Overview
The dyeing system in Crimson Desert lets you change the color of your armor and weapons at a dyehouse. Dyeing is purely cosmetic and does not affect stats. You can dye individual parts of each armor piece, such as the chest plate, leather straps, ornamental designs, and fabric frills.
Finding Dyehouses
The earliest accessible dyehouse is at Hernand Farmhouse in south Hernand, run by a dyer named Theoric. You can find it southeast of the main city area. Additional dyehouses appear in other settlements as you progress, including one in Claphade that sells the Bright Green Dye.
How to Dye Equipment
Step 1: Acquire a dye through crafting, purchasing, or finding one in the world.
Step 2: Open your inventory and press Use on the dye to learn it. This permanently unlocks all shades associated with that color at any dyehouse. You cannot apply a dye without using it first.
Step 3: Speak to the dyer at any dyehouse and select "Dye."
Step 4: Choose the piece of equipment you want to dye from the left panel.
Step 5: Pick a dye color from the right panel. Only dyes you have learned will appear here.
Step 6: Select which part of the armor to color (chest plate, straps, ornaments, etc.).
Step 7: Press the Dye button and pay the silver cost to apply the color.
Getting Dyes
Crafting Dyes at a Cauldron
Dyes can be crafted by mixing flowers, insects, and other colored materials at a Cauldron. Dye recipes generally require Longhorn Beetles, another type of beetle, and brightly colored plant materials.
Cauldron Locations
Location | How to Find It |
|---|---|
Hernand City (east side) | Inside a vacant building with a mortar and pestle sign on the east side of Hernand Town. |
Shadow's Whisper Cave | North of Hernand City, just west of Three Saints Falls. Squeeze through a narrow cliff crack to access the cave. |
Example Dye Recipes
Dye | Ingredients |
|---|---|
Bright Red Dye | 1 Rhinoceros Beetle, 1 Longhorn Beetle, 10 Pink Rosemary |
Dark Yellow Dye | 10 Dunbaria, 3 Beetle, 1 Longhorn Beetle, 2 Stag Beetle |
Bright Yellow Dye | 10 Dunbaria, 3 Beetle, 3 Longhorn Beetle |
Bright Green Dye | Purchased from the Dyehouse in Claphade |
Buying Dyes
Some dyes can be purchased directly from dyehouse vendors or specialty merchants rather than crafted. The Bright Green Dye, for example, is sold at the Claphade Dyehouse. Always check vendor inventories in new settlements for dyes you have not found recipes for.
Tips
Collect beetles and flowers whenever you see them in the wild. Longhorn Beetles are needed for almost every dye recipe.
Using a dye unlocks all shades of that color, not just one. A single Bright Red Dye unlocks multiple red tones at the dyehouse.
Dyeing costs silver each time you apply a color, so experiment on your favorite armor set rather than every piece you own.
You can dye equipment multiple times. Applying a new color replaces the old one at the same silver cost.
Check Shadow's Whisper Cave early. The cauldron there lets you start crafting dyes before you might find one in the open world.