How to Complete All Shield Challenges in Crimson Desert

TL;DR

• There are 6 Shield Challenges in Crimson Desert, all named Shield of Unchanging Will (I–VI), listed under the Mastery — Goyen’s Advice category.
• Challenges I–IV and VI can be completed as Kliff. Challenge V (Flip 5 Enemies) requires Damiane — it cannot be done as Kliff at all.
• Four artifacts are in Hernand, two are in Demeniss. Efficient route: Hernand first (I, II, III, VI), then Demeniss (IV, V).
• Shield Bash is the core mechanic: hold Guard (L1/LB), then press Heavy Attack (R2/RT) to bash with the shield.
• Warning: If Kliff has Keen Sense Lv 3, Shield Bash becomes Shield Parry and breaks Challenge V mechanics. Use Damiane or respec before attempting it.
• Challenge VI needs Charge from Kliff’s Armed Combat tree (third tier) to be unlocked first.
• Completing all 6 unlocks the Master of Shields trophy and achievement.
• Only round shields support Shield Flip for Challenge V — large tower-style shields do not.

Shield Challenges in Crimson Desert treat the shield as an offensive weapon, not a defensive tool. Every challenge in this set asks you to bash, block, hit, flip, and charge into enemies with your shield rather than just holding it up. The biggest trap is Challenge V, which requires Damiane and quietly tells you nothing about that requirement. This guide has every artifact location, the exact completion steps, all the critical warnings players keep running into, and every reward.

For how the broader challenge system works, see our All Two-Handed Weapon Challenges guide — the same Sealed Abyss Artifact rules apply here. The full Crimson Desert Guide Hub has everything else.

How Shield Challenges Work in Crimson Desert

Shield Challenges are part of the Mastery — Goyen’s Advice category. Each is locked behind a Sealed Abyss Artifact you must pick up in the open world. Artifacts appear as purple icons on your minimap when nearby but are not shown on the main map. Progress does not count retroactively — you must pick up the artifact before any shield actions count toward the challenge.

To claim rewards after completing a challenge, open your inventory, stand still, sheathe all weapons, and use the Sealed Abyss Artifact from your inventory. You cannot use it while moving or holding a weapon.

The key mechanic across this entire challenge set is Shield Bash. It is performed by holding the Guard button (L1 on PlayStation / LB on Xbox / CTRL on PC) to raise your shield, then pressing Heavy Attack (R2 / RT) while guard is held. The game never clearly explains this in a tutorial, which trips up many players. Releasing guard before pressing Heavy Attack will not produce a bash — both inputs must be held simultaneously before the bash fires.

You can weaken enemies with your main weapon first, then finish them with a Shield Bash. The kill still counts as a shield kill for challenges that require defeating enemies. If a Shield Bash knocks an enemy off a ledge and they die from fall damage, that kill does not count — make sure you’re fighting on flat ground.

Use fast travel to move between regions efficiently, and clear the fog of war with bell towers if the Demeniss area is still hidden on your map.

Best Shields for These Challenges

Most challenges work with any shield, but Challenge V (Shield Flip) specifically requires a round shield. Large tower-style shields do not support the flip animation. The default Grey Wolf Wooden Shield works fine and is available early. For the best dedicated shield options in the game, see our guides on the Shield of Conviction, the Lucon Large Shield, the Rhonid Large Shield, and the Artisan’s Ornamented Shield. For Challenge VI (Charge), the Shotgun Shield is worth looking at if you want a unique playstyle alongside it.

Shield of Unchanging Will I — Defeat 3 Enemies with a Shield

Sealed Abyss Artifact Location

Found in Hernand, at the second intersection north of Hernand Royal Trading Post — also described as beside the road in Meandering Hills, north of Hernand Castle.

Challenge Requirement

Defeat 3 enemies using only your shield as the killing blow.

How to Complete Shield of Unchanging Will I

This is the introduction to the Shield Bash mechanic. The key rule: the final hit that kills each enemy must come from the shield, not from your sword or any other attack.

• Play as Kliff with any shield equipped.
• Weaken each enemy first using your sword — get their health low enough that one or two Shield Bashes will finish them. Trying to kill full-health enemies with Shield Bash alone takes many hits and wastes time.
• Once an enemy is nearly dead, switch to Shield Bash: hold Guard (L1/LB) and press Heavy Attack (R2/RT) simultaneously. Land the killing blow with the bash.
• Repeat for 3 enemies total. There is no time limit, so take it one target at a time.
• Hernand’s weak Bleed Bandits are ideal — low health means fewer bash hits needed to secure the kill.
• If a Shield Bash sends an enemy off a ledge and they die from fall damage, that kill won’t count. Stay on flat terrain.

Reward

• x1 Abyss Artifact
• x1 Wall of Steel I

Wall of Steel I is a shield-specific Abyss Gear that can only be obtained through this challenge — it’s not available through any other source. Socket it into your shield for a passive defensive effect.

Shield of Unchanging Will II — Block 10 Arrows with a Shield

Sealed Abyss Artifact Location

Found in Hernand, along the road directly north of Kharonso. Some players report finding it southwest of Hernand near the Scholastone Institute entrance — look along roads in that southwest Hernand area if you can’t spot it north of Kharonso.

Challenge Requirement

Block 10 arrows with your shield.

How to Complete Shield of Unchanging Will II

This is the easiest challenge in the entire set. You just need to stand in front of archers and hold your shield up.

• Play as Kliff with any shield equipped.
• Find a bandit camp in Hernand with archers in it — Bleed Bandit camps reliably have archer-type enemies.
• Hold Guard (L1/LB) to raise your shield and face the archers. Let them shoot at you. Every arrow that bounces off your shield counts toward the total.
• This challenge does not need to be done in one go — progress carries over between sessions. Block a few arrows whenever you’re near archers and the count will build up naturally.
• Stay in Hernand or Pailune for this. Enemies in Demeniss and the Crimson Desert region are more likely to carry guns, and gun shots do not count as arrows for this challenge.

Reward

• x1 Abyss Artifact
• x1 Faded Abyss Artifact

Faded Abyss Artifacts let you fully reset your skill tree. Hold onto them until you want to respec — they’re much rarer than standard Abyss Artifacts. See our guide on how to respec in Crimson Desert for the full process.

Shield of Unchanging Will III — Hit 3 Enemies at Once with a Shield

Sealed Abyss Artifact Location

Found in Hernand, southeast of the Sanctum of Benediction, between the “E” and “R” in the “HERNAND” map text. Look for it on a small altar with a stack of stones beside the road.

Challenge Requirement

Hit 3 enemies simultaneously with a single Shield Bash.

How to Complete Shield of Unchanging Will III

Shield Bash has a wider arc than most players realize — it swings in a broad cone in front of Kliff, not just directly ahead. Use this to your advantage.

• Play as Kliff with any shield equipped.
• Find a group of 4–5 enemies standing close together — liberation camps and sanctums in Hernand are ideal because enemies cluster tightly in those spaces.
• Let enemies surround you, then position yourself so at least 3 are in a tight cluster directly in front of you.
• Fire a Shield Bash (hold L1/LB + press R2/RT) into the center of the group. The wide hitbox of the bash will register on multiple enemies at once if they’re packed closely enough.
• If only 2 are in range, don’t bash — reposition to get tighter clustering before firing.
• The enemies don’t need to die — you just need to hit 3 at once. This makes it easier than it sounds.
• You can also soften enemies first with your sword, which keeps them aggressive and close together rather than retreating.

Reward

• x1 Abyss Artifact

Shield of Unchanging Will IV — Defeat 5 Enemies with a Shield Without Taking Damage

Sealed Abyss Artifact Location

Found in Hernand, at the intersection directly east of Embernest Beacon, in the Rocca’s Hill area. The artifact sits beside a tree near a three-way crossing.

Challenge Requirement

Defeat 5 enemies with your shield without taking any damage.

How to Complete Shield of Unchanging Will IV

This is the most demanding Kliff challenge in the set. Any single hit received resets your kill counter. Patience matters more than speed.

• Play as Kliff with any shield equipped.
• Engage enemies one at a time. Never let two enemies attack you simultaneously — separate each target from its group and fight it alone.
• Use parries to create safe openings. A successful parry stuns the enemy briefly, giving you time to land multiple Shield Bashes without risk. See our parry and counter guide for timing detail.
• Weaken each enemy with your sword first, then deliver the killing blow with Shield Bash. The kill counts as long as the shield deals the finishing hit — the method of getting them low doesn’t matter.
• There is no time limit. Take as long as you need on each enemy. Rushing causes mistakes.
• If you get hit at any point, your counter resets to zero. Heal up with food and find a fresh group of 5 enemies to start again. See how to cook the best healing food to keep your supply topped up.
• Hernand’s weaker enemies — especially Bleed Bandits — are significantly easier to control than Demeniss enemies. Stay in Hernand for this one.

Reward

• x1 Abyss Artifact
• x1 Fortitude II

Fortitude II reduces Guard Stamina Cost, meaning blocking attacks drains your Stamina bar more slowly. This is a strong shield build Abyss Gear — socket it directly into your shield or gloves. It’s only obtainable from this challenge. See our Best Armor Abyss Gears guide for where Fortitude fits in a full defensive setup.

Shield of Unchanging Will V — Flip 5 Enemies with a Shield

Sealed Abyss Artifact Location

Found in Demeniss, south of the “D” in “DEMENISS” on the map — also described as west of Demeniss Castle along the road, and east of Demeniss city near a farmhouse under a canopy of trees. Look for the artifact on a pile of rocks near the road.

Challenge Requirement

Flip 5 enemies using a shield.

How to Complete Shield of Unchanging Will V — Critical Warning

This challenge cannot be completed as Kliff. The “flip” mechanic is Damiane’s Shield Toss ability — Kliff’s moveset does not include a shield flip animation at all. If you attempt this as Kliff, nothing will count regardless of how you use your shield. You must switch to Damiane before attempting this challenge.

There is a second warning: if Kliff has Keen Sense Lv 3 unlocked, his Shield Bash becomes a Shield Parry. This doesn’t affect the completion method (since you’re using Damiane anyway), but be aware of it for other challenges — Shield Parry behaves differently from Shield Bash and may cause confusion during Challenges I, III, and IV if you’ve invested in Keen Sense.

• Switch to Damiane. She becomes available as a playable character through story progression in the early chapters.
• Equip a round shield. Large tower-style shields cannot perform the flip animation. The default Grey Wolf Wooden Shield works perfectly.
• Find a group of enemies — any weak enemies in Hernand or Demeniss work fine.
• Use Damiane’s Shield Toss ability (the dedicated shield throw input). When the shield hits an enemy, it flips them into the air and counts as one flip toward the challenge total.
• Shield Toss can bounce between nearby enemies on the same throw, meaning one toss into a cluster of 3 enemies can register as 3 flips simultaneously. Use this to speed up the challenge significantly.
• You do not need to kill enemies with the flip — just hit them with the toss. 5 total hits, not 5 kills.
• Unlock Damiane through story progress if you haven’t yet. See our All Characters and Companions guide for where she joins your roster.
• For a detailed breakdown of the Shield Flip mechanic, see our dedicated guide on how to flip enemies with a shield.

Reward

• x1 Abyss Artifact
• x1 Fortitude I

Fortitude I is a weaker version of Fortitude II earned from Challenge IV. It reduces Guard Stamina Cost at a lower level. Still useful as a shield-build Abyss Gear — combine both Fortitude I and II across your shield and glove sockets for stacked guard stamina savings.

Shield of Unchanging Will VI — Land 10 Shield Charge Hits in 60 Seconds

Sealed Abyss Artifact Location

Found in Hernand (despite Challenges V being in Demeniss, Challenge VI returns to Hernand), on the road west of Calphade South Gate, just before the bridge crossing the river — also described as beside the bridge by the river leading west of Deepfog Basin, and in the Argent Peaks near the bridge between the “E” and “R” in “HERNAND.”

Challenge Requirement

Land 10 hits on 10 different enemies within 60 seconds using the shield’s Charge ability.

How to Complete Shield of Unchanging Will VI — Charge Unlock Required

You must have Charge unlocked before attempting this challenge. Charge is found in Kliff’s Armed Combat skill tree at the third tier. Without it, no hits toward this challenge will count. If you haven’t unlocked Charge yet, invest the Abyss Artifacts needed to reach that tier first. The earlier challenges in this set reward you with enough artifacts to cover the cost by the time you reach Challenge VI.

How Charge works: while holding Guard (L1/LB), double-tap dodge to activate the Charge. Kliff sprints forward with his shield lowered, ramming into enemies in his path. Every enemy he contacts is hit and knocked back.

• Play as Kliff with any shield equipped and Charge unlocked.
• The challenge requires hitting 10 different enemies — not 10 hits on the same target. Hitting one enemy 10 times does not fulfill the requirement. You need 10 separate enemies.
• Before triggering the 60-second window, position yourself near a dense camp of 10+ enemies. Liberation camps, blockaded outposts, and sanctums in Hernand are all suitable.
• Activate Charge (hold L1/LB + double-tap dodge) and run through the crowd. Reposition and charge again, hitting fresh enemies each pass until 10 different targets have been struck.
• Don’t over-think the route — just charge through the densest part of the group repeatedly. Volume matters more than precision here.
• If the group scatters after the first charge, abandon and reset with a new group rather than chasing stragglers. 60 seconds runs out quickly if you’re sprinting across a camp after dispersed enemies.
• Hernand’s liberation camps are the best location — enemies respawn consistently, groups are dense, and enemies are weak enough that Charge won’t kill them too fast to reduce your remaining targets below 10.

Reward

• x1 Abyss Artifact

All Shield Challenge Rewards Summary

• Shield of Unchanging Will I: x1 Abyss Artifact, x1 Wall of Steel I
• Shield of Unchanging Will II: x1 Abyss Artifact, x1 Faded Abyss Artifact
• Shield of Unchanging Will III: x1 Abyss Artifact
• Shield of Unchanging Will IV: x1 Abyss Artifact, x1 Fortitude II
• Shield of Unchanging Will V: x1 Abyss Artifact, x1 Fortitude I
• Shield of Unchanging Will VI: x1 Abyss Artifact
• Master of Shields trophy/achievement — unlocked on completing all 6

Wall of Steel I and both Fortitude tiers are shield-exclusive Abyss Gears that cannot be obtained anywhere else in the game. Players building a dedicated shield-and-sword setup should prioritize these challenges early — Fortitude I and II together offer meaningful Guard Stamina Cost reduction stacked across your shield and armor sockets. For the full Abyss Gear system, see our Abyss Gears List.

Tips for Completing All Shield Challenges Efficiently

• Pick up all 6 artifacts immediately when you’re in each region. Progress starts the moment you pick up the artifact — not before. Grab every artifact as soon as you enter Hernand and Demeniss so shield actions count toward challenges in the background while you explore.
• Do Challenges I, II, III, and VI in Hernand first. Four of the six artifacts are in Hernand. Complete them all in one pass before crossing to Demeniss for IV and V.
• Unlock Damiane before traveling to Demeniss for Challenge V. If you go to Demeniss without Damiane unlocked, you’ll complete the trip, pick up the artifact, and then have to come back again later. Get her first.
• Unlock Charge before going to the Challenge VI artifact. Same logic — invest in Armed Combat Lv 3 before making the trip so you can complete it in the same session.
• For Challenge II, Hernand archers are your fastest option. Don’t waste time in Demeniss or the Crimson Desert region where archers are replaced by gun users. Stick to Hernand bandit camps.
• For Challenge IV, isolate every single target. The no-damage condition makes group fights extremely risky. Always pull one enemy away from the pack before engaging.
• For Challenge V, use Shield Toss into clusters of enemies. The bounce mechanic means one throw can count as 2–3 flips if enemies are standing close together. This cuts your completion time significantly.
• For Challenge VI, preload your position before the Charge timer starts. Stand inside a dense group of 10+ enemies before activating Charge so you can immediately start connecting hits from the first second of the 60-second window.
• Check your shield type for Challenge V. If the Shield Toss animation isn’t triggering, your equipped shield is too large. Swap to a round shield like the Grey Wolf Wooden Shield and try again.

Shield Challenges and Your Overall Build

Completing all six Shield of Unchanging Will challenges rewards you with two unique shield Abyss Gears — Wall of Steel I and Fortitude I/II — that are genuinely useful if you’re running a shield-based build. Fortitude reduces Guard Stamina Cost, which is directly relevant when you’re blocking frequently in boss fights. Stack both Fortitude I and II across your shield and glove sockets for the best result.

If you’re interested in using a shield seriously as part of your combat approach, our guide on the Shield of Conviction covers one of the best shield options in the game. For the Abyss Gears that work best on shields in general, see our Best Armor Abyss Gears guide — Fortification III stacked x2 on a shield is the standard defensive setup that works even if you never raise the shield in combat.

Players who prefer going without a shield entirely — or who want to compare the shield playstyle against alternatives — should check our Best Dual-Wield Swords Build guide, which covers exactly why trading the shield for a second weapon can be the stronger offensive choice.

Master of Shields Trophy and Achievement

Completing all 6 Shield of Unchanging Will challenges unlocks the Master of Shields trophy on PlayStation and the equivalent achievement on PC and Xbox. This is one of the more accessible mastery trophies in the game — all six challenges are completable in a single region pass (Hernand then Demeniss), and none of them require late-game unlocks except Damiane for Challenge V and Charge for Challenge VI.

This trophy also contributes toward the Unvanquished Strategist gold trophy, which requires completing all 10 mastery categories across every weapon type. For the full trophy roadmap, see our Crimson Desert Trophy List and All Achievements guide. For all challenge types across every weapon, see the All Sword Mastery Challenges guide and All Bow Challenges guide to work through other categories in parallel.

Where to Get Crimson Desert

Available on all major platforms:

• Steam (PC)
• Epic Games Store (PC)
• PlayStation Store (PS5)
• Xbox Store (Xbox Series X|S)

Final Thoughts

The Shield Challenges are fast to complete once you know the two key traps: Challenge V needs Damiane, and Challenge VI needs Charge unlocked first. Most players who get stuck on this set are attempting the Shield Flip as Kliff — it simply won’t work, and the game doesn’t stop you from trying. Swap to Damiane, use her Shield Toss into clustered enemies, and it’s done in under a minute.

Everything else in this set is straightforward. Kill three enemies with a bash, block ten arrows by standing in front of archers, hit a group with one bash, defeat five without getting hit, and charge through a crowd in under a minute. Four of the six are in Hernand where enemies are weakest. Complete them in order and you’ll have the Master of Shields trophy and a stack of Abyss Artifacts — including two shield-exclusive Abyss Gears you can’t get anywhere else — well before reaching the mid-game.