Hero's Handshake I is a Challenge in Crimson Desert that tests Kliff's grip at the Arm Wrestling table inside the inn at the City of Hernand. It is classified as a Test of Strength minigame challenge. To complete it, you need to string together a three-win streak against the regular competitors and then defeat the local champion in a final match. Finishing the challenge rewards an Abyss Artifact along with a small silver payout.
Challenge Overview
Field | Detail |
|---|---|
Category | Minigame (Test of Strength) |
Region | |
Location | City of Hernand (inn) |
Requirement | Participate in an Arm Wrestling match |
Entry Fee | 20 copper per match |
Rewards | Abyss Artifact, 1 Silver |
How to Unlock Hero's Handshake I
The challenge unlocks the first time you sit down at an Arm Wrestling table. The earliest spot to do that is the inn inside the City of Hernand. Walk up to the host who is spectating the match, speak to them, and accept the invitation to join. You are introduced to arm wrestling as part of the Where Rumors Gather main quest during the Trials of Kindness arc, so most players bump into it naturally while progressing that storyline. Once your first match ends, a prompt for Hero's Handshake I appears and the challenge goes into your quest log.
Objectives
Step | Objective |
|---|---|
1 | Have a win streak in arm wrestling (x/3). |
2 | Beat the champion. |
Walkthrough
Build a Three-Win Streak
After the first match ends, whether you won or lost the opener, you have to put together three consecutive wins to move the challenge forward. Talk to the host again to queue up another round. Each match costs 20 copper as an entry fee, and every win pays out 20 copper, so a clean streak breaks even on the wager.
If you lose a match, your streak resets to zero and you start the count over. Keep playing at the same table until the counter reaches 3 out of 3. Do not leave the tournament or walk away from the inn before the next step; exiting the arm wrestling session ends the streak progress for that sitting.
Defeat the Champion
With three wins banked, play one more time through the host. Instead of a regular challenger, you are seated across from the champion, a noticeably tougher opponent who pushes harder and requires faster, cleaner inputs. Defeat the champion in a standard arm wrestling match and Hero's Handshake I completes immediately. You receive 1 Silver and one Abyss Artifact on the spot.
How Arm Wrestling Works
The underlying minigame is the standard Arm Wrestling activity, a Test of Strength. Kliff and the opponent lock hands, and the outcome is decided by rapid button mashing combined with quick-time prompts that must be hit on time. Missed prompts give your opponent ground, while clean hits push their arm down. Rounds get progressively demanding, with later competitors reacting faster and throwing tighter QTE windows than the first few.
The champion fight is the hardest pacing check in the set, so it is worth doing a warm-up round against a weaker opponent before chaining your serious attempt. See the main Arm Wrestling page for the full input breakdown and per-platform controls.
Rewards
Reward | Notes |
|---|---|
Used to unlock and upgrade skills. Combine with other artifacts earned through challenges and exploration; see All Abyss Artifact Locations and the Abyss Artifacts Farming Guide for more sources. | |
1 Silver | Small cash bonus paid out on completion, on top of the per-match copper winnings. |
Tips
Bring a little pocket change before sitting down. The 20 copper entry fee is reimbursed on a win, but a losing streak can drain you if you try to grind too many matches back to back.
Do not leave the inn between the third win and the champion match. The host queues the champion for you right after the streak hits 3; wandering off ends the session.
If you are struggling with timing, watch one or two matches between other patrons at the table first. The visual cues for the QTE prompts are the same regardless of opponent.
This is the first entry in a numbered series. Higher-tier Hero's Handshake challenges show up at other Arm Wrestling tables around Pywel and ramp up the difficulty from here.
Related Content
Arm Wrestling - full overview of the minigame and its controls.
City of Hernand - home of the inn where this challenge begins.
Where Rumors Gather - the main quest that introduces arm wrestling.
Trials of Kindness - story arc that frames the Hernand content.
Minigames - directory of every minigame in Crimson Desert.
All Challenges - full list of Challenges across every region.