Reed Devil Faction

Overview

The Reed Devil Faction is a hostile group based in the reed fields of the Hernand region in Crimson Desert. Known as the demons of the reed fields, this faction controls marshy territory and terrorizes the surrounding population. The faction is distinct from The Reed Devil boss encounter, though the two are closely connected; the boss is the faction's most feared figure, while the faction itself encompasses the broader group of followers, minions, and evil spirits operating under that banner.

Within the game's faction system, the Reed Devil Faction is classified as hostile. Players will encounter its members while exploring the southern portions of Hernand, particularly around the reed fields and Sunset Valley.

Details

Lore and Background

The Reed Devil Faction occupies a strange space in Hernand's social landscape. The faction is simultaneously a source of terror and, for some, a symbol of hope. The group harbors people afflicted by illness, taking in those whom mainstream society has cast out. Sunset Valley, a village at the southernmost area of Hernand, was formed by the sick and the poor and exists in isolation from the outside world. The people of Sunset Valley tell a legend of a demon who stained the reed fields with blood. The faction's connection to this community of outcasts gives it a tragic dimension that goes beyond simple banditry.

The faction's leader, The Reed Devil, embodies this duality. According to the game's lore, the Reed Devil was once a slum-dweller of Hernand cursed with a leprous face and exiled by his own father. His exile drove him to become the masked figure that haunts the reed fields, turning his suffering into a weapon. The narrative frames the Reed Devil as a product of systemic cruelty: the sinful world that bred the very hatred that feeds this spirit bears responsibility for the monster it created.

Deep within the Mountain of Frozen Souls lies the village of the sick, a place where no one dares to venture. Despite the mountain's ominous name (legend says the souls of the dead are frozen on its snowy peaks, unable to leave), it is actually an ordinary mountain lush with greenery. The faction uses the fearful reputation of the location to keep outsiders away from its community of outcasts.

The Scarecrow Minions

What makes the Reed Devil Faction uniquely dangerous is its minions. The faction's foot soldiers are not ordinary bandits or fighters. They are evil spirits inhabiting scarecrow bodies. These constructs do not fall no matter how often they are stabbed or cut, because the animating force is supernatural rather than biological. Conventional weapons can damage the scarecrow shells, but the spirits within simply keep the bodies moving.

This mechanic has gameplay implications. Fighting Reed Devil minions requires different tactics than fighting human enemies. Players need to find ways to disrupt or banish the spirits rather than relying on raw damage output. The wicker totems that The Reed Devil boss summons during his fight may be connected to the same folk magic or ritualistic practices that bind spirits to the scarecrow bodies used by the faction's rank and file.

Territory and Locations

The Reed Devil Faction controls territory in the southern reaches of the Hernand region. Their presence is concentrated in three areas.

The Reed Devil Boss

The faction's leader and most powerful member is The Reed Devil, a mandatory boss encountered on the Mountain of Frozen Souls during the main quest "Dance with the Devil" on Kliff's story path. The boss is a short, fast swordsman who fights with iaijutsu (quick-draw sword techniques) and retreats into the surrounding reed fields between attacks.

The boss fight was first shown at Gamescom 2024 and is widely considered one of the most memorable encounters in the game's preview builds. The Reed Devil's combat style, which emphasizes terrain-based stealth and rapid strikes from concealment, reflects the broader faction's approach to warfare. See the The Reed Devil article for full combat details, phase breakdowns, and strategy tips.

Sunset Reed Armor Set

After defeating The Reed Devil boss, players receive the Sunset Reed Cloth Gloves as a direct reward. The remaining pieces of the Sunset Reed armor set and the Hollow Visage sword are scattered across the Hernand region and must be found through exploration. These items are thematically connected to the Reed Devil Faction and carry abilities related to reeds and dodge-based combat.

Related Quests

Relationship with Other Factions

The Reed Devil Faction is hostile to the player and to most established factions in Hernand. The noble houses, particularly House Celeste, view the faction as a persistent threat to regional security. The Greymanes encounter the faction during their time in Hernand, and dealing with the Reed Devil is part of the main storyline.

The faction's relationship with the wider world is complicated by its role as a refuge for the sick and outcast. While the Reed Devil Faction is classified as hostile and its scarecrow minions attack travelers on sight, the community of ill and exiled people sheltering under its protection adds moral complexity. The faction exists because Hernand's society failed these people first.

Gameplay

As a hostile faction, the Reed Devil Faction cannot be befriended through the Contribution system. Players will be attacked on sight by scarecrow minions when entering faction territory. The faction's quest line is mandatory as part of Chapter 3 of the main story, so all players will need to confront the Reed Devil at some point during their playthrough.

Combat encounters with the faction's scarecrow minions are distinct from fighting other human factions. The scarecrows cannot be killed by conventional damage alone; players must find ways to disrupt the spirits animating them. This adds a puzzle-like element to what would otherwise be standard combat encounters.