TL;DR
- In Ashes is the 77th main mission in Chapter 6: Cracks in the Shield (Turning Tides sub-chapter)
- Don’t rush straight into the base — clear soldiers outside the entrance first
- Use Whistling Arrows to call artillery strikes on the Black Bear Captain
- The Captain can kill you in one or two hits — don’t tank his hammer attacks
- Watchtower trick: climb the tallest tower and rain Whistling Arrows from above
- After defeating the Captain, remaining enemies scatter automatically
What Is the In Ashes Quest in Crimson Desert?
In Ashes is the 77th main mission in Crimson Desert, sitting inside Chapter 6: Cracks in the Shield under the Turning Tides sub-chapter. It follows directly after the Fire Support quest.
Quick note — there are two quests named In Ashes in Crimson Desert. The first is quest 2 in the Prologue. This guide covers the Chapter 6 version, which is a completely different mission.
The objective here is simple on paper: infiltrate the Black Bears’ base in the Calphade region and rescue the captured soldiers. In practice, the base is packed with enemies and guarded by a hard-hitting Captain mini-boss that can shut down an unprepared run fast.
After finishing In Ashes, the next quest is Hidden Fangs, where you’ll hunt down and destroy 5 Black Bears battle tanks. Completing that one before Reclamation makes the final enemy clear noticeably easier since the Black Bears lose their artillery support.
For the full picture of where this fits, see our Crimson Desert all main story quests guide.
How to Prepare Before Starting In Ashes
Chapter 6 is a long chapter — 15 quests across 4 sub-chapters — and several missions flow directly into each other with no break. Stock up before you go in.
Bring plenty of food. Grilled Meat works well. The Black Bear Captain has a massive health pool and the fight takes time. See our best healing food guide for what to cook.
Bring Whistling Arrows. These are essential for this quest. You’ll use them to call artillery bombardments on both enemies and the Captain. If you run out, resupply at a friendly camp — look for the flag icon on the map. You can also replenish at any friendly encampment in the area.
Check your weapon. The Black Bear Captain has a lot of health. Players going in with weaker weapons barely dent his health bar after minutes of melee. The Darkbringer sword makes a noticeable difference if you have it. Reinforce whatever you’re using before entering. See how to reinforce equipment in Crimson Desert.
How to Infiltrate the Black Bears’ Base in Crimson Desert
When the quest begins, talk to the soldier at the base outskirts, then head north down the hill to the friendly camp. From there, the base is the central camp surrounded by palisades — you can enter through the open front entrance.
Don’t rush straight inside. The base is full of Black Bear warriors and the Captain is waiting in the center. Charging in gets you swarmed immediately.
Instead, work the outside first. Clear the pockets of Black Bear soldiers positioned around the entrance. Thin them out before engaging anything inside. Use your Whistling Arrows here too — they call in artillery bombardments that can wipe out large groups of enemies fast, not just the Captain.
Once the outside is mostly cleared, visit a resupply point if you need to top up your Whistling Arrows and healing items. The flag icons on your map show the friendly resupply camps.
How to Beat the Black Bear Captain in Crimson Desert (In Ashes Quest)
The Black Bear Captain is a hammer-wielding mini-boss who can kill Kliff in one or two hits if his attacks connect. Don’t try to tank him. Stay mobile and use the environment.
Lure the Black Bear Captain Outside the Gates
Equip your bow with Whistling Arrows. Shoot the Black Bear Captain while he’s standing still inside the base. Your allies will fire an artillery strike at him, dealing solid damage.
This also triggers his jump-slam attack. When you see the red circle appear on the ground, dodge immediately — that’s where he lands.
Once he jumps toward you and ends up outside the gates, he loses the ability to attack you. Use that window to land melee combos. Hit him hard while he’s stuck outside.
Keep at it until he retreats back through the gates.
Keep Repeating Until the Black Bear Captain Is Dead
As soon as he’s back inside the gates, shoot him with another Whistling Arrow. This pulls him back out again with the jump attack. Once he’s outside, he can’t hit you — attack freely.
Repeat this loop. It takes a few cycles but it’s clean and safe.
Important: Don’t fight the smaller Black Bear warriors while the Captain is active. Engaging adds while the Captain is roaming leaves you open to his jump-slam from range. If you need to clear them, pull them outside the base first and deal with them away from the Captain’s area.
Watchtower Strategy (Alternative Method)
If you’re struggling with the ground-level approach, try this. Climb the tallest watchtower inside the base and shoot Whistling Arrows down at the Captain from above. The elevated position keeps you out of range of most of his attacks and lets you call bombardment after bombardment.
The Captain may teleport up to your position. If he does, dodge his jump attack, land a quick combo, and he’ll drop back down. Keep shooting from above.
After the Black Bear Captain Falls
Once the Captain is defeated, a cutscene plays and the remaining Black Bear warriors scatter automatically. You don’t need to chase them down. The quest advances and the prisoners are rescued.
Completing the Turning Tides sub-chapter rewards you with 10x Whistling Arrows — which you’ll need immediately for Hidden Fangs.
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