Oath of Darkness

Overview

Oath of Darkness is an Earring accessory in Crimson Desert. With a +2 Defense bonus, it is the strongest defensive earring currently known in the game, doubling the output of the Engraved Gold Earring and Engraved Silver Earring. The earring is tied to the lore of Antumbra's followers, a shadowy cult operating within the world of Pywel.

Unlike most accessories that are found as random loot, the Oath of Darkness is a guaranteed reward from a specific Strongbox puzzle at Bluemont Manor in Hernand. This makes it one of the few accessories with a known, reliable acquisition path.

Stats

At +2 Defense, the Oath of Darkness provides more raw defensive power than any other earring. It does not carry a secondary special effect like the Engraved Gold Earring's Movement Speed Lv.1, so it is a pure defense piece. For players building a high-survivability loadout, pairing two copies of the Oath of Darkness (if a second can be obtained) would give +4 Defense from earring slots alone.

Description

"An earring proving the status of a deacon within Antumbra's followers. It is imbued with a vow's incantation to lure others into the shadows and bind them to eternal darkness."

The description reveals that the earring is a badge of rank within Antumbra's cult. Deacons are evidently mid-level members tasked with recruiting new followers. The "vow's incantation" and references to shadows and eternal darkness align with Antumbra's portrayal as a dark deity whose worshippers seek to spread their influence from hidden sanctuaries. Bluemont Manor's connection to this cult explains why the earring is found there.

How to Obtain

Oath of Darkness is found inside a Strongbox at Bluemont Manor in Hernand. Strongboxes are locked containers scattered throughout the world that require solving a mechanical puzzle to open.

Bluemont Manor is the personal estate of Count Leon Roberts, head of House Roberts. The manor is also referred to as House Roberts by some players, since it is the seat of the Roberts family. It sits on the west side of Hernand, southwest of the large tree that marks the city center. The strongbox containing the Oath of Darkness is located on the second floor of the northern building, in a room adjacent to the upper office where the Count conducts his affairs.

Strongbox Puzzles

Bluemont Manor contains two strongbox puzzles:

• Owl Slide Puzzle: Located on the second floor. Align four sliding panels to form the image of an owl. Slide each piece into position until the full picture is complete.

• Piston Height Puzzle: Match the heights of several pistons to a reference image displayed on the container. Adjust each piston up or down until the pattern matches.

To access the strongboxes inside Bluemont Manor, players first need to acquire a Mask. The Mask allows Kliff to enter restricted areas undetected, including the manor interior where the strongboxes are located. Players who attempt to enter without the Mask may be confronted by guards or denied entry.

Note that this earring is awarded from one of the two puzzles; the other strongbox contains a different reward. Check both containers if the Oath of Darkness is not in the first one opened.

Refinement

Oath of Darkness supports up to 10 refinement levels at any Blacksmith. Required materials are Hides and Bones from Hunting wildlife. Because the earring already starts at +2 Defense, each refinement level adds to an already-strong baseline, making it one of the best earrings to invest refinement materials into.

From level 5 onward, Abyss Artifacts are required alongside standard materials. Given the Oath of Darkness's position as the top defensive earring, spending Abyss Artifacts here is a strong investment for players who prioritize survivability.

At Refinement Level 2, the Oath of Darkness grants HP regeneration as a bonus effect. This passive healing stacks with other sources of health recovery and makes the earring a strong pick for sustained fights where chip damage accumulates over time.

Comparison with Other Earrings

Oath of Darkness is the clear winner for pure Defense. The only earring that competes for a slot is the Engraved Gold Earring, which trades 1 point of Defense for a Movement Speed Lv.1 buff. An optimal earring setup for balanced play is to equip one Oath of Darkness (+2 DEF) and one Engraved Gold Earring (+1 DEF, Move SPD), providing both defense and mobility.

Lore

The Oath of Darkness connects to the broader narrative around Antumbra, a dark entity whose followers operate in secret across Pywel. Bluemont Manor in Hernand is one of their hidden meeting places, and the strongbox containing this earring was likely a deacon's personal stash. The incantation mentioned in the description suggests the earring is not merely decorative but is a conduit for Antumbra's influence, binding the wearer to the cult's doctrine.

Early Game Speedrun Pickup

The Oath of Darkness is a pure defense earring that can be acquired extremely early in a new playthrough, making it one of the staple pickups on any best-in-slot speedrun route. It is awarded from a Strongbox puzzle inside a house on the main square of Hernand, near the notice board, and requires no combat to claim.

Pickup Route

1. Travel to the main square of Hernand where the public notice board is posted.

2. Locate the house adjacent to the notice board and head upstairs into its interior.

3. A Mask should be equipped before interacting with the strongbox so that opening it does not trigger a hostile reaction from nearby NPCs.

4. Inside the upstairs room, find the strongbox and solve the puzzle to receive the Oath of Darkness.

Strongbox Riddle Solution

The strongbox in this Hernand house uses an image-alignment puzzle. The goal is to rotate and slide the tiles until they form the shape of an owl. Once the owl is complete, the box unlocks and awards the Oath of Darkness as a guaranteed reward. The puzzle is forgiving and can be retried without penalty if pieces are misaligned.

Because the Oath of Darkness gives a flat defense bonus instead of a niche stat, it slots cleanly into almost any loadout during the opening hours of a run. Paired with an Engraved Gold Earring from Lioncrest Manor, it gives a speedrunning Kliff the earring slots locked in until much later in the story.

Notes

• Strongest defensive earring in the game at +2 Defense.

• Guaranteed reward from the Bluemont Manor strongbox puzzle, unlike most accessories which rely on random drops.

• The Mask is required to access the manor interior where the strongbox is located.

• Despite its cult associations, equipping the Oath of Darkness has no negative reputation effects or story consequences.

• Shares the same sell price (4.26 Silver) as the Engraved Gold Earring.