Revision 17

Overview

This 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.

The 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.

There are 84 skills in total across all three branches: 37 in the Stamina tree, 18 in the Health 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.

Tree Structure

The 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.

Skills 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.

Each core stat (Stamina, Spirit, Health) 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.

All 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.

Stamina Branch (Blue): 37 Skills

The Stamina branch covers physical combat techniques: armed weapon attacks, archery, kicks, and mobility moves. This is typically the first branch players invest in since it unlocks the core combat moveset, including sword techniques, shield attacks, and ranged options. The branch contains four main skill lines (Armed Combat, Marksmanship, Unarmed Combat, and various kick/shield techniques) that branch into multiple sub-skills as ranks increase.

Health Branch (Red): 18 Skills

The Health branch provides elemental combat abilities, Axiom Force traversal, and flight. Many skills here interact with the elemental system, layering fire, frost, and lightning effects onto existing attacks. Three of the branch's most important skills (Axiom Force, Flight, and Mystical Storage) are unlocked automatically through story progression rather than requiring Abyss Artifacts. The four elemental abilities (Flame Strike, Frost Mantle, Lightning Surge, and Storm Veil) each correspond to a button combo using R2 plus a face button.

Spirit Branch (Green): 29 Skills

The Spirit branch handles supernatural perception, clone summoning, time manipulation, and Force Palm techniques. Keen Senses is one of the most important skills in the entire tree, unlocking the parry, dodge, and counter mechanics essential for defensive play. The branch also contains several advanced skills with strict prerequisites, such as Nature's Echo (requires both Keen Senses Lv 3 and Forward Slash Lv 3 from the Stamina Branch) and Nature's Snare (requires Keen Senses Lv 3 and Focus Lv 2).

Central Skill: Falling Palm

Falling 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.

Among 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 serves as a powerful finisher against bosses and elite enemies, particularly when combined with high Stamina investment from the passive node.

Where to Find Abyss Artifacts

Abyss Artifacts are found throughout Pywel via multiple methods. They are the single progression currency for the entire Abyss Tree system.

• Quests: 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.

Respeccing

Players 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 commitment to any single build path. The respec cost is minimal, so players are encouraged to experiment with different skill loadouts throughout the game.

Active Skill Slots

There 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.

Progression Pace

The 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.

Relationship to Other Systems

The Abyss Tree is the primary progression system, but it works alongside several complementary systems.

• Boss 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.

Recommended Skill Priorities

The 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.

Early Game (Chapters 1-3)

• Health (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.

Best Skills to Get Early (Quick Reference)

For 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.

Quick 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.

Mid Game (Chapters 4-6)

• Keen 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.

Late Game (Chapters 7-8 and Beyond)

• Complete 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.

Skill Synergies and Combos

Skills in the Abyss Tree are designed to chain together across branches. Here are some of the most effective combinations discovered by the community.

• Parry 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.

The 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.

Tips

• Observe 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.