Thinning Blade

Sub-Chapter Details

Overview

Thinning Blade is the third sub-chapter of Chapter 9: The Sage of the Desert in Crimson Desert. It spans two quests: Crossing Point and Unwavering Steps. The sub-chapter takes its name from a core piece of philosophy held by the monks of the Cloister of Enlightenment: a warrior whose focus becomes diluted by doubt carries a metaphorically thinned blade. To sharpen it again, Kliff must confront both the environment and a formidable human opponent.

After reading the stone tablets inside the Cloister, Kliff is directed to the Spire of the Sun, a towering ancient structure deep in the Valley of Grief section of the Crimson Desert region. The sub-chapter shifts gameplay toward puzzle-solving before ending with one of the most punishing boss fights in the chapter, a duel against Goyen, a warrior who mirrors Kliff's own combat style.

Quest List

Walkthrough

Crossing Point

After completing the Shackles of Fate quest, return to the reading room inside the Cloister of Enlightenment. Stone tablets line the walls, and one of them initiates the Thinning Blade questline when examined. The tablet presents a riddle: "There are things that grow stronger the more they are worn and weathered. Enlightenment shall begin where the swords of past and present cross."

A new quest marker appears pointing to the Spire of the Sun in the Forebearer's Barrens area of the Crimson Desert region. Travel to the quest marker. Simply approaching the tower's entrance completes Crossing Point automatically and transitions directly into Unwavering Steps. No combat is required for this quest.

Unwavering Steps

The Spire of the Sun is a tall cylindrical tower surrounded by an intricate arrangement of mirrors. Your goal is to redirect a beam of blue light through these mirrors to unlock the tower's entrance and interior floors. The puzzle takes place in two phases: the exterior mirror arrangement and the interior stairway sequence.

Exterior Mirror Puzzles

East Mirror Cluster: Head east of the Spire to find a group of mirrors pointed toward a central laser source. One corner mirror is misaligned. Rotate it to redirect the beam southwest toward the next cluster.

South Mirror Cluster: This is the more complex section. Five mirrors need to be repositioned in sequence. Floor grooves indicate where each mirror can slide. Move the paired corner mirrors first so the beam bounces between them correctly, then adjust the remaining mirrors one at a time until the beam reaches the crystal mounted near the Spire's front entrance. If the beam fails to connect, check that no intermediate mirror has been moved past its groove limits.

Interior Tower

Once the exterior crystal activates, the Spire's front door unlocks. Inside, the tower is built around a spiral staircase with a mirror on each landing. Interact with the mirror on each floor to direct the light beam to the mirror on the next floor above. Repeat this from the ground floor to the top. At the peak, point the beam at the crystal mounted in the ceiling. The final staircase unlocks, leading to the Abyss Gate and the Nest of Valor arena below.

Boss Fight: Goyen

Goyen is a human opponent who fights with a sword and shield, using a moveset nearly identical to Kliff's. This similarity makes the fight feel like a mirror match, which is intentional given the sub-chapter's theme. He has a single health bar but hits with extreme force, capable of two-shotting Kliff at lower armor levels.

Before engaging, activate the fast travel point on the floor directly in front of the arena. If the fight goes badly, you can retreat, upgrade your equipment, and return without a long journey back.

Key Attacks

• Jump Slam: Goyen leaps into the air and crashes down with a shockwave. Watch the floor for the impact radius indicator and dodge sideways repeatedly. He follows up with a midair kick, so keep dodging until he fully lands.

• Sword Combo: A rapid sequence of three to five horizontal slashes. Dodge to the right (his left) to escape most of these, then immediately counterattack when he finishes.

• Shield Bash: A short-range shield thrust that staggers Kliff. Maintain spacing and avoid getting cornered against the arena walls.

Combat Strategy

Dodging is safer than blocking because Goyen's strikes deal heavy chip damage even when blocked. After his combo ends, land four heavy attacks followed by a light combo, then immediately back away before he recovers. Heal as soon as any damage lands; waiting until low health makes recovery much harder. If refinement level 7 or higher armor is available, equip it before this fight, as the extra defense makes the timing windows for counterattacks much more forgiving.

Completing the boss fight and watching the subsequent cutscene finishes Unwavering Steps and awards the Witch's Ring and Greymane's Earring accessories.

Rewards

Tips

• Complete the exterior mirror puzzles before the interior ones. The game does not force a specific order, but the exterior section is longer and more confusing, so solving it first lets you enter the tower with momentum.

• Activate the fast travel point at the Nest of Valor entrance before fighting Goyen. This saves significant backtracking if you need to leave and upgrade gear.

• Goyen has no phase transitions or special mechanics beyond his standard kit. Patience and consistent dodge timing are the main tools for winning this fight.

• The Witch's Ring and Greymane's Earring are useful accessories for the remainder of Chapter 9, so consider slotting them immediately after the fight.