Revision 9

Overview

Sealed Abyss Artifacts are collectible items scattered across the continent of Pywel in Crimson Desert. There are 141 total artifacts hidden throughout the world, and collecting them is required for 100% completion, the Platinum trophy, and 1000 Gamerscore. Each Sealed Abyss Artifact unlocks a specific Challenge entry in the Challenges menu, covering Mastery, Combat, and Life categories. Challenge progress only counts after finding the associated artifact, so collecting them early is strongly recommended.

Unlike regular Abyss Fragments (which function as skill points for the Abyss skill tree), Sealed Abyss Artifacts cannot be spent immediately. Each one comes with a specific requirement that must be met before it unseals. Once unsealed, the artifact becomes a spendable skill point. You can hover over any Sealed Abyss Artifact in your inventory to read the description and learn what you need to do to unseal it.

How to Find Sealed Abyss Artifacts

Sealed Abyss Artifacts are not marked on the main map. They appear as purple icons on the minimap when you get close to one. All of them are found along roads and paths rather than in the wilderness or inside dungeons.

You can use the sword's Guiding Light ability to detect nearby artifacts. On PlayStation, press L1 + R1; on Xbox, press LB + RB; on PC, press CTRL + Left Click. When an artifact is nearby, you will see a blue glimmer in the direction of the artifact. This makes it much easier to pinpoint their exact position when the minimap icon is visible.

Road and Intersection Pattern

Sealed Abyss Artifacts follow a consistent placement rule: they are always located along roads or at intersections, never deep in the wilderness or far from established paths. When exploring, pay special attention to crossroads, roadside stone markers, and small landmarks near junctions. If you spot a notable feature at an intersection, there is a good chance a Sealed Abyss Artifact is nearby.

Use your sword's Guiding Light ability while traveling. It produces a blue shimmer when a Sealed Abyss Artifact is close, making it much easier to locate artifacts while riding between towns on the main roads.

Recommended Collection Strategy

The most efficient approach is to unfog the entire map first by activating all 8 hidden bells. Ringing each bell reveals a large section of the world map and makes the road outlines visible, which is critical since all artifacts sit on roads. While activating the bells, grab fast travel points (Abyss Nexus locations) along the way so you can quickly return to each region later.

Once the map is fully revealed, work through one region at a time. Follow every road systematically and keep the Guiding Light ability active frequently. Artifacts that you have already collected will not appear on the minimap again, so there is no risk of double-counting.

Because challenge progress does not count retroactively for most requirements (with the exception of some cumulative challenges), it is best to collect all Sealed Abyss Artifacts as early as possible. If you wait until the endgame, you may need to repeat activities you already completed before finding the artifact.

Challenge Categories

Each Sealed Abyss Artifact belongs to one of three major categories, matching the structure of the Challenges menu. Below is a breakdown of the challenge types and how many artifacts fall into each grouping.

Mastery Challenges

Mastery Challenges test your proficiency with Crimson Desert's weapon types and horse combat. Each weapon has its own set of artifacts. The Mastery categories include:

Combat Challenges

Combat Challenges focus on performance in fights, boss battles, and military engagements. There are three subcategories:

Life Challenges

Life Challenges cover non-combat activities and the various life skills available in Crimson Desert:

Hernand Region

The Hernand region is the starting area and contains the highest concentration of Sealed Abyss Artifacts. The roads around Hernand Town, Goldleaf Trading Post, Calphade, and the northern watchtowers are packed with collectibles. Below are the documented artifacts in this region.

Mastery Artifacts (Hernand)

Combat Artifacts (Hernand)

Life Artifacts (Hernand)

Demeniss Region

The Demeniss region lies to the east and is home to the Kingdom of Demeniss. Artifacts here are spread along the roads connecting Stonewell Farm, Ironwood Farm, the Spire of Clockwork, and other landmarks.

Mastery Artifacts (Demeniss)

Life Artifacts (Demeniss)

Pailune Region

The Pailune region is a mountainous northern area. Artifacts here are found along the roads near the town center, Skoghorn, Torvak Camp, and River Breeze Hearth.

Mastery Artifacts (Pailune)

Combat Artifacts (Pailune)

Life Artifacts (Pailune)

Delesyia Region

The Delesyia region is found in the western portion of the map. Artifacts here cluster around the Delesyia South Gate, Windrose Farm, Redfox Trading Post, and the Chittering Forest area.

Mastery Artifacts (Delesyia)

Combat Artifacts (Delesyia)

Life Artifacts (Delesyia)

The Crimson Desert Region

The Crimson Desert region occupies the southern portion of the map and is the harshest environment in the game. Artifacts are spread along the roads connecting Tommaso, the Well of Reflection, Isvatu Fortress, Arcosa, and the Crimson Mountains Fortress.

Mastery Artifacts (Crimson Desert)

Combat Artifacts (Crimson Desert)

Life Artifacts (Crimson Desert)

How to Unseal Artifacts

Sealed Abyss Artifacts cannot be used right away. Each one has a condition printed in its inventory description. Common unseal requirements include reaching a specific weapon mastery level (for example, Spear Mastery 2), defeating a certain number of enemies with a particular weapon type, completing life skill tasks, or finishing specific quests.

Once the condition is met, the artifact unseals automatically and becomes a spendable point in the Abyss skill tree. Open the skill tree window (Start, then Progression, then Abyss Tree) and spend the point to unlock or upgrade Kliff's abilities. The skill tree is split into three color-coded branches: Blue (Stamina), Green (Spirit), and Red (Health). Each upgrade costs one artifact.

Relationship to the Challenges Menu

The Challenges menu is where you track your progress toward all Mastery, Combat, and Life objectives. However, challenge entries only appear in the menu after you find the corresponding Sealed Abyss Artifact. Until then, the challenge slot remains hidden.

This means that if you complete an activity before collecting the artifact (for instance, defeating 50 enemies with a sword before finding Sword 1), that progress will not count toward the challenge. The counter starts from zero when you pick up the artifact. Some cumulative challenges (like total distance traveled or total enemies defeated) are exceptions and do track retroactively, but most do not.

Completing every challenge across all categories is required for the full set of trophies and achievements. Since each challenge is gated behind a Sealed Abyss Artifact, collecting all 141 artifacts is a prerequisite for the Platinum trophy on PlayStation and 1000 Gamerscore on Xbox.

Tips for Efficient Collection

• Activate all 8 bells first. Ringing the hidden bells reveals the full world map, including road outlines. Since every artifact sits on a road, this makes finding them dramatically easier.

• Use Guiding Light constantly. Press the Guiding Light input (L1+R1 / LB+RB / CTRL+Left Click) every few seconds while riding along roads. The blue glimmer points directly at nearby artifacts.

• Collect early, not late. Most challenge progress does not count retroactively. The sooner you pick up artifacts, the sooner your normal gameplay starts counting toward challenge requirements.

• Check your inventory descriptions. Each Sealed Abyss Artifact has an in-game description explaining how to unseal it. If an artifact has been sitting sealed in your inventory for a while, read its description to learn what you need to do.

• Travel by horse. Horseback travel is the fastest way to cover ground between artifact locations. Keep your horse well-fed and rested for maximum speed.

• Combine with other collectibles. While following roads for artifacts, keep an eye out for hidden chests, ancient tablets, and secret passages nearby.

• Track by region. Work through one region at a time to avoid missing artifacts. The five regions are Hernand, Demeniss, Pailune, Delesyia, and the Crimson Desert.

Artifacts by Region Summary

Note: This guide currently documents 53 of the 141 total Sealed Abyss Artifacts. The remaining artifacts are distributed across all five regions and will be added as they are discovered and verified. The total of 141 is confirmed by the game's challenge tracking system.

See Also

• Collectibles Guide

Region Summary

The 141 artifacts are distributed unevenly across the five regions. Hernand contains the most by a significant margin, since it is the largest and most densely populated region. The table below provides an overview.

Note: Exact per-region counts are approximate because official sources organize artifacts by challenge category rather than by geographic region. The numbers above are based on documented artifact positions from community guides and interactive maps.

Hernand

Hernand is the starting region and by far the most artifact-dense area in Crimson Desert. It is a lush landscape of rolling grasslands, dense forests, and farmland, centered around the medieval city of Hernand Castle. The region's extensive road network connects dozens of towns, farms, outposts, and shrines, and Sealed Abyss Artifacts are placed along nearly every major road.

Players will encounter their first Sealed Abyss Artifacts here during the early chapters of the story. Because Hernand has the highest concentration of artifacts and the broadest variety of challenge categories represented, it is the best region to begin a focused collection run.

Notable Landmark Areas in Hernand

The following landmarks in Hernand are surrounded by clusters of artifacts. When planning a collection route, these serve as natural waypoints.

Challenge Categories Found in Hernand

Hernand contains artifacts from all three major challenge tabs. The Mastery artifacts here cover Sword, Shield, Spear, Bow, Two-Handed Weapon, Rapier and Shield, and Horse categories. Combat artifacts include Training, Battle, and Operations entries. Life artifacts span Hunting, Above the Law, and Challenges and Changes subcategories.

Because the region is so rich in artifacts, players who thoroughly explore Hernand's road network before progressing to other regions can unlock a substantial portion of the challenge menu early on. This gives normal gameplay activities (fighting enemies, trading, hunting) a head start on counting toward challenge completion.

Demeniss

Demeniss is the political and military heartland of Pywel. It sits in the central-eastern portion of the map and is home to powerful noble houses like House Thorel and House Byron. The landscape features castle-lined roads, fortified farmland, and religious sites. Sealed Abyss Artifacts here tend to cluster along the roads connecting major estates and military installations.

Notable Landmark Areas in Demeniss

Challenge Categories Found in Demeniss

Demeniss features a strong concentration of Mastery artifacts, particularly for Horse, Sword, Spear, Bow, and Rapier and Shield categories. The Horse artifacts are especially prominent here, with multiple Horse challenge entries found along the roads near Stonewell Farm, Ironwood Farm, and the House of Healing.

Combat and Life artifacts are also present but in smaller numbers compared to Hernand. The Challenges and Changes subcategory has at least one entry near the Spire of Clockwork, requiring players to win consecutive games of Thrones (a card game found at taverns).

Pailune

Pailune lies in the northern reaches of Pywel and is defined by its snowy tundra and icy mountain passes. This is the homeland of Kliff's people, the Greymane mercenaries. The harsh terrain means roads are fewer and more spread out compared to southern regions, but each road tends to have artifacts placed at key intersections.

Notable Landmark Areas in Pailune

Challenge Categories Found in Pailune

Pailune's artifacts lean heavily toward Mastery and Combat categories. The Two-Handed Weapon subcategory has a notable presence here, with artifacts near Skoghorn and Torvak Camp. Operations artifacts are found near River Breeze Hearth. The Trade subcategory also appears in Pailune Town, where players can find an artifact tied to transporting oak barrels.

Due to the region's mountainous terrain and fewer road connections, artifact collection in Pailune requires more deliberate routing. Players should activate the bell in this region early to reveal the full road network and plan their path accordingly.

Delesyia

Delesyia is the technological frontier of Pywel, located in the western portion of the map. The region is defined by its advanced workshops, mechanical inventions, and dense forests. It stands apart from the medieval atmosphere of Hernand and Demeniss, featuring more industrial landmarks and experimental facilities. The roads here pass through trading posts, research stations, and the Chittering Forest.

Notable Landmark Areas in Delesyia

Challenge Categories Found in Delesyia

Delesyia's artifacts show a mix of Mastery, Combat, and Life categories. The Cannon Mastery subcategory has entries here, fitting the region's technological theme. Life artifacts include entries from the Challenges and Changes and general Life subcategories. The Operations subcategory also appears near the South Gate.

Players may reach Delesyia later in the story compared to Hernand and Demeniss. If you are aiming to collect artifacts early, consider making a detour to Delesyia as soon as the region becomes accessible to start unlocking its challenges.

Notable Landmark Areas in the Crimson Desert

Challenge Categories Found in the Crimson Desert

The Crimson Desert region contains artifacts across all three challenge tabs. Mastery artifacts here include Bow, Gun, Cannon, and Special Equipment entries, which fits the region's emphasis on ranged and specialized weaponry. The Special Equipment subcategory is particularly notable: the Knuckledrill and Lightning Spear artifacts are both found in this region near Isvatu Fortress and Arcosa respectively.

Life artifacts in this region cover Hunting, Life, Trade, and Above the Law subcategories. Combat artifacts include Battle entries near Tommaso. Collecting artifacts in the Crimson Desert can be challenging due to sandstorms and hostile encounters along the roads, so bringing strong equipment and recovery items is recommended.

Suggested Region Order

• 1. Hernand (start here for the highest artifact density and easiest terrain)

• 2. Demeniss (accessible early and connected to Hernand's eastern roads)

• 3. Pailune (head north for the snowy region; fewer roads but still significant artifacts)

• 4. Delesyia (travel west for the technological region's scattered artifacts)

• 5. Crimson Desert (save the harsh desert for last when you have strong equipment)

Tips

• Collect artifacts as early as possible. Challenge progress does not count retroactively for most requirements. If you defeat 50 enemies with a sword before finding the Sword 1 artifact, those kills will not count. The sooner you pick up artifacts, the more normal gameplay contributes to challenge completion.

• Use the Guiding Light constantly. Press the Guiding Light input every few seconds while riding along roads. The blue glimmer points directly at nearby artifacts and is visible even before the minimap icon appears.

• Hold up your lantern at night. Sealed Abyss Artifacts emit a distinctive white glow when illuminated by the lantern. This makes nighttime collection surprisingly effective, especially in open terrain.

• Travel by horse. Horseback travel is the fastest way to cover the long road distances between artifacts. Keep your horse well-fed for maximum speed.

• Check your inventory for unsealed artifacts. After collecting many artifacts, it is easy to lose track of which ones you have completed. Open your inventory and hover over each Sealed Abyss Artifact to read its description and learn what is needed to unseal it.

• Combine with other collectible runs. While following roads for artifacts, keep an eye out for Abyss Cressets, hidden chests, and other collectibles nearby. Roads often pass near these points of interest.

• Use interactive maps. Community-created interactive maps for Pywel mark every known Sealed Abyss Artifact location. Cross-referencing these maps while exploring can help ensure you do not miss any artifacts in a region.

• Some challenges track retroactively. While most challenge counters start from zero when you pick up the artifact, a small number of cumulative challenges (such as total distance traveled or total enemies defeated) do count progress made before collection. Check each challenge description for specifics.

Rewards

Completing the challenges tied to Sealed Abyss Artifacts yields three types of rewards:

The specific reward type varies by challenge. Mastery challenges tend to award Abyss Artifacts (skill points), while Life and Combat challenges may award Faded Abyss Artifacts or Abyss Gears. You can preview each challenge's reward in the Challenges menu after unlocking its entry.

Related Articles

• Sealed Abyss Artifact Locations (detailed position-by-position guide)

• Challenges (full list of all Mastery, Combat, Life, and Minigame challenges)

• Abyss Artifacts (how artifacts work as the skill currency)

• Abyss Artifacts Farming Guide (efficient methods for earning artifacts)

• Bells (locations of all 8 bells for revealing the world map)

• Skills (the Abyss skill tree and how to spend artifacts)

• Trophy Guide (full roadmap to Platinum and 100% completion)