How to Equip Abyss Cores
Step-by-step guide to equipping Abyss Cores in Crimson Desert, including socket creation costs, max sockets by gear type, equipment restrictions, and tips.
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Created by duskvalley
8 revisionsAbyss Cores (also called Abyss Gears) are special items that can be socketed into your equipment to grant bonus stats and effects. They work like gems in other RPGs: you slot them into open sockets on your weapons and armor to gain benefits like increased attack power, elemental resistance, or improved critical hit chance. Before you can equip any Abyss Cores, you need to unlock the feature through the story and then visit a specific type of NPC.
Abyss Core services become available after completing Chapter 5 (Exposed Plot) of the main story. Specifically, after the Demenissian Delegation quest and the boss fight against Kearush, a white crow appears on your shoulder carrying a letter. This letter starts the first Witch of Wisdom quest called "The Witch of Wisdom," which introduces you to Elowen.
Witches are special NPCs scattered across Pywel who handle all Abyss Core functions. The first witch you meet is Elowen, located in The Witchwoods west of the Hernand Highlands. After meeting her, additional witches become available in other regions as you progress the questline.
When you interact with a witch, you will see three service options:
Service | What It Does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Create Socket | Adds an empty socket to equipment so an Abyss Core can be inserted | Silver (increases per socket) |
Places an Abyss Core into an existing empty socket | Free | |
Removes a socketed Abyss Core so you can reuse it elsewhere | Free |
Before you can embed an Abyss Core, the target equipment piece needs at least one open socket. Select "Create Socket" from the witch's menu to add sockets. Each additional socket on the same item costs progressively more silver:
Socket Number | Cumulative Total | |
|---|---|---|
1st socket | 5 silver | 5 silver |
2nd socket | 10 silver | 15 silver |
3rd socket | 20 silver | 35 silver |
4th socket | 30 silver | 65 silver |
5th socket | 40 silver | 105 silver |
Fully socketing a single piece of equipment costs 105 silver total. Prioritize creating sockets on your primary weapon and body armor first, as these have the highest socket capacity and benefit the most from Abyss Cores.
Max Sockets | |
|---|---|
Two-Handed Weapon | 5 |
Ranged Weapon (Bow) | 5 |
One-Handed Weapon | 3 |
3 | |
Off-Hand (Shield) | 2 |
2 | |
Boots | 2 |
1 |
With at least one empty socket on your gear, select "Embed Abyss Core" from the witch's menu. Choose the equipment piece, then choose which Abyss Core to insert from your inventory. The core is installed immediately and the bonus takes effect right away. Embedding is free, so you can experiment without penalty.
Not all gear types support Abyss Cores. The following equipment cannot have sockets created on them:
Only weapons (one-handed, two-handed, ranged), body armor, headgear, gloves, footwear, and off-hand items (shields) are eligible for socket creation.
If you cannot find the socket creation option:
"I don't see any Witch NPCs": Make sure you have completed Chapter 5 (Exposed Plot) and started the Witch of Wisdom questline. Witches do not appear until this quest is active.
"The Create Socket option is grayed out": The equipment piece may already be at its maximum socket count, or it may be a restricted item type (cloak, accessory).
"I can't embed a core": Make sure the equipment has at least one empty socket. If all sockets are filled, extract an existing core first (free) to make room.
"I want to move a core to new gear": Use Extract to remove the core from the old gear (free), then Embed it into the new gear (free). You lose nothing in the process.
Extracting a core is free, so do not hesitate to move cores around as you find better equipment. There is zero cost to swap cores between gear pieces.
Prioritize creating sockets on two-handed weapons and ranged weapons first, because these have the highest socket capacity (5 slots each).
Match your Abyss Cores to your playstyle. Stack attack cores on your weapon if you prioritize offense, or defense cores on armor for survivability.
You can buy and craft additional Abyss Cores from witches and at crafting stations throughout Pywel.
Body armor supports up to 3 sockets and is the second-best equipment slot for Abyss Core investment after two-handed weapons.
The total cost to fully socket one piece of equipment (5 sockets) is 105 silver. Budget accordingly when upgrading multiple gear pieces.