Crimson Desert: How to Get the Reindeer Cloak (Deer Disguise)

TL;DR

The Reindeer Cloak is found in a hidden cave west of Lake Kharonso, near the Scholastone Institute in southwest Hernand
It becomes accessible during Chapter 4’s Forbidden Knowledge questline — you must reach this area through the story first
The cave entrance is blocked by a glowing shiny rock that cannot be broken with normal attacks
You must use Focused Force Palm — hold the skill, wait for the yellow circle inside the rock to glow bright gold, then release
Stand back when you release — the rock shatters and leaves an Abyss Cell that can shock you if you are too close
Enter the cave, climb the winding staircase, and break the luminous wall at the top using Focused Force Palm again
Reward: Reindeer Cloak (+3 Defense, Level 5 Ice Resistance, Deer Disguise) and a Refined Palmar Pill
When worn, wildlife like deer and reindeer detect you much more slowly — walk slowly near herds to hunt without chasing

Hunting in Crimson Desert is one of those systems that starts frustrating fast. You spot a deer, you get close, it bolts, and you end up sprinting across a field burning through stamina trying to catch it. The Reindeer Cloak fixes that entirely.

It is a full reindeer-head hood with antlers that makes wildlife treat you like one of their own. Walk slowly into a herd, get close enough to swing, and hunt without the chase. On top of the disguise effect, it also carries Level 5 Ice Resistance — which makes it genuinely useful gear for the colder mountain regions you will be pushing into around this point in the story.

Here is exactly where to find it and how to break through the rock blocking the way.

Table of Contents

What Is the Reindeer Cloak?

The Reindeer Cloak is a leather-type cloak that goes in the back equipment slot. It looks exactly like what the name suggests — a full reindeer hide draped over your shoulders with a deer head headdress on top. It is one of the most visually distinctive pieces in the game.

Its stats are:

Defense: +3
Ice Resistance: Level 5
Special Effect: Deer Disguise — reduces detection speed from deer, reindeer, and elk significantly when worn

The disguise is not invisibility. Wildlife will still eventually notice you if you sprint toward them or make loud movements near the herd. Walk slowly and calmly and you can get within melee range without them scattering. It also makes hunting with melee weapons far more practical, saving your arrows for tougher enemies.

The Level 5 Ice Resistance is a genuine bonus on top — not just a gimmick item. For tips on surviving cold areas and frost damage more broadly, see our Crimson Desert ice resistance guide.

When Can You Get the Reindeer Cloak?

You cannot grab this cloak at any point in the game. The area becomes accessible once you reach Chapter 4, specifically the Forbidden Knowledge questline, which sends you to the Scholastone Institute for the first time. The key mission that brings you to this area is called Scholastone.

You do not need to complete the questline before grabbing the cloak. As long as you have reached the Scholastone Institute area and have Kharonso on your map, the cave is available to explore. The Focused Force Palm skill — which you need to break the rock — is also taught to you as part of progressing through this area, so you should already have it unlocked by the time you arrive.

Reindeer Cloak Location — Step by Step

reindeer cloak location in crimson desert

Step 1: Get to the Scholastone Institute Area

The Scholastone Institute is located southwest of Hernand City, near Lake Kharonso. Use the fast travel system to get there quickly once the area is unlocked. The village of Kharonso sits just below the institute on the hill.

Step 2: Find the Cave West of Lake Kharonso

From the Scholastone Institute, head west toward Lake Kharonso. Look for a large cave entrance built into the cliffs on the western shore of the lake. You will know you are in the right spot when you see trolls and scholars coexisting in and around the cave entrance. Do not pick a fight with the trolls — just head inside.

An alternative route described during the Scholastone quest: look for the melee pit in Kharonso village, head behind it, and follow the path to the cave from there.

enter troll cave reindeer cloak crimson desert

Step 3: Climb the Winding Staircase

As soon as you enter the cave, turn left. You will see a stone staircase hugging the cave wall. Follow it upward. The path winds through the cave interior and eventually transitions back to the mountain exterior, leading you to an upper balcony section. Keep climbing until you reach the top.

break crystal wall reindeer cloak crimson desert

Step 4: Break the Luminous Wall with Focused Force Palm

At the top of the stairs, you will hit what looks like a dead end — a luminous wall glowing with a faint Abyss energy. Normal attacks do nothing to it. The only way through is Focused Force Palm.

Here is how to use it correctly:

On PC: Enter Focus mode by pressing X, then press Middle Mouse Button and hold.

On Console: Press L3 + R3 simultaneously to enter Focus mode, then press R3 again and hold.

Once you activate Focused Force Palm, a light yellow circular boundary will appear inside the wall. Watch it carefully. When that boundary glows bright golden, release the button at that exact moment. The wall shatters.

Important: Step back before releasing. Breaking the wall leaves behind an Abyss Cell at the impact point. If you are standing too close when it shatters, the cell will shock you and deal significant damage — potentially knocking you off the ledge. Use the skill from a comfortable distance.

Step 5: Open the Chest

Once the wall is gone and the Abyss Cell dissipates, walk through into the small hidden chamber on the other side. The treasure chest is right there next to the wall. Open it.

Reward: Reindeer Cloak and a Refined Palmar Pill.

The Refined Palmar Pill revives you automatically at full health during a critical moment in combat. It is worth holding onto for tough boss fights. For more on these, see our Palmar Pills guide.

How to Use the Focused Force Palm Skill

If you are not yet comfortable with Focused Force Palm, here is a quick breakdown since it is used in multiple places across Pywel beyond just this cave.

Focused Force Palm is an upgraded version of the standard Force Palm. You enter Focus mode first, then activate Force Palm from within that stance. The difference is the charged aiming mechanic — a circular boundary appears at your target point, and you must release at the golden flash rather than just pressing the button.

The skill is also essential for rotating hidden walls and secret panels throughout the game. If you see a suspicious-looking wall panel, a shiny rock, or a surface with a faint glow, Focused Force Palm is almost always the answer. You will use it again and again as you explore manors, caves, and ruins across Hernand and beyond.

How to Use the Reindeer Cloak for Hunting

Once you have the cloak, equip it in your cloak slot from your inventory. The disguise effect activates automatically whenever you are wearing it near wildlife.

The golden rule is simple: move slowly. Even with the disguise active, deer have eyes. A full sprint directly toward a herd looks suspicious on any creature. Walk calmly into range and the detection meter fills far more slowly than it normally would. You can get close enough to use melee weapons for kills without triggering a panic.

A few things to keep in mind:

Stay downwind. If wind indicators show leaves blowing from your direction toward the prey, they will pick up your scent before they see you. Approach from downwind for best results.

Do not attack other animals mid-herd. If you strike a wolf or another animal right in the middle of a group of deer, the commotion will spook them regardless of what you are wearing.

Crouch and use tall grass when available. Combining the cloak with natural cover reduces your visibility even further, giving you more time to line up a clean strike.

Hunting with the Reindeer Cloak is especially useful when you are farming hides and bones for gear upgrades. For context on what those materials go toward, see our guide on how to reinforce equipment in Crimson Desert.

If you are looking for other animals and mounts across Pywel, check our guides on how to get a lion mount and how to get a bear mount for more creature-related content.

More Crimson Desert Guides

While you are in the Scholastone Institute area and pushing through Chapter 4, here are more guides to help:

Crimson Desert is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store.