Overview
The spear is widely considered the strongest early-game weapon type in Crimson Desert. It is a two-handed weapon that can equip up to five Abyss Gears, giving it strong customization potential on top of its already impressive base kit. What makes the spear stand out is its combination of speed, reach, and crowd control. It is one of the fastest weapons available while still offering meaningful range, which keeps Kliff safer during engagements than almost any other melee option. Its knockdown moves provide genuine crowd control value, and it builds damage quickly through rapid strike chains rather than relying on single large hits.
The spear's large area-of-effect attack pattern makes it excellent for clearing groups of enemies, but it is also very viable for boss fights. Players who invest in the spear early on will find that it trivializes many encounters that other weapon types struggle with, thanks to a few key skills that synergize with its fast attack speed and generous hitboxes. This guide covers the spear's most important skills, recommended weapons, Abyss Gear setups, weapon swap strategies, and the spear mastery challenges.
Core Spear Skills
The spear's moveset revolves around a handful of skills that, once unlocked through the skill tree, transform it from a solid weapon into one of the most dominant options in the game. Below is a breakdown of each core skill, how to use it, and what makes it effective.
Evasive Slash Counter Stance
Input: R1 + Circle (PlayStation) / RB + B (Xbox)
Evasive Slash Counter Stance is unlocked by raising your Armed Combat skill to level 3, making it one of the earliest power spikes available. Many experienced players consider it one of the best skills in the entire game, and for good reason. When activated with a spear equipped, Kliff enters a defensive stance that remains active for as long as his stamina holds out. While in this stance, any incoming melee attack triggers an automatic counterattack without requiring precise timing from the player.
The counter itself has two parts. The first is a wide horizontal swing that pushes nearby enemies away, creating breathing room. The second is a powerful repeated thrust that staggers or outright defeats most standard enemies. The combination of a large area of effect and serious damage output makes this skill incredibly effective against groups.
What separates Evasive Slash Counter Stance from the regular parry (L1 / LB) is the timing window. A standard parry demands frame-perfect input to deflect an attack, while the Counter Stance covers a generous window that lasts as long as Kliff has stamina. On top of that, the Counter Stance can negate damage from bigger enemies whose attacks cannot be blocked by a regular guard. This means it functions as both a defensive tool and an offensive one simultaneously.
The skill works on most bosses as well, making it a reliable option throughout the entire game. However, players should exercise caution when using it against non-human enemies, since some creatures can still damage Kliff before the counter triggers. Against human opponents and standard enemies, though, the skill is forgiving enough that it borders on being overpowered.
For reference, Damiane has a similar counter ability when using a Greatsword, but her version has a noticeably smaller area of effect compared to the spear's version.
Turning Slash (Crowd Control)
Input: R1 + R2 (PlayStation) / RB + RT (Xbox)
Turning Slash is the spear's primary crowd control tool. It deals high damage in a sweeping arc and pushes enemies back, relieving pressure when Kliff is surrounded. What makes this skill especially dangerous is that after leveling it up, Turning Slash triggers almost instantly when chained off of other attacks. This means you can weave it into your attack strings without any meaningful pause, keeping the damage flowing while simultaneously controlling the space around you.
Turning Slash pairs naturally with the Evasive Slash Counter Stance. After countering an incoming attack, immediately chaining into Turning Slash will catch any remaining enemies in the area who survived the initial counter. This two-skill loop of counter into Turning Slash is one of the most efficient ways to clear large groups in the early and mid game.
Guard Breaker (Stab Chain)
The spear's basic R1 attack is a quick triple thrust that applies relentless pressure to guarding enemies. Where this becomes truly dangerous is when you chain it into the Stab skill (R1 + Triangle / RB + Y). Doing so triggers a rapid-fire six-thrust assault that is almost guaranteed to break the guard of any standard enemy. Once the guard breaks, the enemy is staggered and open to a full follow-up combo or a finishing blow.
Against shielded enemies and humanoid opponents who rely on blocking, the Stab chain is the fastest way to create openings. Rather than waiting for an enemy to drop their guard or attempting a risky parry, you can simply overwhelm their block with pure speed. This makes the spear an aggressive, proactive weapon that rewards constant forward pressure.
Blinding Flash Finisher Synergy
The Blinding Flash skill is an excellent opener and finisher that exposes enemy weaknesses, and it pairs exceptionally well with the spear's Counter Stance. The recommended approach is to use Evasive Slash Counter Stance to absorb incoming attacks and deal counter damage, then follow up with Blinding Flash to finish off weakened enemies or exploit the opening created by the counter's stagger.
Players who struggled with the game's combat system have reported that combining the spear's Evasive Slash Counter with Blinding Flash Finisher was the turning point where encounters stopped feeling overwhelming. The counter handles the defensive side of combat, while Blinding Flash handles the offensive follow-up, creating a self-contained loop that addresses both survival and damage output.
Skills Summary
Skill | Input | Unlock Requirement | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
R1 + Circle / RB + B | Armed Combat Level 3 | Defensive stance that auto-counters attacks with a wide horizontal swing followed by a powerful repeated thrust. Lasts as long as stamina holds. | |
R1 + R2 / RB + RT | Skill tree progression | Sweeping crowd control attack that deals high damage and pushes enemies back. Chains almost instantly when leveled up. | |
Stab (Guard Breaker) | R1 + Triangle / RB + Y | Skill tree progression | Rapid-fire six-thrust assault following the basic triple thrust. Almost guaranteed to break any standard enemy's guard. |
Varies | Skill tree progression | Opener/finisher that exposes enemy weaknesses. Pairs with Evasive Slash Counter for a complete offensive-defensive loop. |
Recommended Spears
Not all spears are created equal. Below are some of the most noteworthy spears you can acquire throughout the game, along with where to find them and what makes each one worth using.
Spear | How to Obtain | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
Available in the early game | Deals significant single-target damage and can fire a projectile that staggers mobs. Extremely easy to set up and upgrade, with a built-in ranged option that adds slight AoE. One of the best early-game picks. | |
Dropped by Bleed Bandits in Hernand | A solid early-game spear that can be looted from common enemies in the open world. If you get a lucky drop, it provides a meaningful damage upgrade over starting weapons. | |
Acquired through progression | Popular choice for weapon swap builds. Heavier damage values make it ideal as a secondary weapon for punishing staggered enemies after swapping from a sword and shield. | |
Acquired through progression | A balanced mid-game spear suitable for players who want consistent performance without specialized mechanics. |
Abyss Gear and Build Recommendations
The spear can equip up to five Abyss Gears, making it one of the more customizable weapons in terms of passive and active enhancements. The right Abyss Gear setup can amplify the spear's already strong crowd control and counter capabilities.
For a spear-focused build, prioritize the following:
Stamina-boosting Abyss Gears: Since Evasive Slash Counter Stance drains stamina for as long as it is held, any Abyss Gear that increases maximum stamina or reduces stamina consumption directly extends how long you can maintain the counter stance. This is the single most impactful stat for spear users.
Momentum (Leather Helm): This Abyss Gear benefits Turning Slash with additional burst damage, which stacks well with the spear's crowd control focus.
Crow's Pursuit: Summons crows to attack nearby enemies, adding supplemental damage during your attack chains without requiring additional inputs.
Wind Slash: A forward-piercing blade attack that complements the spear's linear thrust moveset, adding another ranged poke to your toolkit.
Weapon Swap Combos
The spear synergizes well with other weapon types through the Quick Swap system. One of the most popular early-game strategies pairs a Sword and Shield as the primary weapon with a spear as the secondary. The philosophy is straightforward: use the sword for sustained pressure and its reliable parry, then swap to the spear after staggering enemies to land heavier punishing hits with the spear's thrust chains.
The swap can also work in reverse. Parry an attack with the sword and shield, then instantly Quick Swap to the spear for a follow-up thrust, all in one fluid motion. When an enemy staggers, activating Quick Swap brings out the spear and lets you capitalize on the opening with its heavier damage values.
Another effective pairing is the spear with a Hammer or Axe. Use the spear's speed to stunlock enemies with rapid thrust chains, then finish them off by swapping to a heavy weapon for maximum burst damage. The spear handles the setup and crowd control, while the heavy weapon delivers the killing blow.
Evasive Slash Counter vs. Standard Parry
Understanding when to use the spear's Counter Stance versus a standard parry (L1 / LB) is important for getting the most out of the spear. Here is a direct comparison:
Aspect | Standard Parry (L1 / LB) | |
|---|---|---|
Timing Window | Very forgiving. Active as long as stamina holds. | Frame-perfect. Must be timed precisely to the incoming attack. |
Damage Negation | Can negate damage from bigger enemies that regular block cannot handle. | Only works against attacks within the parry's damage threshold. |
Two-part counter: wide horizontal swing + powerful repeated thrust. | Single riposte follow-up. Damage depends on weapon. | |
Area of Effect | Large AoE. Hits multiple surrounding enemies. | Single-target riposte. |
Continuous drain while stance is held. | Fixed cost per parry attempt. | |
Boss Viability | Works on most bosses. Exercise caution against non-human enemies. | Works on all parryable attacks. |
Weapon Requirement | Requires spear equipped. | Works with any weapon that has a block/parry. |
Spear Mastery Challenges
There are five Spear Challenges in Crimson Desert that fall under the Mastery Category. Completing all five unlocks the Master of Spears trophy/achievement. Each challenge requires picking up a Sealed Abyss Artifact at a specific location in Hernand to activate the challenge.
Challenge | Objective | |
|---|---|---|
Sharpened Spear 1 | Intersection southeast of Calphade Gate, Hernand | Land 15 counterattacks with a spear within 30 seconds |
Sharpened Spear 2 | Hit enemies 50 times with a spear within 30 seconds | |
Sharpened Spear 3 | Intersection west of Hook Rapids Hearth, Hernand | Take down 5 enemies within 15 seconds using the Stab attack |
Sharpened Spear 4 | Intersection west of Bradenfern Farm, Hernand | Defeat 3 enemies within 1 minute using a Spear Leap Attack |
Sharpened Spear 5 | Located in Hernand (specific location varies) | Defeat 5 enemies without taking damage from spears while maintaining 100% health |
For the Sharpened Spear 1 challenge, the Evasive Slash Counter Stance makes landing 15 counterattacks straightforward since the stance auto-counters every incoming attack. Position yourself in the middle of the enemy group and hold the stance to rack up counter hits quickly. Sharpened Spear 2 rewards the spear's fast attack speed; use the basic R1 triple thrust repeatedly to hit the 50-hit target. Sharpened Spear 3 specifically requires the Stab skill, so make sure it is unlocked before attempting it.
Combat Tips
Below are practical tips for getting the most out of the spear across different encounter types. For broader combat tips, see the dedicated guide.
Prioritize stamina upgrades. Since Evasive Slash Counter Stance is your strongest tool and it drains stamina continuously, extending your stamina pool directly translates to longer counter windows and more counter damage per activation.
Use the Counter Stance against groups, not just single targets. The wide horizontal swing on the first part of the counter hits multiple enemies. Position yourself so that incoming attacks from any direction trigger the counter while surrounding enemies get caught in the swing.
Chain Turning Slash after every counter. After the counter's repeated thrust finishes, immediately input Turning Slash to catch any enemies who survived. This two-skill loop handles most group encounters efficiently.
Break guards proactively. Do not wait for shielded enemies to attack. Use the R1 triple thrust into Stab chain to break their guard before they can threaten you. The spear rewards aggressive play.
Be cautious with non-human enemies. Some creatures can damage Kliff before the Evasive Slash counter triggers. Against large beasts or monsters with fast multi-hit attacks, consider using a standard dodge or parry instead of relying solely on the Counter Stance.
Pair with Blinding Flash for boss fights. Against bosses, alternate between Counter Stance (to safely absorb attacks and deal counter damage) and Blinding Flash (to exploit openings and finish phases). This combination is widely regarded as one of the most effective strategies in the game.
Keep a secondary weapon for burst damage. The spear excels at sustained damage and crowd control, but swapping to a Hammer or Axe for burst damage on staggered enemies maximizes your overall DPS.
The follow-up thrust benefits from elemental affinity. If your spear has an elemental bonus, the repeated thrust portion of the Evasive Slash counter applies that element with each hit, making elemental spears particularly effective with this skill.
Summary
The spear is a top-tier weapon choice from the moment it becomes available. Its combination of speed, reach, crowd control, and the Evasive Slash Counter Stance's forgiving defensive capability makes it arguably the best early-game weapon in Crimson Desert. Players who invest in Armed Combat early to unlock the Counter Stance and pair it with Turning Slash and Blinding Flash will have a toolkit that handles nearly every situation the game throws at them. Whether you are clearing groups of bandits in the open world, tackling boss fights, or pushing through the Spear Mastery challenges for the Master of Spears achievement, the spear delivers consistent results with a low skill floor and a high ceiling for players who master its combo chains.