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Research Institutes
March 21, 2026 at 04:45 AM
Initial version with all six research institute locations and details
Research institutes are special locations scattered across the continent of Pywel in Crimson Desert where players can invest Silver into research projects that yield equipment blueprints, permanent stat boosts, dispatch missions, alchemy recipes, and map markers for valuable resource deposits. There are six institutes in total, three in the Hernand region and three in the Delesyia region.
Each institute is operated by a lead researcher who requests a specific item before they will open their project tree. Once the entry item is provided, the institute's full set of research projects becomes available. You can identify locations with research capabilities by hovering over them on the world map and looking for the research tree symbol.
For a complete list of every research project and its rewards, see the Research System article.
Institute | Region | Unlock Item | Focus | Key Reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5x Lavender | Herbalism, alchemy, gathering | Spirit cap increase | ||
1x Honey Tea | Abyss energy, cloudcarts, health | Health cap raised to level 18 | ||
Crimson Desert | 3x Bloodstone | Stamina, wind weapons, minerals | Stamina cap increase | |
Gorthak Ironworks | 5x Gunpowder | Smelting, ATAG weapons, mining | ATAG Cannon, Laser, Pincers | |
Delesyia Castle | 3x Copper | Mechanics, mobility, advanced weapons | ATAG Boots Mk. II and III | |
1x Diamond | Electrical weapons, ATAG combat gear | ATAG Machine Gun, Fist, Flamespitter, Welder |
The three Hernand institutes become accessible during the earlier chapters of the main story. They offer foundational upgrades including stat cap increases, the Faded Abyss Artifact crafting blueprint, and improved gathering tools.
Pororin is a hidden Shai village located southeast of Hernand, just east of Emberwind Workshop. Unlike the other institutes, Pororin is not accessible from the start of the game. You must first discover the village by approaching it three times (and getting knocked out each time by the Shai defenders). After the third attempt, a Shai child named Arkin appears and tasks you with retrieving the Relic of Pororin from the top of a giant walking tree creature. Hand over the relic to complete the "Unreachable Village" quest and gain free entry to Pororin.
The lead researcher at Pororin requires 5x Lavender to open the project tree. Research here focuses on herbalism, alchemy formulas, and gathering efficiency. The most important project is the Mysterious Energy of Wild Ginseng Research (1B), which permanently raises your Spirit level cap. The Pororin institute also unlocks the Magic Scythe and Pororin Fishing Rod through dispatch missions, as well as alchemy formulas for Freya's, Meliara's, and Haiden's Elixirs.
The Scholastone Institute sits high in the mountains of the Hernand region and is typically the first research institute players encounter. You visit Scholastone as part of the main campaign during Chapter 4 and later unlock the research tree in Chapter 5. The lead researcher, Grunvar, is a grumpy old orc who will send you on a short quest before agreeing to help.
Grunvar requires 1x Honey Tea to become the research director. You can craft Honey Tea at a cauldron by mixing Honey with Water, purchase it from merchants, or loot it from certain enemies. Once provided, the full research tree opens. Scholastone's most valuable projects include the Abyssal Energy Research (1B), which raises your Health cap from level 11 all the way to level 18, and the Abyss Energy Restoration Phenomenon (1A), which grants the Faded Abyss Artifact Blueprint for crafting respec items at any Witch cauldron. Later projects unlock improved Cloudcart variants (Cloudcruiser and Skystreaker) and ATAG Thrusterpack upgrades.
Urdavah is an archway city nestled in the sand dunes of the Crimson Desert region. You pass through it during the main quest, and the lead researcher can be found at the bottom of the elevator shaft inside the city. The unlock item is 3x Bloodstone.
Urdavah's research focuses on stamina upgrades, cooking energy boosts, wind-powered weapon systems, and mineral deposits. The headline project is Red Seaweed Research (1B), which permanently raises your Stamina cap beyond its initial threshold. The Gold Vein Research (3A) project is also notable for revealing the locations of gold ore deposits on your map, making it much easier to find Gold Ore for crafting. Later projects unlock the Accessories of the World Vol. IV Blueprint and ATAG Plating upgrades.
The three Delesyia institutes become available in the later chapters of the story. They focus on advanced weaponry, ATAG upgrades, mechanical engineering, and late-game crafting blueprints. Projects at these institutes tend to cost more Silver and take longer to complete than those in Hernand.
Gorthak Ironworks is located in the northwestern part of the Delesyia region, near the border with Demeniss. The lead researcher requires 5x Gunpowder to open the project tree.
Research at Gorthak Ironworks centers on smelting, ATAG weapon systems, and mining efficiency. The Machine Parts Research (2B) project is particularly significant, unlocking dispatch missions for the ATAG Cannon, ATAG Laser, and ATAG Pincers, along with a Vertical Flight upgrade for Oongka's Rocket Pack. The Skilled Workflow Optimization Research (1A) reduces crafting material waste, making all of your crafting more efficient going forward.
The Delesyia Castle institute is housed within the main fortress of the Delesyia region. The lead researcher requires 3x Copper to open the project tree.
Research here emphasizes mechanical enemies, mobility gear, and advanced weapon systems. The Mechanical Anatomy Research (1A) increases the drop rate of components from mechanical enemies, which feeds into late-game crafting. The High-Mobility Power Device Research (2B) unlocks dispatch missions for ATAG Boots Mk. II and III, providing significant mobility upgrades in combat. Mercury Research (3A) adds mercury deposit markers to your map, and the Future Protective Material Study (3B) grants the Plate Armors of the World Vol. IV Blueprint.
Dewhaven Keep is located in the southwestern part of the Delesyia region. The lead researcher requires 1x Diamond to open the project tree.
Dewhaven Keep rounds out your armory with the most aggressive tools available in the game. The Power Joints System Research (2B) unlocks dispatch missions for the ATAG Fist, ATAG Machine Gun, ATAG Flamespitter, and the Welder, some of the most devastating ATAG weapons in Crimson Desert. The Electric Tool Design Research (2A) project adds the Lightning Spear, Electromagnetic Boltspitter, and Quarry Drill. The Alloy Weapon Conductivity Study (3B) unlocks the Weapons of the World Vol. IV Blueprint.
You can work on projects at multiple institutes simultaneously. Start a project at one location, then travel to another and begin a second project while the first one runs in the background.
Stock up on unlock items (Lavender, Honey Tea, Bloodstones, Gunpowder, Copper, Diamonds) as you explore so you are ready to open each institute the moment you arrive.
Focus on the three stat cap projects first (Health at Scholastone, Stamina at Urdavah, Spirit at Pororin). These provide the largest power increases available through research.
Later-row projects can take up to 28 in-game hours. Start these before sleeping at camp to make progress overnight.
Check research progress from the world map without traveling back. Hover over the institute's settlement and tab to the research panel from the diorama view.
