minor offenses to -30 for serious crimes.
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4444 Low Contribution in a region can restrict NPC interactions and limit access to certain towns or services. Accumulating criminal offenses triggers bounties that make guards hostile. Wanted status persists until the player is arrested or clears the bounty through the Law System.
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4646 Liberation System
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4848 Throughout the open world, hostile factions occupy settlements, outposts, and strongholds. The player can liberate these locations by defeating the occupying forces and their leaders. Successfully liberating an area causes visible changes: residents return, structures are rebuilt, new vendors set up shop, and materials for rebuilding Pailune become available.
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5151 Faction Blockades
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5353 Hostile factions restrict access to certain parts of the map through blockades. The HUD shows indicators such as "Blockaded" alongside the name of the controlling faction. These blockades must be cleared through combat to gain access to the blocked region and its resources.
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5555 Dispatch System
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5757 From the Greymane Camp, players can send comrades to blockaded locations to reduce enemy occupants while the player is in a different region. This system allows players to weaken hostile positions before engaging them directly. See Dispatch Missions for more details.
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5959 Faction Quests
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6161 Each faction provides its own set of side quests that appear throughout the game. Faction quests are non-missable and can be revisited across chapters. The table below summarizes the confirmed faction quest chains.
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6363 FactionQuest ChainNotable QuestsThe GreymanesScattered EmbersRecord of the Greymanes, The Greymanes' New Fangs, Strongbox with Wheels, Brightening the Spirits, Chance to Make a FortuneThe GreymanesGrounds of the SunriseEmbers of Return, Reuniting with Comrades, For a Better TomorrowHouse CelesteBounty NoticesBounties targeting Jeffrey, Simon de Montfort, Alessio, Blix, Bianca, Salvatore, Warren, and BillyHouse RobertsEstate QuestlineEstate in Dismay, Continuing Concern, Boulder From the SkyGoldleaf Merchant GuildGuild QuestsExtinguishing the Last FlamesPororin Forest GuardiansForest QuestsTrembling Woods, Pororin Research Institute
6464 Races and Factions
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6767 The factions of Pywel reflect the diversity of the continent's inhabitants. Multiple sentient species coexist across the world, and many factions are organized along racial lines.
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6969 RaceAssociated FactionsHumansNoble houses (Celeste, Serkis, Lanford, Grace, Roberts, Felix, Alfonso), the Greymanes, the Black Bears, the Bleed Bandits, most hostile factionsGoblinsGoldleaf Merchant Guild, Fundamentalist GoblinsTrollsScholastone Institute, Kharonso Troll Alliance
7070 Regional Factions
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7272 Pywel is divided into five main regions, each containing its own collection of factions. Minor houses serve as lords over various areas within each region, providing governance and protection. The in-game Knowledge Library tracks 573 individual territories across these regions.
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7474 RegionDescriptionKnown FactionsHernandA resource-rich region of mountains and rivers. The starting area where the Greymane Camp is located. Home to the Duchy of Hernand and numerous noble houses.Goldleaf Merchant Guild, Greymanes, House Celeste, House Grace, House Lanford, House Serkis, Scholastone Institute, Bleed Bandits, Cassius Morten, Dancing Catfish Pirates, Fundamentalist Goblins, Hornsplitter's Guards, Reed Devil, Southern Bandits, St. Halssius's House of Healing, Wolf Trackers, Beggar's Alliance, House Alfonso, House Felix, House Roberts, Kharonso Troll Alliance, Pororin Forest Guardians, Vellua Fishermen's Guild, House SpencerPailuneFrozen, mountainous northernmost region. Original homeland of the Greymanes before their displacement by the Black Bears.Beighen Tribe, Blue Fangs, Pailune Militia, Black Bears, Crow Brothers, Lonely Jackals, Mistwood Hunters, Knytlingar Clan, Longleaf Tribe, Skoghorn Tribe, Stjar Clan, The Black Bear ForcesDemenissCenter of political and military power in Pywel. Home to regal castles and the seat of the king, who lies in a coma.House Azerian, House Byron, House Marshell, House Wells, Bastier's Inquisitors, House Elemore, House Thorel, Silvermoon Trade Collective, Tariv SorcerersDelesyiaA region known for science and technology. Home to advanced constructs, mechanical creations, and the Society of Progress.Ironflame Orcs, Marni, Society of Progress, The Wyvernflames, Cogknights, Delesyia National Institute, Delesyian Aerial Force, Gearmelt Confectionery, Ironwheel of Dewhaven, Marni's Tinkertons, Redfox MerchantsCrimson DesertArid region of red sands, considered the most lawless and dangerous part of Pywel. Populated by outlaws, marauders, and nomadic tribes.Sage of the Desert, Urdavah, Dusksong, Goldenscale Bandits, Sandfang Marauders, Savage Fangs, The Faceless, The Helms, Arcosa Tribe, Bursada Ruins Research Team, Giant Yard's Research Group, Lords of Unclaimed Lands, Muiquun Outlaws, Redwind Merchant Guild, Tommaso, Varnia, Whitesand Retreat, Desert CultPywelContinent-wide organizations operating across multiple regions.Antumbra Order, Church of Solumen, Hernandian Parish of Solumen, Jijeong School, Aeserion, the Great Serpent
7575 Alignment Consequences
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7777 Faction alignment has real consequences beyond combat:
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7979 EffectDescriptionOpening PathsAllied factions grant access to their territory, vendors, resources, and encampments.Closing PathsAligning with one faction can close off paths and encampments controlled by rival factions.Vendor AccessFaction-aligned vendors sell unique items and equipment. Losing faction favor means losing access to those vendors.Resource NodesAllied territory provides better resource access. Hostile territory has blockaded resource deposits.World ChangesWhich houses or factions the player aligns with can change the physical appearance of the world, according to Pearl Abyss.
8080 The Faction Map
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8282 The world map includes a faction overlay showing which factions control which territories. Enemy-controlled areas are highlighted, and blockaded zones are marked with icons such as "Blockaded, The Wolf Trackers" indicating restricted areas gated by story progression or faction status. As the player liberates territory and shifts faction alignments, the map updates in real time to reflect the changing balance of power across Pywel.
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8484 The Abyss Threat
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8686 Beyond mortal factions, the Abyss is an existential threat that affects all factions. As the corruption spreads, it creates supernatural hazards that no single faction can handle alone. Various forces throughout the continent seek Abyss power for their own purposes, adding another layer of conflict beyond the territorial disputes between houses and guilds.
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8888 Tips
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9090 Check the Knowledge Library regularly to track which of the 110 factions you have discovered.Improve Contribution in the Hernand region early on, as many faction quest chains unlock based on your standing.Liberating occupied settlements provides materials for rebuilding Pailune, which in turn opens new faction interactions.Use the Dispatch system from the Greymane Camp to weaken hostile faction blockades before engaging them in person.Faction quests are non-missable, so there is no pressure to complete them in a specific order. They remain available across all chapters.Improving relations with one faction may damage your standing with a rival faction, so consider your alliances carefully.