Overview
Reputation in Crimson Desert is called Contribution. Rather than a single global score, the game tracks your standing separately in each of the five major regions of Pywel. Earning goodwill in Hernand has no effect on your reputation in Demeniss, and crimes you commit in one territory do not spill over into others. Each region runs its own independent Contribution economy.
Every helpful action you take within a region fills that region's Contribution bar. When the bar fills completely, you gain one Contribution Level for that region and receive one Contribution Point to spend. Those points are the exclusive currency at regional Contribution Shops, which sell armor sets, accessories, horse bardings, banner weapons, and camp workers unavailable anywhere else.
The Five Factions
Each of the five main regions has its own faction and its own Contribution meter. Points are not transferable between regions.
Faction / Region | When Available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
From Chapter 1 | Starting region. First Contribution Shop is at Hernand Castle. Scholastone draws from the same point pool as Hernand. | |
Mid-game | Shares its Contribution pool with Hernand; deeds here improve your Hernand standing. | |
Mid-game | Has multiple Contribution Shops spread across the region. | |
Mid-game, after liberation | Requires liberating occupied areas before reputation activities fully open up. | |
Late game | End-game factions with the most expensive shop items (up to 70 points each). |
How to Earn Contribution
Faction Quests (Best Method)
Completing Faction Quests is the fastest and most efficient way to earn Contribution XP. Open the Journal and look for the Faction Quests tab to see every available commission in the current region. Bounties in particular are short objectives that award a generous amount of XP relative to the time they take. Working through a region's full list of faction quests will push your Contribution level up quickly and the points add up fast.
Liberate Strongholds and Bandit Camps
Liberating enemy-occupied strongholds awards a large burst of Contribution XP in a single action. This is the biggest single-action gain available in any given region, making it worth doing early whenever you push into a new area. Clearing bandit camps throughout the region also contributes to your standing.
Help Citizens During Random Encounters
While exploring, you will occasionally encounter bandits attacking local residents. Defeating the attackers and protecting the citizen rewards Contribution XP even though the event never appears in your quest log. These encounters happen organically as you travel, so simply exploring actively adds to your reputation.
Donate to Beggars
Every city and settlement has beggars scattered near the market districts and gates. You can give them copper coins once per day to earn a small amount of Contribution XP. One coin equals one XP, which is the least efficient method per action, but it is free, requires no combat, and adds up over many play sessions. Look for beggars in Hernand near the main gate and around the market district in Scrapfold.
Earning Methods at a Glance
Method | XP Yield | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Faction Quests and Bounties | High | Best overall method; check the Journal for available commissions |
Liberate Strongholds | Very high (single action) | One-time per stronghold; clears the area and boosts standing significantly |
Helping Citizens | Moderate | Triggered by random encounters; no quest log entry |
Donating to Beggars | Low (daily cap) | Once per day per beggar; 1 copper coin = 1 XP |
How to Avoid Losing Reputation
Criminal behavior directly reduces your Contribution score in the region where the crime takes place. Unlike earning XP, losses are applied immediately and do not require anyone to witness the act. The penalties are steep:
Crime | Contribution Penalty |
|---|---|
Stealing an item | -5 points per item stolen |
Assaulting and killing an innocent NPC | -30 points per kill |
Other criminal acts | Variable; reduces standing substantially |
Losing a Contribution level does not refund the points you spent climbing to it. You keep any items you purchased, but you must re-earn the XP to climb back to your previous level without gaining new points. Avoid committing crimes early in the game when your Contribution is low. Recovering from heavy losses requires hours of grinding faction quests and stronghold liberation.
If you do need to commit crimes, use the Confessional at any church to purchase a Writ of Absolution. This clears bounty penalties but does not automatically restore Contribution XP lost to crimes.
Contribution Shops and Rewards
Each region has one or more Contribution Shops run by exclusive vendors. These are the only places to spend your Contribution Points, and the items they stock cannot be obtained through combat drops, crafting, or regular merchants.
Shop vendors are not always easy to find. Several are in unusual locations: some inside locked buildings, others tucked away behind faction-controlled gates. Exploring each region thoroughly is the best way to locate them. The Hernand Contribution Shop is at Hernand Castle and is the first one most players access.
Shop / Region | Available Articles |
|---|---|
Plate armor sets, helmets, cloaks, horse bardings, camp workers (4–23 points each) | |
Ceremonial guard sets, faction banners as two-handed weapons (14–30 points each) | |
Signets, crowns, and late-game exclusive gear (up to 70 points each) |
Items range from 4 to 70 points depending on rarity and region. Faction banners are particularly notable because they function as usable two-handed weapons in combat, not just cosmetics. Camp workers purchased through Contribution Shops can be assigned to dispatch missions at the Greymane Camp, providing passive resource income.
Tips for Maximizing Contribution
Clear strongholds first. When entering a new region, liberate all occupied strongholds before focusing on smaller quests. The XP burst from each liberation is the most efficient use of your time per activity.
Work the Journal daily. Check your Faction Quests tab each play session. Bounties reset on a daily schedule and cycling through them is the fastest sustainable source of Contribution XP.
Donate every login. Giving one coin to a beggar takes under ten seconds. Making it a habit at the start of each session adds steady incremental progress at no real cost.
Avoid early crime. The XP penalty for stealing (5 points per item) or killing innocents (30 points) wipes out hours of quest progress. Use the Disguise system when you need to enter restricted areas instead of fighting your way in.
Remember regional independence. If you need specific shop rewards from a region you have not visited much, plan to do the local stronghold and faction quest chain before spending points elsewhere. Points earned in one area cannot be spent in another.
Buy camp workers when available. Workers from Contribution Shops boost the efficiency of your dispatch mission system at the Greymane Camp, giving you passive returns on materials and silver that compound over time.