Overview
This page provides quick access to pages covering the world of Pywel in Crimson Desert. Pywel is a vast continent featuring diverse landscapes ranging from lush green valleys and snowy mountain ranges to arid deserts and volcanic wastelands. The world is fully open from early in the game, with a fog of war system that reveals the map as players explore.
Regions
Pywel is divided into several major regions, each with distinct geography, wildlife, enemies, and storylines. See Regions of Pywel for a full overview, or visit individual region pages for detailed information.
Region | Description |
|---|---|
A central region with rolling hills, farmland, and the town of Hernand. Home to Greymane Camp and early-game content. | |
The northern kingdom ruled by a powerful monarchy. Features forests, castles, and political intrigue. | |
A region with dense forests, mystical ruins, and connections to the Abyss. | |
A diverse region with varied terrain and trading routes. | |
The vast desert region that gives the game its name. Features harsh conditions, ancient ruins, and hidden treasures. | |
A frozen northern territory with harsh weather and dangerous wildlife. | |
Volcanic wastelands with extreme temperatures and powerful enemies. | |
A remote region with unique geography and late-game content. |
Key Locations
Across the regions of Pywel, players will find settlements, dungeons, landmarks, and hidden areas.
Location | Description |
|---|---|
The player's home base. Upgradeable facilities for crafting, cooking, and companion management. | |
A major settlement and quest hub in the game. | |
The main town in the Hernand region with shops, services, and quest givers. | |
A location tied to the Calphade Rebellion storyline. | |
A settlement with unique cultural significance. | |
An estate tied to key storyline events. | |
A dangerous area filled with powerful enemies and lore related to Oongka's backstory. | |
A mysterious location connected to the Abyss. | |
A misty lowland area with visibility challenges and hidden threats. | |
A frigid mountain with extreme cold conditions. | |
A major waterway that runs through multiple regions. | |
Rare water sources in the Crimson Desert region. | |
Complete list of all settlements in Pywel. |
Exploration and Traversal
Getting around Pywel involves multiple movement systems. The world is designed for exploration with rewards hidden off the beaten path.
Topic | Description |
|---|---|
Overview of all movement and navigation systems. | |
Horses and other rideable creatures. | |
How to capture and tame wild horses. | |
Gliding from high points to cover distance. | |
Reaching elevated areas and crossing gaps. | |
Instant travel between discovered locations. | |
Aerial travel for covering large distances. | |
Water and land transport options. | |
A flying mount for aerial traversal. | |
A fast ground mount with unique abilities. | |
A special equipment item for vertical traversal. | |
How the map reveals itself as you explore. | |
Full map overview and navigation. | |
The scale of Pywel compared to other open-world games. | |
The 8 hidden bells that unfog large sections of the map when activated. |
NPCs and Vendors
The world is populated by NPCs who follow daily routines, reacting to the time of day and weather conditions. NPC Vendors are found in towns and outposts, selling weapons, armor, consumables, and crafting materials. For key story characters, see the Character Information hub.
Factions
Pywel's political landscape is shaped by multiple factions competing for territory and influence. Each faction offers its own questline. See Factions of Pywel for a full overview.
The Greymanes - The player's mercenary band
The Black Bears - A powerful rival faction
Kingdom of Demeniss - The major kingdom in the north
Faction Wars - Large-scale battles between factions
Calphade Rebellion - A significant conflict in the Calphade region
Quests
Quests are the primary way to progress through the story and earn rewards. The Quest System page explains how quests work.
Quest Type | Description |
|---|---|
The central narrative following Kliff and the Greymanes across multiple chapters. | |
Step-by-step guide through the main campaign. | |
Side questlines tied to specific factions, offering unique rewards and story content. | |
Optional quests and world activities. | |
Short quests to find and recruit scattered Greymane comrades. | |
Combat, traversal, and skill challenges tied to Sealed Abyss Artifacts. | |
Random encounters and events that happen during exploration. |
Enemies and Bosses
Pywel is home to a wide range of hostile creatures and powerful bosses.
Topic | Description |
|---|---|
Overview of all enemy types across Pywel. | |
All boss encounters in the game. | |
Powerful open-world bosses found during exploration. | |
Strategies and tips for defeating every boss. | |
A dangerous enemy encountered during the main story. | |
Supernatural enemies tied to the Abyss. |
Lore
The world of Pywel has deep lore tied to the Abyss, ancient civilizations, and the political history of its kingdoms.
Main Story - The overarching narrative of Crimson Desert
The Abyss - The supernatural force threatening Pywel
Races of Pywel - Humans, non-humans, and other races
Factions of Pywel - History and politics of the major factions
Kingdom of Demeniss - The powerful northern kingdom and its rulers
Calphade Rebellion - A pivotal historical conflict
Ancient Tablets - Collectible lore items found throughout the world
Traces of the Abyss - Remnants of the Abyss scattered across Pywel
Weather and Environment
Pywel has a dynamic weather and day-night cycle that affects gameplay, NPC behavior, and enemy spawns. The Temperature System requires players to prepare for extreme heat in the desert and extreme cold in the northern mountains. Keen Senses can be activated to highlight nearby points of interest, collectibles, and tracks.
Collectibles and Secrets
Collectibles Guide - Complete guide to all collectible types
Hidden Chests - Treasure chests hidden off the main paths
Sealed Abyss Artifact Locations - All 141 sealed artifacts found in the world
Secret Passages and Hidden Areas - Hard-to-find areas with special rewards
Bell Locations - The 8 hidden bells that reveal large map sections
Treasure Maps and Puzzles - Solving treasure maps for valuable loot