Overview
Flying enemies in Crimson Desert are some of the most frustrating encounters if you are not prepared. They stay airborne, dodge your melee swings, and bombard you with ranged attacks. The key is bringing the right skills and knowing when to strike. This guide covers every tool available for grounding or killing flying targets.
Nature's Snare and Nature's Retribution
The single most effective answer to flying enemies is the Nature's Retribution skill, which branches off Nature's Snare in the Spirit skill tree. Here is how the combo works:
Unlock Nature's Snare (Spirit tree, up to level 3). The base ability creates an energy barrier that blocks incoming projectiles, including arrows and spells. This is your defense while you set up the attack.
Activate Focus (L1 on controller, or the Focus keybind on PC) to enter the channeling state. Time slows down around you while you gather energy.
Use Nature's Retribution to unleash the stored energy in a single burst. This attack knocks flying enemies to the ground, leaving them vulnerable to melee follow-ups.
Once the enemy is grounded, switch to your strongest melee combos. They stay down long enough for a full damage window before taking off again. The channeling time for Nature's Snare is the main vulnerability; use it when the enemy pauses to charge its own attack, since that is the moment they hold still.
Bow and Archery Skills
Archery (Stamina tree, up to level 5) is your primary ranged option. Several archery skills are particularly effective against airborne targets:
Skill | Tree | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Archery | Basic bow attacks. Up to level 5. Your bread-and-butter for chip damage on flying enemies between their attack patterns. | |
Hold to gather wind energy and release a high-damage arrow. Best used when a flying enemy hovers in place to charge an attack. | ||
Fires 10 arrows in a wide spread. Effective against large flying targets or clustered aerial enemies since some arrows will connect even with imprecise aim. | ||
Slide sideways to dodge an attack while firing an arrow. Level 2 increases speed. Level 3 fires two arrows in rapid succession. Excellent for staying mobile while dealing damage. | ||
Enter Focus to slow time, then target multiple enemies with precision shots. Up to level 3 with wind-powered rapid shot and reposition variants. |
The bow handles most of the chip damage between Nature's Retribution uses. Charged Shot is the single highest-damage ranged attack, but Evasive Shot is safer since it lets you dodge incoming fire at the same time.
Focus Abilities
Axiom Force powers are channeled through Focus (Spirit tree, up to level 3). When you enter Focus, time slows down and you have two follow-up options:
Focused Insight (hold L1): Read enemy attack patterns. Useful for learning the timing of a flying enemy's dive or ranged volley so you know when to dodge and when to counter.
Focused Repulsion (press R1): Knock back all surrounding enemies. If a flying enemy dives into melee range, this creates distance and gives you time to reposition.
Focus also synergizes with Focus Shot for targeted ranged attacks during the slow-motion window. Use Focused Insight to study the enemy's pattern first, then commit to Focus Shot or Nature's Retribution on the next cycle.
Aerial and Melee Options
If you prefer melee, two skills help close the gap with airborne enemies:
Flying Kick: Launch yourself toward an enemy in midair and kick them twice. This works when enemies dip to a low altitude for swooping attacks.
Aerial Swing: Use nearby elevated terrain or structures to launch yourself upward and carry your momentum into a flying strike. Position yourself near cliffs, walls, or ruins to get the height advantage.
These melee options are situational. Nature's Retribution (to ground the enemy) followed by melee combos on the ground remains more consistent than trying to meet enemies in the air.
Specific Flying Encounters
Wyverns and drakes are the most common large flying enemies. During mounted combat on a wyvern yourself, you can sweep down and use breath attacks to deal heavy damage. Expect these encounters in mid-to-late game content.
The Crowcaller boss uses aerial dive-bomb attacks. His most dangerous move is a high jump followed by a sideways dodge and then a ground slam at your position. Dodge sideways when he begins the descent, not when he jumps. The sideways adjustment in the air is what catches players off guard.
Recommended Skill Priority
Nature's Snare (level 3) and Nature's Retribution. Your primary anti-air tool. Unlock these as soon as they become available in the Spirit tree.
Archery (level 3+). Consistent ranged damage for when enemies are airborne and Nature's Retribution is on cooldown.
Evasive Shot (level 2+). Keeps you mobile and safe while dealing damage. The speed increase at level 2 is a major quality-of-life improvement.
Focus (level 2+). Slow-motion window makes landing Charged Shots and Focus Shots much easier against fast-moving targets.
Tips
Wait for flying enemies to hold still before using Nature's Retribution. They usually pause when charging up their own attack, which gives you a clear shot.
Nature's Snare at level 3 blocks all incoming projectiles, including arrows and spells. Activate it while channeling to stay safe during the windup.
Multishot is better against large flying enemies than small ones. The wide spread compensates for poor aim but wastes arrows on smaller targets.
Keep your camera locked on the target during aerial fights. Use the hard lock-on (D-pad Down / Caps Lock) so the camera tracks the enemy as they move. See the lock-on guide for details.
If a flying enemy dives at you, Focused Repulsion (R1 during Focus) knocks them back and creates space. This is safer than trying to dodge a fast dive attack.
Invest in Stamina upgrades to support prolonged bow use. Running out of stamina mid-fight against a flying enemy means you cannot dodge or shoot.
The Combat System rewards patience. Study the enemy's pattern with Focused Insight first, then commit to your damage window on the next cycle.