Best Weapons and How to Get Them Early
Guide to obtaining the strongest early-game weapons in Crimson Desert, including the Hwando and Abyss Gear upgrades.
Best Early-Game Weapons
Getting a strong weapon early makes a huge difference in Crimson Desert. Here are the weapons you should aim for in the first 15 hours.
Top Early Weapons
1. Hwando (Best Overall Early Weapon)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack | High |
| Speed | Medium-Fast |
| Scaling | STR / DEX |
| How to Get | Found in a chest in Hernand region |
| Unique | Can be infused with Abyss elements |
The Hwando is widely considered the best early-game weapon because:
- Accessible very early (Chapter 1-2)
- High base damage
- Accepts Abyss Gear upgrades
- Good moveset for most enemy types
2. Sustained Supply Arrow (Best Ranged)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Unlimited arrows |
| Damage | Medium |
| How to Get | Talk to Lumiel in Pororin Village |
| Unique | Never runs out of ammo |
This is essentially an infinite arrow supply. Get it from the Research Director in Pororin Village. Itโs a quest reward for the Forest Guardians questline.
Priority: Get this ASAP. Unlimited arrows means you can use ranged attacks freely without worrying about resource management.
3. Mining Knuckledrill (Utility Weapon)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Mining tool / weapon |
| How to Get | Defeat Marniโs Excavatron OR Bleed Bandits |
| Unique | Required for mining ore nodes |
Not a combat weapon, but essential for progression. You need this to mine ores for weapon and armor upgrades.
Weapon Types Comparison
| Type | Speed | Damage | Range | Best Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Handed Sword | โ โ โ โ | โ โ โ | โ โ โ | Most enemies |
| Two-Handed Sword | โ โ โ | โ โ โ โ โ | โ โ โ | Slow, armored |
| Dual Blades | โ โ โ โ โ | โ โ โ | โ โ | Fast, unarmored |
| Spear | โ โ โ | โ โ โ | โ โ โ โ โ | Keep distance |
| Bow | โ โ โ | โ โ โ | โ โ โ โ โ | Ranged, flying |
| Shield + Sword | โ โ โ | โ โ โ | โ โ | Defensive play |
Refinement (Upgrade) System
Weapons can be upgraded at any blacksmith using gathered materials.
How to Refine
- Visit a blacksmith in any major settlement
- Select the weapon to upgrade
- Pay the material cost + Silver fee
- Each refinement level increases ATK
Materials Needed
| Material | Source | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore | Mining nodes (need Knuckledrill) | +1 to +3 |
| Steel Ingot | Blacksmith forge (2 Iron Ore) | +4 to +6 |
| Moonstone | Boss drops, Ancient Ruins | +7 to +9 |
| Dragon Scale | End-game bosses only | +10+ |
Refinement Tips
- Always upgrade your main weapon first โ damage matters most
- Donโt spread upgrades across multiple weapons early
- You can change elemental infusions at enchantment stations
- Some weapons have hidden upgrade paths unlocked by special quests
Abyss Gear System
Abyss Gear are special items that provide passive bonuses. They can be equipped to enhance your build.
How to Get Abyss Gear
- Abyss Artifacts โ found in dungeons and hidden areas
- Abyss Nexus โ interact with them to unlock bonuses
- Boss drops โ some bosses drop unique Abyss items
- Quest rewards โ certain questlines grant Abyss Gear
Best Early Abyss Gear
| Gear | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Axiom Force | Combat tether, gap closer | Skill unlock |
| Abyss Core (ATK) | +5% attack | Sanctum loot |
| Abyss Core (DEF) | +5% defense | Sanctum loot |
| Abyss Core (STA) | +10% stamina | Ancient Ruins |
How to Equip Abyss Cores
- Open the Abyss menu from the pause screen
- Navigate to Core Allocation
- Drag cores into available slots
- Each core provides a passive bonus
- You can swap cores at any time (no cost)
Tip: Prioritize stamina cores early โ they provide the biggest quality-of-life improvement.