Overview
The Golden Greed Sword (known in-game as the Golden Sword) is a one-handed sword in Crimson Desert and part of the Golden Greed Set. It is classified as Abyss Gear and sits on a pedestal inside the Vault of Vengeance, an Abyss Island accessible through the Scholar Stone skylands in the Path of Providence. Reaching the sword requires solving a multi-step puzzle involving Focus Shot, Nature's Grasp, and Axiom Force abilities, making it one of the more involved weapon pickups in the game.
With a base Attack of 16 and Attack Speed Lv. 1, the Golden Greed Sword is a competent mid-tier one-handed weapon. Its three Abyss Core slots give it more customization potential than many weapons in its attack range, allowing players to tailor it toward critical hits, additional attack speed, or raw damage. The sword's gold-tinted design matches the rest of the Golden Greed Set perfectly, and it pairs especially well with the Golden Greed Shield for a complete golden sword-and-shield loadout.
Stats
Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
Type | One-Handed Weapon (Sword) |
Gear Category | |
Rarity | Non-Unique |
Attack | 16 |
0 | |
Lv. 1 | |
Lv. 0 | |
Lv. 0 | |
Abyss Core Slots | 3 |
Refinement | 3 / 10 |
Craftable | No |
Purchasable | No |
The Golden Greed Sword has three Abyss Core slots, which is above average for weapons in its attack tier. This flexibility allows players to socket cores that complement their build. The base refinement level of 3 means the sword arrives partially upgraded, giving it a slight stat advantage over other weapons with comparable base attack that start at refinement 0.
How to Obtain
The Golden Greed Sword is located in the Vault of Vengeance, an Abyss Island that is part of the Scholar Stone skylands in the Path of Providence. The path to the Vault runs through the Spire of the Stars, then the Sanctorum of Insight, then the Secret Garden. From the Secret Garden, use the Skybridge to reach the Vault of Vengeance.
Vault of Vengeance Puzzle Walkthrough
The Vault of Vengeance requires several abilities to complete. Make sure you have unlocked Focus Shot (Precision Focus), Nature's Grasp, Axiom Force, Force Palm, and Force Current before attempting the vault. The puzzle proceeds as follows:
Activate the power source. When you arrive at the vault entrance, do not go through the front door immediately. Instead, walk around the corner to the left of the door. You will find a power mechanism that needs to be activated using Axiom Force to position the Power Core onto its pedestal.
Hit the two targets. With the power activated, use a double Focus Shot to hit two yellow targets flanking the entrance before either timer runs out. Both targets must be struck in quick succession to unlock the area.
Open the door. Use Nature's Grasp on the door mechanism to lift it and gain entry to the interior chamber.
Enter the laser room. Inside is a room with moving lasers that sweep across the floor and walls. Do not walk into the lasers. Instead, stay at the doorway entrance.
Mark the four targets. From the doorway, enter Focus Shot mode. Look at the far wall of the room and locate four glowing circle pads. Tap R1 on each pad to mark it. When all four are marked, release to fire at all four targets simultaneously. This disables the laser grid.
Collect the sword. With the lasers disabled, walk to the center of the room and pick up the Golden Greed Sword from its pedestal.
After collecting the sword, continue through the vault by climbing the walls to reach the upper platforms. Additional loot, an Abyss Artifact, and an Abyss Gate leading to the Courtyard of Precision can be found above. Reaching the upper sections requires Aerial Force Palm for mid-air triple jumps and additional puzzle steps involving Axiom Force and Force Current.
Refinement
The Golden Greed Sword starts at refinement level 3 out of a maximum of 10. This means it arrives with three levels of stat upgrades already applied, giving it a head start compared to weapons that begin at refinement 0. Further refinement at a Blacksmith will increase its base Attack stat with each level, requiring crafting materials and gold per upgrade.
Because the sword starts at refinement 3, the total investment needed to reach maximum refinement is lower than for most other weapons. Players who want to use it as their primary weapon should consider investing in the remaining seven levels to push its attack stat to its ceiling.
Abyss Core Customization
With three Abyss Core slots, the Golden Greed Sword offers substantial build flexibility. Here are some recommended core setups depending on your playstyle:
Offense (Destruction I x3): Stack flat Attack bonuses across all three slots for maximum raw damage per hit.
Speed (Gale I + Swift I + Destruction I): Combine attack speed cores with one damage core for a fast, aggressive loadout that pairs well with the Golden Greed Shield's Attack Speed Lv. 2.
Critical (Insight I x2 + Rampaging Insight): Build around critical hits for burst damage spikes during combos.
Balanced (Destruction I + Gale I + Insight I): A well-rounded setup that boosts damage, speed, and critical chance equally.
Combat Usage
The Golden Greed Sword functions as a standard one-handed sword with the standard moveset. Its Attack Speed Lv. 1 makes it moderately fast, and its 16 base attack places it in the mid-tier among one-handed weapons. Where it stands out is the combination of three Abyss Core slots and pre-applied refinement, which gives it more practical flexibility than weapons with higher base stats but fewer customization options.
Pairing the sword with the Golden Greed Shield creates a strong offensive sword-and-shield setup. The shield's Attack Speed Lv. 2 stacks with the sword's Lv. 1, producing a combined speed bonus that makes Forward Slash combos significantly faster than with most other weapon-shield combinations. This is particularly effective against enemies that leave small windows between attacks, where faster swing speed lets you squeeze in additional hits.
The sword also works well with defensive play. The one-handed moveset allows Kliff to guard with a shield mid-combo, transitioning smoothly between offense and defense. Using the guard button to block an incoming attack and then immediately counter-striking is one of the core combat patterns for sword-and-shield players.
Comparison to Other One-Handed Swords
Weapon | Attack | Notable Traits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | Lv. 2 | 2 | Higher speed; lower attack | |
14 | Lv. 0 | 2 | No speed bonus | |
Golden Greed Sword | 16 | Lv. 1 | 3 | 3 cores; starts at refinement 3 |
16 | Lv. 1 | 2 | Same ATK/SPD; fewer cores | |
16 | Lv. 0 | 2 | Crit Rate Lv. 1; no speed | |
17 | Lv. 1 | 2 | 1 more ATK; fewer cores | |
17 | Lv. 2 | 2 | Higher ATK and speed; unique |
At 16 attack with Attack Speed Lv. 1, the Golden Greed Sword sits in the middle tier of one-handed swords. What sets it apart is the three Abyss Core slots, which is more than most swords in its range. The Volono Sword has identical attack and speed stats but only two core slots. The Tauria Curved Sword offers slightly higher attack with the same speed level, but again with only two slots.
For players who want the best raw offensive stats, the Melted Ambition (ATK 17, Attack Speed Lv. 2) is a clear upgrade in both categories. However, its two core slots and unique classification mean it is harder to customize. The Golden Greed Sword's three-slot advantage becomes significant when you factor in the cumulative power of three well-chosen Abyss Cores, which can close or exceed the raw stat gap.
Golden Greed Set Synergy
The Golden Greed Sword is the weapon piece of the Golden Greed Set. Visually, it completes the golden ensemble when paired with the matching Golden Greed Shield and the five Golden Greed armor pieces. The sword's gold-tinted blade matches the set's aesthetic perfectly, and many players consider the full set one of the most visually striking loadouts in the game.
Mechanically, the sword and shield pairing creates strong synergy. The shield's Attack Speed Lv. 2 stacks with the sword's Lv. 1, and the combined speed bonus makes Forward Slash chains considerably faster. Adding Gale or Swift Abyss Cores to the sword's three slots can push the attack speed even further, creating one of the fastest sword-and-shield setups in the game.
Tips
Make sure you have Focus Shot, Nature's Grasp, Axiom Force, Force Palm, and Force Current before heading to the Vault of Vengeance. Without these abilities, the puzzle cannot be completed.
In the laser room, do not step inside. Stay at the doorway and use Focus Shot to mark all four targets from a safe position. Walking into the lasers will damage Kliff.
After collecting the sword, continue exploring the rest of the Vault of Vengeance. An Abyss Artifact and additional loot are located on the upper platforms above the laser room.
The sword starts at refinement 3, so you get immediate value from it. If you are between weapon upgrades, the Golden Greed Sword can fill the gap without needing any immediate Blacksmith investment.
Three Abyss Core slots is a significant advantage. Even if another sword has slightly higher base stats, the Golden Greed Sword can outperform it once you socket three strong cores.
If you are collecting the full Golden Greed Set, the sword is typically the last or second-to-last piece obtained because the Vault of Vengeance requires several late-game abilities to access.