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Hernand is the starting region of Crimson Desert and contains one of the highest concentrations of Abyss Artifacts in the game. Because you spend the first several chapters exploring this area, it is worth collecting every artifact you can before moving on to Demeniss or Pailune. This page catalogs every known Abyss Artifact pickup in Hernand, split into three categories: regular artifacts obtained from Abyss Cressets and quests, Sealed Abyss Artifacts that require completing a challenge, and Faded Abyss Artifacts used for respeccing your skill tree.
There are three main types of Abyss Artifacts. Regular Abyss Artifacts grant a skill point immediately when collected. They are typically rewarded for completing quests, puzzles, or Abyss Cresset challenges. Sealed Abyss Artifacts are locked when you first pick them up. Each one reveals a specific challenge that must be completed before you receive the skill point. Completing Sealed challenges can also award Abyss Gears, which are socketable runes that add elemental effects and stat bonuses to your weapons and armor. Faded Abyss Artifacts are consumables that let you respec, resetting and reallocating all of your current skill points. None of these can be sold.
Beyond skill point allocation, Abyss Artifacts are also consumed as a crafting material when you push any piece of equipment to Refinement +5 or higher. Balancing your supply between skill investment and gear refinement is one of the core mid-game decisions, so collecting as many as possible in Hernand gives you a comfortable buffer for later.
Regular Abyss Artifacts in Hernand primarily come from Abyss Cressets, which also double as Fast Travel waypoints (teleportation points) once activated. The Cressets are often hidden on elevated plateaus, inside ruins, or behind puzzle doors. Some require specific abilities like Nature's Grasp or Force Palm to reach. A few regular artifacts are deposited directly into your inventory as quest rewards rather than found in the open world.
Sealed Abyss Artifacts sit on small stone altars or shrines along roads and at crossroads. They are not marked on the world map, but a purple icon appears on your minimap when you are nearby. You can also use the sword's Guiding Light ability (CTRL + Left Click on PC, LB + RB on controller) to spot them from further away; they emit a faint white glow when the lantern is raised. Because Sealed Artifacts tend to be placed along roads you will travel during the main story, riding slowly with the lantern raised is the most reliable way to find them all.
If you run short on artifacts later in the game, you can also purchase Abyss Artifacts from Patrigio's Secret Shop, a traveling merchant who occasionally appears along roadsides throughout Pywel.
Most regular Abyss Artifacts in Hernand come from Abyss Cressets found after solving puzzles or climbing to hard-to-reach spots. A few are deposited directly into your inventory as quest rewards.
Name / Source | Location | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
Southwest of Anvil Hill, on a small plateau above the Nas River bend | Climb the plateau while dodging Gypsum hazards and poison hands. Purple flowers at the top drain your health, so sprint directly to the Cresset and interact with it before your health bar empties. | |
Inside the Axiom Archive during Chapter 1: Polar Opposites | Solve the door puzzle inside the archive to unlock the room containing the artifact. | |
End of the Ethereal Pathway area | Awarded for solving the Ethereal Pathway puzzle at the conclusion of Chapter 1: Abyss without Balance. | |
Requires Nature's Grasp. Solve the plate puzzle during Chapter 2: Unexpected Gift to activate the Cresset. | ||
Cliff overlooking Sunset Valley | Climb to the cliff edge southwest of Sunset Valley. The Cresset sits at the top with a clear view of the valley below. | |
Hill of the Abandoned | Near the field of reeds, south of Mountain of Frozen Souls Hearth | Look for a Bloodstone Vein on a rock wall. Climb up the wall past the vein to reach the Cresset at the top. |
Windcrest | Mountains west of the Hill of the Abandoned, near the map edge | A long, steep climb up the mountainside. There are no enemies along the way, just a lot of vertical terrain to navigate. |
South of Glenbright Manor in the Hernand Highlands, past a thicket of thorns | Statue rotation puzzle with four statues. When you approach, the statues move away from their solved positions. Each statue has a dial on its back. Turning a dial rotates both that statue and the one in the opposite corner (Statues 1 and 4 are paired, as are 2 and 3). To solve: turn Statue 1's dial a quarter turn left (you will feel a hard stop and hear an audio cue), then turn Statue 2's dial a half turn in either direction. The puzzle completes automatically and the Cresset activates. | |
In a pit near Howling Hills in the Hernand Highlands | Rotate three stone dials to match the mural clues found on cliff faces at Anvil Hill, to the west and northwest of the House of Healing. This is one of the more obtuse puzzles in the region. Solving it also grants Memories of Abundance. |
Sealed Abyss Artifacts are found along roadsides and at small shrines throughout Hernand. Picking one up does not immediately grant a skill point. Instead, a challenge is added to your Journal's Challenges tab. You must complete that challenge before the artifact unseals. Challenges fall into several categories including Mastery Challenges (weapon proficiency), Combat Challenges (defeating enemies under specific conditions), and Life Challenges (traversal and non-combat feats). Some challenges also award a Faded Abyss Artifact or Abyss Gear as a bonus reward on completion.
Challenge Name | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
Altar on the road to Sunset Valley, west of Vellua | Found on a roadside altar. Complete the Desperate Rescue challenge to unseal. | |
Harmonious Hooves IV | Road leading to Sunset Valley, south of the Mountain of Frozen Souls | Located along the road. Requires a mounted riding challenge to unseal. |
Small altar along the road beneath Unicorn Cliff, south of Nas River | Complete the balance challenge to unseal. This one also awards a Faded Abyss Artifact on completion, making it one of the most valuable Sealed Artifacts in Hernand. | |
Roadside altar on the main road to Halssius' House of Healing | Visited during Chapter 3's "Familiar Curses" quests. Completing the challenge also awards a Faded Abyss Artifact, making this another high-priority pickup. | |
Sharpened Spear II | Shrine on an island in the middle of Nas River, near where you land after leaving the Abyss at the end of Chapter 1 | You will likely land on or near this island during the story. There is also a spear you can pick up nearby and use directly for the challenge, so you do not need to bring your own. |
Sliding Down Slopes I | Fork in the road near Bloomwood Ranch, near the center of the Nas River bend | Crouch while sprinting to enter a slide. The slide continues for as long as you are on a steep enough slope. There is a slope near the dye merchant with purple flowers that is long and steep enough to complete this challenge. |
Small shrine among peonies on the west side of the bridge spanning Three Saints' Falls, near Wycliffe Mappery | You will need to use your lantern (Guiding Light) to claim the artifact from the shrine. Challenge: defeat three enemies with a sword within 30 seconds. | |
Sword of Trials III | Altar at a fork in the road leading to Goldleaf Trading Post and Equinsher Saddlery inside the Nas River bend | Found at a roadside altar. Complete the sword combat challenge to unseal. |
Shield of Unchanging Will I | Roadside altar between the Three Saints' Falls bridge and Hernand town | A small altar with a shield leaning against it. Complete the shield defense challenge to unseal. |
Shield of Unchanging Will II | Stone altar in the fields south of Scholastone, in Kharonso (western Hernand) | You visit this area during Chapter IV of the main storyline. Complete the shield challenge to unseal. |
A Bow Aimed at Fate I | Altar on the road near Glenbright Farms, northwest edge of the town south of Hernand Highlands | Complete the bow combat challenge to unseal. |
Altar on a hill overlooking Sunset Valley to the north | Found at an elevated altar with a view of the valley. Complete the equipment challenge to unseal. | |
Altar along the road west of Vellua | Located at a roadside altar. Complete the Trespassing challenge to unseal. | |
Ground-Shaking Impact I | Altar next to old stone ruins near the southeast wall of Fort Perwin | Same area as the Precipice of Echoes tile puzzle ruins. The zone is initially hostile; you receive a side quest called Continuing Concern from House Roberts that sends you there. Complete the ground impact challenge to unseal. |
Each Sealed Abyss Artifact in Hernand is tied to one of several challenge categories. Understanding what type of challenge you are facing helps you prepare the right equipment and approach before attempting it.
Examples in Hernand | What to Expect | |
|---|---|---|
Sword Mastery | Sword of Trials I, Sword of Trials III | Defeat a set number of enemies using only your sword within a time limit. Keep your sword equipped and upgraded before attempting these. |
Shield Mastery | Shield of Unchanging Will I, Shield of Unchanging Will II | Block or parry a set number of incoming attacks. Having a solid shield and practicing the parry timing helps. |
Bow Mastery | A Bow Aimed at Fate I | Hit targets with a bow at range or defeat enemies using only ranged attacks. Stock up on arrows beforehand. |
Spear Mastery | Sharpened Spear II | Use a spear in combat. A spear can usually be found near the artifact's shrine, so you do not need to carry one. |
Mounted | Harmonious Hooves IV | Perform mounted riding maneuvers or horseback combat. Make sure your horse is nearby when picking up the artifact. |
Life / Traversal | Sliding Down Slopes I, Keeping Balance on the Wind, Equipment, Trespassing | Non-combat feats like sliding, balancing, managing equipment, or entering restricted areas. These can usually be completed near the artifact's location. |
Combat | Desperate Rescue, Night of the Silent Banner Pikes, Ground-Shaking Impact I | General combat scenarios such as rescuing NPCs, surviving ambushes, or defeating enemies with specific abilities. |
Faded Abyss Artifacts allow you to respec by resetting all invested skill points. They are rare and primarily found as quest rewards or secondary prizes for completing certain Sealed Abyss Artifact challenges. In Hernand, there are four known Faded Abyss Artifacts. Because these are so scarce, it is wise to hold onto them until you are confident about a build change.
Source | Location | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
"Mystical Key" Chest | Hernand Castle, locked room requiring the Mystical Key | During Chapter 1: Mystical Key, enter the locked room inside Hernand Castle. Loot the chest before stepping through the portal. The chest contains the Faded Abyss Artifact. Do not skip this; it is easy to miss if you rush through the portal. |
Chapter II Outset | Hernand (town) | Automatically received at the outset of Chapter 2: Golden Greed when you return to the city after completing Chapter 1. |
Keeping Balance on the Wind (bonus) | Road beneath Unicorn Cliff, south of Nas River | Awarded as a bonus alongside the Sealed Abyss Artifact when you complete the Keeping Balance on the Wind challenge. |
Night of the Silent Banner Pikes (bonus) | Main road to Halssius' House of Healing | Awarded as a bonus alongside the Sealed Abyss Artifact when you complete the Night of the Silent Banner Pikes challenge. |
You do not need to go out of your way to grab every artifact on a single pass. Many of them are placed along roads you will travel naturally during the main story. That said, if you want to pick them up efficiently, here is a suggested route through Hernand.
Chapter 1: Collect the Axiom Archive and Ethereal Pathway artifacts as you progress through the story. Before leaving Hernand Castle, grab the Faded Abyss Artifact from the Mystical Key chest. After exiting the Abyss at the end of Chapter 1, land on the Nas River island and pick up Sharpened Spear II. A spear is conveniently sitting near the shrine, so grab it and knock out the challenge right away.
Chapter 2: You receive a Faded Abyss Artifact at the start of Chapter 2. During the Unexpected Gift quest, solve the Meandering Hills Ruins puzzle. Ride along the Nas River road to collect Sliding Down Slopes I near Bloomwood Ranch and Sword of Trials I near Three Saints' Falls.
Free roam after Chapter 2: Sweep the roads west and south of Vellua for Desperate Rescue and Trespassing. Head into Sunset Valley and the surrounding hills for A Detailed Glance, Equipment, and Harmonious Hooves IV. Climb to Hill of the Abandoned and Windcrest while you are in the western mountains.
Hernand Highlands: Visit Sunrise Plains for the statue puzzle and Dragon's Stone Chamber Ruins for the dial puzzle. Pick up A Bow Aimed at Fate I near Glenbright Farms and Sword of Trials III near Goldleaf Trading Post.
Chapter 3+: Night of the Silent Banner Pikes and Keeping Balance on the Wind are best grabbed when you are traveling to the House of Healing during Chapter 3's Familiar Curses quests. Both of these also award a bonus Faded Abyss Artifact, making them high-priority stops. Shield of Unchanging Will II in Kharonso becomes accessible during Chapter IV. Ground-Shaking Impact I near Fort Perwin ties into the Continuing Concern side quest from House Roberts.
Raise your lantern (Guiding Light ability) while riding through Hernand. Sealed Abyss Artifacts emit a faint white glow when your lantern is active, making them much easier to spot from the road.
A Hill Guided by Light has purple flowers on the plateau that drain your Health. Sprint past them and interact with the Cresset before your health bar empties.
The Sunrise Plains statue puzzle looks complicated, but only two statues need to be touched. Each statue has a dial on its back that controls both itself and its diagonally opposite partner. Turn Statue 1 a quarter turn left until you hear the audio cue, then turn Statue 2 a half turn. The puzzle auto-completes.
For Dragon's Stone Chamber Ruins, the mural clues are found on cliff faces at Anvil Hill, to the west and northwest of the House of Healing. Visit those cliffs first if you want to solve the dial puzzle without trial and error.
Do not skip the Mystical Key chest in Hernand Castle. Faded Abyss Artifacts are rare, and having a free respec early in the game lets you experiment with different skill builds.
If you missed the Sharpened Spear II island after Chapter 1, you can return to it at any time via the Nas River. Swim or ride your horse across.
Two of the Sealed Abyss Artifacts (Keeping Balance on the Wind and Night of the Silent Banner Pikes) also award a Faded Abyss Artifact on completion, making them especially valuable.
For Sliding Down Slopes I, look for the slope near the dye merchant with purple flowers. Crouch while sprinting to enter a slide; the slide continues automatically as long as the ground is steep enough.
Remember that Abyss Artifacts are also consumed when refining equipment to +5 and above. Avoid spending every artifact on your skill tree if you plan to upgrade gear soon.
Abyss Artifact - Overview of all artifact types and their uses
Abyss Artifacts Farming Guide - Best farming methods and routes for maximizing artifact income
Abyss Cresset Locations - All 60 Abyss Cresset locations across every region
Sealed Abyss Artifact Locations - All 141 Sealed Abyss Artifacts across Pywel
Abyss Gear - Socketable runes rewarded from Sealed Abyss Artifact challenges
Hernand - Full guide to the Hernand region
Skills - Complete skill tree reference
Challenges - Full list of Mastery, Combat, and Life challenges
Once the Hernand-region artifact pickups are cleared, the Scholar's Stone Institute in Skala Stone becomes the most efficient way to keep stockpiling Abyss Artifacts without revisiting fixed pickup nodes. After unlocking the Abyssal Energy Research quest and pushing it to 50% progress, Research Scholars spawn at the marked investigation site and can be pickpocketed for an Abyss Artifact (roughly 1 in 3 attempts return the real drop). Talking to the on-site Abyss Nexus NPC refreshes the scholar pool on demand, so the supply is effectively unlimited compared to Hernand's one-and-done locations.
A Mask is mandatory because the steal counts as a crime, and using a Lantern tags the artifact-carrying scholar in the crowd. Full step-by-step instructions live in the Abyss Artifacts Farming Guide and on the Abyss Artifacts page.
