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Races of Pywel - Version 24 vs Version 25
May 23, 2026, 04:06 PM
Added internal wikilinks
Jun 9, 2026, 12:54 AM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
11Overview22The continent of Pywel is home to multiple intelligent races that coexist, trade, and frequently conflict with one another. While Humans are the dominant race, controlling most of Pywel's kingdoms and settlements, five other confirmed races play significant roles in the world: Orcs, Goblins, Dwarves, Trolls, and Antler People. Each race has its own culture, social structures, and relationship to the broader conflicts shaping the continent.44Crimson Desert's world also contains a wide variety of mythical beasts, supernatural entities, and creatures tied to the Abyss, but these are distinct from the sentient races that form civilizations on Pywel.66Race Summary88RaceKey TraitsNotable FiguresPrimary AssociationsHumansDominant race; diverse factions and kingdomsKliff, Myurdin, Gian, DamianeAll five major regions of PywelOrcsPhysically powerful; philosophical and world-wiseOongka (playable character)The Greymanes mercenary bandGoblinsOrganized military society; miners and soldiersSplit Horn (Branchmaster), ShakatuThe Goldleafs factionDwarvesMaster engineers and craftsmenNone namedAdvanced craftsmanship; likely connected to Delesyia1010Humans1212Humans are the most widespread and politically dominant race on Pywel. They control every major region and have built the continent's kingdoms, cities, armies, and trade networks. Human civilization spans the full spectrum from the disciplined military hierarchy of the Kingdom of Demeniss to the lawless desert settlements of the Crimson Desert region, from the frozen hovels of Ulsrund to the technologically advanced cities of Delesyia.1414Political Landscape1616Human politics in Pywel center on a continent-wide power vacuum created when the King of Demeniss, known as the "Unifier of Lands," fell into a coma. His former subjects now seek either independence or their own absolutist rule, fragmenting the continent into competing factions, noble houses, and mercenary bands.1818Pearl Abyss has confirmed that the game features "dozens and dozens" of factions. Major human factions include:2020FactionDescriptionThe GreymanesA mercenary band from Pailune, committed to peace and unity. Led by protagonist Kliff after the death of their former leader Gian.The Black BearsSworn enemies of the Greymanes, led by Myurdin. Ambushed and scattered the Greymanes, driving the main plot.The Kingdom of DemenissThe political and military center of Pywel, currently leaderless due to the King's coma.House of WellsA noble house led by a Duke. Provides questlines involving fortress recapture.Shadowy AssassinsTeleporting assassins serving mysterious powers interested in the Abyss's raw power.2222Faction choices in Crimson Desert provide side quest content but do not affect the main story or ending, allowing players to engage with the political landscape at their own pace.2323Human Regions and Cultures2525Each of Pywel's regions has developed its own distinct human culture:2727RegionCultural CharacterHernandMountain communities with a quaint, pastoral atmosphere. Starting point for Kliff's journey and location of the Greymane Camp.PailuneNorthern highlands with autumn landscapes. Homeland of the Greymanes, currently under Black Bear occupation.DemenissRegal castles and disciplined armies. The continent's political and military heartland.DelesyiaA steampunk-influenced region where ancient alchemy meets advanced engineering. Origin of mechs and advanced technology.The Crimson DesertRed sand wasteland with no central government. Oases serve as fragile trading posts in lawless territory.KweidenFrozen mountains with harsh survival conditions. a region of inhospitably cold climate; home to the gritty city of Ulsrund.2929Named Human Characters3030Crimson Desert has a large cast of named human characters, many of whom are fully voiced:3232CharacterRoleVoice ActorKliffProtagonist; leader of the Greymanes (playable)Alec NewmanDamianeGreymanes member; agile warrior (playable)Rebecca HanssenYannGreymanes member; resourceful and cunningPeter BramhillNairaGreymanes member; versatile warriorEmily BarberMyurdinLeader of the Black Bears; antagonistAlastair ParkerMartinusKliff's father; co-founder of the GreymanesNot announcedGianFormer Greymanes leader; deceased before events of the gameNot announced3434Orcs3535Orcs in Crimson Desert are a physically imposing race known for their raw strength and, surprisingly, their philosophical depth. The most prominent orc is Oongka, one of the game's three playable characters and a core member of the Greymanes. Oongka is the only named orc character revealed pre-launch, and details about broader orc society, settlements, and population remain undisclosed.3737Oongka3939Oongka is the "brute and powerhouse" of the Greymanes. He is unlocked as a playable character during the Calphade chapter, where he is found fighting rebels alongside Marquis Stefan Lanford. Despite his fearsome appearance, voice actor Stewart Scudamore described discovering unexpected layers to the character: "I expected a beastlike, ferocious orc archetype, but Oongka has a philosophical side, someone who understands how the world works and who has a grasp of its practical realities." Scudamore added that Oongka has "passion for everything" and a "world-wise, nomadic element."4141Most of Oongka's communication is through grunts, fitting his imposing physical presence while leaving room for subtlety in his characterization.4343Oongka's Combat Style4545WeaponDescriptionAxePrimary melee weapon for devastating close-range attacksHammerHeavy weapon with wide AOE impact, including a ground-shattering jump smashArm CannonRanged option for engaging enemies at distanceWrist-Mounted CrossbowFires incendiary bolts for ranged elemental damagePickaxeUsed for mining resources in the open world4747Oongka's combat emphasizes raw strength and heavy hits. His jump-and-smash attack shatters the ground around him, dealing area-of-effect damage to surrounding enemies. His playstyle contrasts with Kliff's versatile swordsmanship and Damiane's agile fighting techniques, giving players a distinct power-fantasy option.4848Goblins5050Goblins in Crimson Desert are an organized, intelligent race with military hierarchies, extractive industries, and formal systems of governance. They are not mindless monsters but rather a structured society with their own factions, leadership, and codes of conduct.5252The Goldleafs5454The Goldleafs (sometimes spelled Goldleaves) are the most prominent goblin faction encountered in the game. They operate as an organized military force with the following characteristics:5656Military hierarchy: Led by a Branchmaster, with soldier units and structured commandHeadquarters: Maintain a formal headquarters with weapon racks stocked with specialized "Prixia swords"Mining operations: Goblin miners work in extractive industries, panicking when confronted by outsiders but willing to fight when corneredFormal combat rituals: The Rakkash is a formal challenge used to call a Branchmaster into single combat5959Split Horn6161Split Horn is the Branchmaster of the Goldleafs, described as the "goblin king." He is physically distinctive: "an unusual-looking goblin, pale instead of green," standing out from the green-skinned majority of his race. Split Horn is both a story character and a major boss encounter.6363The confrontation with Split Horn is triggered through a Rakkash, a formal challenge ritual. In combat, he executes rapid attacks and uses ranged abilities. After his defeat, Split Horn is finished off by his own people, ending his reign as Branchmaster. This detail suggests internal power struggles within goblin society.6565Shakatu6767Shakatu is a hooded goblin who appears after the player defeats Goldleaf soldiers. He is a quest-giver, walking alongside the player and directing them toward challenging Split Horn. Shakatu is notable for also appearing as a well-known goblin merchant NPC in Black Desert Online (Pearl Abyss's previous game), suggesting Easter egg references between the two games, though Pearl Abyss has confirmed they are separate IPs between the two titles.6969Goblin Appearance7171Most goblins in Crimson Desert display green skin, which appears to be their standard racial coloring. Split Horn's pale complexion is noted as unusual, making him visually distinct from other members of his race. Goblins are smaller than humans but demonstrate intelligence, organization, and combat capability.7373Dwarves7575Dwarves are confirmed as a race on Pywel, known as master engineers with deep expertise in engineering and craftsmanship. The ATAG War Robot (also called Combat Robot) is actually built by the Ironflame Orcs at Gorthak, not the Dwarves. This late-game pilotable mech is one of the most striking pieces of technology in Crimson Desert, equipped with machine guns, lock-on missiles, jump jets, and EMP blasts.7777The developers acknowledged that the War Robot is "contrary to the high fantasy setting, but it's still lots of fun." It is a limited-use item that becomes available during the late campaign as a reward.7979Connection to Delesyia8181The Delesyia region is described as being "at the forefront of science and technology" where "ancient alchemy meets advanced engineering" and is noted as the "origin of mechs." This strongly suggests dwarves are connected to or based in Delesyia, though no source has explicitly stated "dwarves live in Delesyia."8383Beyond their reputation as engineers, dwarven contributions to Pywel's technology have not been detailed in pre-launch materials. No named dwarf characters have been revealed, and specifics about dwarven culture, appearance, settlements, and society remain unknown.8585War Robot Specifications8787FeatureDescriptionMachine GunsRapid-fire ranged weapons for sustained damageLock-On MissilesMulti-target missile system for engaging groups of enemiesJump JetsVertical traversal capability for repositioning in combatEMP BlastsArea-of-effect electromagnetic pulse for disabling enemiesAvailabilityLate-game reward; limited-use item rather than permanent mount8989Shared Universe with Black Desert Online9090Crimson Desert was originally conceived as a prequel to Black Desert Online, Pearl Abyss's previous title. While the studio has not made this connection explicit in Crimson Desert's marketing, several Easter egg references between the two games have been identified. Pearl Abyss has confirmed they are separate IPs, but the following connections exist:9292Shakatu: The hooded goblin quest-giver in Crimson Desert also appears as a famous goblin merchant in Black Desert OnlineHexe Marie: A boss encounter in Crimson Desert who is also known as "the deadliest Witch in history" in Black Desert Online, described as a "Follower of Darkness" who "dared to break forbidden taboos"Goblin society: The Goldleafs faction and goblin social structures parallel goblin lore established in Black Desert Online9494These connections suggest that the races and civilizations of Crimson Desert contain Easter egg references to Black Desert Online, though Pearl Abyss has confirmed Crimson Desert is a separate IP, though the games are set in different time periods and regions.9696Mythical Beasts and Creatures9898Beyond the four confirmed intelligent races, Pywel is populated by a wide variety of mythical beasts and supernatural entities that serve as boss encounters and wildlife threats. These creatures are not sentient civilizations but rather powerful beings tied to Pywel's natural and supernatural landscape:100100CreatureTypeLocationWhite HornMountain spirit born from blizzards; yeti-elk hybrid with antlers and fangsKweiden mountainsQueen Stoneback CrabEnchanted giant crabCoastal areasReed DevilSwift masked entityReed fieldsStaglordFallen king in Celtic armorUnknownGolden StarDragon with destructive breathAerial encountersHexe MarieWitch who transforms into crows and raises undeadUnknown102102Related Articles103103TopicConnectionKliffHuman protagonist and leader of the GreymanesThe GreymanesMulti-racial mercenary band including human, orc, and other membersCalphadeStory chapter where Oongka becomes playableBoss EncountersMany bosses are mythical beasts; Split Horn is a goblin bossThe AbyssSupernatural force affecting all races on PywelKingdom of DemenissHuman political power at the center of PywelPywelThe continent inhabited by all confirmed racesPearl AbyssDeveloper; shared universe with Black Desert Online
