Weapon Mastery Challenges

Overview

Weapon Mastery Challenges are a set of combat trials in Crimson Desert that test proficiency with every weapon type available to the three playable characters. There are 9 weapon-related subcategories containing a combined total of 54 challenges, all filed under Goyen's Advice in the Journal menu. Completing every weapon mastery challenge (along with the 10 Horse challenges) earns the Unvanquished Strategist gold trophy.

Each challenge is tied to a specific Sealed Abyss Artifact hidden along roads and pathways throughout Pywel. You must physically pick up the artifact before progress begins tracking. Actions performed before the pickup do not count retroactively, so exploring thoroughly while traveling between destinations is important. Rewards from these challenges include Abyss Artifacts (skill points for the Abyss Tree), Faded Abyss Artifacts (for skill resets), and various Abyss Gear runes that slot into equipment.

The weapon mastery challenges are separate from Battle Challenges, Training Challenges, and Operation Challenges, which belong to the Combat category and test general fighting ability rather than weapon-specific skills. For a broader view of all challenge types, see the Challenges overview page.

All Weapon Mastery Categories

The following table lists every weapon mastery subcategory, its challenge series name, the number of challenges, which character can complete them, and the trophy earned for finishing the entire set.

How Weapon Mastery Challenges Work

Unlocking: Every weapon mastery challenge is locked behind a Sealed Abyss Artifact. These artifacts appear as small glowing objects placed along roads, intersections, and pathways throughout the open world. Walk up to one and interact with it to reveal the challenge tied to that artifact. You can use Guiding Light (L1+R1 / LB+RB) to detect nearby artifacts; a blue glimmer appears when one is within range.

Tracking: Open the Journal menu and navigate to Challenges, then select Mastery. Each weapon subcategory shows your completed and remaining challenges. The requirement text only becomes visible after you have picked up the corresponding artifact.

Completing: Fulfill the stated objective using the specified weapon type. Objectives range from defeating a number of enemies within a time limit, to landing specific attack types, to completing kills without taking damage. Once the objective is met, consume the Sealed Abyss Artifact to collect your reward.

Progress rules: Challenge progress only counts after you have collected the corresponding Sealed Abyss Artifact. Any kills or actions performed before the pickup are not tracked. Some cumulative challenges (such as defeating 30 enemies with a specific weapon) do track across multiple sessions once activated, but timed challenges must be completed in a single attempt.

Reward Structure

Every weapon mastery challenge awards at least one Abyss Artifact, which functions as a skill point for the Abyss Tree. Many challenges also grant one or more of the following bonus rewards:

• Faded Abyss Artifacts allow you to reset invested skill points, letting you respec part of your build. These are rarer and typically awarded by the harder challenges in each series.

• Abyss Cores are passive abilities that unlock permanent combat bonuses. Examples include Destruction I (bonus heavy attack damage), Fortitude I (increased resilience), and Rend I (armor penetration on stab attacks). Not every challenge drops a core, but those that do provide some of the most impactful early-game power spikes.

• Abyss Gear Runes such as Steelbane, Lightningward, Shred, Swift, Insight, and Composure slot into your equipment to grant elemental resistances or stat bonuses. Higher-tier runes (II and Greater variants) come from later challenges.

Completing all challenges in a single weapon subcategory also awards a category-specific trophy. Finishing every subcategory across all 10 mastery types (including Horse) earns the Unvanquished Strategist gold trophy.

Notable Abyss Cores from Weapon Challenges

Several weapon mastery challenges drop unique Abyss Cores that cannot be obtained through other means. The table below highlights the most valuable drops.

Character-Specific Weapon Requirements

Crimson Desert's three playable characters each specialize in different weapon types, and several mastery subcategories are locked to a single character. You will need to progress through the main story to unlock all three characters before you can attempt every weapon mastery challenge. Kliff is available from the start, while Oongka and Damiane become playable as you advance through the chapters.

Special Equipment challenges can be completed by any character, as the required weapons are obtained from quests and dispatch missions rather than being tied to a specific character's weapon tree.

Sword of Trials (Sword Challenges)

The Sword of Trials series contains 6 challenges focused on sword combat as Kliff. Objectives test speed, precision, and mastery of specific sword techniques including the Turning Slash, Stab, and Forward Slash attacks. The sword is Kliff's starting weapon, so most players encounter these challenges early in the game.

For detailed strategies and exact Sealed Abyss Artifact locations for each trial, see the full Sword Challenges article.

Shield of Unchanging Will (Shield Challenges)

The Shield of Unchanging Will series contains 6 challenges that require you to treat the shield as an offensive weapon rather than a defensive tool. Objectives include bashing enemies, blocking arrows, flipping enemies, and landing Charge attacks. These challenges reward aggressive shield play.

For full details, see the Shield Challenges article.

Bow Aimed at Fate (Bow Challenges)

The Bow Aimed at Fate series contains 6 challenges testing accuracy, range discipline, and bow technique. Objectives include hitting enemies from long range, downing birds in flight, hitting airborne targets, and using the Focused Shot ability. Positioning on elevated terrain makes many of these much easier.

For full details, see the Bow Challenges article.

Sharpened Spear (Spear Challenges)

The Sharpened Spear series contains 5 challenges emphasizing the spear's speed and counterattack potential. Spear challenges require landing rapid combos, chaining counterattacks within tight time windows, and executing Stab and Leap Attack kills. The spear's fast attack chain makes hitting high combo counts more manageable than with slower weapons.

For full details, see the Spear Challenges article.

Overwhelming Slash and Ground Shaking Impact (Two-Handed Weapon Challenges)

The two-handed weapon mastery is split into two sub-series. Overwhelming Slash (3 challenges) covers longswords used by Kliff, while Ground Shaking Impact (3 challenges) covers clubs and axes wielded by Oongka. This is the only mastery subcategory that requires two different characters. Longsword challenges involve finishers, knockbacks, and fighting at low health, while club/axe challenges focus on raw hit counts and launching enemies.

For full details, see the Two-Handed Weapon Challenges article.

Barraging Cannon (Cannon Challenges)

The Barraging Cannon series contains 5 challenges exclusive to Oongka's Hand Cannon. Objectives test explosive combat skills including hitting multiple targets at once, using elemental Charged Shots, defeating mounted enemies from long range, and destroying structures. Oongka's Hand Cannon becomes available at the end of Chapter 7.

Note: Barraging Cannon 2 has been reported as bugged by some players. If the challenge does not track properly, try reloading your save or completing it after a patch. For full details, see the Cannon Challenges article.

Dancing Blade, Shining Shield (Rapier and Shield Challenges)

The Dancing Blade, Shining Shield series contains 5 challenges for Damiane's rapier and shield combination. These challenges show Damiane's agile fighting style, requiring fast kills, precision stabs, attacks on prone enemies, ranged rapier strikes using Smiting Bolt, and Shield Toss bounces.

For full details, see the Rapier and Shield Challenges article.

When Lightning Strikes (Gun Challenges)

The When Lightning Strikes series contains 5 challenges for Damiane's gun. These are among the most mechanically demanding mastery challenges in the game. They require precise long-range kills from over 30 metres, rapid multi-kills within 5 seconds, triple hits within a single second, hitting mounted targets from horseback, and demonstrating all three shooting styles (regular, Evasive, and aerial shots).

For full details, see the Gun Challenges article.

Special Weapon (Special Equipment Challenges)

The Special Weapon series is the largest weapon mastery subcategory with 10 challenges. Unlike the other categories, these challenges require obtaining specific special equipment items before they can be attempted. Some special weapons come from faction quests, dispatch missions, or specific story rewards. Any playable character can complete these challenges as long as they have the required weapon equipped.

The Lightning Spear challenge (Special Weapon 4) only tracks kills with the original 50-durability version, not upgraded variants. For full details and acquisition guides for each special weapon, see the Special Equipment Challenges article.

General Tips and Strategies

Prioritize your main weapon first. Focus on completing the mastery challenges for whichever weapon type you use most often. The Abyss Artifact and Abyss Core rewards from these challenges feed directly into your skill tree, making your primary combat style stronger before you branch out.

Explore roads and intersections thoroughly. Sealed Abyss Artifacts are always placed along roads, at crossroads, near wooden shrines, or at intersections. They are not hidden in dungeons or behind puzzles. Traveling on foot rather than galloping on horseback makes it easier to spot them. Use Guiding Light frequently while exploring to detect artifacts within range.

Upgrade your weapons at a blacksmith. Many timed challenges become trivial with a well-upgraded weapon. Higher damage means fewer hits required per kill, which saves valuable seconds. Visit a blacksmith before attempting any challenge that feels tight on time.

Target weak enemies for timed challenges. Road bandits and low-level wildlife die in fewer hits than soldiers or elite enemies. When a challenge asks you to defeat multiple enemies within a short window, seek out clusters of weak targets near the artifact location rather than fighting the nearest patrol.

Learn specific attack inputs. Several challenges require specific attack types (Turning Slash, Stab, Forward Slash, Leap Attack, Focused Shot). If you are unfamiliar with the input, practice the move on non-challenge enemies first. The controls differ slightly across keyboard/mouse and controller: Turning Slash is R1+R2 on controller, Stab is R1+Triangle, and Forward Slash is R2. Consult the Controls page for a full input reference.

No-damage challenges require patience. For any challenge that demands zero damage taken, fight enemies one at a time rather than rushing into a group. Eliminate archers and ranged threats first, then isolate melee enemies. Dodge-canceling between targets keeps you safe. There is rarely a time limit on no-damage challenges, so take it slowly.

Save before attempting difficult challenges. Weapon mastery challenges do not have a built-in retry button. If you fail a timed challenge, you must wait for the enemies to respawn or leave the area and return. Saving at a nearby campfire beforehand lets you reload quickly.

Recommended Completion Order

Because characters unlock at different points in the story, you cannot complete all weapon mastery challenges at once. The following order minimizes backtracking and matches the natural story progression.

1. Sword, Shield, Bow, and Spear challenges can all be started in Chapters 1 through 6 while playing as Kliff. Most Sealed Abyss Artifacts for these categories are located in the Hernand region.

2. Two-Handed Weapon (Longsword) challenges: the Overwhelming Slash sub-series becomes available as soon as Kliff obtains a longsword, which happens early in the story.

3. Two-Handed Weapon (Club/Axe) and Cannon challenges require Oongka, who becomes playable at the end of Chapter 7. His Ground Shaking Impact and Barraging Cannon challenges are scattered across Hernand, Pailune, and Delesyia.

4. Rapier and Shield and Gun challenges require Damiane, available from Chapter 3 onward. Her challenges are spread across Hernand, Demeniss, and Delesyia.

5. Special Equipment challenges can be worked on alongside any character once you acquire the required special weapon. Some weapons come from faction quests that open up in the mid to late game.

Trophies and Achievements

Each weapon mastery subcategory has its own trophy that unlocks upon completing every challenge in that series. Completing all 10 mastery subcategories (the 9 weapon types listed above plus the Horse challenges) earns the Unvanquished Strategist gold trophy.

For a complete list of all trophies, see the Trophies and Achievements page. For the Horse Challenges that also count toward the Unvanquished Strategist trophy, see the dedicated article.

See Also

• Challenges

• Mastery Challenges Guide

• Horse Challenges

• Battle Challenges

• Training Challenges

• Operation Challenges

• Sealed Abyss Artifact Locations

• Artifacts and Abyss Fragments

• Abyss Core

• Combat System