Mercenary Recruitment: Building Your Warband

In Crimson Desert, you don't have to fight alone. As the leader of the Greymanes, Kliff can recruit a diverse group of mercenaries to assist in combat, resource gathering, and base management. Your warband's strength is directly tied to who you choose to bring along.

The Tag Team system allows you to summon recruited companions to fight alongside you in the open world, making recruitment even more valuable for exploration and combat.

🤝 1. Where to Find New Recruits

Recruiting isn't always as simple as paying a fee. Potential allies appear in several ways:

The Tavern (The Classic Method): Visit local inns in major cities like Hernand. You can talk to NPCs with a "Mercenary Icon" over their heads. Some require gold, while others want to see your combat prowess in a duel first.
Rescue Missions: During exploration, you may encounter mercenaries being held captive by goblins or bandits. Freeing them often leads to them joining you out of gratitude.
Main Story Progression: Core members of the Greymanes will join automatically as you complete major plot milestones. These members usually have unique backstories and specialized skills.

📊 2. Mercenary Roles & Classes

Every recruit belongs to a class that dictates their behavior in battle:

Class	Primary Role	Best For...
Vanguard	Tanking / Shielding	Boss fights where Kliff needs space.
Berserker	Heavy DPS	Breaking enemy guards and shields.
Marksman	Ranged Support	Taking out archers and flying enemies.
Alchemist	Healing / Buffs	Long-distance exploration and survival.

📈 3. The Reputation System (Renown)

High-tier mercenaries (Silver and Gold ranks) will not speak to you if your Renown is too low.

How to gain Renown: Complete town board requests, defeat regional bosses, and help villagers in "World Encounters."
The Benefit: High-renown leaders can recruit legendary mercenaries with "Purple" tier unique weapons and master-level combat AI.

🎯 4. The Tag Team System

Once you've recruited companions, the Tag Team system lets you bring them into the field:

How to Summon: Hold the Up directional button to open the character menu, then select "Summon" to bring your companion into the world.
Gather Party: Hold the Menu button to group up. Your companion will now follow and fight alongside you.
Where It Works: Open-world exploration, side quests, bandit camps, and general adventuring.
Limitations: Companions cannot join main story quests designed exclusively for Kliff.
Auto-Mount: Companions automatically mount their horses when Kliff gets on his, making travel seamless.

💡 5. Pro Tips for Squad Building

Check Their Traits: Each mercenary has random traits (e.g., "Night Owl" - +10% damage at night, or "Glutton" - consumes more food). Avoid negative traits that drain your resources.
Synergy Matters: Pair a Vanguard with Kliff if you prefer using a Greatsword, as the Vanguard will draw aggro while you charge your heavy attacks.
Upgrade Their Gear: Mercenaries don't level their armor automatically. You must provide them with better equipment to keep them viable in late-game regions like Kweiden.
Tag Team for Exploration: Use the Tag Team system when clearing large bandit camps or exploring dangerous regions. Having an extra fighter makes a significant difference.
Companion Switching: You can switch between companions freely while roaming the open world (no loading screen), but not during active combat.

🛡️ Data Accuracy Statement

All recruitment mechanics, class roles, and Tag Team functionality have been verified in the full release of Crimson Desert (2025). Recruitment costs and Renown thresholds may scale based on game difficulty.

💬 Who is in your squad?

Which mercenary class do you find most essential for your playstyle? Tell us in the comments! If you've found a secret legendary recruit, share their location with the community below!

What's Next?

Now that you have a crew, it's time to learn how to fight together. Check out our Co-op Skills & Tactics Guide or ensure your team is well-equipped in our Gear Upgrading Guide.