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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 that have not been fully revealed yet.

Tree Structure

The Abyss Tree splits into three branches, each tied to a core stat. The Blue Branch (Stamina) covers combat techniques and weapon skills across 16 levels. The Green Branch (Spirit) handles supernatural abilities, perception, and Force Palm across 14 levels. The Red Branch (Health) provides elemental powers, traversal skills, and survivability across 18 levels.

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.

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.

Blue Branch: Stamina (16 Levels)

The Stamina branch covers physical combat techniques: unarmed combat, kicks, grappling, archery, and armed weapon skills. This is typically the first branch players invest in, since it unlocks the core combat moveset including sword techniques, shield attacks, and ranged options.

Green Branch: Spirit (14 Levels)

The Spirit branch handles supernatural perception, clone summoning, time manipulation, and Force Palm techniques. Keen Senses is one of the most important skills here, unlocking the parry, backstep, and counter mechanics that are essential for defensive play.

Red Branch: Health (18 Levels)

The Health branch provides elemental combat abilities, Axiom Force traversal, and flight. Many skills here interact with the Axiom Bracelet system, layering fire, ice, and lightning effects onto existing attacks. Several key traversal abilities (Axiom Force, Flight) are unlocked through the main story rather than Abyss Artifacts.

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. The more Stamina you have when activating it, the more damage it deals. It serves as a powerful finisher against bosses and elite enemies.

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.

• Completing quests. Artifacts are critical rewards woven into the story and side content

• Defeating powerful bosses

• Exploration. Artifacts are hidden in discreet locations across all five regions of Pywel

• Found within the Abyss dimension itself

• Earned at the end of trials

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.

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 described as straightforward with high levels of freedom. Unlocked skills are executed through different button press combinations during combat rather than selected from a traditional hotbar, keeping the flow of combat smooth and action-oriented.

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 (Spartan-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.

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: 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 and ice, adding damage types on top of the base moveset

Recommended Skill Priorities

The Abyss Tree is large enough that new players benefit from focusing their early Abyss Artifacts on high-impact skills. Here are general priorities by game phase:

Early Game

1. Keen Senses Rank 1 (Parry): unlocks the core defensive mechanic. Without this, you can only block or dodge.

2. Armed Combat Rank 3: unlocks Evasive Slash and Charge, making melee combat much smoother.

3. Archery Rank 1: gives you a ranged option from the start. Even one rank makes a difference against flying enemies.

4. Forward Slash Rank 1: a reliable heavy attack for finishing combos.

Mid Game

1. Keen Senses Rank 2 (Backstep): perfect dodge for unblockable attacks.

2. Force Palm Rank 2 (Aerial Force Palm): adds vertical mobility and an air attack in one skill.

3. Turning Slash Rank 2 (Double Turning Slash): one of the highest-damage melee options.

4. Focus Rank 1: time-slow dramatically helps with parry timing against fast enemies.

5. Imbue Elements Rank 1: elemental damage on Turning Slash opens up new damage combos.

Late Game

1. Complete one full branch to unlock Falling Palm. The Green Branch (14 levels, 13 skills) is the shortest path.

2. Keen Senses Rank 3 (Counter): the most advanced defensive option, turning every enemy attack into a damage opportunity.

3. Grappling Rank 5: full grappling tree opens up the entire wrestling moveset.

4. Imbue Elements Rank 4: elemental Meteor Kick with Lightning for devastating aerial finishers.

Skill Synergies and Combos

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

• Parry → Force Palm → 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 → Focus Shot → Charged Shot: activate Focus to slow time, then use Focus Shot for precision aiming. Follow up with a Charged Shot imbued with the current element for massive ranged burst damage.

• Vault → Meteor Kick (Lightning): leap over an enemy with Vault, then slam down with an elemental Meteor Kick. Requires Vault (Blue) and Imbue Elements Rank 4 (Red).

• Stab (Bleed) → Nature's Echo → Echoing Stab: inflict Bleed with Stab, then summon a phantom clone that repeats the Stab. Double Bleed application on a single target.

• Grappling → Clothesline → Body Slam: a pure Blue Branch chain. Sprint into Clothesline to slam an enemy, then follow with an aerial Body Slam for AoE damage to nearby enemies.

• Mantle of Frost → Turning Slash (Elemental): activate the frost barrier for protection, then unleash an elemental Turning Slash while enemies are staggered by the frost burst.

• Nature's Snare → Blinding Flash → Blinding Flash Finisher: block incoming projectiles with the barrier, blind enemies with the flash, then rush in for the rapid flurry finisher.

• Evasive Shot → Multishot: slide-dodge to safety while firing, then immediately follow with a 10-arrow Multishot to punish grouped enemies.

The Axiom Bracelet adds another layer: any physical skill can be imbued with fire, ice, or lightning via the Imbue Elements skill tree. A fire-imbued Sword Flurry hits an entire group with damage-over-time, while a lightning Charged Shot stuns and chains between tightly packed enemies. Experiment with combinations to find what suits your playstyle.