Kuku System

Overview

The Kuku system is one of the most important crafting and progression mechanics in Crimson Desert. Centered around a magical dwarven iron pot, it encompasses storage, crafting, specialized equipment, elemental armor, and even mech construction. Players first encounter the system during Chapter 4: The Price of Knowledge when they visit the Kilnden Workshop and meet the dwarf craftsman Grimnir. From that point forward, the Kuku Pot becomes central to mid-game and late-game progression, feeding into camp upgrades, pack crafting, legendary armor, and the Abyssal Fusion dragon armor.

The system gets its name from the Kuku Pot itself, an iron pot that appears ordinary on the outside but links to an infinite dimensional space on the inside. According to its in-game description, the pot was "crafted by recreating ancient skills" and "its interior is linked to an infinite space that defies the laws of nature." By reshaping materials placed within, this single pot holds potential that surpasses every smithy in Pywel.

Obtaining the Kuku Pot

The Kuku Pot is obtained during the main quest "The Mysterious Pot" in Chapter 4. The quest takes place at the Kilnden Workshop, located west of Hernand. When Kliff investigates a distant explosion at the forge, he meets Grimnir, a dwarf craftsman who tasks him with repairing three broken kilns before the pot can be forged.

The kiln repair process involves four distinct objectives. First, players must activate the ancient generator by aligning three rotating stone rings so their triangular symbols match a glowing reference at the bottom. A side lever controls which ring rotates: pull fully left for the topmost ring, fully right for the bottommost, or keep centered for the middle ring.

Second, the disconnected kiln requires players to find and reconnect a severed power cable behind the unit, then activate it using the crank lever. This is the simplest of the three repairs.

Third, the dismantled kiln has been blown into pieces. Players must use Axiom Force (L3) to lift two broken components scattered nearby, position them above the kiln, rotate each piece into the correct alignment, then climb on top and perform an aerial Force Palm to fuse the parts back together.

Fourth, the empty kiln needs five electrified fuel orbs inserted into its open channels. Two sit directly in front of the kiln beside clay jars. A third lies below the kiln near a pond. The fourth is embedded in the eye socket of a large stone bird sitting in the pond and must be extracted with Axiom Force. The fifth orb hides inside a small cave along the pond's left shore, past the reeds.

Once all three kilns are operational, Grimnir forges the Kuku Pot. The base crafting recipe requires 5 Iron Ore and 5 Timber. Additional Kuku Pots can be crafted later at the Kilnden Workshop, and players can also earn extra pots by sending Greymane recruits on dispatch missions to the workshop.

Storage and Power Core Management

The Kuku Pot's primary function is storing Abyss-type objects, machine parts, and contraptions. It has 230 storage slots but cannot hold regular items like food, weapons, armor, or standard recipes. To store an object, approach it and use Axiom Force. If the "Seal" action appears, the object can be placed in the pot. To retrieve a stored item, examine the Kuku Pot and select "Discard."

Power Cores (also called Elemental Cubes) are among the most important items stored in the pot. These blue, rugged crystalline formations appear scattered across the terrain or drop from mechanical enemies and boss encounters. They cannot be picked up through standard looting; players must use Axiom abilities to grab and manipulate them.

Power Cores serve multiple purposes in mid-to-late game progression. They fuel camp research and upgrades, serve as materials for high-tier and legendary equipment crafting, enable vehicle and pack enhancements, and play a role in several late-game progression mechanics. Consistent early collection prevents grinding bottlenecks when advanced upgrades become available in later chapters.

If Power Cores are missed during combat or exploration, players can recover them from Carl, the Provisions Keeper at Greymane Base Camp, for a small silver fee. This safety net prevents permanent loss of cores from chaotic encounters.

The Enhanced Kuku Pot

The Enhanced Kuku Pot is an upgraded version of the standard Kuku Pot, reinforced with an Abyss Cell. Its crafting recipe requires 1 Kuku Pot and 1 Abyss Cell. According to its description, having "fully absorbed the core's energy, its durability has been pushed to the absolute limit, making it impervious to even the most violent impacts." The Enhanced Kuku Pot is a required material for crafting higher-tier Kuku equipment that cannot be made with a standard pot, including the legendary Kuku armor sets and Kuku Rishi's Boots.

Kuku Packs

The Kuku Pack is a modified version of the Kuku Pot designed to be worn as a backpack. It is the base item for a branching upgrade tree with at least nine specialized variants, all crafted at Grimnir's Kuku Shop in the Kilnden Workshop. Each variant requires the base Kuku Pack plus additional materials and a corresponding blueprint.

To craft the base Kuku Pack, players need 1 Kuku Pot. The pack itself collects nearby Clockwork Insects when activated, including Marni's Clockwork Ant, Marni's Clockwork Mosquito, and Marni's Clockwork Dragonfly. It has a 15-second cooldown between uses. To equip a pack, press Quick Slot from the backpack tab, then hold Skill Slot, select the pack from the special equipment tab, release Skill Slot, and press Skill to activate.

Kuku Pack Variants

Kuku Rocket Pack

The Kuku Rocket Pack is one of the most sought-after Kuku items in the game. It functions as a jetpack, but it can only be equipped and used by Oongka. Due to its heavy recoil and a design tailored specifically for orcs, no other Greymane member can operate it. The pack uses propulsion from nozzles connected to the pot, burning fuel stored inside the iron pot.

Unlocking the Kuku Rocket Pack requires reaching Chapter 8, which opens Pailune as a fully operational hub city. The quest chain is missable; if players advance too far in the main story without completing the specific faction quest in Pailune, they may lose the opportunity. The process involves two blueprint stages.

First, players must obtain Blueprint I: Kuku Pack by completing the Sanctum of Penitence during the Witch of Wisdom faction quest. Inside the sanctum, locate the floating block near the entrance and use Axiom Force to move it. Carry the block back to the broken kiln, rotate it to the correct orientation, place it on the bottom-left tower, then jump onto it and use Force Palm to lock it into position.

Second, locate Grimnir's assistant on the south side of Pailune city. The assistant gives a "Letter from Grimnir" indicating that the dwarf has "made a great discovery." Players must open their inventory and select Examine on the letter to unlock Blueprint II: Kuku Rocket Pack.

To actually fly, press Jump while airborne to engage the thrusters. Press Sprint while moving to accelerate. Flying consumes Stamina constantly, and the thrusters cut immediately when stamina depletes. There is no separate fuel mechanic. Players can extend flight duration by collecting Abyss Artifacts to expand their total stamina pool.

Kuku Armor

Three legendary body armor sets can be crafted using an Enhanced Kuku Pot. Each absorbs a specific elemental damage type and, once fully charged, unleashes a counterattack burst of that element. All three sets share the same refinement progression from +0 to +10, reaching Defense 38 at maximum, and all require an Aeserion's Scale plus an Abyss Artifact for the final +10 upgrade.

The Flame-Resistant Armor uses the Effigy of Absolution and grants superior heat resistance. The Lightning-Resistant Armor merges with the Effigy of Penitence, absorbing electric current for devastating counterattacks. The Cold-Resistant Armor channels the Dark King's malice through the Effigy of Exaltation, converting extreme cold into a condensed frost explosion.

Kuku Footwear

Two pairs of special boots use Kuku Pot technology, each offering unique movement abilities.

The Breeze-step Boots use the Effigy of Faith to create momentary platforms beneath the wearer's feet during a double jump, allowing leaps to seemingly impossible heights. The Kuku Rishi's Boots warp gravity at the soles, letting the wearer glide at high speeds to dodge attacks and cross battlefields with the lightness of wind. Crafting Rishi's Boots requires an Enhanced Kuku Pot, Shoddy Rishi's Boots, and 5 Abyss Cells.

Small Kuku A.T.A.G. and Abyssal Fusion

The Small Kuku A.T.A.G. is a miniature mech constructed from a Kuku Pot. Its blueprint is obtained from Marek at the Zargan Tankworks, located west of Gorthak in Delesyia. Blueprint access requires progressing through the Ironflame Orcs faction questline (Chapter 10 onward). The crafting recipe at Grimnir's Kuku Shop calls for 1 Kuku Pot, 1 Abyss Cell, 5 Cogwheels, and 5 Small Batteries.

The Small Kuku A.T.A.G. is one of four required components for the Abyssal Fusion, the mecha armor for the Blackstar dragon mount. This armor provides significant damage resistance for aerial combat, particularly during Chapter 11 liberation missions. The full crafting requirements for the Abyssal Fusion are:

• Small Kuku A.T.A.G. x1 (crafted at Grimnir's Kuku Shop)

• Golden Star's Component x1 (auto-drop from defeating the Golden Star boss in Chapter 11)

• Aeserion's Scale x1 (found at the Serpent Shrine in Dewhaven, southwest Delesyia)

• Power Core: Ore of Resipiscence x1 (random drop from Runewalkers and Stone Golem Abyss creatures)

Warning: The Kuku Pot is consumed during the crafting of the Small Kuku A.T.A.G. Any Abyss items stored inside the pot will be lost. Players should keep a separate, empty pot reserved specifically for this craft. Maintaining three to five spare Kuku Pots is recommended for late-game progression.

Blueprints

Blueprints are the key items that unlock new Kuku crafting recipes at Grimnir's shop. They are earned through faction quests, Sanctum completions, NPC interactions, and exploration. Once a blueprint is learned, the recipe becomes permanently available. Known blueprint categories include:

New crafting options unlock progressively as players work through the Witch of Wisdom questline (Chapter 5 onward) and the Ironflame Orcs faction (Chapter 10 onward). Completing various Sanctums associated with these factions rewards both blueprints and the Effigy materials needed for specialized Kuku gear.

Kuku Bird Hatchling

Though not part of the crafting system, the Kuku Bird Hatchling shares the Kuku name and is worth noting. These birds serve as temporary mounts found in the Steel Mountains, specifically east of the Spire of Insight. They belong to Blinding Arrow soldiers patrolling the area. To ride one, players must defeat the soldier on its back and then chase the fleeing bird quickly enough to mount it.

The Kuku Bird Hatchling is temporary and cannot be summoned at will or stabled permanently. Its primary value is controlled gliding from height. While the bird cannot fly upward, riders can steer their descent from tall cliffs and structures to land safely. In the Steel Mountains' rugged terrain, this gliding ability proves useful for navigating dangerous drops. A Kuku Bird's Egg item also exists in the world, though its description notes it "has already missed its window to hatch."

Tips and Strategies

• Stockpile Kuku Pots early. Since the pot is consumed when crafting Kuku Packs, the A.T.A.G., and other items, always keep spare pots. Dispatch missions to the Kilnden Workshop are a reliable way to earn additional pots passively.

• Collect Power Cores consistently. Do not ignore the blue crystalline formations during exploration. Use Axiom Force on every metallic orb or power core you encounter and seal it in the pot. Consistent collection prevents mid-game grinding bottlenecks.

• Complete faction quests for blueprints. The Witch of Wisdom and Ironflame Orcs faction questlines unlock the most valuable Kuku recipes. Prioritize Sanctum completions, as they reward both blueprints and the Effigy materials used in specialized gear.

• Keep one pot empty for the A.T.A.G. When crafting the Small Kuku A.T.A.G. for the Abyssal Fusion, use a clean pot with nothing stored inside. Any stored items are lost when the pot is consumed.

• Do not skip the Rocket Pack quest. The Kuku Rocket Pack quest chain in Pailune is missable. Complete it during Chapter 8 before advancing too far in the main story. Oongka's jetpack is the only flight option for that character.

• Check Carl for missed Power Cores. The Provisions Keeper at Greymane Base Camp holds any Power Cores that were not picked up during combat encounters, available for a small silver fee.

• Match armor to enemy elements. The three Kuku armor sets each counter a specific element. Swap between fire, lightning, and ice resistance based on the enemies you expect to fight. The charged counterattack can turn a defensive stance into burst damage.