Defeat 3 Enemies with a Shield (Shield of Unchanging Will I) in Crimson Desert
TL;DR
- Pick up the Sealed Abyss Artifact north of Hernand Town, near the road to Wycliffe Mappery
- Equip a one-handed weapon and a shield
- Weaken enemies first with your weapon, then finish them with Shield Bash
- Shield Bash input: Hold L1/LB/CTRL + press R2/RT/RMB
- Kills from fall damage caused by Shield Bash may not count — stay on flat ground
- Open your inventory after completing the challenge and use the illuminated Sealed Abyss Artifact to claim the reward
- Completing all 6 Shield challenges unlocks the Master of Shields trophy
The Shield of Unchanging Will I is the first of six Shield Mastery challenges in Crimson Desert. It is one of the earliest Sealed Abyss Artifact challenges you can complete in the game, and the reward — an Abyss Artifact — goes directly toward upgrading your skills. All you need to do is defeat three enemies using your shield. Simple in concept, but there are a couple of things worth knowing before you head out.
For a full overview of how Sealed Abyss Artifacts work, see our guide on how to open Sealed Abyss Artifacts in Crimson Desert.
Shield of Unchanging Will I — Sealed Abyss Artifact Location
The Sealed Abyss Artifact that starts the Shield of Unchanging Will I challenge is in the Hernand region, along the road that runs north from Hernand Town toward the Wycliffe Mappery in Meandering Hills.
Follow that road north from Hernand Town. After passing the Saddlery and Stable, look for a small altar on the east side of the road — it sits at the second intersection north of the Hernand Royal Trading Post. The Sealed Abyss Artifact is sitting on top of that altar on a small rock formation.
Like all Sealed Abyss Artifacts, it will not show up on your main map. Watch for a purple icon on your minimap as you ride along the road — that will appear when you are close enough to spot it. You can also hold up your lantern at night, as artifacts emit a white ring of light from a distance, making them much easier to see while riding. Using your sword’s Guiding Light ability (L1+R1 / LB+RB / CTRL+Left Click on PC) will also trigger a faint blue glow to help you locate it.
How to Complete the Shield of Unchanging Will I Challenge
Once you pick up the artifact, the challenge becomes active. You need to defeat three enemies using your shield. Here is how to do it cleanly.
Step 1 — Equip a One-Handed Weapon and Shield
The Shield Bash skill is only available when you have a shield equipped alongside a one-handed weapon. Make sure your loadout has both before looking for enemies.
Step 2 — Find Suitable Enemies
The best targets for this challenge are weak, isolated enemies — bandits around the Hernand area work perfectly. They die reasonably fast, do not hit too hard, and stay close to roads where you will already be exploring. Avoid cliffs, elevated ledges, or areas where enemies might get knocked off a height during the fight. More on why below.
Step 3 — Weaken the Enemy First
Shield Bash is not a high-damage attack on its own. If you go straight for the Shield Bash on a full-health enemy, you will be there for a while. Instead, wear the enemy down with your regular weapon first. Get them low enough that one or two Shield Bashes will finish them off. Do not kill them with your weapon — stop and switch to Shield Bash for the final blow.
Step 4 — Land the Killing Blow With Shield Bash
The Shield Bash input is:
- PlayStation: Hold L1, then press R2
- Xbox: Hold LB, then press RT
- PC: Hold CTRL, then press RMB
Keep pressing Shield Bash until the enemy dies. The kill only counts toward the challenge if the final blow comes from the shield — not from your weapon, and not from fall damage.
Step 5 — Repeat for Three Enemies
Repeat the process on two more enemies. Once the third shield kill registers, the challenge is complete. You can track your progress at any time under Journal > Challenges.
Important — The Fall Damage Issue
Several players report that kills which cause enemies to fall off a ledge and die from fall damage do not count toward the challenge — even if a Shield Bash triggered the fall.
If you are finding that some kills are not registering, this is likely the reason. Stick to flat ground. Avoid ledges, bridges, or steep slopes while completing this challenge. Fighting on open roads or in flat fields eliminates the problem entirely.
How to Claim the Reward
Once you have three shield kills, the Sealed Abyss Artifact in your inventory will light up. Here is how to use it:
- Open your Inventory
- Go to the Key Item | Abyss Item group
- Find the Sealed Abyss Artifact that is illuminated
- Highlight it and use it
This will unseal the artifact and deliver your reward.
Shield of Unchanging Will I Reward
Completing the Shield of Unchanging Will I challenge earns you an Abyss Artifact. These are used to level up your skills — one of the most important progression systems in Crimson Desert. Spending them wisely early on can make a significant difference in how smoothly you handle the mid-game.
For help deciding where to put your Abyss Artifacts, see our guides on best skills to level up first in Crimson Desert and how to get skill points in Crimson Desert.
All Shield of Unchanging Will Challenges
Shield of Unchanging Will I is the first of six shield challenges. Completing all six unlocks the Master of Shields trophy and achievement. Here is a quick overview of the full series:
| Challenge | Task | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Shield of Unchanging Will I | Defeat 3 enemies with a shield | Hernand |
| Shield of Unchanging Will II | Block 10 arrows with a shield | Hernand |
| Shield of Unchanging Will III | Hit 3 enemies at once with a shield | Hernand |
| Shield of Unchanging Will IV | Defeat 5 enemies with a shield without taking damage | Hernand |
| Shield of Unchanging Will V | Flip 5 enemies with a shield | Demeniss |
| Shield of Unchanging Will VI | Land 10 hits on enemies within 1 minute using Shield Charge | Hernand |
Tips for Completing the Challenge Quickly
- Upgrade your one-handed weapon so you can weaken enemies faster before switching to Shield Bash. See our how to upgrade weapons and armor guide for help.
- Fight on flat open ground. Fall damage kills do not count.
- Target roadside bandits in Hernand. They are the weakest available enemies and die with minimal Shield Bash hits.
- Do not rush the killing blow. Make sure your weapon is put away or at least that Shield Bash is the last hit connecting.
- Track progress under Journal > Challenges if you are unsure whether a kill registered.
For more on how to use your shield defensively as well as offensively, see our how to parry, counter, and dodge in Crimson Desert guide.
More Crimson Desert Challenge Guides
- All Sword Mastery Challenges (Sword of Trials)
- How to Get the Soul Spear — Early OP Weapon
- How to Get Aeserion Scales
- How to Respec in Crimson Desert
- How to Increase Attack Level
- How to Increase Defense Level
- Crimson Desert Trophy List and All Achievements
- Crimson Desert HUD Explained
- Full Crimson Desert Guide Hub
Crimson Desert is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games Store. Visit the official Crimson Desert website for more.
