Revision 14

Overview

Faded Abyss Artifacts are consumable items in Crimson Desert that allow you to reset the selected character's skill progression and recover the resources applicable to that character. They are one of the most valuable items in the game for players who want to experiment with different builds or correct skill point allocation mistakes. The in-game description reads: "A rare Abyss Artifact that pulses with a strange, regressive power." Each respec consumes one Faded Abyss Artifact.

Witch purchases and earlier stock reports

Faded Abyss Artifacts can be bought from Witches at their hideouts. The stock counts and refresh loop described in this older section remain unverified; check the current shop before planning repeated purchases. Each of the four witch shops that stock this item sells three Faded Abyss Artifacts per visit. Because the shop inventory respawns on a regular cycle, you can rotate through every witch and return for another stock run after the refresh.

This works out to up to 12 Faded Abyss Artifacts per refresh cycle across the four witches combined. At that pace, building up a stack of respec charges takes only a few minutes of fast travel between hideouts.

Earlier witch shop cycle reports

• Three per witch: Every witch shop that sells Faded Abyss Artifacts offers a stack of three per visit.

• Four shops: Four separate witch shops stock Faded Abyss Artifacts, spread across different regions of Pywel. Fast travel to each in turn.

• Twelve per cycle: With all four witches cleared out, you leave each refresh cycle holding up to 12 Faded Abyss Artifacts.

• Regular respawns: The shop inventory respawns on a cycle, so you can return later and buy another 12. This is the key difference between Faded Abyss Artifacts and the regular Abyss Artifacts sold by the same witches, which do not respawn once purchased.

• Inexpensive: The silver cost per artifact is low enough that buying a full stack is trivial by mid-game. Players who follow this routine report never running short on respec currency.

Earlier respec cost comparison

Between the three-per-witch per-visit limit, the four shop locations, and the regular respawn, there is functionally no reason to hesitate before investing Abyss Artifacts into the Skill Tree. If a build does not work out, fast travel to the nearest witch, grab a few Faded Abyss Artifacts, and reset. Swapping back and forth between builds for different bosses, weapons, or playstyles is cheap and convenient.

Crafting ingredients and cost comparison

The recorded Witch crafting recipe consumes one Abyss Cell and two Mercury after learning Blueprint: Faded Abyss Artifact. It does not list regular Abyss Artifacts as ingredients. The older conclusion that crafting necessarily burns skill points is therefore incorrect. Compare the materials you have with the current shop price instead of assuming one method is always cheaper.

How to Use for Respec

To perform a respec using a Faded Abyss Artifact:

1. Step 1: Open the Skills menu.

2. Step 2: Navigate to the Skill Tree tab.

3. Step 3: Press the "Reset All" button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

4. Step 4: Confirm the reset by holding the indicated button.

Platform-specific controls for confirmation:

This consumes one Faded Abyss Artifact for a reset. Since version 2.00.00, skill progression resets individually for each character and refunds the Abyss Links used by that character. Reallocate the recovered resources for the character you reset. Save your game before respeccing so you can reload if the new build does not feel right.

Important Limitations

One long-standing limitation was lifted in version 2.00.00: resets are no longer applied to every playable character at once. Skill progression is now reset individually for each character, and the reset refunds that character's Abyss Link. Any limitation described below that assumes an all-characters reset reflects the pre-2.00.00 behaviour.

• Resets All Skills at Once: Using a Faded Abyss Artifact resets every unlocked skill simultaneously. You cannot selectively reset individual skills or specific tree branches. It is an all-or-nothing system.

• Reset Scope: Before version 2.00.00 the respec affected the skill trees of all three playable characters (Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka) at once. Since the Crimson Desert Enhanced update, skill progression is reset individually for each character, so you can retune one build without disturbing the other two.

• Watch and Learn Skills Stay: Abilities learned through the Watch and Learn mechanic are permanent. They remain unlocked even after a respec because no Abyss Artifacts were spent to acquire them. This is one reason to prioritize learning skills through observation whenever possible.

• Stat Upgrades Also Reset: Health, Stamina, and Spirit upgrades purchased on the Skill Tree are also refunded during a respec. You get those Artifacts back to redistribute.

• Requires at Least One: You must have at least one Faded Abyss Artifact in your inventory. The Reset All option is unavailable if you have none.

All Sources

There are five main ways to obtain Faded Abyss Artifacts:

1. Crafting

Starting in Chapter 4, you can unlock the crafting recipe at the Scholastone Research Institute. Research the project called "Research on the Abyss Energy Restoration Phenomenon". Version 1.18.00 changed research funding from Silver to Camp Funds. The older 12-Silver quote and 8-real-world-hour duration are retained as unverified historical figures, not a current price or a confirmed Camp Funds conversion. Once the research finishes, the recipe is permanently unlocked. Craft at any Witch cauldron with the following ingredients:

This is one of the most cost-effective sources of Faded Abyss Artifacts if you can farm Abyss Cells and Mercury efficiently. Abyss Cells drop from Abyss-corrupted enemies found near Abyss rifts and on Abyss floating islands.

2. Witch Vendors

Witch vendors throughout Pywel sell packs of Faded Abyss Artifacts for silver. Elowen is the first witch you meet during the Witch of Wisdom questline. Additional witches become available in other regions as you progress. Vendor stocks may be limited. The older claim that they never restock conflicts with the earlier repeated-refresh account on this page; neither precise stock rule is established here. Check the current shop instead of treating either account as a guaranteed loop.

3. Abyss Treasure Chests

Faded Abyss Artifacts can be found in treasure chests on Abyss floating islands. These become accessible after progressing through the Forbidden Knowledge main quest in Chapter 4, specifically after the Spire of the Stars segment. Abyss islands also contain Abyss Gear alongside the Faded Artifacts.

4. Sealed Abyss Artifacts

Completing challenges tied to Sealed Abyss Artifacts rewards Faded Abyss Artifacts alongside standard Abyss Artifacts and Abyss Gear. Sealed Abyss Artifacts are world collectibles found at specific locations, each with a challenge condition listed in your inventory.

5. Campaign and Quest Rewards

Certain main story quests and side quests award Faded Abyss Artifacts as completion rewards. Check your Journal for quests that list them as rewards before accepting tasks. Faction quests occasionally reward them as well.

Faded vs. Sealed vs. Regular Abyss Artifacts

Tips

• Stock up on Faded Abyss Artifacts before experimenting with builds. Witch vendors are the easiest source if you have silver.

• A respec now affects only the character you reset, so you can plan skill allocation separately for Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka instead of planning all three together.

• The crafting recipe is one of the most cost-effective sources if you can farm Abyss Cells and Mercury efficiently. Set up a farming route through areas with Abyss-corrupted enemies.

• Remember that Watch and Learn skills are free and permanent, so focus your Abyss Artifact investments on skills you cannot learn through observation.

• Save your game before using a Faded Abyss Artifact. If you are unhappy with your new build, you can reload and try again without wasting the item.

• Health, Stamina, and Spirit upgrades are shared between all three characters. Prioritize these early since they benefit everyone equally.

Recorded sellers and quest rewards

The seller records include Areciel, Elowen, Bari, Lyselia and the Sky Galleon Vargon Merchant. Woman in White, the fourth mission in Traces under I. The First Encounter, records one Faded Abyss Artifact as a reward. These are acquisition leads; no stock quantity, restock timer or universal quest unlock is inferred from the item listing.