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How to Increase Research Knowledge
April 17, 2026 at 01:30 AM
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Research knowledge is a core progression system in Crimson Desert that determines how far you can advance through each institute's research tree. Without enough research knowledge, higher-tier research nodes remain locked, preventing you from accessing some of the most powerful upgrades in the game. These upgrades include crafting blueprints, permanent stat increases, new equipment, and unique tools that dramatically expand your capabilities.
Research institutes are scattered across the regions of Pywel, and each one focuses on a different branch of study. To progress through their research trees, you need to fund projects with Silver and accumulate research knowledge by completing tasks for the researchers stationed at each facility. This guide explains every method for earning research knowledge, walks through all six institutes, and provides practical tips for efficient progression.
Research knowledge is a progression requirement tied to each research institute. It functions as a gating mechanism: certain research nodes in the tree are greyed out and cannot be purchased until you have gathered enough knowledge. Unlike Silver, which is spent to fund individual projects, research knowledge is earned through exploration and interaction rather than currency.
Each institute tracks its own knowledge independently. Gaining knowledge at Scholastone does not count toward your progress at Pororin or any other facility. You need to complete the specific tasks assigned by the researchers at each location to unlock their respective research trees.
The process for earning research knowledge follows a consistent cycle across all six institutes. While the specific tasks differ from one location to the next, the underlying structure remains the same.
Locate the institute. Research institutes appear on your map with a research tree icon. Hover over settlement icons to check whether they contain a research facility.
Speak to the lead researcher. Each institute has a lead researcher who controls access to the research menu. You must talk to them first.
Provide the unlock item. Every lead researcher requires a specific item before they will open their research tree. These items range from Honey Tea to Diamonds depending on the institute.
Fund and complete the first research project. Pay the Silver cost for the first available node and wait for the in-game timer to finish. Initial projects typically take around 14 in-game hours.
Return to collect results. You must physically return to the institute to turn in your first completed research. This step is required before subsequent nodes unlock.
Complete researcher requests to gain knowledge. After turning in the first project, side quest markers appear around the institute and surrounding area. These are the knowledge tasks.
Repeat the cycle. With enough knowledge accumulated, new research nodes become available. Fund them, wait for completion, and continue gathering knowledge for later tiers.
Knowledge tasks are short quests issued by the researchers at each institute. They do not involve combat. Instead, they focus on world interaction and observation. Common task types include:
Observing objects or structures: Walk to a marked location and interact with a specific structure, machine, or natural formation. The game prompts you to examine it.
Inspecting machinery: Some tasks require you to inspect or repair broken equipment near the institute.
Speaking to research assistants: Talk to NPCs stationed around the facility. They share information that contributes to your knowledge tally.
Investigating habitats and environments: Certain tasks send you into the surrounding wilderness to study plants, rock formations, or energy phenomena.
Collecting specific items: Occasionally, a researcher asks you to gather a particular material or specimen from the nearby area.
All of these tasks are marked on your map and tracked in your Journal under the Faction/Research quests section. They are generally quick to complete, usually requiring only a short walk and a single interaction.
You do not need to visit an institute in person every time you want to check on your research status. Press Y (Xbox) or Triangle (PlayStation) while hovering over a village or settlement icon on the map to view your current research progress remotely. This saves considerable travel time, especially for institutes in remote locations.
Your Journal also tracks active research quests. Open the Journal and navigate to the Faction/Research section to see all pending knowledge tasks, including map markers for observation points and NPC conversations. Completing every listed task at a given institute will typically unlock all available research nodes at that facility.
Each research project requires a set number of in-game hours to complete after you fund it. The timer for the initial project at most institutes is around 14 in-game hours, with later projects varying in duration. The in-game clock does not advance while you stand idle, so you need to actively play, sleep, or use a campfire to push time forward.
The most efficient way to advance time is to sleep at a campfire or bed. Fast travel also causes a small amount of in-game time to pass. If you have multiple research projects running at different institutes, you can fund them all in sequence and then advance time to collect the results in a single trip.
There are six research institutes spread across three regions of Pywel. Each one specializes in a different field and offers unique rewards. The table below provides a quick comparison.
Institute | Region | Unlock Item | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
1x Honey Tea | Abyss research, health cap, Cloudcart upgrades | ||
5x Lavender | Nature, alchemy, infinite arrows | ||
3x Bloodstone | Desert research, stamina cap, bio-energy | ||
5x Gunpowder | Weapons, smelting, mining efficiency | ||
Delesyia Castle | 3x Copper | Mobility upgrades, mechanical components | |
Dewhaven Keep | 1x Diamond | Electricity, ATAG weapons, lightning tools |
Scholastone is typically the first institute players encounter, becoming accessible from Chapter 5 of the main story. It is located in the Hernand region and is led by an orc researcher named Grunvar. To unlock the research menu, deliver 1x Honey Tea to Grunvar. Honey Tea can be crafted at a cauldron by combining Honey with Water, purchased from certain merchants, or looted from enemies.
After completing Grunvar's initial request and turning in your first research, side quest markers appear around the Scholastone area. These involve talking to research assistants and observing Abyss-related machinery and structures. Completing them unlocks the remaining nodes in the research tree.
Project | Cost | Reward |
|---|---|---|
Abyssal Environment Research | 1 Silver | Beekeeper's Gear Blueprint |
Research on the Abyss Energy Restoration Phenomenon | 12 Silver | Faded Abyss Artifact Blueprint |
Abyssal Energy Research | 130 Silver | Raises maximum health cap from level 11 to 18 |
9 Silver | Unlocks Cloudcruiser crafting mission | |
100 Silver | Enables Cloudcart Abyss travel | |
Abyss Energy Applicable Device Research | 500 Silver | ATAG Thrustpack MK II and MK III Blueprints |
7 Silver | Unlocks additional Skyroot options | |
90 Silver | Enables harvesting seeds from Skyroot |
The most impactful project here is Abyssal Energy Research, which raises your maximum health cap from level 11 all the way to level 18. This makes a dramatic difference in tougher boss encounters during the mid and late game.
Pororin is a hidden Shai village located southeast of Hernand, just east of the Emberwind Workshop. Unlike other institutes, Pororin is not immediately accessible. When you first approach, the Shai residents knock you out with sleeping darts. After waking up, you must complete a short quest to retrieve a relic from a Giant Walking Tree (climb its legs to reach the head) and return it to the village to gain permanent access.
Once inside, deliver 5x Lavender to the lead researcher to unlock the research menu. Knowledge tasks at Pororin involve observing natural environments, studying plants, and speaking with the forest-dwelling research assistants in the surrounding area.
Project | Cost | Reward |
|---|---|---|
Research on Getting Closer to Nature | 1.10 Silver | Shadowleaf Disguise Blueprint and infinite arrow supply |
Pharmacological Research on Medicinal Herbs | 7 Silver | Palmar Pill alchemy recipe |
9 Silver | Increases infinite arrow supply rate | |
130 Silver | Increases container and inventory capacity | |
Plant Combination Research | 120 Silver | Unlocks Freya's, Meliara's, and Haiden's Elixir formulas |
70 Silver | Improves odds of finding rare plants | |
Reachwood Ruins Dispatch Plan | 80 Silver | Unlocks a new dispatch mission |
Secret Tools of Life | 500 Silver | Magic Scythe and Pororin Fishing Rod crafting blueprints |
The Research on Getting Closer to Nature project is particularly valuable because it unlocks an infinite arrow supply, eliminating the need to craft or purchase arrows for ranged combat.
The Urdavah institute sits within the archway city of Urdavah in the Crimson Desert region. You pass through this location during the main quest. After finishing that story section, find the lead researcher at the bottom of the elevator shaft and deliver 3x Bloodstone to unlock the research tree.
Knowledge tasks at Urdavah focus on desert environments, energy phenomena, and the unique ecology of the region. Expect to inspect desert machinery, observe rock formations, and speak with local researchers.
Project | Cost | Reward |
|---|---|---|
Desert Lifestyle Research | Varies | Desert survival tools and knowledge |
Bioenergy Amplification | Varies | Cooked food grants longer and more potent buffs |
Varies | Raises maximum stamina cap | |
Wind Energy Fusion Device | Varies | Unlocks Propeller Spear, Gale Shield, and Air Blaster |
Gold Vein Research | Varies | Reveals gold vein locations on the map |
High Capacity Energy Power Device | Varies | ATAG Plating MK II and MK III defense blueprints |
Circulating Energy Research | Varies | High-tier accessory blueprints |
The Red Seaweed Research project is the standout here, as it raises your maximum stamina cap. Combined with the health cap increase from Scholastone, these two stat upgrades together will carry you through the toughest boss encounters in the mid and late game.
Gorthak Ironworks is located in the northwestern part of Delesyia, near the Demeniss border. You gain access to its functions as part of the main story objectives in this region. The lead researcher requires 5x Gunpowder to open the research menu.
Knowledge tasks at Gorthak revolve around industrial processes, smelting operations, and mining techniques. You will inspect foundry equipment, observe smelting procedures, and speak with the ironworkers stationed around the facility.
Project | Cost | Reward |
|---|---|---|
Basic Smelting Research | Varies | Foundational weapon crafting blueprints |
Mineral Excavation Efficiency | Varies | Increased mining yield and efficiency |
Varies | Increased ammunition production | |
ATAG Weapon Research | Varies | ATAG Cannon, Laser, and Pincers weapon blueprints |
Oongka's Rocket Pack Upgrade | Varies | Upgrades Oongka's Rocket Pack |
The Delesyia Castle Institute is located in the regional capital of Delesyia, near the entrance gate. The lead researcher requires 3x Copper to unlock the project list. This facility focuses on mobility upgrades and mechanical component research.
Project | Cost | Reward |
|---|---|---|
Mechanical Enemy Component Research | Varies | Improved component drops from mechanical enemies |
ATAG Boots Research | Varies | ATAG Boots mobility upgrade blueprint |
Varies | Laser Cannon Spear crafting blueprint | |
Varies | Reveals mercury deposit locations on the map | |
Environmental Weapon Systems | Varies | Access to environmental weapon installations |
Dewhaven Keep is the third Delesyia institute, situated in the southwestern part of the region. This is likely one of the last research institutes you will find because the surrounding area is filled with aggressive enemies and hostile guards who attack on sight. Come prepared for combat when making your first visit.
The lead researcher requires 1x Diamond to unlock the project list. Dewhaven specializes in electricity-based technology, close-range ATAG systems, and utility devices.
Project | Cost | Reward |
|---|---|---|
Electricity Conversion Mechanism | Varies | Foundational electricity technology |
Varies | ATAG Machine Gun crafting blueprint | |
ATAG Fist Research | Varies | ATAG Fist crafting blueprint |
ATAG Welder Research | Varies | ATAG Welder crafting blueprint |
ATAG Flamespitter Research | Varies | ATAG Flamespitter crafting blueprint |
Varies | Lightning Spear crafting blueprint | |
Machine Workers Research | Varies | Unlocks machine worker dispatch missions |
With six institutes to visit and dozens of projects to fund, it helps to prioritize the most impactful upgrades. The following order gives you the strongest returns for your Silver investment.
Scholastone: Abyssal Energy Research (130 Silver). Raising your health cap from level 11 to level 18 is the single most impactful upgrade in the game. Prioritize this as soon as you have access to Scholastone.
Urdavah: Red Seaweed Research. The stamina cap increase complements the health boost and is essential for late-game boss fights.
Pororin: Research on Getting Closer to Nature (1.10 Silver). Infinite arrows remove the need to manage ranged ammunition entirely. This is cheap and immediately useful.
Gorthak: ATAG Weapon Research. The ATAG Cannon, Laser, and Pincers provide significant firepower for Delesyia's tougher encounters.
Delesyia Castle: ATAG Boots Research. Mobility upgrades make traversal and combat dodging significantly more responsive.
All remaining Row 1 projects under 15 Silver. Even cheap starter projects unlock access to higher-tier nodes. Do not skip them.
Bank Silver before visiting new regions. High-tier projects cost between 70 and 500 Silver each. Arriving at a new institute with a full wallet lets you fund multiple projects at once.
Fund multiple projects, then advance time. Since each project runs on an in-game timer, you can fund projects at several institutes in sequence and then sleep at a campfire to advance time, collecting all results in fewer trips.
Check the Journal regularly. Knowledge tasks are tracked in the Faction/Research section of your Journal. New tasks appear after you turn in completed research, so check back after each turn-in.
Complete stalled research tasks immediately. Some projects halt midway and require you to finish a side quest for a local researcher before work resumes. Track these halted projects on the map and resolve them right away to avoid bottlenecks.
Use remote progress checks. Press Y (Xbox) or Triangle (PlayStation) on a settlement icon on the map to check research progress without traveling there.
Treat research like exploration, not a menu. Knowledge comes from observing and interacting with the world, not from combat or grinding. Walk around each institute's surroundings, talk to every NPC with a quest marker, and inspect anything the game highlights.
Collect unlock items early. Keep an eye out for Honey Tea, Lavender, Bloodstone, Gunpowder, Copper, and Diamonds as you explore. Having these items ready when you discover a new institute saves you a return trip.
Each institute requires a specific item before the lead researcher will open the research tree. The table below lists every unlock item, where to get it, and which institute it opens.
Item | Quantity | Institute | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Craft at a cauldron (Honey + Water), buy from merchants, or loot from enemies | ||
5 | Pororin Village | Gather from wild Lavender plants in the Hernand region | |
3 | Mine from ore deposits in the Crimson Desert region | ||
5 | Craft or purchase from vendors in the Delesyia region | ||
3 | Delesyia Castle | Mine from copper ore deposits in Delesyia | |
1 | Dewhaven Keep | Rare drop from mining or found in treasure chests |
