Crimson Desert: How to Get the Kylus Greataxe

TL;DR

The Kylus Greataxe is an Oongka-exclusive two-handed axe found embedded in a tree on a clifftop near the Jijeong Temple Pagoda
The Pagoda is located on a mountain in the Serpent Marsh region, south of Demeniss
Fast travel to the Morning Mist Peaks Abyss Nexus, then head west and climb to the top
Use your lantern to spot the axe glinting in the branches of a small leafless tree at the cliff edge
Crouch and climb slowly — any sudden movement breaks the tree and drops the axe into the void
If the axe falls, reload your last save immediately
Alternate method: buy the Two-Handed Weapons of the World, Vol. 4 crafting book from Bloodsteel Camp after liberating it and craft the axe at any Smithy
Only Oongka can equip and use this weapon

Table of Contents

What Is the Kylus Greataxe?

The Kylus Greataxe is a legendary two-handed axe in Crimson Desert, exclusively usable by Oongka — the third playable character and the heaviest hitter in the game. Like the rest of the Kylus weapon family, it is tied to the legacy of Kylus, a figure whose relentless determination to expand his lands became the founding spirit of Pailune’s northern tribes.

As a two-handed weapon in Oongka’s hands, the Kylus Greataxe is built for pure force. Oongka’s axe attacks already scale better than the other characters, and a weapon with this pedigree pushes that damage even further. If you are building Oongka for aggressive cleave combat or large group fights, this is the kind of axe you want to find. It can be refined at any Blacksmith to push its base attack higher over time.

If you have not unlocked Oongka yet, he becomes permanently playable after you complete the “Gentle Sound of Flowing River” side quest following the events of Chapter 7. For more on getting the most out of him, our Crimson Desert All Characters and Companions Guide covers his full kit and playstyle.

Method 1 — Find the Axe at Jijeong Temple Pagoda

This is the hidden exploration method — and the more memorable one. The Kylus Greataxe is stuck in the branches of a small leafless tree jutting off the edge of a cliff at the very top of the Jijeong Temple Pagoda mountain. The challenge is getting up there and retrieving it without knocking it into the void below.

Where Is the Jijeong Temple Pagoda?

The Jijeong Temple Pagoda sits at the peak of the mountain in the Serpent Marsh region, which is a cluster of tall island cliffs south of Demeniss and east of Delesyia. These are sheer, high cliffs — some over a hundred meters tall. The Pagoda itself is at the very summit.

Fast travel point: The Morning Mist Peaks Abyss Nexus is the closest fast travel point. From there, head west toward the Jijeong Temple Pagoda mountain until you reach its base.

kylus greataxe location in crimson desert 2

How to Climb to the Top

The mountain is steep and requires solid vertical movement skills to summit. Use a combination of the following abilities to work your way up:

Mid-air Force Palm — use it to gain additional height while climbing
Aerial Stab — another upward movement tool
Axiom Force — useful for pulling yourself toward ledges and gaining elevation

Work your way up in stages, using ledges and outcroppings to rest and reposition. Keep going until you reach the Pagoda at the very top.

If you want to unlock the Abyss Gate here as well, that is tied to the “Face the Inner Self” quest in Chapter 9. Our guide on how to enter the Spire of Clockwork has useful climbing tips that apply to this kind of ascent too.

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Finding the Kylus Greataxe

Once you are at the Pagoda, look to the other side of the peak — away from the main structure. You are looking for a small, bare, leafless tree growing horizontally out from the edge of the cliff. It will not be easy to spot at first.

Use your lantern. Focus your lantern toward the tree and the axe will glint, making it much easier to locate among the branches. Once you see it, you will spot the Kylus Greataxe embedded in the wood.

Retrieving the Axe — Move Carefully

This is the part that catches players out. The tree trunk is fragile. If you approach too fast or make any sudden movement while on it, the trunk will snap and the Kylus Greataxe will fall off the cliff into the depths below. Recovering it after that is extremely difficult without reloading.

Here is how to do it right:

Crouch before you touch the tree. Do not approach at a walking or running pace.
Move slowly and steadily along the branches toward the embedded axe.
Do not jump, sprint, or perform any combat moves while on the tree.
When you are close enough, the interaction prompt will appear. Take the axe.

If you slip up and the axe falls — reload your last save immediately. Do not try to jump after it. The cliff is too high and the axe is nearly impossible to locate at the bottom.

Before you attempt the climb, make a manual save at the base of the mountain. That way if anything goes wrong during the ascent or on the tree, you have a clean checkpoint to fall back to. Our guide on how to save in Crimson Desert explains the manual save system in full.

Method 2 — Craft the Kylus Greataxe

If the cliff climb sounds too risky or you would rather not deal with the fragile tree, there is a second way to get the Kylus Greataxe through crafting.

Step 1: Get the Two-Handed Weapons of the World, Vol. 4

This crafting book unlocks the Kylus Greataxe recipe along with other high-tier two-handed weapon blueprints. You can purchase it from the Equipment Shop NPC at Bloodsteel Camp — but only after you have liberated Bloodsteel Camp first.

Once the camp is liberated, the Equipment Shop NPC will appear. Build your trust with them to 100 and the book becomes available to purchase for 100 Silver.

Step 2: Learn the Recipe

Once you have the book, open it from your inventory and examine it to learn the blueprints inside. This permanently unlocks the Kylus Greataxe recipe in your crafting list.

Step 3: Craft at Any Smithy

Head to any Smithy in the game and the Kylus Greataxe will now appear as a craftable item. Gather the required materials and craft it.

This method does not have the excitement of pulling an axe out of a cliffside tree, but it is reliable and repeatable. It is also useful if you want a second copy or if you missed the cliff entirely.

For more on the crafting system, check our Crimson Desert How to Research guide and our guide on how to upgrade weapons and armor to get the most out of your crafted gear.

Tips for Using the Kylus Greataxe With Oongka

Lean into Oongka’s Rage ability. When Rage is active, Oongka gains super armor — he cannot be staggered. This changes the entire combat dynamic. Instead of dodging boss attacks the way Kliff does, you can power through them and keep swinging. Time your Rage activation for moments when you would otherwise need to dodge, and the Kylus Greataxe’s heavy hits will land without interruption.

Use Rampage for group fights. Oongka’s Rampage ability sends him into a wide cleaving frenzy. Combined with a greataxe’s natural AoE sweep, you can clear groups of enemies extremely fast. Enemy camps and large-scale encounters are where this combination shines.

Refine it at a Blacksmith. Like all weapons, the Kylus Greataxe scales well with refinement. Get it to +10 over time for maximum base attack. Our guide on how to reinforce equipment in Crimson Desert covers the materials you need.

Equip heavy plate armor on Oongka. He is not a dodge-heavy fighter — he is built to absorb hits. Stack the heaviest plate armor available and max out his physical defense. There is no movement penalty on Oongka for wearing heavy armor, so always prioritize it.

Pair with his Orc Blaster for range. Use the arm cannon to open fights from a distance and soften targets before closing with the greataxe. The Scatter Shot blast is especially good at punishing grouped enemies or hitting airborne targets. Our guide on how to beat flying enemies in Crimson Desert has more on handling aerial combat.

While You Are in the Serpent Marsh Region

The Jijeong Temple Pagoda area has more worth doing nearby:

The Ascetic’s Rest Abyss puzzle is accessed through the Pagoda Abyss Gate during Chapter 9. This is also where you find the Refined Palmar Pill Recipe on a stone ledge. Our Ascetic’s Rest Abyss Puzzle Solution has the full guide.
The Serpent Marsh Mysterious Energy puzzles are worth clearing in this area while you are already climbing around. See our Crimson Desert Mysterious Energy Zones for the Demeniss region coverage.
If you want to see how the Kylus Greataxe fits against all other two-handed options, our Crimson Desert Best Unique Weapons and Armor guide ranks them all.

More Crimson Desert Guides

Platforms

Crimson Desert is available on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox. For all news and updates from Pearl Abyss, visit the official Crimson Desert website.