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Kliff - Version 61 vs Version 62
Jun 3, 2026, 09:58 AM
Corrected wikilink existence flags
Jun 9, 2026, 12:19 AM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
11Overview22Kliff is the main protagonist of Crimson Desert and the leader of a ragtag band of mercenaries called the Greymanes, who are his family in all but name. He is the son of Martinus, who met a tragic end. Renowned as possessing the finest swordsmanship in Pailune, Kliff commands the absolute trust of his comrades through his cool and calculating judgment. Despite this reputation, he suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Black Bears' schemes after the death of their faction leader Jian, whose passing threw Pailune into open conflict.44During a night ambush led by Myurdin (also known as Lava Myurdin), the Black Bears devastated the Greymanes. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, Kliff was thrown into a river and presumed dead. He mysteriously awakened in the Abyss, a cloud-like otherworldly realm where he traversed the Corridor of the Void and unlocked the Blinding Flash ability. After escaping the Abyss, he was pulled from the river and nursed back to health by Sebastian in Hernand territory at the Wycliffe Mappery. This brush with death and the Abyss is what grants Kliff his newfound supernatural powers and sets up his mission to rebuild the Greymanes.88Combat Versatility1010As the most versatile of the three playable characters, Kliff has the widest weapon selection and can adapt to virtually any combat situation. There is no class system; his combat identity is defined entirely by whatever weapons, skills, and Abyss Artifacts he chooses to equip. He can wield axes, daggers, maces, hammers, swords, shields, and two-handed weapons across two weapon slots, switching between them mid-combat. His combat approach branches into three distinct paths: stamina-based physical attacks, spirit-focused supernatural abilities, and health-dependent elemental techniques channeled through the Axiom Bracelet.1212He is voiced by Alec Newman, known for his BAFTA-winning lead performance in Still Wakes the Deep, his role as Adam Smasher in Cyberpunk 2077, and characters in Final Fantasy XIV and Elden Ring.1414Starting Stats1616Kliff begins the game with a balanced stat spread that leans toward physical endurance. His high Stamina pool supports an aggressive melee playstyle, while his modest Spirit reserve is enough for occasional supernatural ability use early on.1818StatStarting ValueHealth300Spirit30Stamina120Attack17Defense8Critical Hit Chance5%2020Starting Equipment2121Kliff begins the game with a basic loadout that covers both melee and ranged combat. His default weapon is a one-handed sword paired with a shield, plus a bow for ranged engagements. This combination gives him a solid foundation: the sword and shield offer reliable blocking and counterattacks, while the bow lets him thin out enemies before closing to melee range.2323Early equipment upgrades are available in Hernand Town. The blacksmith Turnali introduces the refinement system through a short quest that involves gathering timber. The Bekker Shield is the first refinement upgrade, costing 10 Timber. Rhett's Equipment Shop on the town square sells the Canta Armor Set, which provides a meaningful survivability boost for early boss encounters. The Contribution System shop at Hernand Castle stocks the Bolton Armor Set for players who have accumulated enough contribution points.2525Before difficult fights, players can use a Grindstone to temporarily boost weapon attack power or an Anvil to increase gear defense. These temporary buffs make a noticeable difference in early boss battles like the Reed Devil encounter.2727Personality2929Kliff is defined by his cool and calculating judgment, a strong sense of right and wrong, and the deep loyalty he inspires in those around him. Newman described Kliff as someone with "a strong moral compass" who "knows very clearly what is right and what is wrong." He carries the burden of leadership after the destruction of the Greymanes at the hands of the Black Bears. He starts the game at his lowest point, barely any abilities left and comrades dead or scattered. Despite this, his fierce loyalty to those who depend on him drives the entire narrative.3131Voice Acting Inspiration3333Kliff has a guarded personality that relaxes when he is among his tribe. Newman noted that Kliff initially appears reserved but "loosens up and opens up more" alongside his companions as the group reunites. Newman imagined Kliff as a Scotsman, which helped him identify traits like "a natural skepticism and watchfulness." He drew vocal inspiration from Graham Fleck, his wife's stepfather who passed away in 2022. Newman stated: "There was danger in his voice, but also enormous warmth and a sense of loyalty. I hope using his voice as inspiration for Kliff will mean he'll live on somehow." Fleck's lower register "brings an attitude that seemed to work for Kliff."3535Preview Impressions3737In hands-on previews, Kliff has been characterized as a "rugged and stoic hero who can easily cut down enemies in his path, but is also willing to lend a helping hand to the citizens across the land." After his defeat at the hands of Myurdin and the Black Bears, Kliff is seemingly killed in battle but is resurrected by mysterious new allies from the sky realm known as the Abyss. This resurrection grants him his newfound supernatural powers and sets up his mission to rebuild the Greymanes.3939Despite the serious tone and brutal combat, much of Kliff's appeal comes from seeing this very serious warrior engage in unexpectedly lighthearted activities. Helping a man clean his chimney, rescuing an abducted sheep for an upset child, and playing rock-paper-scissors with back-alley ruffians all show a humorous contrast with his otherwise grim persona.4141Key Companions4343Kliff's leadership of the Greymanes rests on personal bonds forged long before the Black Bears' ambush. Each companion has a distinct relationship with Kliff that evolves as the story progresses.4545Oongka4747Oongka is Kliff's oldest friend and the Greymanes' most physically imposing fighter. The two share a brotherhood built on years of fighting side by side. When the Black Bears scattered the Greymanes, Oongka's absence hit Kliff hardest. Players reunite with Oongka during Chapter 6 and fight alongside him for several missions before he becomes fully playable at the end of Chapter 7. Unlocking Oongka grants a second playable character for open-world exploration and side content.4949Yann5151Yann is the Greymanes' strategist and scout. Where Kliff leads from the front, Yann handles reconnaissance and planning. Their dynamic is one of mutual reliance: Kliff trusts Yann's intelligence gathering without question, and Yann trusts Kliff's battlefield instincts. Reuniting with Yann opens up new faction quest lines and expands the Greymane Camp with additional facilities.5353Naira5555Naira is a skilled archer known among the Greymanes as the Empress of the Bow. She and Kliff share a quiet, understated loyalty. Naira's reunion triggers archery-related side content and companion dispatch missions that expand the Greymanes' influence across Hernand.5757Damiane5959Damiane is not an original Greymane. She meets Kliff's group after leaving her home in Demeniss, apparently fleeing something. She becomes playable at the start of Chapter 3, right after the End of Greed questline, making her the first additional character Kliff's journey unlocks. Her combat style contrasts with Kliff's versatility; she relies on speed and precision rather than brute force.6161Other Allies6363As Kliff rebuilds the Greymanes, he also recruits non-combatant allies. Hubert the healer joins the camp and provides recovery services. Turnali the blacksmith unlocks the refinement system after a short introductory quest. Sebastian, who pulled Kliff from the river in Hernand, remains an early benefactor. Each new ally recruited expands the camp's facilities and unlocks crafting, trading, or training options.6565Appearance and Customization6767Kliff has a defined, fixed appearance with no character creation screen. His armor consists of leather and metal plates. This reflects his pragmatic nature and experience in countless battles. While his base appearance cannot be changed, limited cosmetic customization is available through in-game Barber shops at the Greymane Camp.6969OptionDetailsHairstyles6 different options, the widest selection among playable charactersBeardMultiple beard style options availableHair ColorPalette includes white, grey, red, amber, brown, green, blue, purple, and pink shadesArmor DyeingIndividual armor piece sections can be recolored through the Dyehouse7171Weapons7272Kliff has the broadest weapon selection of any character in Crimson Desert. He can seamlessly switch between all weapons mid-combat, chaining different weapon attacks into fluid combos. For example, he can parry with sword and shield, switch to a spear for a follow-up, chain a greatsword swing into a bare-fisted grapple, and then pull out dual blades, all in one continuous sequence. There is no class restriction on what Kliff can wield.7474Weapon TypeDescriptionSword and ShieldBalanced offense and defense; the default starting loadout with reliable blocking and shield bashesTwo-Handed GreatswordSlower but harder-hitting sweeping attacks with long rangeLongswordA versatile one-handed blade with moderate speed and damage, usable with a shieldDual Curved Swords (Nitoryu)Fast dual-wielding style with rapid combo chains; confirmed as separate curved bladesSpearExtended reach with thrust-focused attacks for keeping enemies at distanceOne-Handed AxeQuick chops with decent stagger potentialTwo-Handed AxeHeavy overhead swings with high damage per hitMace and HammerBlunt weapons effective for staggering armored opponents; available in one-handed and two-handed variantsClubA blunt improvised weapon with solid stagger damageDual DaggersExtremely fast close-range attacks for aggressive rushdown combatBowRanged attacks with multiple arrow types including explosive, freezing, and fire arrowsPitchforkAn improvised weapon with thrust attacks. This shows Kliff's resourceful combat approachBare HandsUnarmed combat with its own dedicated damage stat, making fist-fighting a fully viable approach7676The Quick Swap skill in the Blue (Stamina) branch grants a brief attack bonus when switching weapons mid-combo, rewarding players who mix weapon types within a single engagement. This encourages experimentation rather than sticking to a single weapon for every encounter.7777Starting Skills7979Kliff begins his journey with a broader set of basic combat and survival abilities than the other playable characters. These starting skills provide a well-rounded base that players can build upon as they unlock nodes in the Abyss Tree. His 15 starting skills cover armed combat, unarmed fighting, grappling, archery, and defensive techniques.8181SkillCategoryDescriptionArmed CombatStaminaCore melee proficiency enabling basic attack chains with any equipped weapon. Upgradeable to 5 ranks for increased damage.Blinding FlashStaminaA disorienting burst of reflected light that briefly stuns nearby enemies, creating openings for follow-up attacks.Forward SlashStaminaA lunging strike that closes distance and deals moderate damage. Upgradeable to 3 ranks; unlocks combo extensions at higher ranks.GrapplingStaminaThe ability to grab and throw enemies using wrestling-style holds and slams. Upgradeable to 5 ranks, unlocking advanced throws.RestrainStaminaA hostage-hold grapple that immobilizes an enemy, useful for crowd control in fights with multiple opponents.ThrowStaminaA follow-up grapple that hurls a grabbed enemy, dealing damage on impact. Unlocked via the Grappling skill.Keen SensesSpiritUnlocks the ability to Parry, Backstep, and Counter. Widely considered the most important early unlock because it enables Perfect Dodge at rank 3.Shield BashStaminaStrikes an opponent with the shield and blocks oncoming attacks. Effective for creating space in close-quarters combat.Spinning SlashStaminaA wide sweeping attack that hits enemies in a radius. Useful against groups.StabStaminaA forward thrust that inflicts Bleed. Upgradeable to 3 ranks; the max-rank perk Rend Armor ignores boss super armor.Turning SlashStaminaA spinning overhead strike that sends enemies flying. Upgradeable to 3 ranks for increased knockback and damage.Unarmed CombatStaminaBare-fist strikes with combo extensions. Upgradeable to 5 ranks, unlocking martial arts techniques.Leg SweepStaminaA low kick that trips enemies, knocking them to the ground for follow-up attacks.MarksmanshipStaminaRanged proficiency governing accuracy and damage with bows and hand cannons.ParryingSpiritTimed defensive maneuver that deflects incoming attacks and creates counterattack windows. Requires Keen Senses.8383Skill Branches8484Kliff's combat abilities are organized across three branches of the Abyss Skill Tree, each tied to a different resource pool. All three branches converge on the ultimate ability, Falling Palm, which unlocks after maxing out any one branch.8686BranchColorResourceMax LevelTotal SkillsFocusStaminaBlueStaminaLv 1437Physical combat, weapon techniques, archery, grapplingSpiritGreenSpiritLv 1229Supernatural abilities, Force Palm, Nature's Echo, Keen SensesHealthRedHealthLv 1818Elemental enhancements, Axiom Force, Flight, high-risk abilities8888For a complete breakdown of all 84 of Kliff's skills organized by branch, see Kliff Skills. For character-specific skill trees, see Damiane Skills and Oongka Skills.8989Full Skill Tree9191Kliff's complete skill tree contains over 60 individual skills distributed across three color-coded branches. All three branches converge on a single ultimate ability, Falling Palm, which is unlocked after maxing out any one branch. Players can freely mix skills from all three branches.9393Blue Tree (Stamina Skills)9595The stamina branch covers physical combat, mobility, and weapon techniques. It spans 16 levels and includes every melee and archery skill. Key sub-categories within this branch:9797Unarmed and Grappling: Unarmed Combat (5 ranks), Scissor Takedown, Pump Kick, Dropkick, Vault, Flying Kick, Meteor Kick, Grappling (5 ranks), Throw, Restrain, Lariat, Back Hang, Lariat Follow-Up, Clothesline, Body Slam, and Giant Swing. Giant Swing requires Grappling rank 3.9999Archery: Archery (5 ranks), Multishot (fires 10 arrows in a cone), Evasive Shot (3 ranks, slide-dodge while shooting), and Charged Shot (consumes Spirit for a powered arrow).101101Armed Combat: Armed Combat (5 ranks), Evasive Slash, Charge (shield rush), Rush (counter strike), Quick Swap (rapid weapon switching with an attack bonus), Forward Slash (3 ranks), Shield Bash, Turning Slash (3 ranks), Stab (3 ranks with Bleed), Skewer (follow-up to Stab), Sword Flurry (2 ranks, leaping AoE spin slash), Blinding Flash, and Blinding Flash Finisher (rapid flurry on blinded targets).103103Green Tree (Spirit Skills)105105The Spirit branch spans 14 levels and focuses on supernatural perception, counters, and force manipulation. Key skills:107107Defensive and Perception: Keen Senses (3 ranks, unlocks Parry, Backstep, and Counter), Evasive Roll (perfect-timed roll), Double Jump (consumes Spirit), and Focus (3 ranks, slows time with sub-skills Focused Repulsion and Focused Insight).109109Nature Powers: Nature's Echo (3 ranks, summons phantom clones that mimic attacks), Nature's Snare (3 ranks, projectile-blocking barrier), Nature's Grasp (lift and move heavy objects; story unlock), Focus Shot (3 ranks, slow-motion aiming).111111Force Palm: Force Palm (5 ranks, an energy strike that reduces enemy Defense), Aerial Force Palm, Healing Force Palm, Force Palm Pulse (swift follow-up), Focused Palm (charged variant), Light Falling Palm (ground slam via Axiom Force), and Force Current (long-range pulse that builds stagger).113113Red Tree (Health Skills)115115The Health branch spans 18 levels and covers elemental manipulation, survivability, and high-risk abilities. These skills consume Health to activate, trading survivability for burst damage or utility.117117Elemental: Imbue Elements (4 ranks, cycle between fire, frost, lightning, and wind), Fist of Flame (fire-imbued charging punch), Mantle of Frost (freezing barrier that blocks one hit), and Surge of Sparks (AoE electric shock zone).119119Traversal and Utility: Axiom Force (3 ranks, magical hand for object manipulation; story unlock), Flight (2 ranks, gliding ability; story unlock), Aerial Roll (high-speed midair dash), Winch (pull enemies toward you and slam), Mystical Storage (seal objects in the Kuku Pot), and Veil of Fog (creates fog that breaks enemy line of sight).121121Falling Palm (Ultimate)123123The central ultimate skill, Falling Palm, unlocks after completing any one branch. It unleashes a ground-impact strike that channels all remaining Stamina into a single devastating blow. The skill functions as a finisher that rewards players who have invested deeply into at least one branch of the tree.125125Skill Acquisition127127Kliff does not gain experience points from killing enemies in the traditional sense. Instead, his progression relies on three distinct methods of learning new abilities:129129Abyss Fragments: Collected from quests, boss victories, exploration, and treasure. These are spent at the Abyss Tree to unlock core stat boosts (Health, Stamina, Spirit) and branch into combat technique nodes.131131Observation Learning: Some skills cannot be purchased at all. Kliff must personally witness them being performed in the world or watch enemies use them in combat. This is done through the Observation system. For example, watching an enemy perform a belly slam jump attack can unlock that move for Kliff. This encourages players to pay attention during combat rather than button-mashing through encounters.133133Boss Equipment: Defeating bosses yields special equipment that grants access to the boss's signature abilities. This means the order in which bosses are fought directly affects available build options. A player who defeats a fire-wielding boss early will have access to flame-based moves that another player might not unlock until much later.135135Stats and skill allocations can be reset and reallocated at any time, so players are free to experiment with different builds without permanent consequences.137137Recommended Early Build139139For a detailed breakdown, see the dedicated Build Guide: Kliff article. The following covers the most effective early-game priorities.141141Stat Priority143143Invest Abyss Fragments into Health first, reaching at least level 4 before branching into Stamina. Health and Stamina upgrades carry over to all playable characters, so investing early benefits Damiane and Oongka once they are unlocked. Spirit can be raised more gradually since most early combat relies on physical attacks.145145Priority Skills147147Keen Senses (rank 3): This is the single most important early unlock. Rank 3 unlocks Perfect Dodge, which restores Stamina on successful timing and is the core survivability mechanic for the entire game.149149Stab (max rank): The highest DPS basic skill available. The max-rank perk Rend Armor lets attacks ignore boss and elite super armor, which trivializes many otherwise punishing encounters.151151Nature's Echo: Requires Keen Senses rank 3 and Forward Slash rank 3 as prerequisites. Creates phantom clones that double your attacks. One of the strongest damage multipliers in the early and mid-game.153153Forward Slash and Turning Slash: Both are reliable gap-closers and crowd-clearers. Forward Slash closes distance quickly, while Turning Slash's spinning overhead strike knocks groups of enemies away.155155Shield Bash: Breaks free from enemy groups and creates breathing room. Especially useful when surrounded.157157Recommended Late-Game Weapon159159The Ignir Sword is widely considered the best weapon for Kliff. It has a base attack power of 24 and can be upgraded to 45, with five Abyss Core sockets. It drops from defeating Ludvig during the Time to Face Justice quest in Chapter 7. Pair it with the Lifsoth Large Shield (starting defense 12, upgradeable to 35, two Abyss Core sockets), found on the second-floor balcony of the Witch of Wisdom's house in Hernand.161161Abyss Cores163163Focus on three Abyss Cores: Swift (increases speed), Destruction (boosts attack power), and Fortification (enhances defense). For offensive builds, the Crow's Pursuit core sends crows toward opponents for additional damage, while Groundsurge creates rocks and lava from the ground for crowd control. Haste cores are generally not worth investing in since movement speed has diminishing returns.165165Signature Abilities167167Crow's Wing:169169A raven-wing cloak gifted by White Crow the Witch after Kliff visits the Abyss. It allows Kliff to glide across large distances, transforming him into a shade-like figure. Kliff is the only playable character who receives this ability. See the dedicated Crow's Wing article for full details.171171Force Palm:173173The Force Palm is a powerful palm strike that can be charged and infused with elemental effects through the Axiom Bracelet. In combat, it launches enemies skyward for aerial follow-ups. For traversal, it launches Kliff himself into the air. Some advanced skills like Force Palm cannot simply be purchased; Kliff must personally witness them performed in the world or observe enemies using them in combat to learn them.176176Axiom Force:178178An aerial combat maneuver performed while gliding. Kliff crashes into the ground in a damaging shockwave, transitioning from traversal directly into combat. This connects the Axiom Bracelet's elemental powers with aerial movement.180180Traversal Abilities182182Grappling Hook:184184A versatile traversal tool that does not snap Kliff instantly to a target. Instead, it slingshots him into the air, from which he can transition into a glide or divekick. He can target rooftops, treetops, and cliff ledges as launch points. See the Grappling Hook article for full mechanics.186186Double Jump:188188Kliff can perform double jumps as part of his traversal and combat toolkit, gaining significant vertical height with each successive jump. This ability feeds into his aerial combat options, allowing him to chain jumps into glides, divekicks, or Axiom Force ground pounds.190190Axiom Bracelet and Elemental Combat192192Kliff has no innate magical ability. All of his elemental powers come from the Axiom Bracelet, a magical artifact accessed via a selection wheel during combat. Elemental infusion can be applied across all attacks and weapon types, enabling creative environmental combos such as using lightning against wet enemies for bonus damage, or fire interacting with flammable surroundings.194194ElementEffectFireIncinerates enemies and causes explosions; fire arrows explode on impactIceFreezes enemies solid, enabling shattering follow-up attacksLightningParalyzes enemies with area-of-effect attacks; deals bonus damage against wet targetsWindProvides a quick aerial lift, allowing Kliff to launch into the air and dive-kick down onto groupsNatureCreates afterimage effects for deceptive combat maneuvers196196Wrestling and Unarmed Combat197197Wrestling is a core, defining part of Kliff's combat identity, with the developers drawing heavily from professional wrestling for his moveset. Bare-hands combat has its own damage stat that can be upgraded, making unarmed fighting a fully viable primary approach rather than a last resort. Directional grapples are performed by holding two face buttons plus a direction for different variations.199199Grappling Moves201201Kliff's grappling repertoire is extensive and draws from real professional wrestling techniques. Confirmed moves include chokeslams (compared to The Undertaker's signature), suplexes and German suplexes, the Angle Slam (inspired by WWE's Kurt Angle), the Giant Swing (inspired by WWE's Cesaro), RKOs, DDTs, back breakers, clotheslines, shoulder tackles that send foes flying, and hammer throws that launch enemies across the battlefield. He can also grab enemies off their mounts and commandeer the mount for himself.203203Martial Arts Strikes205205Beyond wrestling, Kliff has dedicated martial arts strikes that were motion-captured from real martial artists for authenticity. These include taekwondo kicks, knee lifts extended into thrust kicks, series of rapid punches, drop-kicks, and dive-kicks launched from aerial positions.207207Defensive Mechanics209209Kliff has several defensive options that reward precise timing. He can perform stamina-draining blocks with shields, execute precise parries that create openings for counterattacks, use dodge rolls with perfect dodge windows that restore stamina on successful timing, and employ sliding evasion to reposition during combat.211211Traversal213213Kliff's traversal toolkit is the most developed of the three playable characters. His double jump provides vertical mobility, the grappling hook slingshots him to elevated positions, and the Crow's Wing allows sustained gliding across large distances. The combination of grappling hook launches into glides is described as the fastest traversal method available before late-game unlocks. Later in the game, Kliff gains access to dragon riding for covering vast distances and can pilot a missile-firing mech.215215Mounted Combat217217Kliff can fight while mounted on various creatures, including bears and dragons. While riding, he adds his own sword swipes alongside the mount's attacks. He can grapple enemies off their mounts during combat and commandeer the mount for himself, turning an enemy's advantage into his own.219219Progression221221Kliff's progression is built around Abyss Fragments, collected from quests, boss victories, and exploration. These unlock nodes in the Abyss Tree, which contains core nodes for stat boosts like Health and Stamina, and branch nodes for actual combat techniques. Some advanced skills cannot be purchased outright; Kliff must personally witness them performed in the world or observe enemies using them in combat. Defeating bosses yields special equipment that grants access to the boss's signature abilities, meaning the order in which bosses are fought affects available build options. Stats and skill allocations can be reset and reallocated at any time.223223Story Role225225The story begins with the Greymanes' devastating defeat at the hands of Myurdin and the Black Bears. Their previous leader, Jian, had been killed, throwing Pailune into chaos. The Black Bears exploited this power vacuum, launching a surprise night ambush that scattered and nearly destroyed the Greymanes. Kliff was thrown into a river and left for dead.227227After his apparent death, Kliff awakened in the Abyss, a mysterious cloud-like realm between life and death where he traversed the Corridor of the Void. He was eventually pulled from the river at the Wycliffe Mappery by Sebastian in Hernand territory, where he began his long road to recovery and vengeance.229229Driven by the desire to reclaim Pailune and reunify the Greymanes, Kliff must travel through all five regions of Pywel to find his companions, rebuild the Greymane Camp, and ultimately confront the Black Bears. As the journey progresses, Kliff discovers that the threat to Pywel extends far beyond the factional conflict, involving the Abyss and forces that endanger the entire continent. Kliff is the only playable character who can advance the main story; Damiane and Oongka become available for open-world exploration and side content after being unlocked through story progression.231231Establishing the Greymane Camp233233After being rescued by Sebastian, Kliff and the surviving Greymanes travel through Hernand and eventually claim a ruins site that becomes the Greymane Camp near Hernand Town. This camp functions as the player's central hub for the entire game. It starts as little more than a cluster of tents and broken walls, but expands with each companion rescued, each ally recruited, and each questline completed. Camp upgrades unlock new crafting options, combat training opportunities, fast travel improvements, and story content.235235Chapter-by-Chapter Progression237237Prologue (Dead of Night): The game opens with the Black Bears' devastating night ambush on the Greymanes. Kliff fights desperately but is overwhelmed, thrown into a river, and left for dead. He briefly awakens in the Abyss, where he traverses the Corridor of the Void, before being pulled from the water at the Wycliffe Mappery by Sebastian.239239Chapters 1-2 (Hernand): Kliff recovers in Hernand territory and begins rebuilding. These chapters introduce the City of Hernand, its factions (House Celeste, House Lanford), and the local power dynamics. Kliff takes on commissions and bounties to earn coin and reputation while searching for scattered Greymanes.241241Chapter 3 (Howling Hill): Kliff establishes the Howling Hill camp as the Greymanes' new base of operations. Damiane becomes playable after the End of Greed questline, giving players their first alternate character for open-world exploration.243243Mid-Game and Endgame245245Chapters 4-5: The story expands beyond Hernand as Kliff pursues leads about scattered Greymanes and encounters the broader political conflicts of Pywel. The Abyss's influence becomes more apparent, and Kliff begins to understand that the threat extends far beyond the Black Bears.247247Chapters 6-7: Kliff reunites with Oongka during Chapter 6 and fights alongside him through several missions. At the end of Chapter 7, Oongka becomes fully playable. The Time to Face Justice quest in Chapter 7 pits Kliff against Ludvig, one of the game's most challenging boss encounters. Defeating Ludvig yields the Ignir Sword.249249Chapter 8 (Blood Coronation): The story reaches its climax as Kliff confronts the full scope of the Abyss threat and the Black Bears' role in the wider conflict. The Blood Coronation brings the factional warfare to a head.251251Leadership and Legacy253253Kliff inherited leadership of the Greymanes after the death of their previous leader, Jian. Jian was killed by the Black Bears, which threw Pailune into open conflict and created a power vacuum that the Black Bears exploited to devastating effect. Kliff, already renowned as possessing the finest swordsmanship in Pailune, was the natural successor to lead the scattered survivors.255255The alchemist Alustin later reveals that stopping the chaos threatening the Abyss was once Jian's mission, a burden that now falls on Kliff. This dual responsibility, rebuilding the Greymanes while confronting a supernatural threat that endangers all of Pywel, defines Kliff's arc. He is not merely avenging a fallen leader; he is carrying forward a mission he never chose but cannot refuse.257257Patch 1.03.00 Additions259259As of Patch 1.03.00 (April 9, 2026), Kliff gained a new aerial utility skill:261261Focused Aerial Roll: a fast evasive roll performed while airborne. Activate Focus during flight, then press the dodge key. Requires Focus Lv. 3, Flight Lv. 2, and Aerial Roll.263263Patch 1.06.00 and 1.07.00 Changes265265On May 10, 2026, Patch 1.06.00 added cross-character apparel options, and on May 15, 2026, Patch 1.07.00 introduced an unarmed variant of the Blinding Flash Finisher. Both changes opened up new playstyles for Kliff that were previously gated.267267Blinding Flash Finisher Unarmed Variant269269Patch 1.07.00 made the Blinding Flash Finisher available while Kliff has no weapon equipped. The unarmed version triggers from the same Blinding Flash setup as the standard variant, but instead of ending in a sword strike, Kliff finishes with a flurry of punches to the face. The finisher continues to teleport-dash between blinded enemies in the area, so the punch flurry can still chain across multiple targets in a crowd.271271The unarmed variant runs on the same spirit cost and the same time-slow window as the standard finisher. The damage profile is comparable, with the punch flurry striking as basic attacks during the slowdown, which means weapon-tier scaling for armed builds is replaced by Kliff's unarmed damage values when no weapon is held. This makes Blinding Flash Finisher a serious finisher option for pure unarmed Kliff builds for the first time.273273Cross-Character Apparel275275Patch 1.06.00 added the option for Kliff to equip Oongka's outfit pieces. Pearl Abyss confirmed in the patch notes that Kliff can now wear some of Oongka's outfits, which gives a more muscular, exposed-tattoo look for Kliff that previously was not available. The change also makes Kliff's tattoos visible in builds where the equipped chest piece would otherwise hide them. An exact list of cross-character apparel pieces is pending, but the toggle is now on the Kliff side of the wardrobe and any Oongka piece labeled cross-character-compatible is selectable.277277Oongka can also equip the Greymane cloth cloak as part of the same cross-character apparel push, completing the two-way exchange between the playable characters' wardrobes.279279Combat Improvement Update281281As part of the 1.06 and 1.07 combat passes, most unarmed attacks and skills now successfully connect against lying enemies on the ground, including Kliff's unarmed strikes. Earlier patches treated downed targets as untargetable for many strikes, which broke the combo loop after a knockdown. The fix benefits Kliff's existing Unarmed Combat tree and pairs naturally with the new unarmed Blinding Flash Finisher.283283Cross-Character Skill Notes285285Patch 1.06.00 added the Oongka Fists unarmed skill tree for Oongka.Patch 1.07.00 added the Damiane Fists unarmed skill tree for Damiane and extended Aerial Stab from Kliff to both Damiane and Oongka.Oongka's Explosive Strike gained a three-tier charge phase in 1.07.287287Why Kliff Lacks Emotion (Story Analysis)289289Players new to the story commonly notice that Kliff comes across as reserved and detached, even in scenes that would normally call for a strong emotional reaction. The reason is documented across in-game readables, particularly the Axiom Archive volumes that record the history of the time-loop cycles that underpin the main story. The notes below summarize what those readables say, hedged as analysis where the framing relies on creator interpretation of in-game text.291291In the world of Crimson Desert, the events of the main quest take place during cycle 108, the most recent iteration of a long sequence of time-loop cycles. The Axiom Archive contains 107 prior entries, one per cycle, recording the guardians' previous attempts to manipulate events toward a victory against the threat at the end of the loop. The volumes are readable in the game and form the textual basis for the analysis below.293293The Decision in Cycle 66295295The Axiom Archive's volume four describes guardians experimenting with different aspects of Kliff's character across the cycles. Confidence, responsibility, and other emotional traits each led to outcomes that the guardians considered failures: granting confidence led Kliff to fail repeatedly, and granting heightened responsibility led Kliff to wander the world hunting threats rather than following the intended path. By cycle 66, the volume concludes that every emotion seemed to lead Kliff somewhere unintended.297297With opportunities running out, the guardians extracted Kliff's emotions entirely, leaving him with values like humility and a willingness to help with small tasks, but no broader emotional life. The framing in the readable is that small acts of help would accumulate like falling stones starting an avalanche in the mountains, the metaphor used in the volume.299299The same volume notes that after stripping Kliff's emotions, the guardians observed an increase in the frequency of Abyssgate openings every cycle, suggesting the emotional strip had cascading effects on the world's stability.301301Where Emotion Still Surfaces303303One area where Kliff still shows emotion is around his fellow Greymanes. Reuniting with comrades, particularly Oongka, produces visible flickers of emotion in cutscenes. Across the cycles, the guardians eventually came to recognize the importance of the Greymanes to Kliff and began manipulating their fates as well to keep Kliff moving toward the cycle's goal. This is the most consistent emotional anchor across the main story.305305Oongka's Role in the Finale307307Oongka rejoins Kliff during the final stretch of the main campaign for the climactic boss sequence. After being separated from the party earlier in the story, Oongka returns in time to assist with the final encounter, and is present during the post-battle cutscene that closes out the campaign. The framing reinforces the idea that Oongka is essential to Kliff's success across cycles, not just narratively but mechanically in the final fight.309309Patch 1.09.00 Changes311311Patch 1.09.00 (May 29, 2026) corrected two of Kliff's Spirit interactions: using Evasive Kick while unarmed now correctly consumes Spirit, and the Blinding Flash Finisher can no longer be used with insufficient Spirit. The new finisher skills added for Oongka and Damiane in the same patch reuse the Blinding Flash Finisher input.
