Revision 7

Overview

Menace, formally known as the Kingdom of Demeniss, is the military and political center of the continent of Pywel in Crimson Desert. The region sits at the geographic heart of the continent and is the seat of continental governance. Demeniss is ruled by the Thorel dynasty, though with the king now lying in a coma the kingdom has fractured as regional lords, mercenary bands, and opportunistic factions compete for control.

The landscape of Menace is diverse and imposing. Cliffside fortifications, grand castles, sweeping golden plains, ancient temples, and murky wetlands define the terrain. To the south lies the island marshland of Serpent Marsh, while the northern reaches border Tashkalp territory. The region features fortress walls, watchtowers, and organized garrison patrols that remain active even with the king incapacitated. Menace is the setting for the largest siege battles in the game and plays a major role in Chapters 5 and 8 of the main story.

For players, Menace represents a significant step up in difficulty compared to Hernand. The region is densely packed with Abyss Artifacts, challenging enemy encampments, hidden strongboxes, and faction quests. It is also home to some of the best mining deposits in the game and several lucrative gold farming opportunities.

Geography and Landscape

Menace occupies the central portion of the Pywel continent. The terrain ranges from rolling golden plains and forested hillsides to sheer cliff faces and fortified mountain passes. Key geographic sub-areas include the Sovereign Wastes in the northeast, Morning Mist Peaks in the far west, Byron Estate in the south, and the Eye of Ice, a frozen lake formation in the highlands.

The western edge of the region is marked by Reventine Monastery, a remote religious site perched on the cliffs. The Morning Mist Peaks rise above the western portion of the map and are topped by the Jijeong Temple Pagoda, a Buddhist-style structure that is a landmark visible from long distances. To the south, the terrain descends into the waterlogged islands of Serpent Marsh, a large island between Demeniss and Delesyia that is best approached from the north by crossing the smaller stepping-stone islands.

Three major spires offer scenic vistas across the region: the Spire of Soaring, the Spire of Frost, and the Spire of Clockwork. Each spire doubles as a puzzle location that rewards Abyss Artifacts upon completion.

How to Reach Menace

Menace is the second major region that players visit after Hernand. The main story naturally guides you into Demeniss territory during Chapter 5. However, the region remains hostile until the beginning of Chapter 8. Until that point, Demeniss guards will attack on sight when you enter through the main gates. There are two practical approaches for reaching Menace before the story grants safe passage.

• Stealth entry: You can sneak into Demeniss by approaching the ramparts from the side and climbing over the walls rather than using the main gate. This lets you access the capital city, its vendors, and strongboxes while avoiding guard aggression.

• Story progression: Once Chapter 8 begins, the story brings you directly to the kingdom of Demeniss and all hostilities are lifted. You can then walk freely through the gates without worry.

Fast travel within Menace uses the standard Abyss Nexus system. There are over a dozen Nexus plates scattered across the region. One important plate sits near the fair just outside the city gates, and another is located at the easternmost edge of the region next to the Spire of Clockwork. Serpent Marsh also contains two teleporters, one close to a Witch hut and another near the Monk village.

Notable Locations

Menace is packed with points of interest. The table below summarizes the most important locations in the region.

Best Mining Location in the Game

The Demeniss region contains what many players consider the single best mining location in all of Crimson Desert. Located along the cliffs in northeast Menace, a concentrated cluster of ore veins sits within close proximity to an Abyss Nexus fast travel point. This makes it extremely efficient to teleport in, mine a full inventory of materials, and return to a vendor or crafting station.

The following ores can be found at or near this location:

Ore veins in Crimson Desert respawn after a few in-game days. To speed up respawns, you can save your game, exit to the main menu, and reload your save. The mining spot will be immediately available again. A pickaxe or mining knucklefist is required to harvest ore nodes.

A legendary horse spawn is also located in the general vicinity of this mining area. While farming ores, keep an eye out for rare horse spawns that appear in the surrounding cliffs and meadows.

Drakesfall Gorge (Drake's Fall Castle)

Drakesfall Gorge, sometimes referred to by players as Drake's Fall Castle, is a large combat zone in the northern portion of Menace. The gorge contains ancient ruins, a watchtower (Drakesfall Watchtower), and dense clusters of enemy soldiers and bandits. It is widely regarded as the best location in the game for farming XP and Abyss Gear.

XP and Abyss Artifact Farming

Crimson Desert does not have a traditional leveling system. Instead, a golden yellow XP bar sits to the left of the minimap. Every enemy killed pushes the bar forward, and when it fills completely you receive one Abyss Artifact. There is no cap on how many times you can fill the bar, so you can chain kills indefinitely for unlimited Abyss Artifacts.

Drakesfall Gorge is ideal for this grind because of the high density of enemies packed into blockaded areas and fortified camps. The enemies here are strong enough to give meaningful XP but not so powerful that clearing them is slow. The recommended strategy is:

• Equip a two-handed greatsword for maximum area-of-effect damage.

• Clear the enemy camps in the gorge, grouping enemies together before using heavy sweeping attacks.

• After clearing all camps, fast travel to a distant Abyss Nexus or sleep for 24 in-game hours to force a respawn.

• Return and repeat the loop. Each cycle takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes.

• Always eat a food buff before starting. Combining Pywelian Ginseng with high-quality meat at a campfire grants a +10% to +25% XP Gain buff for 30 real-world minutes.

Abyss Cresset and Sealed Artifacts

Drakesfall Gorge also contains a Ruins Puzzle that rewards an Abyss Artifact. The puzzle is a "Red Light, Green Light" challenge: step on a stone plate near a large statue and approach the Abyss Cresset at the far end of the hall. The king statue's eyes glow and it periodically turns around. If it detects you moving while facing you, its eyes turn red and the puzzle resets. Stop moving whenever the statue looks your way, then advance during the safe windows.

Two additional Sealed Abyss Artifact locations are found near the gorge. One is west of Drakesfall Watchtower and requires hitting three enemies simultaneously with your longsword while below 50% health. The second is near a street shop vendor south of the gorge and requires defeating five enemies without taking spear damage while at full health.

The Witch of Humility (Lyselia)

The Witch of Humility, whose true name is Lyselia, is one of the five Witches of Pywel. Her encounter begins in northern Menace, in the town of Beighen (sometimes transliterated as "Ben"). During Chapter 7, you will find Lyselia in her fake form hanging off the edge of a ruined bridge, screaming for help. Pull her up to safety, and she will thank you before teleporting away to her true lair.

After the rescue, Lyselia's lair is marked on your map. Travel south to Serpent Marsh, the large island between Demeniss and Delesyia. Her cave is hidden inside the marsh, identifiable by colorful hanging ribbons that decorate the entrance. Once inside, you can speak with Lyselia and begin using her as a merchant for Abyss Core needs.

Lyselia's Sanctums

Completing the Witch of Humility questline requires cleansing four sanctums spread across Demeniss and Delesyia:

The Witch of Strength (Areciel)

The Witch of Strength, whose true name is Areciel, can be first encountered just north of Tash Calp (Tashkalp) in the northern borderlands of Menace. Her fake form is disguised as a child standing near a small shed. When you pass by the Tommaso Fork Posthouse in Tashkalp Territory, look for a beggar near the wooden notice board. Give the beggar money, and they will reveal the Witch of Strength's location. Alternatively, simply find the child near the shed north of Tashkalp and offer a single copper coin, which unlocks her true lair on your map.

Areciel's true lair is located northwest of World's Navel, close to Urdavah. Climb the mountain and look for her house perched halfway up a sheer cliff. Walk up the wooden planks to reach the second floor where she waits. Once you speak with her, you unlock the Witch of Strength questline and can begin cleansing her associated sanctums.

Areciel's Sanctums

The Witch of Strength questline involves cleansing three sanctums:

Demeniss Wildlife Park

The Demeniss Wildlife Park is located southeast of the Demeniss capital, east of Hernand and north of Mistveil Forest. The park is a recreational area filled with animal enclosures and visitors dressed in elaborate bunny costumes. It is one of the most popular silver and gold farming spots in the game thanks to the concentration of wealthy nobles who can be pickpocketed for gold bars.

Key NPCs and Factions

The political landscape of Menace is shaped by several noble houses and factions, each with their own agendas and quest lines.

Vendors and Shops

The Demeniss capital contains a concentration of vendors once the city becomes accessible in Chapter 8. Shops cluster around the central square and surrounding streets. Outside the walls, specialty vendors can be found at estates, religious sites, and trading posts. Contribution Points earned through faction quests and good deeds can be spent at regional Contribution Shops for exclusive items not available at standard merchants.

A street shop vendor is also located south of Drakesfall Gorge, selling basic supplies and equipment useful for players farming the area.

Enemies

Menace is populated by a wide range of hostile forces. Demeniss soldiers patrol the capital and its surroundings, attacking on sight until Chapter 8. Bandit camps dot the roads and gorges, and roaming enemy patrols along the main routes can ambush unwary travelers.

• Demeniss Soldiers: Garrison troops found at gates, walls, and watchtowers. Strong in groups but manageable one-on-one.

• Hexe Earthen Swordsmen: Found in the Tariv Sorcerer territory in northern Sovereign Wastes. These enemies drop garnet ore, making them valuable targets for crafters.

• Road Bandits: Roaming groups along main roads. They respawn after roughly two in-game days.

• Blockade Defenders: High-density enemy camps at blockaded locations. Marked as red buildings on the map, these are the best source of XP for filling the Abyss Artifact bar.

• Abyss-Corrupted Enemies: Found in floating sky platforms accessible from Demeniss. The Shattered Abyss sky platform chain contains 15 to 20 corrupted enemies per instance, each dropping 1 to 3 Abyss fragments.

Side Quests and Activities

Menace offers a rich variety of side content beyond the main story. Faction quests, exploration challenges, and minigames provide dozens of hours of optional gameplay.

Faction Quests

The Demeniss faction quest pool is substantial, with tasks tied to the various noble houses and organizations operating in the region. Completing faction quests rewards Contribution Points that can be spent at regional Contribution Shops. Many quests involve resource delivery, combat challenges, or investigation tasks that reveal lore about the fractured kingdom. Check the notice boards in Beighen and the Demeniss capital for available bounties and requests.

Strongbox Puzzles

Multiple strongboxes are hidden throughout the estates and buildings of Menace. Notable puzzle locations include:

• Southern Court: Access the 2nd floor strongbox through the rear entrance.

• Azerian Manor: A rotating wall mechanism conceals the 2nd floor strongbox.

• Western Court: The strongbox is hidden in the underground basement.

• Sungrove Manor: Located in the northwest, with a strongbox accessible after navigating interior platforming.

Trembling Woods Mural Puzzle

The Trembling Woods area in Menace contains a mural puzzle that requires aligning wheels to match a pictorial pattern. Solving the puzzle unlocks a hidden chamber containing an Abyss Artifact and crafting materials.

Gambling in Beighen

The town of Beighen offers gambling minigames as a recreational activity. While not the most efficient way to earn silver, the minigames provide a change of pace and can occasionally yield useful rewards.

Bell Tower Discovery

The Demeniss capital contains a bell tower. Ringing bells across Pywel lifts the fog of war from the world map, revealing undiscovered points of interest. Reaching the Demeniss bell tower can be tricky due to the guard hostility before Chapter 8, so approaching stealthily via the ramparts is recommended.

Sanctum Cleansing

Both the Witch of Humility and the Witch of Strength assign sanctum cleansing quests that take place in and around Menace. The Sanctum of Expiation, tied to Areciel's questline, is located in the Azerian Estate east of Drakesfall Gorge. The Sanctum of Devotion, tied to Lyselia's questline, is west of Dewhaven in western Demeniss. Completing all sanctums for each witch unlocks additional Abyss Gear blueprints and core upgrades.

Tips for Exploring Menace

• Activate every Abyss Nexus fast travel point you find. The region is large, and teleporting between locations saves significant travel time.

• Before Chapter 8, approach the capital via the ramparts to avoid guard aggression. You can access shops and strongboxes without fighting.

• Bring a pickaxe whenever you visit. The mining deposits in northeast Menace are among the richest in the game, and ore veins respawn on a regular cycle.

• Equip a mask before visiting the Wildlife Park. You can buy one from Grimrak in Hernand for 10 copper.

• Exchange gold bars at banks (500 silver) rather than selling to merchants (190 silver) to maximize your income.

• When farming XP at Drakesfall Gorge, eat a food buff for the +10% to +25% XP Gain bonus before starting your grind loop.

• Hexe Earthen Swordsmen in the Sovereign Wastes drop garnet ore. If you need garnet for high-tier refinement, this is the most reliable source in mid-to-late game.

• The Serpent Marsh is easiest to reach by crossing the smaller islands from the north side of Demeniss rather than trying to swim or boat from Delesyia.

Pickpocketing Nobles for Gold Bars

To pickpocket nobles at the Wildlife Park, you must first equip a mask. Masks can be purchased from back-alley vendors like Grimrak (southeast of the church in Hernand) for just 10 copper, or looted from bandits. Without a mask equipped, the steal prompt remains greyed out.

Once masked, pull out your lantern and walk among the park visitors dressed in bunny suits. Use the lantern to inspect each NPC. Most visitors carry pouches or keys, but some hold gold bars. When you spot a bunny-suited noble holding a gold bar, initiate the pickpocket. If you fail on the first attempt, try again and simply run away from the scene. The guards will chase briefly but give up quickly.

Players report obtaining roughly two gold bars per three NPC respawn cycles at this location. Never sell gold bars to a regular merchant, as they only offer 190 silver per bar. Instead, exchange gold bars at a bank for 500 silver each, which is more than double the merchant price.

Before heading to the Wildlife Park, activate the nearby Abyss Nexus fast travel point. The enemies along the route from Hernand can be dangerous at lower gear levels, so consider riding past them on horseback rather than engaging.