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Kliff Skills - Version 37 vs Version 38
May 23, 2026, 03:58 PM
Added internal wikilinks
Jun 9, 2026, 12:19 AM
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11This page lists all skills available to Kliff, the protagonist of Crimson Desert. Skills are divided into three categories: Stamina, Spirit, and Axiom. Each skill can be leveled up to increase its effectiveness, and many skills have advanced variants that unlock at higher levels or with specific prerequisites.22Skills are acquired through various means, including automatic unlocks, investing Abyss Artifacts, reaching certain skill levels, and observing techniques in action during gameplay.44Overview66This page lists every skill available to Kliff in Crimson Desert, organized by the three branches of the Abyss Tree (the game's core progression system). The Abyss Tree is accessed via Start > Progression > Abyss Tree. It replaces traditional experience points and character levels entirely. Instead of earning XP from defeated enemies, Kliff progresses by observing techniques performed by NPCs and enemies in the world, then spending Abyss Artifacts to permanently unlock those techniques as usable skills.88The tree starts completely empty at the beginning of the game and grows into what one preview described as a "full sequoia" by mid-game. Pearl Abyss has stated that they do not want to call Crimson Desert an RPG, noting that traditional leveling systems "are absent from this game." Despite this, the Abyss Tree functions as a deeply customizable progression system with meaningful build choices. For a general overview of how the skill system works across all characters, see Skills. Damiane and Oongka have their own separate skill trees; for recommended builds, see the individual Build Guide: Damiane and Build Guide: Oongka pages.1010There are 84 skills in total across all three branches: 37 in the Stamina tree, 18 in the Axiom tree, and 29 in the Spirit tree. A final central skill, Falling Palm, sits at the convergence point of all three branches and unlocks once any single branch is fully completed.1212Tree Structure1414The Abyss Tree splits into three branches, each tied to a core stat and color-coded in the menu. The Blue Branch (Stamina) covers physical combat techniques and weapon skills, including sword attacks, archery, kicks, and shield moves. The Green Branch (Spirit) handles supernatural abilities, perception, Force Palm techniques, time manipulation, and nature-based powers. The Red Branch (Health) provides elemental combat abilities, Axiom Bracelet traversal, flight, and survivability.1616Skills follow a two-step unlock process. First, Kliff must observe a technique being performed in the world, whether by watching an NPC, spotting an enemy mid-combat, or discovering a holographic echo. Once observed, the skill appears in the Abyss Tree and can be unlocked by spending Abyss Artifacts. Some skills are unlocked automatically through the main story instead (notably Nature's Grasp, Axiom Force, and Flight). Other skills are "inner skills" that become available once their parent skill reaches a specific rank.1818Each core stat (Stamina, Spirit, Axiom) also has a large passive node on its branch. Spending Abyss Artifacts on the Stamina node increases maximum Stamina for dodging, blocking, climbing, and flying. The Spirit node increases Spirit for casting skills. The Health node increases maximum HP. The Build Guide: Kliff page has detailed stat allocation recommendations.2020All three branches converge at the center of the tree on a single powerful ability: Falling Palm. Completing any one full branch unlocks this ultimate skill.2222Stamina Skills2424Stamina skills encompass 37 abilities that focus on physical combat, weapon attacks, unarmed strikes, and ranged abilities.2626IconSkillDescriptionPrerequisiteAerial StabA stabbing attack performed while airborne.Stab Lv 2 + Observe in actionArmed CombatPress R1 to perform a basic weapon attack. Further investment increases damage.Abyss Artifact x1+Blinding FlashPress L1 + R1 to reflect light and temporarily blind enemies in front of you.Auto-unlockBlinding Flash FinisherFollow-up finisher attack after Blinding Flash.Blinding Flash Lv 2ChargeWhile guarding, press X twice to charge forward and smash an enemy with your shield.Armed Combat Lv 3Charged ShotPress R2 while aiming to charge your shot and fire a powerful arrow.Observe in actionDropkickHold △ to perform a double-kick that sends the enemy flying.Pump Kick Lv 1 + Abyss Artifact x1Evasive ShotPress 〇 twice while aiming to sidestep an enemy attack and release an arrow.Abyss Artifact x1Evasive Shot ExpertiseAdvanced version of Evasive Shot with improved evasion and damage.Evasive Shot Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x1Evasive Shot ProficiencyProficient version of Evasive Shot with improved performance.Evasive Shot Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Evasive SlashPress R1 + 〇 to strike while dodging backward.Armed Combat Lv 2Explosive Evasive ShotAn explosive version of Evasive Shot that deals area damage.Evasive Shot Lv 3 + Observe in actionFlying KickHold △ while in the air to launch yourself at an enemy and kick them twice.Unarmed Combat Lv 4Forward SlashPress R2 to take a strong step forward and deliver a powerful slash.Starting skill (auto-unlock)Forward Slash ProficiencyProficient version of Forward Slash with improved damage.Forward Slash Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Forward Slash Sure HitGuaranteed-hit version of Forward Slash that cannot miss.Forward Slash Lv 3 + Observe in actionLeg SweepPress △ after rolling to sweep your enemy's legs with a powerful low kick.Auto-unlock-MarksmanshipPress L2 to perform a basic attack with your ranged weapon. Further investment increases damage.Abyss Artifact x1+Meteor KickPress △ while high in the air to drive a precise diving kick into the enemy.Unarmed Combat Lv 5 + Observe in actionMultishotPress R1 while aiming to fire 10 arrows in a wide spread.Observe in actionPump KickHold △ to perform a powerful two-footed kick that sends the enemy flying.Observe in actionRushPress R2 while dodging to fend off an enemy attack while dodging forward.Armed Combat Lv 4Scissor TakedownHold △ while crouching to wrap your legs around an enemy and bring them to the ground.Unarmed Combat Lv 2Shield BashPress L1 + R2 to strike with your shield and block incoming attacks.Auto-unlockSkewering StabMove after a successful charged Stab to sprint with the enemy stuck on your blade.Stab Lv 2 + Observe in actionSpinning SlashPress R1 + X to perform a short leap and slash the enemy while spinning.Starting skill (auto-unlock)Spinning Slash ProficiencyProficient version of Spinning Slash with improved damage and range.Spinning Slash Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1StabPress R1 + △ to quickly stab forward and inflict Bleed.Starting skill (auto-unlock)Stab Rend ArmorA stab attack that rends the enemy's armor, reducing their defense.Stab Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x1-Swift StabA fast stabbing attack with reduced wind-up time.Stab Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Turning SlashPress R1 + R2 to perform a spinning overhead strike that sends enemies flying.Starting skill (auto-unlock)Turning Slash ExpertiseAdvanced version of Turning Slash with greater knockback and damage.Turning Slash Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x1Turning Slash ProficiencyProficient version of Turning Slash with improved damage.Turning Slash Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Turning Slash Rend ArmorTurning Slash that rends the enemy's armor, reducing their defense.Turning Slash Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x1Unarmed CombatPress △ to strike an enemy with bare fists. Further investment increases damage.Abyss Artifact x1+Unarmed Combat ProficiencyProficient unarmed combat with increased fist damage.Unarmed Combat Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x1VaultPress R1 + ☐ to vault over the back of an enemy.Observe in actionWeapon ThrowWhile dual wielding, throw your equipped weapon at an enemy. The weapon returns boomerang-style, and can also be retrieved by pressing the same control again or by walking up to the landed weapon. Uses the same control inputs as Shield Bash.Dual wield two weapons (added in Patch 1.04)2828Spirit Skills2929Spirit skills encompass 29 abilities that involve perception, force energy, focus mode, and nature-based powers.3131IconSkillDescriptionPrerequisiteAerial Force PalmForce Palm performed while airborne for aerial energy strike.Force Palm Lv 2 + Observe in actionCounterAttack right before being hit to interrupt an enemy attack.Keen Senses Lv 3 + Observe in actionDiving Force PalmForce Palm performed while diving downward for a powerful descending strike.Force Palm Lv 3 + Observe in actionDodgePress 〇 just before being hit to escape danger by dodging.Keen Senses Lv 2Double JumpPress ☐ twice to perform an extra jump in mid-air or off an enemy.Abyss Artifact x1 + Observe in actionEchoing Forward SlashAn echoing version of Forward Slash that creates a resonating follow-up strike.Forward Slash Lv 3 + Focus Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Echoing Spinning SlashAn echoing version of Spinning Slash that creates a resonating follow-up strike.Spinning Slash Lv 3 + Focus Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Echoing StabAn echoing version of Stab that creates a resonating follow-up strike.Stab Lv 3 + Focus Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Evasive RollPress 〇 after being hit to roll away and evade quickly.Abyss Artifact x1 + Observe in actionFocusPress L3 + R3 to enter Focus mode. Time flows more slowly around you and Spirit regenerates.Observe in actionFocused Charged ShotPress R2 while in Focused Shot to fire a charged shot during Focus mode.Focused Shot Lv 3Focused Evasive ShotA focused version of Evasive Shot performed during Focus mode.Focused Shot Lv 2Focused Force PalmHold R3 during Focus to release a Force Palm that penetrates through the target.Observe in actionFocused InsightFace incoming attacks during Focus and counter with L1 for a devastating riposte.Focus Lv 3Focused RepulsionPress R1 or L3 + R3 when hit to repel everything away from you.Focus Lv 2 + Observe in actionFocused ShotWhile aiming, press L3 + R3 to enter Focus, then press R1 to fire up to 4 shots.Marksmanship Lv 2 + Focus Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Force CurrentCreate a current of force energy that flows outward from your palm.Force Palm Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x1Force PalmPress R3 to gather energy into your palm and release it in a single powerful strike that diminishes enemy defense.Observe in actionForce Palm ExpertiseAdvanced version of Force Palm with greater damage and defense reduction.Force Palm Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x1Force Palm ProficiencyProficient version of Force Palm with improved performance.Force Palm Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Force Palm PulseA pulsing version of Force Palm that sends out energy waves.Force Palm Lv 3 + Observe in actionHealing Force PalmA healing version of Force Palm that restores health.Force Palm Lv 3 + Observe in actionKeen SensesEnhances swift actions with the power of nature. Prerequisite for Counter, Parry, and Dodge upgrades.Abyss Artifact x1+Nature's EchoCreate an illusion that replicates your attacks to confuse and damage enemies.Keen Senses Lv 3 + Forward Slash Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x1 + Observe in actionNature's GraspPress △ + 〇 on a target to use Nature's Grasp, allowing you to lift or move heavy objects.Observe in actionNature's RetributionChannel nature's power to deliver a retribution attack against enemies.Nature's Grasp Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Nature's SnarePress R during Focus mode to create a wind barrier that blocks projectiles.Keen Senses Lv 3 + Focus Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1Nature's VeilHide behind nature's veil to become invisible to enemies.Nature's Grasp Lv 2 + Keen Senses Lv 2 + Abyss Artifact x1ParryGuard right before being hit to block an enemy attack precisely.Auto-unlock3333Health Skills3434Health skills encompass 18 abilities that harness the Axiom Force for elemental attacks, flight, and supernatural feats.3636IconSkillDescriptionPrerequisiteAerial ManeuverPress L3 then press the square button twice to leap a great distance using Axiom Force.Axiom Force Lv 2Aerial RollPress the circle button while airborne to perform a high-speed dash using Stamina.Abyss Artifact x1 + Observe in actionAerial SwingHold L3 then press the square button + R3 to leap and swing forward with power.Axiom Force Lv 3-AmbushHold R1 while shooting Axiom Force to move instantly to the target enemy and strike.Winch Lv 1 + Abyss Artifact x1Axiom ForcePress L3 to harness the Axiom Force to perform impossible feats.Meet certain conditions-Elemental Charged ShotImbue Charged Shot with elemental damage for added elemental effects.Imbue Element Lv 2Elemental Force PalmForce Palm imbued with elemental power for added elemental effects.Imbue Element Lv 2Elemental Meteor KickMeteor Kick imbued with elemental power for devastating aerial impact.Imbue Element Lv 3Elemental Turning SlashTurning Slash imbued with elemental power for enhanced spinning strike.Imbue Element Lv 4Flame StrikePress R2 + triangle to perform a powerful strike while wreathed in flame.Imbue Element Lv 1FlightPress the square button while airborne to glide while flying.Meet certain conditionsFrost MantlePress R2 + square to create a barrier of frost around you.Frost Lv 1-Imbue ElementWield the elements and apply them to your skills.Flame Strike/Frost Mantle/Lightning Surge/Storm Veil Lv 1 + Abyss Artifact x1Lightning SurgePress R2 + circle to create a field of electricity that shocks nearby enemies.Lightning Lv 1Mystical StoragePress triangle while holding an object to seal it in a kuku pot for later use.Meet certain conditionsStorm VeilPress R2 + X to deploy a smoke cloud and escape enemy sight.Wind Lv 1Swift FlightPress X while flying to reduce air resistance and fly faster.Flight Lv 2WinchHold and release L3 to pull an enemy in and slam them to the ground.Grappling Lv 3 + Axiom Force Lv 3 + Abyss Artifact x13838Central Skill: Falling Palm3939Falling Palm is the ultimate ability at the center of the Abyss Tree. It becomes available once Kliff completes any one of the three branches fully. The skill consumes all remaining Stamina to deliver a devastating ground-impact strike by harnessing the force of a fall and channeling all Stamina into a single blow. The more Stamina you have when activating it, the more damage it deals.4141Among the three branches, the Spirit Branch (29 skills) is the shortest path to unlocking Falling Palm if measured by total Abyss Artifact cost, though the Health Branch has fewer individual skills (18). Falling Palm is a powerful finisher against bosses and elite enemies, particularly when combined with high Stamina investment from the passive node.4343Where to Find Abyss Artifacts4545Abyss Artifacts are found throughout Pywel via multiple methods. They are the single progression currency for the entire Abyss Tree system.4747Quests: Artifacts are critical rewards woven into the main story and side content. Many quests reward one or more Artifacts on completion.Boss defeats: Defeating powerful bosses and world bosses yields Artifacts as rewards.Exploration: Sealed Abyss Artifacts are hidden in discreet locations across all five regions of Pywel. Look for glowing blue objects near cliff edges, inside caves, and behind waterfalls.The Abyss: Artifacts can be found within the Abyss dimension itself, often guarded by difficult encounters.Trials: Earned at the end of combat trials and special challenge encounters.Contribution shops: The Contribution system lets you trade earned contribution points for Abyss Artifacts at vendors in major towns.4949Respeccing5151Players can respec by reclaiming Abyss Artifacts for a small cost once they unlock that option at the hub. This allows redistributing points between core stats and branch techniques without permanent focus on any single build path. The respec cost is minimal, so players are encouraged to experiment with different skill loadouts throughout the game.5353Active Skill Slots5555There is a limit on how many skills can be equipped in the active pool at any given time, but swapping skills in and out is straightforward with high levels of freedom. Unlocked skills are executed through different button press combinations during combat rather than selected from a traditional hotbar. This keeps the flow of combat smooth and action-oriented. For example, pressing R1 initiates Armed Combat attacks, while holding Triangle triggers Unarmed Combat or kicks, and R3 activates Force Palm. The combination system means players use muscle memory rather than menu selection, keeping the pace fast.5757Progression Pace5959The tree starts completely empty. One hands-on preview noted that switching from an early-game save to a mid-game save transformed the empty Abyss Tree into a "full sequoia," and basic combat (kicking enemies off ledges) gave way to performing flying martial arts moves from great distances. Players focused on progression can fill out the core tree in roughly ten hours, with full mastery of all branches taking considerably longer. The game rewards thorough exploration, since many Artifacts are tucked away in hidden locations rather than handed out through the main path alone.6161Relationship to Other Systems6363The Abyss Tree is the primary progression system, but it works alongside several complementary systems.6565Boss equipment: Defeating bosses yields exclusive gear that grants the boss's signature skill as a usable ability. This is separate from the Abyss Tree and provides additional combat options on top of tree-unlocked skills.Abyss Gear: Abyss Gear consists of equipment augments socketed into weapon slots that modify attack properties (attack speed, critical chance, boss damage). These are stat modifiers, distinct from the technique-based unlocks of the Abyss Tree.Blacksmith refinement: Weapons can be refined at blacksmiths to incrementally increase base stats like Attack. This enhances the weapon itself rather than the character's skill set.Elemental enhancements: Weapons can be enhanced with elemental effects like fire, ice, and lightning via the Imbue Element skill from the Health Branch, adding damage types on top of the base moveset.Equipment sockets: The Equipment Sockets and Enchanting system lets you embed Abyss Cores that add passive effects like bonus damage, speed boosts, or automatic attacks.6767Recommended Skill Priorities6969The Abyss Tree is large enough that new players benefit from focusing their early Abyss Artifacts on high-impact skills. The priorities below are based on community consensus and game guide recommendations. For a complete build guide with gear and Abyss Core recommendations, see Build Guide: Kliff.7171Early Game (Chapters 1-3)7373Health (passive node): Invest several points into the large Health node on the Red Branch. Extra HP makes a huge difference in early combat where enemies hit hard and healing is scarce.Stamina (passive node): A few points in Stamina dramatically improves dodging, climbing, and flight range. Essential for early exploration.Keen Senses Rank 1 + Parry: Unlocks the core defensive mechanic. Without this, you can only block or dodge. Parry opens a large window for counterattacks and is required for many boss fights.Armed Combat Rank 2-3: Unlocks Evasive Slash (Rank 2) and Charge (Rank 3), making melee combat much smoother. Basic attacks also deal more damage with each rank.Marksmanship Rank 1: Gives you a ranged option from the start. Even one rank makes a big difference against flying enemies and distant threats.Forward Slash Rank 1: A reliable heavy attack for finishing combos. Press R2 for a powerful step-in slash that staggers most standard enemies.Lariat (Grappling Lv 2): By far the best grapple in the early game with a faster animation than alternatives. The shockwave pushes nearby enemies back.7575Best Skills to Get Early (Quick Reference)7777For players who want a concise priority list, the following six skills provide the strongest foundation during the first few chapters. Several overlap with the detailed recommendations above, but this order reflects the most efficient unlock path.7979PrioritySkillUnlock RequirementWhy It Matters1Keen SensesDefault (unlocked from the start)Enables the perfect dodge mechanic, which slows time on a well-timed dodge. The single most important defensive tool in the game.2Forward SlashDefault (unlocked from the start)Heavy attack with the same animation speed as light attacks. Efficient damage output that remains relevant throughout the entire game.3Quick SwapRaise Armed Combat to Level 5Lets you switch weapons without opening the radial menu. A massive quality-of-life upgrade that keeps combat flow smooth during multi-weapon fights.4Aerial ManeuverRaise Axiom Force to Level 2Attach to elevated walls and ledges using the Axiom Bracelet. Opens up vertical traversal and reaches otherwise inaccessible loot and shortcuts.5Back HangRaise Grappling to Level 4A high-damage grapple move that specializes against large enemies. Deals significantly more damage than standard grapples during boss encounters.6Nature's RetributionRaise Nature's Snare to Level 2Reflects projectiles from flying enemies. Solves one of the most frustrating early-game problems: airborne threats that are hard to reach with melee.8181Quick Swap, Keen Senses, Back Hang, and Aerial Maneuver together form a well-rounded foundation that significantly enhances your playthrough. They cover defense, offense, traversal, and weapon flexibility in a compact package.8282Mid Game (Chapters 4-6)8484Keen Senses Rank 2 (Dodge): Unlocks the perfect dodge for unblockable attacks. Some boss attacks cannot be parried, so Dodge becomes your only defensive option against those moves.Force Palm Rank 1 (Aerial Force Palm): Adds vertical mobility and an air attack in one skill. Often described as the most important skill in the game because it triples your jump height for reaching ledges, mountain peaks, and hidden areas.Double Jump: Really opens up traversal possibilities when combined with Aerial Force Palm. Together they let you reach areas that seem inaccessible.Nature's Echo: Creates phantom clones that replicate your attacks, effectively doubling your damage output. Requires Keen Senses Lv 3 and Forward Slash Lv 3, so plan ahead. One of the most enjoyable combat skills in the game.Turning Slash Rank 2-3: One of the highest-damage melee options. The Expertise follow-up deals heavy stagger damage against bosses. At Rank 3, Turning Slash Rend Armor ignores Super Armor.Focus Rank 1: Time-slow dramatically helps with parry timing against fast enemies. Also opens up Focused Shot for ranged combat.Imbue Element Rank 1 (Elemental Turning Slash): Elemental damage on Turning Slash opens up new damage combos. Fire adds DOT, frost slows, lightning stuns.Blinding Flash + Blinding Flash Finisher: Stuns all nearby enemies without costing Spirit or Stamina, then the Finisher delivers massive damage during the stun window. Extremely strong against groups.Axiom Force Ranks 2-3 (Aerial Maneuver + Aerial Swing): Superior movement options for rapid map traversal. Unlocks grappling hook-like abilities that create upward momentum for quick ascension and tactical positioning.8686Late Game (Chapters 7-8 and Beyond)8888Complete one full branch for Falling Palm: The Spirit Branch may be the most efficient path. Falling Palm consumes all remaining Stamina for a devastating finisher that trivializes many encounters when fully charged.Keen Senses Rank 3 (Counter): The most advanced defensive option, turning every enemy attack into a damage opportunity. Attack right before being hit to interrupt and counterattack.Stab Rank 3 (Stab Rend Armor): The highest DPS basic skill in the game. At Rank 3, Stab ignores Super Armor on bosses and elites, letting you interrupt their attacks with consistent Bleed damage.Imbue Element Rank 4 (Elemental Meteor Kick): Elemental Meteor Kick with Lightning for devastating aerial finishers that chain between tightly packed enemies.Nature's Snare (all ranks): The wind barrier blocks all projectiles and can be anchored in place at Rank 3 (Nature's Veil). Nature's Retribution at Rank 2 releases stored energy as a burst attack.Swift Flight: One of the best traversal skills in the game, allowing much faster gliding. Essential for late-game exploration of distant regions.9090Skill Synergies and Combos9292Skills in the Abyss Tree are designed to chain together across branches. Here are some of the most effective combinations discovered by the community.9494Parry into Force Palm Pulse: After a successful Keen Senses parry, the stagger window is long enough for a Force Palm followed by the Pulse follow-up. Devastating damage from a defensive opening.Focus into Focused Shot into Charged Shot: Activate Focus to slow time, then use Focused Shot for precision aiming. Follow up with a Charged Shot imbued with the current element for massive ranged burst damage.Vault into Meteor Kick (Lightning): Leap over an enemy with Vault, then slam down with an elemental Meteor Kick. Requires Vault (Stamina) and Imbue Element Rank 4 (Health). The Lightning variant chains damage to nearby enemies.Stab (Bleed) into Nature's Echo into Echoing Stab: Inflict Bleed with Stab, then summon a phantom clone that repeats the Stab. Double Bleed application on a single target shreds enemy health pools.Clothesline into Body Slam: Sprint into Clothesline to slam an enemy, then follow with an aerial Body Slam for AoE damage to nearby enemies. A wrestling-focused chain.Frost Mantle into Elemental Turning Slash: Activate the frost barrier for protection, then unleash an elemental Turning Slash while enemies are staggered by the frost burst.Nature's Snare into Blinding Flash into Finisher: Block incoming projectiles with the barrier, blind enemies with the flash, then rush in for the rapid flurry finisher. Effective in chaotic group fights.Evasive Shot into Multishot: Slide-dodge to safety while firing, then immediately follow with a 10-arrow Multishot to punish grouped enemies at range.Blinding Flash into Stab into Nature's Echo: Stun enemies with the flash, land a Bleed-inflicting Stab, then summon the echo for a second Stab. Combines crowd control, Bleed, and clone damage.Aerial Swing into Diving Force Palm: Swing toward enemies from a distance using Axiom Force, then slam into the ground with Diving Force Palm. Strong opener when attacking enemy camps from above.Giant Swing into Body Slam: Grab an enemy during a kick with Giant Swing, hurl them into a group, then follow with an aerial Body Slam for AoE impact.9696The Axiom Bracelet adds another layer: any physical skill can be imbued with fire, ice, or lightning via the Imbue Element skill tree. A fire-imbued Spinning Slash hits an entire group with damage-over-time, while a lightning Charged Shot stuns and chains between tightly packed enemies. A frost-imbued Turning Slash slows enemies in the area, making follow-up attacks easier to land. Experiment with combinations to find what suits your playstyle.9898Tips100100Observe everything. Watch NPCs training, enemies using special attacks, and holographic echoes in the world. Many skills only appear in the Abyss Tree after observation.Prioritize Keen Senses early. Parry is the foundation of defensive play in Crimson Desert, and Dodge (Rank 2) is essential for unblockable attacks.Aerial Force Palm is arguably the single most impactful traversal unlock. It triples your effective jump height and opens up massive amounts of exploration content.Do not neglect the passive stat nodes. Points in the Health, Stamina, and Spirit passive nodes provide flat stat increases that affect every skill and action.Respeccing is cheap. Experiment freely with different branches and skill combinations without worrying about permanent mistakes.Nature's Echo is worth the investment. The clone doubles your damage output on most attacks, making it one of the strongest DPS upgrades in the entire tree.The shortest path to Falling Palm is through the Spirit Branch, but completing any full branch works. Consider which branch's skills you want most.Elemental imbuing affects multiple skills simultaneously. Switching elements mid-combat to exploit enemy weaknesses is a key part of late-game optimization.102102See Also104104ItemDescriptionKliffMain character overviewCombatCombat system and mechanicsAbyss ArtifactsRequired currency for unlocking many skills106106Patch 1.04 Changes107107Patch 1.04 is the biggest update Kliff's kit has received since launch. It adds one brand-new Stamina skill, buffs several existing Spirit and Stamina abilities, and fixes a handful of long-standing interaction bugs. Everything below stacks on top of the skills already listed in the tables above, so no existing unlock path changes. See also Patch Notes for the full cross-character changelog.109109New Skills111111Weapon Throw is a new Stamina skill usable only while dual wielding two weapons. It reuses the same control inputs as Shield Bash, so there is no new button combination to learn. Thrown weapons travel in a boomerang arc and return to Kliff automatically, and they can also be picked back up by pressing the throw control a second time or by walking up to where the weapon landed. The skill enables a dedicated throwing playstyle on the Kliff Dual Weapon Build, giving dual-wielders a ranged option without swapping to a bow. Because the weapon returns, there is no risk of losing a favored sword after a throw.113113Skill Improvements115115Force Palm now has improved attack speed. The base Force Palm animation recovers faster on release, which means Spirit-branch users can chain Force Palm into follow-ups, into Aerial Force Palm jumps, and into Diving Force Palm slams with less downtime between casts. The skill remains a starter-tier Spirit ability with the same unlock requirements; only the tempo is faster.Force Palm Pulse can now be charged up to three stages, with damage increasing progressively at each stage. Before 1.04 the skill fired at a single power level; after the patch, holding the input longer ramps up damage through stage 1, stage 2, and a maximum stage 3 release. See Force Palm Pulse for the full skill page. This makes the move much stronger in duels where Kliff has time to wind up a fully charged pulse, while still letting players tap it out for the stage-1 version in faster exchanges.Force Current no longer drops Kliff off ledges. Before 1.04, dashing with Force Current near the edge of a cliff or platform would carry Kliff off into the drop, which turned a movement-mode ability into a common source of fall damage (and worse) in the Abyss regions. The patch adds an edge-detection fix so the dash stops safely at ledges.Parry after guarding now triggers correctly with non-sword primary weapons. Before 1.04 the parry follow-up only fired reliably with a sword in the main-hand slot; equipping a spear, hammer, or other non-sword weapon as primary silently broke the parry window. The fix covers all supported primary-weapon categories, so builds around Kliff Spear Build and hammer variants no longer lose access to the parry.Charge is fixed for certain weapons that could not use it. Charge is the guard-and-dash shield attack, and before the patch a subset of weapon combinations silently blocked the input. Those specific interactions now work consistently.Blinding Flash can now be used in areas where weapons cannot be drawn (for example, around Greymane Camp and other safe zones). It is also smarter about aiming: in combat it now fires toward the enemy Kliff is currently facing, instead of always flashing in a fixed cone. See Blinding Flash for the full skill page.Follow-up attacks now connect more quickly even when the initial attack is blocked. Before the patch, a blocked opener would eat the usual hit-stun recovery on Kliff's side, which made pressure-strings feel disjointed against guarding enemies. Post-1.04 the follow-up fires sooner, so combos flow more naturally against blocks.Attack chaining after dodge is improved during Unarmed Combat. Rolling and Dodge-based openers feed into follow-up strikes more smoothly when Kliff is unarmed, making the Kliff Unarmed Build flow closer to how its armed counterparts already played.117117Weapon Flow119119Spears and long swords now flow more naturally between attacks during combat. The patch specifically calls out these two weapon classes as receiving smoother animation transitions, which lines up with the Spears kit and the long-sword movesets. Builds centered on these weapons, most notably the Kliff Spear Build and sword-focused setups like the Kliff Sword and Shield Build, should feel less choppy in extended exchanges.121121Cross-Character Note123123Patch 1.04 also added the Ambush skill to Damiane and Oongka. Kliff already had an equivalent stealth ambush move, so his kit does not change here; the note is for players who swap between characters and want parity on stealth openers. The two companions also gained an equivalent to Focused Force Palm, so the Axiom Force wall-breaking puzzles that used to require Kliff specifically are now solvable with any of the three.
