Overview
Volcanic Stone Worm is a Story NPC in Crimson Desert. A massive worm whose form is indistinguishable from stone. Fragments of broken rock cling to its body, making it easy to mistake for a simple boulder, even at close range. It remains perfectly still in ambush, but the moment someone approaches, it suddenly twists and lashes out.
Stone Worms are one of the many guardian creatures players encounter while exploring Pywel. They appear at multiple locations, often surprising players who walk too close to what they assumed was uneven terrain. The Volcanic variant is distinguished by its rocky, heated appearance, suggesting an association with geothermal activity.
Stats
Stat | Value |
|---|---|
Health | 80 |
CC Gauge | 20 |
Location
Volcanic Stone Worms are found in the rocky regions of Pailune, particularly around mountain areas and inside caves. They also appear in gold mine caves, protecting the innermost areas. You can identify a hidden Stone Worm by looking for unevenness in the ground; they disguise themselves as boulders, but close inspection reveals subtle differences in the rock formations.
Stone Worms are encountered at many spots throughout the world, appearing out of nowhere and attacking anyone who trespasses too close. The Desert Stone Worm is a related variant found in arid areas rather than volcanic regions.
Combat Strategy
Stone Worms have a specific weakness that allows players to defeat them instantly if they know the correct technique. The key is to use the Axiom Force ability to target the worm's eye, which is its critical weak point.
Axiom Force Method (Recommended)
Wait for the Stone Worm to charge its energy blast attack. This is the window of opportunity.
Press R3 (or the equivalent Axiom Force button) to lock the Axiom Force onto the Stone Worm's eye. You will see a blue light appear around the eye when locked on.
Release the Axiom Force to latch onto the eye.
Pull back the latch, and the Stone Worm will instantly crumble. This is a one-hit defeat.
This method also unlocks an Abyss Gear upon the first successful use.
Alternative Method: Nature's Snare
Use Nature's Snare combined with Nature's Retribution to catch the Stone Worm's projectiles and shoot them back. This reflects the worm's own attack and can one-shot it.
This method is especially useful against sentient bush monsters and other Abyss creatures as well.
Drops
Defeating a Stone Worm drops a random Power Core. Power Cores are valuable items used for crafting and upgrading equipment. After defeating the worm, use the Axiom Force Seal button (which appears in the lower-right corner of the screen) to collect the core. You will need a Kuku Pot in your inventory to stow large objects like Power Cores.
Knowledge
Interacting with Volcanic Stone Worm grants the following knowledge entries:
Notes
This NPC can be interacted with through the Trust System by greeting and giving gifts.
Stone Worms are classified as camouflaged critters in the game's creature database.
The "eye pluck" technique using Axiom Force is one of the most satisfying instant-kill mechanics in the game and is well worth learning for farming Power Cores efficiently.
Some players have reported encountering Stone Worms that drop the Crown of Shadows Power Core variant, which is a required component for crafting the Kuku Cold-Resistant Armor.
See Also
Desert Stone Worm - A related variant found in arid regions
Axiom Force - The supernatural ability used to defeat Stone Worms
Power Core - Crafting material dropped by Stone Worms
Creatures - All creatures in Crimson Desert
NPCs - All NPCs in Crimson Desert