How to Lock On to Targets in Crimson Desert

Table of Contents

TL;DR

There are two lock-on modes in Crimson Desert: Hard Lock On and Soft Lock On.
Hard Lock On — Press Down on the D-Pad (controller) or Caps Lock (PC) to pin your focus on one enemy.
Soft Lock On — Hold L1 / LB (controller) to guard and automatically lock onto the nearest enemy.
You cannot switch targets mid-Hard Lock. You must press Down on the D-Pad again to re-lock onto a new enemy.
Soft Lock automatically snaps to whoever just hit you — great for crowd defense.
Holding the guard button during Soft Lock can slow your stamina regen, so use it in short bursts.

Crimson Desert drops you into fights where dozens of enemies swarm you at once. The camera tries to give you a wide view, but that can cause your attacks to miss between enemies entirely — what players call “aim drift.” Knowing how to use the lock-on system properly is one of the most important combat fundamentals in the game.

There are two types of lock-on here: Hard Lock On and Soft Lock On. They look similar on screen — both show a white dot on an enemy — but they behave very differently. Knowing which to use, and when, will change how your fights play out.

how to activate hard lock on in crimson desert

Hard Lock On — Precise Single-Target Focus

Hard Lock On pins your camera and movement to one specific enemy. It doesn’t track their movement automatically like a traditional lock-on in games like Dark Souls. Instead, you stay in control of the camera, and your character simply faces and prioritizes that target. This is what makes Crimson Desert’s system feel different from most action games.

How to Activate Hard Lock On

Platform	Input
PlayStation	Press Down on the D-Pad
Xbox	Press Down on the D-Pad
PC	Press Caps Lock

Once activated, a white reticle with bordered edges appears on the target. Kliff will now face that enemy as you move around them.

When to Use Hard Lock On

Hard Lock works best in these situations:

Boss fights — Bosses are single, powerful enemies. Hard Lock lets you stay focused on their attack patterns without the camera drifting.
Identifying a leader — When approaching a camp, use Hard Lock from a distance to single out the commander before the fight starts.
One-on-one duels — When you want to isolate an enemy and deal with them precisely before moving to the next.

How to Switch Targets in Hard Lock On

You cannot cycle to another target while Hard Lock is active. There is no target-switch button. To change targets:

Press Down on the D-Pad again to release the current lock.
Move your camera until the white reticle lands on the new enemy.
Press Down on the D-Pad once more to re-lock.

This takes a moment, so Hard Lock is best saved for when you’re committed to one enemy. If you’re in a large group fight, Soft Lock handles target-switching far better.

Camera Warning in Tight Spaces

Hard Lock can get awkward in enclosed areas. When your back is against a wall, the camera may feel “cramped” and cut off your view of incoming attacks. Before committing to Hard Lock in a tight room, check that you have space to move around your target freely.

how to activate soft lock on in crimson desert

Soft Lock On — Automatic Close-Range Defense

Soft Lock On is a temporary lock. It activates the moment you raise your guard and disappears as soon as you drop it. It always snaps to the enemy closest to you — or whoever just attacked you. You never have to choose manually.

How to Activate Soft Lock On

Platform	Input
PlayStation	Hold L1
Xbox	Hold LB

A plain white dot in a circle appears over the locked target. This is different from the bordered reticle of Hard Lock.

Holding L1 / LB does two things at once — it activates your guard (shield, dual weapons, or two-handed weapon depending on your loadout) and it automatically locks onto the nearest enemy.

How Target Switching Works in Soft Lock

You don’t need to do anything. While holding the guard button, the Soft Lock automatically transfers to whichever enemy just hit you. This makes it reactive — as new enemies attack from different directions, your lock shifts to the most recent threat. It keeps you focused on the present danger without any manual switching.

One Important Caveat — Stamina

Holding L1 / LB during Soft Lock drains your stamina more slowly than attacking, but it still costs resources. Don’t hold the guard button continuously. Use it in short bursts when you expect an incoming strike, then release. This keeps your stamina healthy and lets you dodge and attack when the moment comes.

Hard Lock vs. Soft Lock — Which Should You Use?

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

Outnumbered and defending? Use Soft Lock. It handles the chaos for you.
In a boss fight or one-on-one? Use Hard Lock. Precision matters more than flexibility.
Approaching a camp from distance? Use Hard Lock to identify and target the leader early.
Mid-fight with lots of enemies? Switch between both — Hard Lock when you isolate someone, Soft Lock when you’re swarmed again.

The two modes complement each other. Getting comfortable switching between them is what separates a struggling fighter from a clean one.

Lock-On Tips for Better Combat

A few more things worth knowing:

Don’t wait to be hit. As you walk toward a group, start a Hard Lock on the highest-threat enemy before combat starts. This keeps you in control from the first second.
Your right stick still works in Hard Lock. Crimson Desert doesn’t take camera control away from you. You can still move the camera independently, which is what makes this system feel different from most lock-on mechanics.
Soft Lock is available with all weapon types. Whether you have a shield, two-handed sword, or dual axes, L1 / LB will always trigger Soft Lock on the nearest target.
Practice on weaker enemies first. Groups of bandits or wolves are a great place to get comfortable switching between Hard and Soft Lock before tougher encounters.

For more on combat fundamentals, check out our guides on how to use Blinding Flash, how to use Axiom Force, and how to dual wield.

Lock-On in Difficult Fights

Now that you know the mechanics, here’s how they apply to some of the game’s harder encounters:

For bosses like Kailok the Hornsplitter, Hard Lock is essential. See our Kailok the Hornsplitter guide for the fight breakdown.
Against Kearush the Slayer, you’ll spend a lot of time in a one-on-one. Hard Lock is your friend. Our Kearush the Slayer guide covers the full fight.
The Reed Devil is a fast-moving enemy that tests your ability to maintain lock while repositioning. Our Reed Devil guide has tips for staying on target.
In the Crimson Nightmare fight, the enemy moves unpredictably. Knowing when to switch from Hard to Soft Lock matters here. See our Crimson Nightmare guide.

Build Matters Too

Lock-on only takes you so far. If your damage output or defenses aren’t up to scratch, you’ll still struggle. A few guides that help with this:

And if you’re planning to unlock powerful elemental skills — locking on properly makes them land far more reliably. Check our guide on how to get Flame Strike (Tree of Slumber walkthrough) for one of the strongest skills in the game.

For a full look at how all of this fits together, read our Crimson Desert review.

Where to Get Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert is available now on the following platforms: