Overview
Precision Jump is a targeted traversal move in Crimson Desert that lets Kliff lock onto a nearby surface and leap directly toward it. Unlike a standard jump, Precision Jump is performed from a completely static position on a wall, which means the game does not register it as a regular climb-jump. Because of this distinction, the move costs zero Stamina. This single quirk makes Precision Jump one of the most valuable early-game tools for vertical exploration and traversal, allowing players to scale cliffs of any height right from the moment the ability is available.
Running out of Stamina while climbing is a common frustration, especially in the opening chapters before you have upgraded your Stamina pool with Abyss Artifacts. Precision Jump sidesteps the problem entirely. While it is slower than sprinting up a wall the conventional way, the trade-off is that you will never fall to your death mid-climb because of an empty Stamina bar.
Controls
Precision Jump is available whenever Kliff is clinging to a climbable surface. The button sequence differs slightly across platforms, but the concept is the same: hold the aim button to display a spherical targeting reticle, then press the jump input to launch toward the highlighted spot.
Platform | Aim (Hold) | Jump | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
PlayStation 5 | L1 | Square | Hold L1 first, then tap Square |
Xbox Series X|S | LB | X | Hold LB first, then tap X |
PC (Keyboard) | Ctrl | Spacebar | Hold Ctrl first, then tap Spacebar. Pressing both simultaneously may fail to register |
The targeting reticle has a limited range. If no valid landing point falls within reach, the reticle will not appear and pressing the jump button will have no effect. You cannot accidentally leap into the void with this move.
How to Perform Stamina-Free Climbing
Follow these steps to climb any wall without spending a single point of Stamina.
Start climbing. Approach a climbable wall and begin ascending normally. You can spend as much or as little Stamina on the initial climb as you like.
Stop moving. Release the left stick (or movement keys) so that Kliff hangs motionless on the wall. He must be completely stationary for the next step to work.
Aim the Precision Jump. Hold L1 / LB / Ctrl. A spherical reticle will appear. This points to surfaces within jumping range. Move the reticle to a spot above you on the wall.
Execute the jump. Press Square / X / Spacebar. Kliff will vault upward toward the targeted point. Because the jump originates from a static state, the game treats it differently from a regular climb-jump and does not deduct any Stamina.
Grab the wall immediately. The moment Kliff reaches the targeted surface, press and hold the left stick toward the wall (or press Circle on PlayStation to cling). If you do not push toward the wall, Kliff will peel away and fall.
Repeat. Once Kliff is hanging motionless again, aim and execute another Precision Jump. Continue chaining jumps until you reach the top.
The entire loop is: stop, aim, jump, grab, stop, aim, jump, grab. It is methodical and slower than regular climbing, but it will get you to the top of any surface in the game regardless of your current Stamina capacity.
Chaining with Aerial Force Palm
For faster vertical progress, combine Precision Jump with Aerial Force Palm. Aerial Force Palm is unlocked automatically when you level Force Palm to Level 1, which happens during the main quest Abyss Without Balance in Chapter 1. It is one of the first skills most players acquire, making this combo accessible early.
Here is how the combo works. After a Precision Jump sends Kliff upward, activate Aerial Force Palm while he is still airborne. Kliff will aim the energy of his palm downward and propel himself even higher. You can fire Aerial Force Palm up to three consecutive times in the air, each blast adding significant height. The move costs 5 Spirit per use (not Stamina), so your climbing Stamina remains untouched.
There is one catch. Aerial Force Palm provides pure vertical lift but leaves Kliff with almost no horizontal momentum. Unless the final blast places him on a ledge where he can stand, he will begin to fall. At that point, you need to use Flight (the glide ability) to steer back toward the wall and grab on. Without Flight, the only option is to push the left stick toward the cliff face and hope you are close enough to latch on. If you have already unlocked Flight, a quick tap of the jump button while airborne will start the glide, letting you drift back to the wall with precision.
The recommended sequence for maximum height gain in a single burst is: Precision Jump, then three Aerial Force Palms, then glide (Flight) back to the wall and grab. From that new position, stop, aim, and Precision Jump again. This hybrid approach is substantially faster than Precision Jump alone and covers huge vertical distances in seconds.
When to Use Precision Jump
Precision Jump is most useful in situations where conventional climbing would drain your entire Stamina bar before you reach the top. Common scenarios include:
Tall cliffs early in the game before Stamina upgrades from Abyss Artifacts are available.
Walls with no resting ledges where Kliff cannot stop to regenerate Stamina mid-climb.
Exploring off-the-beaten-path areas that the developers expected players to reach later with higher Stamina pools.
Abyss puzzles that involve extended climbing segments, where conserving Stamina for other mechanics is critical.
Reaching high-altitude collectibles and Abyss Artifacts tucked away on clifftops and mountain peaks.
Once your Stamina pool is large enough to handle most climbs directly, Precision Jump becomes less essential for routine traversal. However, even in the late game it remains a reliable fallback for exceptionally tall surfaces or situations where you want to conserve Stamina for Gliding after reaching the summit.
Climbing Methods Compared
Crimson Desert offers several ways to gain elevation. The table below compares the main options.
Method | Speed | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|
Normal Climbing | High (continuous drain) | Fast | None |
Precision Jump (chained) | None | Slow | Climbable surface |
Precision Jump + Aerial Force Palm | Moderate | Force Palm Level 1 | |
Aerial Force Palm (x3 from ground) | Fast burst | Force Palm Level 1, wall nearby | |
Aerial Maneuver (Axiom Force Lv 2) | 200 Stamina | Very fast | Axiom Force Level 2 |
Moderate | Fast (short height) | Double Jump skill unlocked |
Patch History
Before Patch v1.00.03, a separate exploit known as the "storage trick" also allowed stamina-free climbing through a different mechanism. That technique was patched out in the v1.00.03 update released on March 23, 2026. However, Precision Jump continues to function as intended in all versions of the game, including v1.00.03 and later. Precision Jump is considered a legitimate use of the game's traversal system rather than an exploit, since the mechanic was deliberately designed to work from a static state on the wall.
Tips
For more general advice, see the Tips and Tricks article.
Always hold the left stick toward the wall the instant a Precision Jump ends. Letting go for even a moment can cause Kliff to detach and fall.
On PC, hold Ctrl before pressing Spacebar. Tapping both keys at the same time can cause the input to fail.
If the reticle does not appear, you are either too far from a valid surface or aiming at a non-climbable section. Reposition and try again.
Carry stamina-restoring food as a backup. You can eat while clinging to a wall, which lets you resume normal climbing speed after a stretch of Precision Jumps.
Combine Precision Jump with the Force Palm ore-mining trick. While hanging on a wall near an ore vein, use Force Palm to break the deposit (hold Resist to stay attached), then continue climbing with Precision Jumps.
The Precision Jump reticle range is generous. Aim as high as you can to minimize the number of jumps needed per wall.
If you have unlocked Flight, use a short glide to reposition toward a wall after Aerial Force Palm rather than hoping the left stick alone will snap you back.