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Waterfall Caves
April 8, 2026 at 02:24 PM
Convert partial-term wikilinks to full-term wikilinks (2 merges)
Waterfall caves (also called waterside caves) are hidden locations scattered throughout Hernand and the wider world of Crimson Desert. Behind certain waterfalls, small caves hold treasure chests containing unique armor pieces, weapons, consumables, and crafting materials. There are over 40 waterside caves across the full map, with a large concentration in the Hernand region where Kliff MacDuff begins his journey. Systematically checking waterfalls as you travel between objectives is a low-effort way to accumulate powerful gear and valuable consumables without any dedicated farming.
Not every waterfall hides a cave. Only waterfalls with a visible stone platform in front of them and a set of stacked stones (cairns) near the water's edge have an accessible interior. If you spot a small pile of balanced rocks on either side of rushing water, there is almost certainly a cave behind it.
The key visual indicator is a pile of stacked stones, sometimes called a cairn. These appear as a small tower of balanced rocks placed on the left or right side of a waterfall. The stacked stones are the universal sign in Crimson Desert that a secret is nearby. If you see this marker, approach the waterfall and look for a flat stone platform just before the rushing water. The combination of a cairn and a platform confirms the entrance to a waterside cave.
Not all waterfalls have caves behind them. Waterfalls that lack both the stacked stones and the platform cannot be entered, so there is no need to waste time attempting to push through every cascade you encounter. Focus on looking for the cairns and you will find every hidden entrance.
You cannot simply walk or swim through a waterfall. The rushing water pushes Kliff back and deals minor damage if you try. The only way to pierce through is by using the Stab skill, one of the earliest Blue skills unlocked for the Sword and Shield weapon set. The forward momentum of the Stab animation overrides the water's pushback effect, propelling Kliff through the falls and into the cave behind them.
To perform the Stab:
PlayStation: Hold R1 + Triangle, then release
Xbox: Hold RB + Y, then release
PC (Keyboard): Hold Ctrl + Right Click, then release
Stand on the stone platform directly in front of the waterfall, face the rushing water, and execute the Stab. Kliff will lunge forward through the cascade and land inside the cave. To leave, you can either repeat the Stab to push back through the water or simply fast-travel out.
Because the Stab is a Sword and Shield ability, make sure you have that weapon set equipped before attempting to enter. You unlock Stab very early in the game, so waterfall caves are accessible almost from the start of your adventure in Hernand.
Every waterfall cave contains at least one treasure chest, and many also include loose loot scattered around the cave floor. The rewards fall into three broad categories.
The most valuable rewards are unique armor pieces and weapons found in specific caves. Many waterfall caves in Hernand hold pieces of the Dark Ring Leader Set, the Fallen Kingdom Set, the Armor of the Shadows set, and other named equipment. These items are one-time pickups that cannot be farmed, and their stats often rival or surpass gear obtained much later in the story.
Most waterfall caves contain a Refined Palmar Pill (sometimes called the Golden Palmar Pill). This rare consumable revives Kliff to 100% HP upon death, functioning as a powerful safety net during boss fights and difficult encounters. Standard Palmar Pills only restore a fraction of your health on revival, making the refined variant significantly more valuable. Stock up on these whenever you find a new waterfall cave.
Beyond gear and pills, waterfall caves frequently contain ores, diamonds, gold bars, and other crafting materials. Some caves hold sellable treasures like the Golden Carafe and Water Bottle of the Agonized. Checking every waterfall you pass is worth the few seconds it takes, since even the less exciting caves contribute useful resources to your inventory.
You can reveal waterfall cave locations on your map without finding them manually by completing specific ancient ruins puzzles. Two puzzle chambers reward consumable items that permanently mark caves and hidden areas across your map.
Puzzle | Reward | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Reveals various hidden locations across the Hernand region, including caves, on your map | ||
Reveals the locations of caves hidden behind waterfalls in the Alfonso State area of Hernand |
The Dragon's Stone Chamber is located near the Greymane Camp on Howling Hill. Solving its three-disc mural puzzle opens a chamber containing an Abyss Cresset and the Memories of Abundance. The clue murals are painted on cliff faces at Anvil Hill, northwest of the House of Healing.
The Azure Moon Labyrinth is found near Phoniel Ranch. Its Memory of Tide reward specifically targets waterfall caves, marking them on your map so you can visit them at your leisure. Completing both puzzles ensures you have full visibility of hidden caves across Hernand.
The table below lists the major waterfall caves in the Hernand region along with their primary unique loot. Each cave is accessed by using the Stab skill to push through a waterfall entrance. In addition to the unique item listed, most caves also contain a Refined Palmar Pill and assorted ores or crafting materials.
Cave Name | Region / Landmark | Primary Loot | |
|---|---|---|---|
Northwest of Witch's House teleporter | |||
Northern river, further northwest of Shadow Heart Grotto | |||
Near Perwin Fortress, along the same river | |||
River south/west of Hernand City | |||
Everfrost, south between the E and R in "Hernand" on the map | |||
Nighttorm Cave | Haunted Hill, above the first N in "Hernand" on the map | ||
Across from Senia village | Duskfang | ||
Western Hernand, rocky area southwest of the city | Armor of the Shadows | ||
West of Vellua village, north of Mountain of Frozen Souls | Hollow Visage (one-handed sword) | N/A (unique weapon) |
All four pieces of the Dark Ring Leader Set (Cloth Helm, Cloth Armor, Cloth Cloak, and Leather Gloves) are found in waterfall caves clustered along the same river system northwest of Hernand City. You can collect the entire set in roughly 10 to 15 minutes once you reach the area.
Several pieces of the Fallen Kingdom Set are also hidden behind waterfalls in the Everfrost and Haunted Hill sub-regions. These pieces require no story progression or combat encounters to obtain, making them excellent early-game pickups.
The Dawn Cave is a notable waterfall cave located west of Vellua village, directly north of the Mountain of Frozen Souls in southern Hernand. Unlike many waterfall caves that contain armor, the Dawn Cave holds the Hollow Visage, a unique one-handed sword. To reach it, travel to the Mountain of Frozen Souls, glide to the waterfall platform, and use the Stab skill to enter. The easiest approach is from the elevated platform on the left side of the waterfall.
The Hollow Visage is a strong weapon for its level and is worth picking up as soon as you have access to the southern part of Hernand.
The Whispering Grotto is tucked behind a waterfall across from Senia village. The grotto gets its name from the sound of wind whistling through narrow crevices inside. The treasure chest here contains the Duskfang Leather Armor, which increases Food effects and boosts Climbing speed, along with a Refined Palmar Pill. This is one of the more accessible waterfall caves in Hernand and can be reached early in the game.
Check every waterfall. Whenever you spot a waterfall while exploring, take a moment to look for stacked stones and a platform. The few seconds spent checking can reward you with powerful gear.
Look for stacked stones. The cairn marker is your most reliable indicator. If there are no stacked stones near a waterfall, there is no cave behind it.
Keep Sword and Shield equipped. The Stab skill is exclusive to the Sword and Shield weapon set. Make sure you have it equipped before approaching a waterfall, or you will not be able to enter.
Solve the Dragon's Stone Chamber early. Completing this puzzle near the Greymane Camp reveals hidden locations across Hernand on your map, including many waterfall caves. This saves you from having to stumble upon every cave organically.
Complete the Azure Moon Labyrinth. The Memory of Tide reward specifically reveals waterfall caves in the Alfonso State area, giving you precise map markers for each one.
Collect the Dark Ring Leader Set first. All four pieces are clustered along the same river and can be gathered in a single trip. The set offers strong defense values for early-game progression.
Use fast travel to exit. After looting a waterfall cave, you can fast-travel out instead of using Stab to push back through the water. This saves time when you are cave-hopping across the map.
Stock up on Refined Palmar Pills. Almost every waterfall cave contains one. These pills revive you to full health on death, making them invaluable for boss fights and tough encounters later in the game.
Exploration and Traversal for a full overview of movement abilities and world navigation
Tips and Tricks for general gameplay advice
Dark Ring Leader Set for full set stats and all piece locations
Fallen Kingdom Set for full set stats and all piece locations
Dragon's Stone Chamber for the puzzle solution that reveals hidden locations
Azure Moon Labyrinth for the puzzle that reveals waterfall cave map markers
