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Gabriel Caliburn - Version 14 vs Version 15
May 25, 2026, 02:34 PM
Added Database Stats section with HP, attack, defense, stamina, knockout, and fatal values
Jun 8, 2026, 11:45 PM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
11Overview22Gabriel Caliburn is the Duke of Demeniss and head of House Caliburn. He is a mandatory boss in Crimson Desert who is fought in two separate encounters across the campaign. The first encounter occurs during The Blood Coronation quest in Chapter 8: Blood Coronation, and the second takes place during A Shadow in the Void in Chapter 12: The Abyss, where he appears as Corrupted Caliburn.66Gabriel as "once regarded as an upright and virtuous man" who "rose to power after massacring King Thorel's loyalists." His corruption stems from an insatiable hunger for power that drove him to commit atrocities. By the time Kliff confronts him, Gabriel has become a tyrant willing to use any means necessary to maintain control over the Demeniss region.88Lore1010Gabriel Caliburn was once considered a righteous leader who served his people faithfully. His fall began when ambition overtook principle, leading him to orchestrate a bloody massacre of King Thorel's loyalists to seize power. As Duke of Demeniss, he ruled through fear and violence, and his corruption only deepened over time.1212During Chapter 8, Kliff infiltrates Demeniss Castle to investigate Gabriel's connection to Myurdin. Using the Visione helmet to view memory fragments in Gabriel's old office, Kliff witnesses a past massacre. After the memory plays out, Gabriel confronts Kliff directly. Following this encounter, Woosa and Maegu intervene to rescue Kliff, and the story shifts to Damiane infiltrating Demeniss Castle to confront Lucian Bastier.1414Later in the story, Gabriel escapes through a portal into the Abyss. In Chapter 12, Kliff pursues him across multiple Abyss island chains, solving puzzles and clearing challenges along the way, until reaching the Dimensional Bonds area where the final confrontation takes place. By this point, Gabriel has been transformed by the Abyss into Corrupted Caliburn, a shadow-wielding figure who can summon clones and unleash devastating ranged attacks.1616First Encounter: The Blood Coronation1818Boss Stats2020StatDetailsQuestThe Blood CoronationLocationDemeniss Castle, DemenissChapterChapter 8: Blood Coronation (To Demeniss)Playable CharacterKliffBoss TypeMandatory (scripted defeat)Health1,350Attack120Defense100Stamina100Knockout750Fatal52222Encounter Details2323The first encounter with Gabriel Caliburn occurs at the end of The Blood Coronation quest. After exploring the palace, finding the duke's old office on the second floor, and using the Visione helmet to view memory fragments, Kliff is confronted by Gabriel in a boss fight.2525This fight is a scripted defeat. Players are meant to lose against Gabriel during this first encounter. While you can deal damage to him and practice his attack timings, the fight will end with Gabriel overpowering Kliff regardless of your performance. There is no penalty for losing, as the story continues with a cutscene where Woosa and Maegu rescue Kliff.2727Even though you cannot win, the encounter is worth fighting properly. Bringing plenty of food and going for parries to break Gabriel's stance helps you learn his attack patterns, which is useful preparation for the far more difficult Corrupted Caliburn encounter later.2929First Encounter Attack Patterns3131AttackDescriptionHow to CounterThree Hit Slash ComboGabriel's primary melee attack. Three precise sword strikes in quick succession, using his swordsmanship training.Can be blocked, parried, or interrupted with a well-timed counter. Parrying the first strike staggers him and prevents the remaining two hits.Celestial Bow StrafeGabriel deploys a large bow and fires a barrage of arrows in a sweeping arc. Covers a wide area and deals sustained damage if caught in the volley.Use Nature's Snare to block the projectiles, then Nature's Retribution to redirect the arrows back at him. Alternatively, use Evasive Roll to dodge through the volley.Force GrabA mystical power Gabriel uses as a finisher. He reaches out with dark energy to grab and restrain Kliff. This is the move that ends the scripted encounter.No known counter. This is the scripted finisher that concludes the first encounter.3333Second Encounter: Corrupted Caliburn3434Boss Stats3636StatDetailsQuestA Shadow in the VoidLocationDimensional Bonds, The AbyssChapterChapter 12: The Abyss (The Void)Health BarsMultiple (3 phases)Damage TypePhysical / Shadow / RangedWeaknessParry, close-range aggression, Force Palm staggersPlayable CharacterKliffBoss TypeMandatory (endgame)3838Equipment3939Gabriel Caliburn carries a signature loadout that reflects his status as Duke of Demeniss. The following equipment is associated with him according to the game database:4141SlotItemWeaponAshcreed (Two-Hand Sword)HeadGabriel Caliburn's Plate HelmUpperbodyGabriel Caliburn's Plate ArmorCloakGabriel Caliburn's Plate CloakHandGabriel Caliburn's Plate GlovesFootGabriel Caliburn's Plate Boots4343Skills4444Gabriel Caliburn has two passive skills that define his combat profile:4646Boss Large Human (passive): Classifies Gabriel as a large human-type boss, which affects how certain player abilities, stagger thresholds, and crowd-control effects interact with him. Techniques that work on regular humans may behave differently against large boss variants.Skill Caliburn Buff (passive): A persistent self-buff tied to Gabriel's House Caliburn lineage. This passive enhances his core combat capabilities throughout the encounter. This adds to the elevated Attack and Knockout resistance values shown in his stat sheet.4848Reaching Corrupted Caliburn5050After assaulting the fortress, Gabriel escapes through a portal leading into the Abyss. During the A Shadow in the Void quest, Kliff must navigate multiple Abyss island chains with puzzles and challenges to reach a large central island called Dimensional Bonds, where Corrupted Caliburn awaits.5252The path is free-form, with multiple branches leading to Dimensional Bonds while others lead to dead ends. Some players have found a shortcut by heading to a crashed cube structure in the Demeniss area of the Abyss, though the standard route involves solving puzzles such as the Spire of Clockwork before arriving.5454Attack Patterns5656Corrupted Caliburn's fight has three phases, each more aggressive than the last. The defining mechanic of this encounter is his ability to summon shadow clones that attack independently, feint to create openings, and disrupt your lock-on targeting. The clones cannot be damaged but can hurt you, making them consistently dangerous throughout all three phases.5858AttackDescriptionHow to CounterShadow ClonesCaliburn frequently summons shadowy duplicates of himself. The clones attack independently and cannot be damaged. They interfere with camera lock-on due to their proximity, making it difficult to track the real Caliburn.Ignore the clones and focus on tracking the real Caliburn. Watch for the clone feints; the real attack often comes after a clone has already struck. Manually adjust your camera rather than relying on lock-on.Clone ClashCaliburn pauses and summons multiple clones that simultaneously stab at your current position. The attack hits the ground where you are standing when it triggers.Roll away from your current position as soon as you see him pause and the clones materialize. The stabs target where you were, not where you are going.Arcing CrescentA ranged attack where Caliburn cleaves the air and releases crescent-shaped energy projectiles. Usually fires two crescents in quick succession.Dodge sideways through the projectiles. Do not dodge backward, as the crescents travel in a wide arc and can still clip you at range.Red RainCaliburn causes multiple energy beams to rain down from the sky across the arena. Each beam has an individual impact zone.Sprint continuously to avoid the beam impacts. The beams target your position with a slight delay, so constant movement keeps you safe. Do not stop to attack during this ability.King's CrossCaliburn creates a large sword glowing with red energy. After a brief charge-up, multiple clones appear and strike the ground, causing linear eruptions spreading outward in six directions from the point of impact.Position yourself between the eruption lines, which radiate outward like spokes. The gaps between lines are wide enough to stand in safely. Back away from the impact center to give yourself more room.Teleport Overhead SmashOne of Caliburn's combo finishers. He teleports above Kliff and smashes down with tremendous force. Deals heavy damage but has a long recovery animation.Dodge to the side when you see the teleport. If you successfully avoid the smash, you have several seconds to attack while Caliburn recovers. This is one of the best punish windows in the fight.6060Strategy6161Preparation6363Corrupted Caliburn is one of the final bosses in the campaign and a significant skill check before the true endgame encounters against Myurdin and Umbra. Bring the best food you have available, ideally at least 100 high-tier healing items. Make sure your skills and abilities are fully upgraded, and equip your strongest weapons and armor.6565Combat Approach6767Stay close and bait melee attacks. At range, Caliburn uses Arcing Crescent and Red Rain, which are harder to avoid than his melee strings. By staying in melee range, you force him to use sword combos that can be parried and punished.6969Use perfect parries to break his guard. Perfect parries are the fastest way to deal damage in this fight. When you break Caliburn's stance through parrying, he staggers and becomes vulnerable to a full combo. Chain light and heavy attacks immediately after a stagger to maximize burst damage.7171Watch the clone feints. The most frustrating aspect of this fight is the shadow clones. Caliburn will feint by appearing to attack or teleport, but a clone strikes instead. You cannot damage clones, and they can mess with your lock-on camera. The key insight is that the last move in Caliburn's attack strings is when he is most vulnerable. Learn to weather the clone distractions and save your counterattacks for Caliburn's actual recovery windows.7373Punish the Teleport Overhead Smash. This combo finisher deals massive damage, but if you dodge it, Caliburn is stuck in a long recovery animation. This is your best opportunity for extended damage. Dodge to the side when you see the teleport, then rush in and unload your strongest combo.7575A quick Force Palm Pulse inflicts a brief stagger, which you can follow up with a couple of strikes. Use this between Caliburn's attack chains when you see a small opening that is not long enough for a full combo.7777Heal mid-combat rather than retreating. Backing off to heal gives Caliburn space to use his ranged attacks, which are harder to deal with. Pop healing items during brief pauses in his melee combos while staying within striking distance.7979Rewards8181Defeating Corrupted Caliburn in Chapter 12 awards the Twisted Verdict, a powerful two-hand sword weapon. This weapon prepares you for the subsequent endgame encounters. Completing this fight is required to progress to the final sequence of the campaign.8383The first encounter during The Blood Coronation is a scripted defeat and does not grant combat rewards. Chapter 8 completion rewards include an Abyss Artifact and a Shackle of Might.8585Defeating Corrupted Caliburn in Chapter 12 awards high-tier weapon materials that prepare you for the subsequent final boss encounters against Myurdin and Umbra. Corrupted Caliburn's defeat is required to progress to the endgame sequence.8787Tips8989The first encounter is unwinnable. Do not waste rare consumables trying to beat Gabriel during The Blood Coronation. Use the fight to learn his base attack timings instead.Ignore the clones. Shadow clones cannot be killed and will waste your stamina and healing if you try to fight them. Focus on identifying the real Caliburn.Stay in melee range against Corrupted Caliburn. His ranged attacks (Arcing Crescent, Red Rain) are harder to avoid than his sword combos. Close the distance and bait parryable melee strings.Manual camera control helps. The clones disrupt lock-on targeting constantly. Manually moving the camera keeps you focused on the real Caliburn rather than snapping to clones.Punish the Teleport Overhead Smash. This is your biggest damage window. Dodge the slam, then attack while he recovers.Force Palm for quick staggers. Use Force Palm Pulse during small openings between combo chains for brief stagger windows.Perfect parries are your best damage tool. Breaking his guard through parries opens him for full burst combos. Practice parry timing on his Three Hit Slash Combo, which has predictable timing.Bring your best gear and plenty of food. This is an endgame fight. Full skill upgrades, strongest armor, and at least 100 high-tier healing items.9191See Also9393Boss BattlesDemeniss (region)House CaliburnMyurdinUmbraThe AbyssDamiane (playable character)Kliff (playable character)9595Corruption by Umbra9797The Axiom Archive records that Gabriel Caliburn was not always a tyrant. In several earlier cycles he remained an upright duke and never moved against the throne. The shift happened in cycle 72, when Umbra first started remembering events from previous loops and designing plans of its own. Umbra reached into the world below looking for somebody powerful enough to serve as its avatar, mirroring the way the guardians of the abyss had been refining Kliff. It settled on Caliburn because he was already strong, ambitious, and willing to bargain with anything that promised more. From cycle 72 onward, Caliburn's corruption is one of the constants the guardians have to plan against.9999The guardians did not expect this. They had assumed Umbra was pure power without design, and the discovery that it could pick its own avatar forced them to rewrite their later cycles. Caliburn's transformation is the moment the cycle stopped being a one-sided refinement against a mindless adversary and became a chess match between two long-running plans. Everything Caliburn does from the present cycle's prologue onward (the Bloody Coronation, the alliance with Demeniss, the conscription of Hexe Marie's network, the assault on Fort Musket) reflects his role as Umbra's chosen agent rather than his own original ambition.101101The Bloody Coronation103103Caliburn's rise to absolute power in demeniss ran through the event the nobles call the Bloody Coronation. The kingdom's ailing King Edward Thorel had been bedbound for a long time, leaving Caliburn to act as regent and accumulate power. Word spread among the nobility that Theron was finally about to recover and reclaim the throne, and the dissatisfied houses gathered in the palace to see it happen. The promise of the king's return was the bait. Caliburn slaughtered the noble dissenters and crowned himself in the same hall, then sent his Grand General Bastier to hunt down the survivors and any house that might oppose the new rule.105105From the guardians' side, the Bloody Coronation was a setback. In earlier cycles part of their plan against Umbra had been to back the unnamed Prince Price in reclaiming Demeniss. That option vanished once Caliburn seized the throne and the conspirators around him began purging anyone who could have rallied behind the prince. The fact that King Theron also fell sick at a convenient moment, leaving the throne available, is openly attributed in the cycle logs to Umbra's hand. The illness opened the window of opportunity Caliburn needed.107107Recognition Across Time109109Caliburn's cryptic line in the abyss after Octavius's defeat ("While all else changes, you alone remain unchanged") makes no sense to Kliff at the time. It is explained much later when Kliff and the two eastern witches Mygu and Wusa peer into the memory of the Bloody Coronation itself. Caliburn senses Kliff watching him from the future and yanks him into the past, demands to know if they have met before, and beats him soundly. The witches rescue Kliff almost immediately, but the encounter is filed in Caliburn's memory and surfaces again in the abyss as a vague recollection of having already defeated this same enemy.111111The Caliburn-puppet design extends downward into the warlords who serve him. Myurdin believes he hunts the Greymanes on his own initiative; in reality Bastier's plan, written in Demeniss and approved by Caliburn, used the Black Bears as the first instrument for clearing Pailune. hexe marie works in parallel for her own reasons but ends up empowering Caliburn's lieutenants (Fortin, for instance) with abyssal gifts that double back into the conspiracy. Caliburn does not always know who he is using and almost never knows who is using him; that is one of Umbra's privileges as the avatar's true backer.113113Avatar and Aftermath115115By the time Kliff catches up with Caliburn at Fort Musket, the duke's plan is to force open the abyssal gates and let Umbra's full power into the world below. The Dean of Scholar's Stone has been kidnapped to do the opening for him. Once the gates open, Kliff follows Caliburn into the heart of the abyss, into the region called Dimensional Bonds. There the duke is no longer a duke. His body has fused with Umbra's power, and the figure that turns to fight Kliff is in effect Umbra wearing Caliburn's form. Umbra states this plainly: "All flows back to me. The ache in every soul, the longing for immortality, the longing for beauty, the longing for endless power."117117After the Corrupted Caliburn form is broken, Umbra discards the body and switches to a backup, the assimilated Myurdin, then takes its archangel form when that fails as well. Caliburn does not return. His political legacy outlives him though: the king of Demeniss is still asleep at the end of the cycle, some of his co-conspirators (notably Ada Marshall) are still breathing, and Countess Azerian warns that another Demenissian bloodbath is expected once the king finally wakes.119119Across the Cycles121121CycleCaliburn's RoleCycles before 72Caliburn exists as a duke of Demeniss. In some loops he remains virtuous and never moves against the throne.Cycle 72Umbra picks Caliburn as its avatar. The corruption begins. From this cycle on, the guardians have to plan against a second long-running adversary that learns from its own mistakes.Cycle 108 (present)Caliburn stages the Bloody Coronation, sends Bastier to hunt the surviving houses, allies with Delesyia through Hall, surrounds Fort Musket with super turrets, kidnaps the Dean of Scholar's Stone to open the gates, and fights Kliff as Corrupted Caliburn inside Dimensional Bonds.123123Database Stats124124Combat attributes recorded in the game database for TWO-HAND SWORD.126126StatValueHP1,350Attack170Defense20Stamina100Knockout0Fatal5
