Overview
Waterfalls in Crimson Desert are not just scenic decoration. Many of them hide small cave systems known as Waterside Caves behind their curtain of water. These caves contain valuable loot including Golden Palmar Pills and treasure chests with rare gear. However, unlike most other games, you cannot simply walk through a waterfall to enter. Attempting to walk into one will knock Kliff backward and deal damage. Instead, you need to use a specific combat technique to pierce through the water.
There are 43 Waterside Caves scattered across the continent of Pywel. Finding and looting all of them is a worthwhile goal for any explorer.
How to Enter a Waterfall
The technique for entering a waterfall relies on the Stab attack. Stab is a skill in the Stamina skill tree that is unlocked as soon as you gain control of Kliff at the start of the game, so no additional unlocking is required.
Follow these steps to enter a Waterside Cave:
Approach the waterfall and stand directly in front of the water curtain, close enough to almost touch it.
Perform a Stab attack aimed at the waterfall.
If the waterfall has a cave behind it, Kliff will stab through the water and pass through to the other side.
Once inside, explore the cave to collect the loot.
Controls
Platform | Stab Input | Notes |
|---|---|---|
PlayStation | R1 + Square | Hold and release to perform the stab. Aim directly at the waterfall. |
Xbox | RB + X | Same technique. Face the waterfall and execute the stab. |
PC (Keyboard) | Light Attack + Punch | Use the combination attack to perform the stab motion. |
The Stab costs 40 stamina to perform and inflicts the Bleed status effect on enemies. When used on a waterfall, the attack animation carries Kliff through the water barrier.
How to Identify Valid Waterfalls
Not every waterfall in Pywel has a cave behind it. Here are the visual markers to look for:
Stacked stones: The most reliable indicator is a small pile of stacked stones (a cairn) placed near the base of the waterfall. If you see stacked stones outside a waterfall, there is a cave behind it.
Flat platform: Valid waterfalls always have a flat, walkable platform in front of their entrance. If the terrain in front of a waterfall is steep, rocky, or otherwise inaccessible, there is no cave.
Bounce-back test: If you attempt the stab and Kliff bounces off the waterfall without passing through, that waterfall does not have a cave. Move on and try the next one.
What You Will Find Inside
Waterside Caves are compact, typically consisting of a single small chamber. Despite their size, they consistently contain valuable rewards:
Reward | Description |
|---|---|
Palmar Pills | Consumable items used for revival. Palmar Pills are critical survival items that allow you to revive after death. Caves frequently contain the Golden variant, which restores 100% of your health upon revival. |
Treasure Chest | Each cave contains at least one treasure chest holding armor, weapons, or accessories. The gear found in these chests often provides significant stat boosts, especially early in the game. |
Crafting Materials | Some caves contain additional crafting materials or consumable items alongside the main chest. |
Tips for Finding All 43 Caves
Explore rivers and coastlines. Waterfalls naturally occur along rivers, streams, and cliff faces near bodies of water. Following rivers upstream is one of the best ways to find them.
Check the map for water features. The in-game map shows rivers and streams. Cross-reference these with cliff terrain to identify likely waterfall locations.
Look for the stacked stones from a distance. The stone cairns are visible from a reasonable distance, so scan the base of waterfalls as you approach.
Visit waterfalls in every region. The 43 caves are spread across the entire continent, not clustered in a single area. Make it a habit to check every waterfall you encounter during your travels.
Early-game priority. The gear and Golden Palmar Pills found in Waterside Caves provide a significant advantage in the early chapters. Prioritize exploring waterfalls near Hernand and the surrounding regions before tackling difficult content.
Important Notes
You cannot walk, run, jump, or roll through a waterfall. Only the Stab attack will work.
Walking into a waterfall without using Stab will knock Kliff backward and deal damage.
The Stab skill is available from the beginning of the game, so you can start exploring Waterside Caves as soon as you have access to the open world.
Waterside Caves do not reset. Once you loot a cave, it stays looted.
Related Pages
Exploration and Traversal for an overview of traversal mechanics.
Secret Passages and Hidden Areas for other hidden locations throughout Pywel.
Hidden Chests for other treasure locations beyond waterfalls.
Palmar Pills for details on the revival item found in these caves.