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Observation Learning
March 23, 2026 at 09:49 PM
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Observation Learning is a skill acquisition mechanic in Crimson Desert that replaces the traditional "spend skill points from a menu" approach with an experiential, world-driven system. Certain skills can only be obtained by personally witnessing someone else perform them, whether a friendly NPC practicing a craft, an enemy unleashing a powerful attack mid-combat, or a holographic echo of a past fighter. The system encourages exploration, attentive observation, and engagement with the world of Pywel rather than passive menu navigation.
The community has praised the system widely. One viral breakdown captured the appeal: "You fight a boss, see them perform a spectacular combo, your character observes it during combat and learns it," as opposed to "open a menu, spend a skill point, magically know a new attack." Fextralife described the fan response as believing the system could make Crimson Desert "one of the greatest RPGs of this decade."
Observation Learning uses a two-step loop to acquire new skills.
Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
1. Observe | Witness an NPC, enemy, or hologram performing a technique. For peaceful NPCs, hold the observation button for about two seconds. During combat, the observation can trigger automatically when an enemy performs a notable move. |
2. Lock In | Spend an Abyss Artifact to permanently add the observed technique to your skill set on the Abyss Tree. Until an Artifact is spent, the skill appears grayed out in the menu. |
Artifacts alone do not teach skills. If a technique has not been observed, the corresponding node on the Abyss Tree remains locked regardless of how many Artifacts the player has collected. Conversely, some skills "cannot be learned from Artifacts alone," meaning observation is a mandatory prerequisite for certain branches. This prevents players from brute-forcing a complete skill set through grinding; they must explore the world and interact with its inhabitants.
Throughout Pywel, NPCs practice various crafts and combat techniques in their daily routines. Players can approach these NPCs, hold the observation button for about two seconds, and watch a short animation where Kliff studies the action being performed. A "learning in progress" indicator appears in the top-left corner of the screen. Once observation completes, the technique appears in the skill menu as a learnable technique.
Skill | Observation Source | Location |
|---|---|---|
Watch fishermen at the dock | ||
Witness a holographic echo of a figure performing the technique | Found while exploring the open world | |
Palm Strike | Watch a passive NPC practicing the technique | Shown in official footage |
The fishing skill demonstrates how observation chains with other systems. In one documented example, bandits had occupied a fish market. After the player liberated the area by driving out the bandits, fishermen moved back in. The player could then observe the fishermen to learn the fishing skill, illustrating how exploration, combat, and life skill acquisition connect organically.
One of the system's most distinctive features is the ability to learn new skills during active combat. When an enemy performs a notable technique, Kliff can observe and learn it on the spot, even in the middle of a heated fight.
Skill | How Learned |
|---|---|
Belly Slam | Learned when an enemy commander jumps on top of Kliff and performs a flying belly flop during combat |
Chest Kick | During an early boss battle, a knight attempted to kick Kliff in the chest. After seeing the move, Kliff learned it and could use it to send enemies flying |
The PlayStation Blog hands-on report described the chest kick discovery: "Midway through one early boss battle, a knight attempted to kick Kliff in the chest, and after seeing the move, Kliff learned it, incorporating it into his fighting style. From then on, I could give enemies the boot to send them flying." There is no indication that the player must dodge or survive the attack first; the observation appears to trigger simply by the enemy executing the move during combat.
Some skills are learned by witnessing ghostly holographic echoes scattered throughout the world. These are remnants of past fighters or practitioners whose techniques persist as Abyss-related phenomena. Force Palm, a spirit-focused ability that can also provide vertical boosts during traversal, is confirmed as learnable from one such hologram. These echoes add another layer of discovery to exploration, rewarding players who investigate unusual visual phenomena in the environment.
Not all skills require direct observation of a living NPC or enemy. Life skills and recipes can also be learned from books and parchments found while exploring. Crafting recipes can be obtained through exploration or purchased from merchants. This means learning sources include: direct NPC observation, enemy observation during combat, holographic echoes, and written materials discovered in the world.
The Abyss Tree is the central progression system where observed skills are locked in using Abyss Artifacts. It is divided into color-coded branches.
Branch | |
|---|---|
Blue | Basic combat skills and foundational techniques |
Green | Spirit-focused abilities, including time-slowing effects. These consume Spirit, a third resource alongside Health and Stamina. |
Red | Elemental abilities centered on the grapple hook and elemental enhancements (Fire, Ice, Shock) |
Abyss Artifacts can be found through exploration, quests, boss victories, and within the Abyss itself. The tree has core nodes for stat boosts (Health, Stamina, Spirit) and branch nodes for techniques. Artifact stat investments can be reset and redistributed at any time, enabling experimentation with different builds without permanent commitment.
Bosses offer skills through two distinct mechanisms that should not be confused.
System | How It Works |
|---|---|
Observation During Fight | Observe a boss's technique mid-battle (e.g., the knight's chest kick). Follows the standard observe-then-Artifact process. The learned skill belongs to the player permanently. |
Signature Abilities from Boss Gear | Defeat a boss and equip their dropped equipment to gain their Signature Ability plus unique stat bonuses. These are equipment-bound: swapping the gear removes the ability. |
Not all skills in the game require observation. Many can be unlocked purely through Abyss Artifacts on the skill tree. However, a significant portion of skills can only be acquired through the observation process. This creates a hybrid system where some skills are artifact-only, and others require observation as a mandatory prerequisite before Artifacts can be spent.
Observation learning applies to both combat and non-combat activities. Confirmed combat skills include Belly Slam, Force Palm, and the Chest Kick. Confirmed life skills include fishing. Recipes for cooking, alchemy, and crafting can be learned from books and parchments.
Game | Comparison |
|---|---|
Where Winds Meet | The most directly comparable system. Sportskeeda explicitly notes the similarity to Where Winds Meet's skill-theft mechanic, where players learn skills by watching martial arts masters. |
Despite sharing a developer (Pearl Abyss), the systems are fundamentally different. BDO uses traditional XP and leveling with skill points earned through combat. Crimson Desert has no XP or level system. | |
Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Abyss Artifacts are compared to BotW's progression, where stat boosts come from collectible items found through exploration rather than traditional leveling. |
Skyrim | Explicitly called out as a contrast. Skyrim locks progression behind trees that require skill points, while Crimson Desert lets players learn organically. |
The Observation Learning system reinforces the game's central narrative theme. Kliff lost everything in the Black Bear ambush and must rebuild from nothing. Learning by watching others reflects his journey of recovering skills and knowledge through perseverance and exploration. After his resurrection at the Corridor of the Void, Kliff gains supernatural perception that allows him to learn through observation in ways that an ordinary person could not.
Pay attention to NPCs going about their daily routines in settlements. A blacksmith hammering, a fisherman casting, or a guard sparring could all be observation opportunities.
During boss fights, watch for new attack patterns. Getting hit by a boss move may teach you that technique for your own use.
Explore off the beaten path to find holographic echoes that teach unique skills not available from living NPCs.
Check books and parchments found during exploration for life skill recipes and crafting knowledge.
Remember that observed skills still need Abyss Artifact investment before they become usable. Budget your Artifacts across stat upgrades and skill unlocks.
Several specific examples of mid-combat observation learning have been shown in pre-launch previews and gameplay footage.
Skill Learned | Source | Context |
|---|---|---|
Hologram NPC | Kliff watches a holographic figure execute a palm strike technique at a specific world location. A "learning in progress" indicator appears on screen. | |
Belly Slam | Enemy mid-combat | An enemy jumps on top of Kliff and performs a belly slam. Kliff observes the technique during combat and can learn it for himself. |
Knight's Kick | Knight enemy mid-combat | During a fight, Kliff copies a knight's kick mid-fight and adds it to his own move set for immediate use. |
Fisherman NPC | At the Nas River Fishing Dock, Kliff observes fishermen to learn the fishing life skill. Only available after liberating the area from bandits. |
The system works both ways: some skills are learned from friendly NPCs performing routine activities (fishing, cooking, crafting), while combat skills are learned by watching enemies perform techniques during active fights. This creates a dynamic where even losing a fight can be valuable if the player observed a new technique to try next time.
The observation learning system has received widely positive reactions from the gaming community. Fextralife reported that players are "losing it" over the chance to truly learn skills through observation, calling the system "revolutionary." Community discussion suggests the system could make Crimson Desert "one of the greatest RPGs of this decade." The main point of praise is that the system removes the traditional "skill point menu" abstraction and replaces it with something that feels organic and exploration-driven.
Since launch, the community consensus is that the system scales well across the full game length. The observation mechanic interacts with the Abyss Artifact progression system: some skills require both observation and Artifact spending, which keeps exploration relevant throughout the late game.
Crimson Desert features a unique skill acquisition system called Watch and Learn. Instead of spending Abyss Artifacts on every ability, Kliff can observe enemies, bosses, NPCs, and even spirit holograms performing techniques, then permanently absorb those skills at no cost. When an observable move is performed nearby, time slows down and a "Learning in Progress" bar appears in the top-left corner of the screen showing the skill name and a counter (for example, 1/3). Once the counter fills, Kliff learns the skill automatically.
Skills acquired through Watch and Learn are permanently kept even after a full respec with Faded Abyss Artifacts. Because you never invested an Abyss Artifact into these abilities, the reset process does not touch them. This makes observed skills a free, permanent foundation for any build.
Skills that can be obtained through observation are marked in the skill tree with the note "observe this skill in action to learn it." You can still unlock these skills by spending Abyss Artifacts if you prefer, but watching for them during gameplay saves those Artifacts for abilities that can only be purchased.
There are three main ways to trigger the Watch and Learn mechanic in Crimson Desert:
Boss fights: Most major campaign bosses perform at least one learnable move during their fight. The screen will darken slightly and the learning bar will appear in the top-left corner. You need to see the move performed a set number of times (shown by the counter) before Kliff absorbs it. Do not rush the fight; let the boss cycle through its attacks so you have time to observe.
Regular enemies: Some common enemies use moves that Kliff can learn. Because regular enemies die faster than bosses, you may want to slow-roll the encounter. Kill all other enemies first, then bait the remaining enemy into repeating its signature attack until the learning bar fills.
NPCs and spirit holograms: Certain skills are taught by peaceful NPCs or by spirit holograms found near Abyss Cressets and ancient ruins. Walk up to the NPC or hologram, hold the Observe button (L1 on PlayStation, LB on Xbox), and watch until the learning bar fills.
You must have your camera facing the source of the skill for the observation to register. If you turn away or run too far from the action, the progress bar will pause.
The following skills can be learned by observing campaign bosses during their fights. Each boss performs the listed move as part of its regular attack pattern, so you will see it if you stay in the fight long enough.
Skill | Learned From | Chapter / Quest | How to Trigger | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chapter 2 | Keep your camera on Hornsplitter while he attacks. The learning bar appears automatically during the fight. | Perform a quick dodge roll after getting hit, preventing combo stun-locks. Activates even if you miss a parry. | ||
Chapter 3, Hernand in Chaos | Face Matthias during the boss fight in Hernand City. Hold the Observe button when the learning prompt appears. | Leap high and deliver a powerful double kick that sends enemies flying. Hitting Matthias with his own Pump Kick leaves him completely vulnerable. | ||
Swift Stab | Chapter 3 | During the first phase, Reed Devil charges up and performs the move. Keep your camera on him as he uses it. | Execute an immediate follow-up slash after a successful stab, dealing extra damage. | |
Aerial Roll | Chapter 5, Guest Unbidden | Observe the Crowcaller during either of the two encounters in this quest. He performs the aerial dodge repeatedly, especially in later phases. | Instantly unleash Stamina to perform a high-speed dash in mid-air. Requires Flight Lv.1 as a prerequisite. | |
Various enemies and bosses | Multiple chapters | Look for the learning bar to appear when an enemy catches Kliff while running. Works during several boss encounters. | Catch an enemy while running to slam them to the ground. | |
Various enemies and bosses | Multiple chapters | Observe when an enemy launches forward with both feet. The learning counter will appear in the top-left corner. | Launch your body forward and strike an enemy with both feet, sending them flying. | |
Explosive Evasive Shot | Various enemies (or Evasive Shot Lv.3) | Mid-to-late game | Observable from enemies who use it in combat. Can also be unlocked by raising Evasive Shot to Level 3. | Fire a powerful arrow into the ground to leap into the air and evade enemy attacks. Functions as an invincibility-frame escape. |
Not all Watch and Learn skills come from combat. Some of the most important abilities in the game are taught by peaceful NPCs or by spirit holograms found at specific locations across Pywel. These observations use the same mechanic: hold the Observe button while facing the source.
Skill | Learned From | Location | How to Trigger | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Focused Force Palm | Spirit hologram | Road to Scholastone, Hernand region | During Chapter 4 (The Price of Knowledge, Forbidden Knowledge), follow the road toward Scholastone. Near a blocked passageway you will see a blue spirit guide performing the move. Hold the Observe button. | Condense energy in your hands and release it in a powerful unarmed strike. One of the best utility skills in the game, used for both combat and puzzle-solving. |
Spirit hologram | Meandering Hills ruins | During the Reunion quest (Chapter 4), follow the black cat from Lioncrest Watchtower to the ruins. A shadow appears near the sealed gate. Observe the hologram to learn the skill. | Telekinetically lift and move heavy objects. Can also be used in combat to grab large objects and swing them at enemies. | |
Spirit hologram | Meandering Hills, Abyss Cresset area | Found in the same Abyss Cresset area as Nature's Grasp. After learning Nature's Grasp, proceed further and observe the next hologram to learn Focus. | Enhance your concentration for improved precision during combat and ranged attacks. | |
Fishing | Fisherman NPC | Walk up to any fisherman NPC along the riverbank and hold the Observe button (L1/LB). The screen turns blue and a learning bar fills. Once complete, you unlock the skill and receive a basic Fishing Rod. | Unlocks the ability to fish at any body of water. Also grants a basic Fishing Rod to your inventory. | |
Spirit hologram (blue ghost) | Abyss Without Balance quest area | During the Abyss Without Balance quest, you will see a blue ghost placing a power cell. Observe the ghost with the Observe button to learn Force Palm. | Press R3 / Right Stick when you have enough Spirit to deal damage and push back an enemy. |
Some abilities are unlocked automatically as you progress through the main story. These are not exactly traditional Watch and Learn skills since the game grants them as part of a quest cutscene, but they follow the same observation-style presentation.
Skill | Unlocked During | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Woman in White main quest | Chapter 4 | The base Flight skill is unlocked as part of the quest's conclusion. Upgrading to Level 2 (Swift Flight) allows faster gliding at the cost of additional Stamina. Found in the Red skill tree. | |
Story progression / observation | Mid-game | Jump again by stepping on air or an enemy. Can be unlocked by observing the technique during exploration or through quest progression. |
Check the skill tree first. Before spending Abyss Artifacts on a skill, open the skill tree and look for the "observe this skill in action to learn it" label. If a skill can be observed, save your Artifacts for abilities that can only be purchased.
Do not rush boss fights. Most bosses need to perform the learnable move multiple times before the counter fills. Drag the fight out and focus on dodging rather than dealing damage until you see the learning bar complete.
Face the source. Your camera must be pointed at the enemy, NPC, or hologram performing the skill. If you turn away or dodge out of line of sight, the learning progress will pause.
Kill other enemies first. When learning from a regular enemy rather than a boss, clear out all other hostiles first. Then bait the remaining enemy into repeating its signature attack without interruption.
Observed skills survive respec. When you reset your skill tree using Faded Abyss Artifacts, all Watch and Learn skills remain unlocked. This means you can rebuild your character around different purchased skills while keeping every observed ability.
Explore thoroughly. Some NPC tutors and spirit holograms are tucked away in side paths, ruins, and Abyss Cresset areas. Thorough exploration directly increases your combat potential by giving you free abilities.
Interact with every NPC. Life skills like Fishing are unlocked by observing NPC craftspeople and workers in the world. When you see someone performing an activity, hold the Observe button to check if there is a skill to learn.
