All Main Story Quests in Crimson Desert (Complete Chapter List)

Table of Contents

TL;DR

Crimson Desert has 12 main chapters plus a Prologue and an Epilogue — 14 total story segments.
The main story contains 168 individual mission steps across all 14 segments.
The game has over 430 quests in total across main story, side missions, and faction content.
Focused main story only takes 35–60 hours. Mixed playthrough takes 100–180 hours. Full completion can exceed 200 hours.
Each chapter contains multiple arcs, and each arc contains multiple individual quests.
Skill progression is tied to quests and Abyss Artifacts — skipping side content leaves your build weak.
There are 3 playable characters — Kliff is the starting character, and two others unlock during the main story.
The Epilogue has 9 missions and wraps up Kliff’s journey across Pywel.

Crimson Desert is a long game. A genuinely, impressively long game. A focused run through the main story takes 35 to 60 hours. Mix in side content alongside the story and that climbs to 100 to 180 hours. Full completionists chasing every quest, all 76 bosses, and every collectible across Pywel should budget 140 to 200 hours or more.

The main narrative is split into a Prologue, 12 numbered chapters, and an Epilogue. Each chapter breaks down further into named arcs, and each arc contains its own set of individual story quests. This page lists all of them in order — no story details, no spoilers, just the names so you can track where you are and what’s ahead.

Note on quest counts: The main story contains 168 individual mission steps across all chapters, arcs, and quests. The total quest count across all content — main story, side quests, faction missions, and NPC requests — exceeds 430, with some sources tracking as many as 442 as players continue to discover content.

How Quest Progression Works in Crimson Desert

Before the list, a few things worth knowing:

There’s no traditional leveling system. You don’t gain XP and level up. Instead, you unlock skills and increase your stats by spending Abyss Artifacts — special collectibles earned from defeating bosses, completing quests, solving puzzles, and clearing challenge tallies. If you skip side content entirely, your character will feel underpowered by the later chapters.

Some skills are only learnable during specific quests. Certain abilities — including major traversal skills like flight — are unlocked through main story missions and can’t be picked up any other way. This makes quest completion especially important in Crimson Desert compared to most open-world games.

There are three playable characters. You begin as Kliff, and two additional characters — Damiane and Oongka — unlock at specific points during the main story. Each has their own skill tree and Abyss Artifact progression. Progress does not carry over between characters. You can switch freely in the open world, but certain story missions lock you to a specific character.

Side quests feed into the Hero Contribution system. Completing side quests raises your reputation with regional factions. As your reputation rank increases, you can trade reputation points at a Contributions Merchant for high-tier gear and armor. There’s a real gear incentive to doing side missions alongside the main story.

Orange markers on the map indicate your next main quest objective. Silver markers represent faction quests and side content. If you lose track of where to go, follow the orange markers. Unlock fast travel Abyss Nexus points early — some chapters require travel across distant regions and tagging Nexus points early saves significant backtracking.

For a deeper look at how everything connects, check out our Crimson Desert review.

chapter list in crimson desert

All Main Story Quests in Crimson Desert

Prologue: Dead of the Night

Arc: Ambush

Unfamiliar Lands
In Ashes
Unknown Space
Realm of Uncertainty
New Journey

Chapter 1: The First Encounter

Arc: Trials of Kindness

Where Rumors Gather
Mysterious Man
True Wisdom in Kindness
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Hearts Beyond Borders

Arc: Trace

Mystical Key
Polar Opposites
Abyss Without Balance
Woman in White

The Mystical Key quest is where you’ll need to enter Hernand Castle — check our guide on how to enter Hernand Castle in Crimson Desert if you get stuck at the gates. After that, the Abyss Without Balance quest has its own puzzle — see our Abyss Without Balance puzzle guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Chapter 2: Golden Greed

Arc: Unexpected Gift

Where the Light Leads
Memory Fragment
Reunion
Hernand in Chaos

Arc: For Honor

Awestruck
Shadow Cast Over the River

Arc: Where Misery Gathers

Trial After Trial
The Man Trapped in the Mire
Missing Companion
Secrets Hidden in the Dark
The End of Greed

Arc: The Dark Veil

The Flames of Greed
Kidnapped Healer
Rebellion of Revolution
Cheers Echoing From the Edge

The Reunion quest in Chapter 2 has a full walkthrough available — read our Crimson Desert Reunion Quest Walkthrough.

Chapter 3: Howling Hill

Arc: Homestead

Old Friend
First Step to Rebuilding
A Fresh Start
Reward for Their Sweat

Arc: Return of the Comrade

Familiar Curses
The Face Behind the Mask
Return
Traces in the Manor
Nonhuman

Arc: Seed of Unease

Dance with the Devil
Pioneering
Hope After the Draught
Scattered Comrades

Arc: Rumors from the Sawmill

A Gentle Touch
Bustling Hill
Greymanes Reunited

Chapter 3 is when you first unlock the Greymanes Camp at Howling Hill — including your bed, personal residence, and the ability to pass time. See our guide on how to change the time of day in Crimson Desert.

Chapter 4: The Price of Knowledge

Arc: Mysterious Iron Pot

Kilnden Workshop
Kiln Repair at the Kilnden Workshop
The Mysterious Pot
The Iron Pot’s Usage

Arc: Daily Life

Disturbance at the Arena
Skilled in Archery

Arc: Forbidden Knowledge

The Words of Alustin
Scholastone
On the Right Path
Gate to the Otherworld
Spire of the Stars
Obsession and Madness
Casted Shadow

Chapter 5: Guest Unbidden

Arc: Uninvited Guest

Double-sided Invitation
Unwelcomed Guests
Demenissian Delegation
Exposed Plot

Arc: Black and White

The Missing Seal
Crowcaller
The Crow’s Warning

Arc: Bloodwind

Secret at the Church
Toward the Nest

Chapter 6: Cracks in the Shield

Arc: Blazing Beacon

News
To the Battlefield
The Counterattack
Under the Banner Pike Again
Cradle of Defense

Arc: The Touch of Deliverance

Fire on the Frontlines
Turning Tides
Fire Support
In Ashes

Arc: Hidden Fangs

Reclamation
The Unyielding Shields
A Thousand Troops
Traitor
All Quiet on the Front
News of Victory
Return Home

Chapter 7: Homecoming

Arc: Dawn Mist

Ashes of Treachery
Trust Lost
Bared Fang
Rekindled Hope
Podium of Resolve
Dawnrise

Arc: Shadows Over Pailune

Driving out the Shadows
Lurking Wolves
Reclamation (II)
Lonely Jackals
Resolution

Arc: Decisive Battle

The Counterattack
Unleashed Fury
The Final Bridge
Broken Claws
Battle at Silverwolf Mountain
Incomplete Victory

Arc: Twisted Fate

Ludvig’s Whereabouts
Time to Face Justice

Pailune is liberated during this chapter — after completing the Resolution mission, you can finally ring the Pailune Belltower. See our Belltowers and fog of war guide if you’re still clearing the map.

Chapter 8: Blood Coronation

Arc: Ashen Steps

Healing Pailune
A Bond
Ritual Preparations

Arc: Where the Wind Guides You

To Demeniss
Chasing a Shadow
Blazing Fire

Arc: Whispering Shadows

Bloodied Invitation
Resolve Amidst a Storm
Rebel Suppression
The Cursed Knight
The Blood Coronation

Arc: Traitor

Clue
A Fleeting Dream

Chapter 9: The Sage of the Desert

Arc: The Calling

An Unknown Voice
The Cloister of Enlightenment
Shattered Ties
Mark of the Scar
Shackles of Fate

Arc: Thinning Blade

Crossing Point
Unwavering Steps
Six Pensive Statues and the Evil Spirit
Morning Fog

Arc: Jijeong Temple in Chaos

Path to Enlightenment
Path of the Disciple
True Strength
Face the Inner Self

Arc: Veiled Witch

Fragments of Darkness
Pursuit Beyond the Veil
Black Witch
Enlightenment
The Cloister of Enlightenment (II)
The Sage of the Desert
New Perspectives
Lust for Power

Chapter 10: Counterattack

Arc: Secret Weapon

Untouchable
The Gate of War
Master of the Ironworks
Hidden Ace

Arc: Clockwork Insect Clash

Greater Firepower
Beating Heart

Arc: Invaders from the East

Frozen Hearted Predator
Lingering Shadow

Chapter 11: Truth and Reality

Arc: Brave New World

The City of Steel
Crossroads
Strange Manor
Fortress Keys

Arc: Truth and Lies

Foreboding Shadow
Master of a Forgotten Land
Whispers in the Wind
Cloud Castle Orbian

Chapter 12: The Abyss

Arc: The Final Battle

Precise Execution
Deferred Advance
Departure of the Brave
Forbidden gate
The Void
A Shadow in the Void
Blinding Darkness

Epilogue: Journey’s End

Journey’s End
A New Beginning
Peace in Hernand
The Unyielding Shields
The Heart of Pywel
The Desert’s Edge
The Enduring Flame
Evolving City
New Horizons

How Long Does It Take to Beat Crimson Desert?

Here’s a rough breakdown by playstyle:

Playstyle	Estimated Time
Main story only (focused)	35–60 hours
Main story + side quests	100–180 hours
Full completion	140–200+ hours

The wide range on main story time comes down to how much side content you naturally pick up. Crimson Desert’s progression system is built around Abyss Artifacts earned from side content — skipping it entirely is technically possible but makes the experience harder, especially in later chapters. If a main story boss feels too difficult, step back and complete side quests to strengthen your build before returning.

Helpful Guides for Your Playthrough

Use these as you work through each chapter:

Where to Get Crimson Desert

FAQs

Q: How many chapters are in Crimson Desert?

A: There are 12 numbered main chapters, plus a Prologue and an Epilogue — 14 story segments in total. Each chapter contains multiple named arcs, and each arc contains multiple individual quests. The main story totals 168 individual mission steps across all segments.

Q: How many quests are in Crimson Desert total?

A: The total quest count across all content — main story, side quests, faction missions, and NPC requests — exceeds 430, with some sources tracking up to 442 as players continue to discover content. The main story itself contains 168 individual mission steps.

Q: How long does it take to beat Crimson Desert?

A: A focused main-story-only run takes approximately 35–60 hours. Including side content alongside the story brings that to 100–180 hours. Full completion — every quest, all 76 bosses, and every collectible — takes 140 to 200 hours or more.

Q: Can I skip side quests in Crimson Desert?

A: You can, but it’s not recommended. Side quests and faction content are how you earn Abyss Artifacts — the resource used to unlock skills and upgrade your stats. Without them, you’ll be underpowered for later chapter bosses. Some skills are also only learnable during specific missions, so skipping content means a weaker build. If a boss feels too hard, step back and complete side content before returning.

Q: Does Crimson Desert have a new game plus mode?

A: As of launch, Crimson Desert does not have a confirmed new game plus mode. The game’s focus is on the single playthrough experience — the size of the world and the 430+ quest content load is designed to keep players occupied well beyond the main story credits.

Q: How many playable characters are in Crimson Desert?

A: There are three playable characters. You begin as Kliff, and two additional characters — Damiane and Oongka — unlock at specific points during the main story. Each has their own skill tree and Abyss Artifact progression. You can switch freely between unlocked characters in the open world, though certain story missions lock you to a specific character.

All Main Story Quests & Chapters in Crimson Desert (Complete Quest List)

TL;DR

How Quest Progression Works in Crimson Desert