TL;DR
- Hernand Refinement Tokens were added in update 1.01
- They let you refine weapons and armor without spending any materials
- Only works on gear below Refinement Level 4
- Earned from main story quests and faction quests in Hernand
- Used at Turnali, the Blacksmith in Hernand City
- They are key items, so they don’t take up inventory space
If you logged into Crimson Desert after patch 1.01 dropped and noticed a pop-up telling you that you received Hernand Refinement Tokens, you are not alone in quickly closing it and moving on. They are easy to miss. But ignoring them is a mistake.
These tokens let you skip the material cost when refining your gear in the early game. No iron ore. No duplicate weapons. No hunting down crafting materials. Just one token, one free upgrade level. Here is everything you need to know.
What Is the Hernand Refinement Token?
The Hernand Refinement Token is a special key item added to Crimson Desert in update 1.01. It works as a free substitute for the materials normally required during the gear refinement process.
Each token adds one Refinement Level to a weapon or piece of armor. So if your sword is sitting at Refinement Level 2, you pop a token and it jumps to Level 3. No materials consumed. No duplicate item needed.
There is one big catch: these tokens only work on gear that is below Refinement Level 4. Once your item hits Level 4, the token option disappears from the menu entirely. From Level 5 onwards, you need Abyss Artifacts and rarer resources. The tokens are designed purely to help you through the early gear grind.
Because they are key items, they do not count against your inventory limit. You can safely stock them up without worrying about space.
If you want a deeper look at the full upgrade system, check our guide on how to upgrade weapons and armor in Crimson Desert.
How to Use Hernand Refinement Tokens
Using a token is simple once you know where to go.
Step 1: Travel to Hernand City. You can use the fast travel system to get there quickly. If you need help with that, here is our Crimson Desert fast travel guide.
Step 2: Find Turnali, the Blacksmith. He is located near Hernand Castle, right next to Rhett. He is the only NPC in Hernand who accepts these tokens.
Step 3: Open the Refinement menu and select the weapon or armor piece you want to upgrade. Make sure it is below Refinement Level 4.
Step 4: Look for the Refinement Tokens tab on the side of the screen. It sits alongside the standard material-based option.
Step 5: Select the Hernand Refinement Token, then press Refine. Done. Your gear goes up one level at zero material cost.
That is all there is to it. The token is an additional option in the menu, not a replacement. You can still refine the old way using materials or duplicate items if you prefer. For more on the refinement system in general, see our guide on how to reinforce equipment in Crimson Desert.
How to Get Hernand Refinement Tokens
There are a few ways to get your hands on these tokens.
Login Reward After Patch 1.01 Most players received their first batch of Hernand Refinement Tokens automatically when they logged in after update 1.01. If you had already completed Hernand quests before the patch dropped, those tokens were awarded retroactively. Check your inventory if you have not already.
Main Story Quests in Hernand Completing main story quests in and around Hernand is the primary way to keep earning tokens. The best approach is to clear Hernand’s main story quests first before moving on to side content.
Faction Quests in Hernand Faction quests are the other reliable source. After finishing the main quests, sweep through the faction quest lines tied to Hernand. Several of these offer tokens as completion rewards.
How to Check Which Quests Give Tokens Before accepting every quest on the map, open your Journal tab and scroll to the bottom of the quest summary for each mission. If a Hernand Refinement Token is listed as a reward, it will appear at the end of the rewards list. It takes a few extra seconds but it is worth knowing in advance.
At the time of writing, there is no vendor that sells these tokens directly. It is possible a future update could change that, but for now, questing is the only consistent source.
Important Things to Know
Tokens are region-specific. Hernand Refinement Tokens can only be used with Turnali in Hernand City. If you find tokens from other regions like Pailune or Delesyia as you progress, those have their own blacksmiths. Always read the item description in your inventory to see which Smithy accepts each token type.
Some gear cannot be refined at all. Certain rare armor sets, like the Frostcursed Armor Set, cannot be upgraded with or without tokens. Check the item before spending a token on it.
Do not hoard them. A common mistake is saving tokens for the “perfect” weapon. Stop it. These tokens cap out at Level 4, which means they become completely useless as you move into mid and late game. The moment you have a weapon you like and it is below Level 4, use the token. That is what they are for.
Best use case: shields and bows. Some community players point out that shields and bows are especially worth using tokens on early because the material requirements for those item types can be steep. Timber in particular tends to run low fast.
Why Refinement Matters in Crimson Desert
Refining your gear is one of the most important things you can do in the game. Each refinement level adds visible gold ticks to your item icon and directly boosts your stats. More attack means bosses go down faster. More defense means you survive hits that would otherwise wreck you.
The early boss fights in Crimson Desert are no joke. If you are struggling with early encounters, upgrading your gear can make a real difference. Check our guide on how to get better equipment in Crimson Desert for more options.
For specific gear worth upgrading early, our Crimson Desert best items early guide and best early build are good places to start.
Once you push past Level 4, you will need Abyss Artifacts and other rarer materials. Learn how to get Abyss Cells in our dedicated guide. You can also check how to open sealed Abyss Artifacts when you are ready for that step.
More Crimson Desert Guides
Now that your gear is upgraded, there is plenty more to do across Pywel. Here are some guides to help you keep progressing:
- How to Get Max Health in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Max Stamina in Crimson Desert
- How to Increase Attack Level in Crimson Desert
- How to Increase Defense Level in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Skill Points in Crimson Desert
- Best Skills to Level Up First in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert Accessories Guide
- How to Enter Hernand Castle in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert Hub — All Guides
Crimson Desert is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
