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Turning Tides
March 24, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Accuracy update (2026-03-24)
Turning Tides is the third quest arc of Chapter 6: Cracks in the Shield in Crimson Desert. Consisting of four quests, it represents the decisive shift in momentum as allied forces reclaim Calphade from the Black Bears. The arc introduces cannon-based warfare, features a boss fight against the Black Bear Captain, and culminates in the destruction of enemy siege weapons across the battlefield.
After the banner-raising operations of Below the Banners, allied forces have secured key positions around Calphade. Now it is time to go on the offensive. The Turning Tides arc shifts from defensive operations to a coordinated assault, using artillery and infiltration tactics to dismantle the Black Bears' hold on the region. By the end of this arc, allied banners fly across Calphade once again.
Quest | Key Objective | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Repair a cannon; destroy four watchtowers in the Black Bear encampment | Attach wheels to the damaged cannon, then aim and fire | |
Infiltrate the Black Bears' base; defeat the Black Bear Captain | Boss fight; Whistling Arrows are very effective | |
Destroy five Black Bear battle weapons using Whistling Arrows | Ranged approach is far more efficient than melee | |
Black Bears retreat to Calphade Castle | Auto-completes via cutscene after Hidden Fangs |
The boss fight during In Ashes pits Kliff against the Black Bear Captain inside the enemy base. He wields a hammer that deals heavy damage and uses jumping aerial strikes that can catch you off guard. Dodge timing is critical for avoiding these leaping attacks. Whistling Arrows are highly effective here, as they call in area-of-effect cannon fire that deals massive damage. Use them aggressively to shorten the fight.
Hidden Fangs tasks you with destroying five Black Bear battle weapons scattered across the battlefield. Rather than engaging them in melee, use Whistling Arrows on each tank to trigger cannon bombardments from allied positions. This ranged approach is significantly safer and faster. A completion cutscene triggers once all five tanks are destroyed, leading directly into Reclamation.
Fire Support introduces artillery mechanics. After helping attach wheels to a damaged cannon, you man one of the gun positions and must target four smoking watchtowers in the Black Bear encampment below. Aim carefully, as the watchtowers are spread across the camp.
Whistling Arrow x10 (from arc completion)
Stock up on Whistling Arrows before starting this arc. They are essential for the In Ashes boss fight and the Hidden Fangs tank destruction.
During Fire Support, the four watchtowers emit visible smoke trails. Use these as visual guides when aiming the cannon.
In the Black Bears' base during In Ashes, you can bypass most regular enemies and head straight for the captain if you prefer to conserve resources.
Reclamation auto-completes after Hidden Fangs. There is no active gameplay required for the final quest.
After this arc, the story continues with The Unyielding Shields, the final arc of Chapter 6.
