How to Use the Claw Machine in Crimson Desert

TL;DR

• The Claw Machine is a new minigame added in Patch 1.06.00, found at The Laughing Marionette circus northwest of the City of Demeniss.
• There are three machines inside a small wooden structure next to the carnival tent.
• Pricing: 1 Silver for 1 attempt, 5 Silver for 6 attempts, 10 Silver for 12 attempts (best value).
• Control the crane with the D-Pad, then press the grab button to drop the claw.
• Key technique: Rotate the camera until the open pentagon side of the prize cage faces up, then lower the claw rod into that opening.
• Press Triangle (PS5) / Y (Xbox) before your attempt to shake the machine and separate stacked prizes.
• Rewards rotate daily — check all three machines before spending Silver.
• Prizes include: 12 lighting items (lanterns, lamps), chairs, Marni’s Machina Knight headgear, Abyss Artifacts, and Abyss Gears.
• The area requires Chapter 8 completion for free access — earlier players can sneak in via a side entrance.

How to use the Claw Machine in Crimson Desert is one of the most fun questions to answer — Pearl Abyss added a fully physics-driven arcade crane minigame in Patch 1.06.00, and it rewards everything from housing decorations to Abyss Gears. The machine looks simple but has a specific technique that dramatically improves your success rate. This guide covers the exact location, pricing, controls, the pentagon cage trick, and every reward available. For other minigames in Crimson Desert, check our guides on how to win the Archery Contest and how to win the Spearsmanship Contest. Our full Crimson Desert guide hub has everything in one place.

What Is the Claw Machine?

The Claw Machine is an arcade-style crane minigame officially labeled as “914. Claw Machine” in the game’s interface. It works exactly like a real-life claw machine — you control a pronged hook suspended from a crane, position it above the prize you want, drop the claw, and try to carry the item to the prize chute without dropping it.

It is a physics-driven activity, which means prizes can slip, swing, and fall unpredictably. However, understanding the cage mechanic and using the shake trick before each attempt makes the whole process significantly more reliable. The machines are repeatable with no daily attempt limit, and the prize pool resets every day.

Claw Machine Location — The Laughing Marionette

The Claw Machine is found inside The Laughing Marionette, a circus venue located northwest of the City of Demeniss. On the map, it sits between the M and E of the Demeniss label. The venue is easy to identify once you are in the area — look for the Ferris wheel ride beside it.

The three Claw Machine booths are inside a small wooden structure next to the main carnival tent and the notice board at the Laughing Marionette. All three machines have the same pricing and prize pool structure, but the specific items inside each one differ and rotate daily — so check all three before spending.

Access Requirements

The Laughing Marionette is located near Demeniss, which is hostile territory until you complete Chapter 8 of the main story. If you have finished Chapter 8, you can walk in freely. If you have not reached Chapter 8 yet, the guards in the area will be hostile. However, you can still access the machines by using the crouch mechanic to sneak through the tall grass and enter via the side entrance of the building — once inside the minigame room, guards typically will not follow you. For help with the Demeniss chapter content, check our guide on how to beat Tenebrum and our Lock Device Switch walkthrough.

Claw Machine Pricing — How Many Coins to Spend

When you interact with a machine, you choose how many attempts to purchase. All three machines use the same three pricing tiers:

• 1 Silver — 1 attempt
• 5 Silver — 6 attempts
• 10 Silver — 12 attempts (best value per attempt)

Always buy the 10 Silver bundle when you are seriously farming a specific prize. The extra attempts are essential because the physics engine will occasionally cause even a well-positioned claw to slip. Having 12 attempts per session gives you enough runs to course-correct and still come away with the items you want. For tips on building your Silver income to fund regular machine runs, see our guide on how to make money fast in Crimson Desert.

How to Use the Claw Machine — Controls and Technique

Basic Controls

• D-Pad — Move the crane left, right, forward, and back to position the claw above your target.
• Square (PS5) / X (Xbox) / confirm button (PC) — Drop the claw to grab.
• Triangle (PS5) / Y (Xbox) — Shake the machine before your attempt to separate stacked prizes.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Inspect the machine before paying. The front and right panes are transparent, so you can see what prizes are inside before spending a single coin. Switch to first-person view for the best angle to read what is in each case. If none of the prizes interest you, walk away and check the next machine.
2. Pay for your attempts using the pricing tier you want.
3. Shake the machine first. Before positioning the claw, press Triangle / Y to shake the machine. This separates prizes that are stacked on top of each other. Stacked prizes drop your success rate close to zero because the claw bounces off the top layer instead of grabbing your target.
4. Find the open pentagon side of the prize cage. Each prize sits inside a small transparent cage with a pentagon-shaped opening on one side. The claw rod must enter through this opening to successfully hook the item. Rotate your camera around the machine until you can see the open pentagon side — you need it facing upward before you drop.
5. Position the crane above the opening. Use the D-Pad to move the crane so the claw is centered directly above the open pentagon face of the cage. Check from multiple angles — the cage looks symmetric but is only open on one side.
6. Drop the claw by pressing the grab button. The rod lowers into the opening and the item attaches to it.
7. Move the claw to the prize chute carefully. Keep the item stable as you steer it toward the drop zone. Sudden movements can shake the prize loose.
8. The item drops into the chute and goes to your inventory.

Why the Claw Fails — Common Reasons

• Pentagon opening facing sideways or down — The rod cannot enter a closed face. Rotate the camera until the opening faces up before dropping.
• The rod is offset from the center of the opening — Even a small misalignment causes the claw to slip off the cage surface. Check your positioning from a second angle before confirming.
• Prizes are stacked — Always shake first. A prize buried under another item is nearly impossible to grab directly.
• Moving the crane while it is already lowering — Once you press the drop button, avoid touching the D-Pad. Moving the crane mid-descent throws off the final position.
• 30-second timer pressure — Each attempt has a 30-second window. Take a breath before paying. Panic leads to poor alignment. Know your target before the timer starts.

All Claw Machine Rewards

The prize pool includes both cosmetic and gameplay-relevant items. Prizes rotate daily across all three machines. Here is the full category breakdown:

Decorative and Housing Items

• 12 types of lighting items — Lanterns, lamps, and other light fixtures for housing and camp decoration. These are the most common prizes and the main draw for players focused on homestead customization.
• Chair — A furniture piece for housing interiors. One type currently available. For more on homestead customization, check our guide on the Homestead quest in Crimson Desert.

Cosmetic Items

• Marni’s Machina Knight headgear — A unique helmet with a single eye that blinks. This item is exclusive to the Claw Machine and cannot be obtained anywhere else in the game. A must-have for collectors.

Progression Items

• Abyss Artifacts — Used to upgrade your core stats. These are the most valuable drops from the machine for combat-focused players. They are rarer than the decorative prizes.
• Abyss Gears — Equippable Abyss Gear pieces. Also rare spawns. These can be meaningful upgrades depending on your current loadout. To see all Abyss Gear options and understand what to aim for, see our full Abyss Gears list and best weapon Abyss Gears guide.

Daily Reset and Farming Strategy

Prize pools across all three machines reset daily. This means:

• If none of the current prizes interest you, walk away and return tomorrow. The cases are transparent so you can window-shop for free.
• If you see the Abyss Artifact or Marni’s Machina Knight headgear in one of the machines, that is the time to spend your 10 Silver bundle and maximize attempts on that specific machine.
• If items inside the machine are all lighting decor and you are only farming Abyss items, save your Silver and come back the next day.
• Check all three machines each visit before committing to any one of them — each machine can have a different selection on any given day.

Tips to Improve Your Success Rate

• Always shake first. Press Triangle / Y before every attempt. This one habit alone dramatically improves your grab rate by clearing stacked prize arrangements.
• Use first-person view to inspect prizes. Before inserting coins, switch to first-person to get a clear read on exactly what is inside each cage and how the prizes are positioned.
• Target prizes near the edges first. Prizes along the outer perimeter of the machine have one side blocked by the wall, making them slightly easier to approach from the correct angle. Clear outer prizes before going for items in the center of the pile.
• Buy in bulk. The 10 Silver for 12 attempts bundle is always better value. Do not play one coin at a time — the physics engine will occasionally cost you an attempt through no fault of your own, so having reserves is important.
• Do not touch the D-Pad after dropping. Once you commit to the drop, let the claw descend without interference.
• Heavier items need better centering. Abyss Gears and Abyss Artifacts are heavier in the game engine and require a more precisely centered claw position than lightweight lanterns. Take extra time aligning the rod on these prizes before dropping.

Related Guides

• How to Activate the Lock Device Switch — Gate to the Otherworld puzzle in the same Demeniss chapter
• How to Open Sealed Abyss Artifacts
• How to Get Unlimited Abyss Artifacts
• How to Make Money Fast in Crimson Desert
• How to Get and Use Wardrobes in Crimson Desert
• Duo Card Game Guide — Another fun minigame to try
• How to Find and Beat Queen Stoneback Crab

Crimson Desert is available on the official Pearl Abyss site, Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox, and the Epic Games Store.