TL;DR
- Large-Scale Expeditions are dispatch missions unlocked through the Taro Research at Gorthak Ironworks
- You cannot access this until after Chapter 10 — Gorthak requires the Delesyia region to be liberated first
- Before Taro Research, you must complete Skilled Workflow Optimization Research at Krall Foundry
- Taro Research costs 90 Silver and takes 18 in-game hours total, split into two phases
- During the research pause, you must find 1x Taro at Beardtree Hills and bring it back to resume
- Once complete, dispatch missions previously locked behind “Further Research Required” become available
If you have been sending Comrades on dispatch missions in Crimson Desert and keep hitting the message “Further Research Required,” you are not doing anything wrong. Those missions are locked behind a specific research chain that you cannot access until late in the game.
Large-Scale Expeditions are the upgraded tier of dispatch missions. They reward significantly more resources than standard missions and open up a whole new category of dispatch content. Unlocking them requires going through the Gorthak Ironworks Research Institute in Delesyia, which is itself gated behind story progression.
Here is everything you need to do, step by step.
What Are Large-Scale Expeditions?
Large-Scale Expeditions are high-tier dispatch missions that become available after completing the Taro Research project at Gorthak Ironworks. Before this research is done, certain dispatch mission nodes across the map will simply read “Further Research Required” when you try to activate them, with no further explanation.
Once unlocked, these missions produce significantly greater quantities of resources per run, including Camp Armor and Weapons, minerals, and other late-game materials. They are one of the best passive income systems in the game for players who want to stay stocked without grinding manually.
For context on why Camp Armor and Weapons matter for dispatch missions, see our guide on how to increase Camp Armor and Weapons.
When Can You Unlock Large-Scale Expeditions?
You cannot unlock Large-Scale Expeditions until after Chapter 10. The Delesyia region, where Gorthak Ironworks is located, only becomes fully accessible after the main story takes you there. Trying to reach it earlier is possible but the region is filled with high-level enemies and the research institute itself requires story milestones to unlock.
Do not stress about this being locked early. Get there naturally through story progression and pick it up as soon as Chapter 10 opens Delesyia to you.
How to Unlock Large-Scale Expeditions — Full Step-by-Step
Step 1: Reach Gorthak Ironworks
Gorthak Ironworks is located in the northwestern part of the Delesyia region, near the border with Demeniss. Once Delesyia is unlocked through the story, fast travel to the area and locate the Gorthak Ironworks Research Institute. The institute sits at the Zargan Tanworks, west of Gorthak.
To open the research project tree here, you need to bring the lead researcher 5x Gunpowder. Gunpowder drops from certain enemies in Delesyia and can also be purchased from late-game vendors in the area. Hand it over and the institute’s projects become available.
Step 2: Complete Skilled Workflow Optimization Research at Krall Foundry
Before you can start the Taro Research, you first need to complete Skilled Workflow Optimization Research. This prerequisite is located at the Krall Foundry, which you can find on the map north of the first “E” in the Delesyia label.
Skilled Workflow Optimization Research costs 11 Silver and takes 9 in-game hours. Its reward is a permanent reduction in material waste during crafting, which is a solid bonus in its own right. Complete this research and return to collect the reward before moving on.
You can sleep at a campfire or bed to advance in-game time faster and skip the wait. This works for all research timers in the game.
Step 3: Start the Taro Research at Zargan Tanworks
With Skilled Workflow Optimization Research done, head back to the Gorthak Ironworks Research Institute at Zargan Tanworks. Talk to Stonefell and start the Taro Research project. It costs 90 Silver total and runs across two phases with a combined duration of 18 in-game hours.
The research does not run straight through. After 9 in-game hours, the Taro Research will pause and halt production on its own. This is expected and not a bug.
Step 4: Get 1x Taro from Beardtree Hills
When production pauses, head to the Gorthak Warehouse. Speak with the Gorthak Ironworks Research Assistant there. After the conversation, you will be tasked with retrieving 1x Taro.
Taro can be found at the Beardtree Hills area. Head there, collect the Taro, and bring it back to the Gorthak Ironworks Research Assistant. Once you hand it over, the Taro Research resumes for its final 9 in-game hours.
Step 5: Wait for Research to Complete
Sleep at a campfire or bed to advance time and let the final phase of research finish. Once it is done, collect the reward from the institute.
From this point on, all dispatch missions previously locked behind “Further Research Required” become active. You can now send Comrades on Large-Scale Expeditions from the Mission Dispatch menu through Ross at Howling Hill or directly from the map via the Factions tab.
What Do Large-Scale Expeditions Reward?
Large-Scale Expeditions produce meaningfully more resources per cycle compared to standard dispatch missions. Depending on the mission node, they generate higher quantities of Camp Armor and Weapons, minerals, timber, and other late-game materials.
The Taro Research also has a direct impact on your camp’s armor and weapon supply generation, which means completing it helps every armament-related dispatch mission produce more. This stacks with other passive buffs you may have already set up. It is one of the reasons we recommend completing this research as soon as Delesyia opens up, rather than putting it off.
If you are also running the how to research guide to get the most out of all six research institutes, Gorthak should be one of your first priorities in Delesyia alongside the Skilled Workflow research for crafting efficiency.
Other Gorthak Ironworks Research Worth Doing
While you are at Gorthak Ironworks, it is worth looking at the rest of the research tree. After completing Taro Research, you gain access to further branches including Weapon Heat-Treatment Research, which dispatches missions to craft the Flame Spear, the Electromagnetic Flame Spitter, and the Shotgun Shield.
Machine Parts Research is the other standout. It costs 130 Silver and takes 23 hours but unlocks dispatch missions for the ATAG Cannon, ATAG Laser, and ATAG Pincers. It also adds Vertical Flight to Oongka’s Rocket Pack, which is a big quality of life improvement if you use him regularly as a companion. For more on companions, see our all characters and companions guide.
Mineral Excavation Efficiency Research is also here and worth doing. It guarantees extra minerals every time you mine, which pays off quickly if you are doing a lot of crafting and equipment reinforcement.
Tips for Managing Your Expedition System
Once Large-Scale Expeditions are unlocked, treat them the same way you treat your standard Anvil dispatch missions — set them up, collect every 16 hours, and redeploy immediately. An idle Comrade earns nothing.
Assign Comrades with the right skills to the right missions. Smith Skill Comrades belong on armament missions. The skill match is not optional if you want maximum output from each run. For a full breakdown of how to recruit and level up your Comrades, see our how to get Comrades guide and how to level up Comrades guide.
If you are still working through getting enough Camp Armor and Weapons to even qualify for dispatch missions, check our guide on increasing Camp Armor and Weapons before coming back here. The Warspike Spearmaker dispatch in Hernand is the best early solution while you wait for Delesyia to open.
Also make sure your camp is fully upgraded. A higher Howling Hill level means more dispatch slots, which means more missions running simultaneously. See our camp upgrade guide for all the steps.
Quick Recap
Large-Scale Expeditions unlock after completing the Taro Research project at Gorthak Ironworks in Delesyia, which is only accessible after Chapter 10. Before starting Taro Research, complete the Skilled Workflow Optimization Research at Krall Foundry first. Start the Taro Research with Stonefell at Zargan Tanworks for 90 Silver, wait 9 hours until it pauses, collect 1x Taro from Beardtree Hills, hand it to the Research Assistant to resume the final 9-hour phase, then collect the reward.
Once done, all “Further Research Required” dispatch missions become active and your entire expedition operation gets a meaningful upgrade in output.
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