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Shield Challenges
April 8, 2026 at 02:18 PM
Convert partial-term wikilinks to full-term wikilinks (2 merges)
There are 6 Shield mastery challenges in Crimson Desert, collectively called the Shield of Unchanging Will series. These challenges focus on offensive shield use rather than blocking, asking you to knock down and defeat enemies with shield bashes and throws. Completing all six unlocks the Master of Shields trophy and achievement.
Each challenge requires finding a Sealed Abyss Artifact in the open world before progress will count. Make sure you pick up the artifact before attempting the objective.
Challenge | Objective | Location | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
Shield of Unchanging Will 1 | Defeat three enemies while performing attacks using a shield | Hernand, second intersection north of Hernand Royal Trading Post | |
Shield of Unchanging Will 2 | Block 10 arrows with a shield within 30 seconds | Kharonso, near Scholastone Research Institute | |
Shield of Unchanging Will 3 | Hit 3 enemies at once with a shield | Hernand, southeast of Sanctum of Benediction | |
Shield of Unchanging Will 4 | Defeat five enemies with a shield without taking damage | Hernand, intersection east of Embernest Beacon | Fortitude II + Faded Abyss Artifact |
Shield of Unchanging Will 5 | Flip 5 enemies with a shield | West Demeniss, beneath the farmland west of the city | |
Shield of Unchanging Will 6 | Land 10 hits on enemies within 1 minute using the shield's Charge attack | Hernand, west of Calphade South Gate, before the river bridge |
Unlike most other challenge series in the game, Shield of Unchanging Will rewards include specific Abyss Core skills rather than generic Abyss Artifacts for every tier. The verified rewards from each challenge are:
Challenge | Reward Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
Shield of Unchanging Will I | Wall of Steel I: a defensive Abyss Core skill that increases shield durability and block effectiveness | |
Shield of Unchanging Will II | Standard Abyss Artifact used for skill upgrades | |
Shield of Unchanging Will III | Standard Abyss Artifact used for skill upgrades | |
Shield of Unchanging Will IV | Fortitude II (boosts resilience under pressure) + Faded Abyss Artifact | |
Shield of Unchanging Will V | Standard Abyss Artifact used for skill upgrades | |
Shield of Unchanging Will VI | Standard Abyss Artifact used for skill upgrades |
Wall of Steel I and Fortitude II are shield-specific Abyss Core skills that cannot be obtained through other means. Players who want to fully develop their shield build should prioritize completing Challenges I and IV early. For the locations of every Sealed Abyss Artifact needed to start each challenge, consult the dedicated artifact location guide.
Shield challenges reward aggression. Most players keep their shield raised for defense, but these trials push you to treat the shield as a weapon. Here is how to approach the trickier ones:
Tip | Details |
|---|---|
Shield of Unchanging Will 1 | : The simplest challenge. Find three weak bandits and bash them to death. Shield kills count when the final blow comes from any shield attack. |
Shield of Unchanging Will 3 | : Lure three enemies close together and use a charged Shield Bash. The bash has a small area of effect that hits everything in front of you. Groups of wolves or bandits along Hernand roads work well. |
Shield of Unchanging Will 4 | : Five kills with zero damage taken. Fight near a cliff edge or narrow pass where enemies approach single-file. Block between bashes and pick them off one at a time. |
Shield of Unchanging Will 2 | : Block 10 attacks within 30 seconds. Find a group of fast-attacking enemies such as wolves or Hernand bandits that swing frequently. Keep your shield raised and let them wail on you. The 30-second window is generous if you pick a group of three or more attackers. |
Shield of Unchanging Will 5 | : Parry five attacks in a single encounter. This requires precise timing on the parry window rather than passive blocking. Practice against slower enemies first to learn the timing, then attempt it against bandits who telegraph their swings clearly. Staying calm and waiting for each attack is more reliable than rushing through it. |
Shield of Unchanging Will 6 | : Stagger three enemies at the same time with a Shield Bash. Gather a tight cluster of enemies (road patrols or camp guards work well) and hit them all with one charged bash. The Shield Bash has a frontal cone area of effect, so position yourself so all targets are directly ahead. If enemies are too spread out, use your movement to funnel them together before swinging. |
Shields pair naturally with swords. If you find yourself short on damage for shield-only kills, weaken enemies with a few sword swings first, then switch to the shield for the finishing blow. The kill still counts as a shield kill.
Every challenge in the series awards an Abyss Artifact. Completing all six grants the Master of Shields trophy, contributing toward the overall achievement completion and Goyen's Advice trophy milestones.
Shield of Unchanging Will 2: You need to block 10 arrows within 30 seconds. Find a group of archers (bandit camps work well) and hold your shield up (L1/LB). Face the archers directly and let them pepper you with arrows. The key is finding a spot with enough ranged enemies firing at you simultaneously.
