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How to Eavesdrop
March 29, 2026 at 04:40 PM
New comprehensive guide covering the eavesdropping mechanic, controls, Bared Fang locations, dialogue answers, troubleshooting, and tips
Eavesdropping is a contextual stealth mechanic in Crimson Desert that lets Kliff lean against walls, cracks, and ledges to listen in on nearby conversations. The mechanic is introduced during the Bared Fang main quest in Act Seven, where you must eavesdrop on Beighen villagers to gather intelligence about the Blue Fangs secret organization. Unlike simple proximity triggers, eavesdropping requires precise positioning and a two-step input sequence that the in-game tutorial does not fully explain. This guide covers everything you need to know.
Eavesdropping is not a passive ability. You cannot simply stand near two NPCs having a conversation and expect to hear what they are saying. Instead, the mechanic requires you to find a specific spot on the outside of a structure (a wall, a crack in a building, or a ledge) and physically lean against it. Only then does the game allow you to listen in.
The process breaks down into two distinct steps:
Lean against the wall. Walk up to the correct section of wall and press the lean button. Kliff will plant his back against the surface. If you are in the right spot, the lean prompt appears automatically near the bottom-right corner of the screen.
Hold the eavesdrop button. Once leaning, hold the listen button. A "Learning in progress" bar appears on screen. Keep holding until the bar fills completely. When it finishes, you receive the information you need and the quest objective updates.
If the lean prompt does not appear, you are either too far from the wall, facing the wrong direction, or standing at the wrong section. Small adjustments in position can make all the difference.
The table below lists the default button mappings for eavesdropping on both controller and keyboard. Note that on PC, the game is heavily optimized for controller input. Many players find eavesdropping easier with a gamepad because of the analog stick precision involved in positioning. For a full list of controls, see the Controls article.
Action | PlayStation | Xbox | PC (Keyboard/Mouse) |
|---|---|---|---|
Lean against wall | L3 (Left Stick click) | L3 (Left Stick click) | C (Crouch/Lean) |
Eavesdrop (listen) | Hold L1 | Hold LB | Hold Left Ctrl |
Move / reposition | Left Stick | Left Stick | W / A / S / D |
Cancel lean | Move away from wall | Move away from wall | Move away from wall |
The lean action shares the same button as crouch (L3 on controller, C on PC). Context determines which action fires: if you are standing next to a valid wall surface, pressing the button triggers a lean instead of a crouch. The eavesdrop button (L1/LB/Left Ctrl) is the same as the guard button in combat, but it functions differently when Kliff is leaning against a surface.
Follow these steps every time a quest asks you to eavesdrop:
Your quest marker will lead you to the general area, but it does not pinpoint the exact wall you need. Look for NPCs talking inside or near a structure. The conversation you need to overhear is always happening on the other side of a wall, door, or opening.
Do not try to eavesdrop from the front entrance or an open window. In most cases, the correct spot is on the back or side of the building. Walk around the exterior and look for visual cues: cracks in wooden panels, small holes in stonework, or sections of wall without obstructions.
Stand close to the wall and face it directly. Press the lean button (L3/C). Kliff should plant his back against the surface. If nothing happens, nudge forward or sideways in very small increments and try again. The game's detection area for the lean prompt is narrow, so patience is key.
Once leaning, the L1/LB/Left Ctrl prompt appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Hold it until the progress bar fills completely. Do not release early, or you will have to start over. When the bar completes, the overheard dialogue plays and your quest objective updates.
After gathering intelligence through eavesdropping, return to the relevant NPC (such as the Blue Fangs guard during Bared Fang) to use what you learned. The information you overheard typically unlocks new dialogue options that let you progress the quest.
The Bared Fang quest in Act Seven requires three separate eavesdrop actions in Beighen. Each one gives Kliff a piece of information needed to bluff his way past a Blue Fangs guard and gain access to their underground base. For the full quest walkthrough, see Eavesdrop on Beighen Villagers Conversation.
Location | Where to Lean | Tip |
|---|---|---|
Barn near the waterfront | Walk around to the back of the small barn where two men are talking inside. Lean against the middle wooden panel on the back wall. Do not look through the open window; that approach does not work. | If the prompt does not appear, wiggle Kliff left and right along the back wall in small steps until it triggers. |
House with the log on the ground | Find the house where two NPCs in yellow clothing are chatting outside. A large log lies on the ground near the wall you need. Lean against the wall next to the log. | The log can block the lean prompt. Use Nature's Grasp to move it out of the way before attempting to lean. |
Building on the south side | Two women are talking inside a building. Go to the south exterior wall and look for a small hole. Stand in the corner against the wall, right next to the wooden crates, and lean in to listen through the opening. | The correct corner is tight. Face the wall directly and inch into the corner until the prompt appears. |
Between eavesdrop sessions, you return to the Blue Fangs guard to share what you learned. Each time, the guard lies to test you, and you must call out the lie and select the correct response. Getting the answers wrong forces you to eavesdrop again.
Phase | Guard's Question | Guard's Lie | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Underground Storage | It's just a larder | Secret Society's Base |
2 | Mysterious Faction Within Beighen | No such thing exists | Blue Fangs |
3 | Leader of the Blue Fangs | I don't know him | Torstein |
After you correctly identify Torstein as the leader of the Blue Fangs, the guard grants you permanent access to their underground base beneath Beighen. This opens a new area with vendors, side quests, and story progression.
Eavesdropping is one of the most commonly misunderstood mechanics in the game. If you are struggling, check the following:
You are standing too far from the wall. Move closer until Kliff is nearly touching it.
You are on the wrong side of the building. Walk around and try each exterior wall.
An object is blocking the interaction zone. Use Nature's Grasp to move logs, crates, or barrels out of the way.
You are not facing the wall directly. Turn Kliff so he looks straight at the surface before pressing the lean button.
The lean and crouch actions share the same button. If Kliff crouches rather than leans, you are not close enough to a valid wall surface or you are facing away from it. Reposition and try again.
Make sure you are leaning against the correct section of wall. Not every wall segment is valid. The eavesdrop prompt only appears when the target NPC conversation is on the other side of the surface you are leaning on. If you leaned against the right building but the wrong panel, slide along the wall (while still leaning) or release, reposition, and lean again.
If you release the eavesdrop button before the bar fills, it resets. Hold the button continuously until the "Learning in progress" notification completes. Avoid pressing other inputs while holding the eavesdrop button.
Wiggle into position. When the lean prompt refuses to appear, move in tiny increments left and right along the wall. The detection zone is narrow, and a shift of a few inches can trigger it.
Use a controller for easier positioning. The analog stick offers finer movement control than WASD keys, making it simpler to find the precise lean spot. This is especially helpful for the tight corner at the third Bared Fang location.
Clear obstructions with Nature's Grasp. Before leaning, scan the area for logs, barrels, or other movable objects near the wall. Use Nature's Grasp to shift them aside and clear the interaction zone.
Do not use windows or open doors. The eavesdrop mechanic only works when Kliff leans against a solid wall surface. Looking through a window or standing in a doorway does not count, even if the NPCs are clearly visible and audible.
Watch for visual cues. Cracks in wooden walls, holes in stonework, and wall seams near the ground are all hints that an eavesdrop spot is nearby. The game places these intentionally to guide observant players.
Save before attempting. If you are unsure which wall section works, create a manual save. This lets you experiment without losing progress if something goes wrong.
