Early Game Gear & Upgrading: A Mercenary's Guide to Power

In the brutal world of Pywel, your skills are only half the battle. The other half is the steel in your hand and the plate on your chest. Crimson Desert features a deep gear and alchemy system that can be overwhelming for new players.

Here is how to optimize your gear and where to spend your hard-earned resources during the first 10 hours of the game.

1. ⚔️ Best Early Game Weapon: The "Hernand Iron Sword"

While you start with a decent blade, you'll want an upgrade quickly.

• Where to find: Complete the side quest "A Blacksmith's Debt" in the first major town, Hernand.
• Why it's good: It has a higher "Stagger" rating than the starting sword, making it much easier to trigger those powerful Grappling and Suplex moves.
• Pro Tip: Don't bother buying weapons from generic vendors; quest rewards and boss drops are almost always superior.

2. 🛡️ Recommended Starter Armor: The "Wanderer's Leather Set"

Heavy plate armor looks cool, but early in the game, it might drain your stamina too fast.

• The Balance: The Wanderer's Set provides a 10% boost to Stamina Recovery. In a game where running out of breath means death, this is arguably the best set for the first few regions.
• How to get: It can be crafted at your Mercenary Caravan using Wolf Pelts and Thick Leather.

3. ⚒️ Understanding the Upgrading System

In Crimson Desert, you don't just "level up" weapons; you enhance their specific traits using Black Stones or Ancient Shards.

• The Golden Rule: DO NOT use rare "Pure Black Stones" on common gear. Save them for "Blue" (Rare) or "Purple" (Epic) tier items.
• Refining: You can refine your gear at any anvil. This increases base damage but has a small chance to lower the item's maximum durability if you fail.
• Repairs: If your weapon breaks in the field, use Repair Kits or visit your Mercenary Caravan's forge. A broken sword deals 80% less damage!

4. ⚗️ Alchemy & Consumables: The Secret Power

Your gear isn't just what you wear. It’s also what you drink.

• Essential Item: "Stamina Elixir" — Crafted using honey and mountain herbs. Keep at least 5 on you at all times.
• Weapon Buffs: You can apply Elemental Oils (Fire, Frost, Lightning) to your blade.
  • Tip: Use Fire Oil against beast-type enemies and Lightning Oil when fighting armored human knights.

5. 🎒 Items You Should NEVER Sell

The inventory gets full quickly, but keep these items at all costs:

1. Ancient Coin Fragments: Used for late-game legendary questlines.
2. Boss Essences: Even if you don't need the gear they craft now, you will later.
3. Dragon Scales: The rarest upgrading material in the game.

What's Next?

Now that your gear is ready, it's time to test it against the biggest threats in Pywel. Check out our Boss Walkthroughs: How to Beat the Staglord or master your movement in the Fast Travel & Horse Guide.