Revision 2

Overview

The Hollow Visage is a unique one-handed katana in Crimson Desert. With an Attack Power of 17, Attack Speed Lv.2, and Critical Rate Lv.1, it stands out as one of the strongest early-game pickups available. The weapon ships at Refinement Lv.3 with three Abyss Gear cores already installed (Insight I, Gale I, and Destruction I), making it combat-ready the moment you pull it from its chest.

Hollow Visage is hidden inside Dawn Cave, a secret chamber behind a waterfall at the Mountain of Frozen Souls in southern Hernand. Because it cannot be purchased from any vendor or crafted at a blacksmith, players must physically travel to the location and break through the waterfall entrance to claim it. The weapon's katana-style moveset emphasizes rapid slashes and fluid combos, rewarding an aggressive, speed-oriented playstyle.

Stats

Attack Speed Lv.2 is among the highest speed ratings on any one-handed weapon in the early to mid game. For comparison, most craftable swords and maces sit at Lv.0 or Lv.1 for attack speed. This speed advantage translates directly into faster combo strings, quicker stagger build-up, and more opportunities to land critical hits.

Abyss Gear Slots

Hollow Visage comes pre-loaded with three Abyss Gear cores. These provide immediate stat bonuses without requiring the player to farm or purchase Abyss Artifacts separately.

These three cores synergize well with the weapon's existing stat profile. Insight I stacks on top of the built-in Critical Rate Lv.1, Gale I amplifies the already-fast Attack Speed Lv.2, and Destruction I pushes the raw damage output even higher. Players can remove and replace these cores at any time if they prefer a different loadout, but for most builds the default set is hard to beat.

How to Obtain

Hollow Visage is found in a treasure chest at the end of Dawn Cave. The cave entrance is hidden behind a waterfall at the Mountain of Frozen Souls in southern Hernand. Follow these steps to reach it:

1. Travel to the Mountain of Frozen Souls in the southern part of the Hernand map, near the water. The mountain sits in the area south of Hernand Castle.

2. Climb the mountain path until you spot a waterfall with a rocky platform beside it. The easiest approach is to start from the top of the mountain and glide down to the platform next to the waterfall.

3. Face the waterfall and use the Stab skill (forward dash attack). This breaks through the water barrier and opens the entrance to Dawn Cave.

4. Follow the cave path through the interior until you reach the treasure chest area at the end.

5. Open the chest to claim the Hollow Visage along with its pre-installed Abyss Gear.

You must have the Stab skill unlocked before attempting this. Without it, the waterfall cannot be bypassed. The Stab skill is part of the basic sword moveset and becomes available early in the game, so most players will already have it by the time they explore this area.

Refinement

Hollow Visage arrives at Refinement Lv.3, meaning it has already been partially upgraded. It can be refined further at any blacksmith up to the maximum of Lv.10. Each refinement level increases the weapon's Attack Power and may unlock additional stat bonuses.

Early refinement levels require common materials such as Iron Ore and Copper Ore, along with Silver. Higher refinement levels demand rarer resources including Gold Ore, Bloodstone, and Abyss Artifacts. Because the weapon already starts at Lv.3, you save the materials that would otherwise be needed for those first three upgrades.

Combat Tips

• The Lv.2 Attack Speed makes Hollow Visage one of the fastest one-handed weapons in the game. Lean into this advantage by stringing together quick combos and dodging between attacks rather than trading blows.

• The built-in Critical Rate bonus (both from the stat and the Insight I core) means you will land critical hits frequently. Consider pairing this weapon with armor or accessories that boost critical damage to maximize the payoff from those crits.

• Because Hollow Visage is one-handed, you can equip a shield in your off-hand for added defense. This makes it a strong choice for players who want speed and aggression without giving up the ability to block.

• The katana moveset shares similarities with the Hwando (a two-handed katana), but Hollow Visage trades raw damage for faster swings and shield compatibility. If you prefer two-handed power over speed, the Hwando may suit you better.

• Many players report using Hollow Visage from Chapter 2 all the way through Chapter 6 before needing to upgrade. Its combination of speed, pre-loaded Abyss Gear, and decent attack power keeps it competitive well beyond the point where you first find it.

• You can remove the pre-installed Abyss Gear cores and transfer them to another weapon if you want. However, the default Insight I / Gale I / Destruction I loadout is well-suited to the weapon's strengths and is hard to improve on without high-tier cores.

Comparison with Similar Weapons

Hollow Visage excels in situations where attack speed matters more than raw power. Against bosses that punish slow swings with tight counter windows, the Lv.2 speed lets you sneak in extra hits and dodge away safely. For pure damage output in longer fights, the Hwando or Ring of the Earth may edge it out, but they lack the speed advantage that defines this weapon's identity.

Related Articles

• Unique Weapons

• One-Handed Weapons

• Weapons

• Abyss Gear

• Hwando

• Hernand Castle

• Blacksmiths