TL;DR
- The Dagger of Dark Pursuit is inside the Sanctum of Solace, near the “A” of Pailune on the map.
- The chest is hidden behind a rotating stone wall — easy to miss if you rush through.
- You need to climb the wall and use Force Palm to rotate it and access the secret room.
- When fully upgraded, the dagger gives 38 Attack and Lv. 8 Critical Rate.
- It is an Epic weapon for Kliff — great for crit builds and assassination finishers.
The Dagger of Dark Pursuit is one of the best daggers you can get in Crimson Desert. It has a unique golden, jagged blade and hits hard when built for critical strikes. The problem is the chest that holds it is hidden behind a secret rotating wall that most players walk right past. This guide will tell you exactly where it is and how to open the way in.
If you want even more weapon and item locations, check out the full Crimson Desert guide hub or browse our complete guide hub here.
Dagger of Dark Pursuit Location in Crimson Desert
The Dagger of Dark Pursuit is found inside the Sanctum of Solace. On the world map, look at the Pailune region and find the word “Pailune” written on the map. The Sanctum sits just to the right of the letter “A” in Pailune, southwest of Pailune City.
If you are coming from Hernand, head north through the basic camps and into the Pailune area. You will know you are in the right place when you start seeing stone bridges, a large central chasm, and enemy camps around the area.
The Sanctum of Solace is also part of the Witch of Kindness questline, so you may already be headed here for story reasons. However, the secret chest with the dagger is completely separate from the main Sanctum puzzle and boss.
How to Get the Dagger of Dark Pursuit – Step by Step
Step 1 – Get a Bird’s Eye View
Once you arrive at the Sanctum of Solace, do not rush straight in. Jump and use Focus Palm three times quickly to gain some height. This gives you a good view of the layout below. Look for a small rectangular pool of water in the middle of the Sanctum. That pool is your landmark. You want to glide down toward it.
Need help with Focus Palm? Read our guide on how to get Focused Aerial Roll and how to use Focused Force Palm.
Step 2 – Find the Tunnel With Two Small Lamps
Once you land near the pool of water, look for a tunnel entrance marked by two small lamps on either side. Walk into this tunnel. Head to the end of the hall. You will see a dead end. Do not turn back.
Look carefully at the wall ahead of you. You should see a faint rectangular outline on the stone surface. This is the rotating wall. If you struggle to see it, try turning up your gamma or brightness settings in the game menu. The seams of the wall can be hard to spot in the shadows of the Sanctum.
Tip: Look for faded white graffiti markings on nearby walls. In Crimson Desert, these markings almost always hint at a hidden path or puzzle nearby.
Step 3 – Climb the Wall and Use Force Palm
This is the key step. You cannot activate the rotating wall from the ground. You need to climb it first.
- Jump and latch onto the rectangular section of the wall.
- Hold Resist (LT / L2 / Q) to grip the surface firmly so you do not slip.
- While still holding Resist, press Force Palm (R3 / Right Thumbstick / Middle Mouse Button) to slam into the wall and make it rotate.
- Ride the wall as it swings around to the other side.
- Drop down into the small secret room on the other side.
If the wall is not rotating, check that you are actually latched onto it and not just standing in front of it. You must be clinging to the surface for Force Palm to work here.
Step 4 – Open the Chest
Once you drop into the secret room, you will find a decorated treasure chest in the center. Open it to get the Dagger of Dark Pursuit.
That’s it. No boss fight required for this chest. However, keep in mind that if you have not cleared the Sanctum yet, there is a circular arena in the middle of the Sanctum that will trigger a boss fight if you walk into it. If you are not ready for that fight, go around it to stay focused on grabbing the dagger first.
Dagger of Dark Pursuit Stats
The Dagger of Dark Pursuit is an Epic rarity dagger built for Kliff. It has a golden, uneven blade with a raw, primal look to it. Here are the stats:
- Base Stats: 16 Attack, Lv. 5 Critical Rate, Lv. 2 Refinement
- Fully Upgraded Stats: 38 Attack, Lv. 8 Critical Rate
- Special Ability: None — this dagger relies on raw power and high crit chance
The high Critical Rate is the main draw here. At Lv. 8, nearly every assassination or stab finisher you land will deal double damage. This makes it a strong pick for any Kliff build focused on stealth kills and quick takedowns.
One important thing to know: in Crimson Desert, a dagger’s stats only apply during assassinations and stab attacks. If you are using a blunt weapon like an axe or mace as your main weapon, Kliff uses the dagger as a secondary for stab finishers. The Lv. 8 Crit Rate on those finishers adds up fast in a real fight.
It does not have a special triggered ability like the Goblin King’s Treasure Dagger, but what it lacks in flashy effects it more than makes up for with consistent damage output.
Is the Dagger of Dark Pursuit Worth Getting?
Yes, absolutely. It is one of the stronger daggers in the game and you do not need to beat a tough boss to get it. If you are running a Critical Rate boss build, this dagger fits right in. The 38 Attack at max upgrade combined with Lv. 8 Crit Rate gives Kliff a reliable and powerful secondary weapon.
It is also worth grabbing early since you can reach the Sanctum of Solace before completing many of the later story chapters. The dagger will serve you well through a large portion of the game.
If you want to compare it against other options, check out our best unique weapons and armor guide and our picks for the best one-handed swords in Crimson Desert.
Tips for Getting Around the Sanctum of Solace
- Clear enemies first if you can. The area around the Sanctum has patrols. Clearing them gives you more room to focus on navigation.
- Avoid the circular arena in the center of the Sanctum if you are not ready for the boss inside. You can skip it entirely to grab the dagger.
- Use Focus Palm to scout from above. The height gives you a clear view of the pool and tunnel entrance below.
- Force Palm is used for more than combat. Many environmental puzzles in Crimson Desert require Force Palm. Get used to using it on rectangular stones and odd-looking walls.
- Check low areas and basements. Many of the best secrets in this game are hidden in the lower levels of ruins, not at the top.
Speaking of puzzles, our Sanctum of Solace puzzle solution guide covers the full blue crystal puzzle inside the Sanctum if you want to complete it properly.
More Crimson Desert Weapons and Gear
Looking for more weapons and gear to strengthen Kliff? Here are some guides to check out next:
- How to Get the Red Needle Sword
- How to Get the Righteous Verdict Sword
- How to Get the Chillfallen Sword
- How to Get the Darkbringer Sword
- How to Get the Divine Echoes Bow
- How to Get the Vow of the Dead King Halberd
- How to Craft Aeserion Weapons
- How to Get the Double-Headed Axe of Greed
- How to Get the Fallen Kingdom Rapier
- How to Get the Arben Greatsword
Crimson Desert is available on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. You can also find more details on the official Crimson Desert website.
