TL;DR
- Deferred Advance is Mission 156 in Chapter 12. You must destroy 3 Musket Ultimate Weapon Cores while riding Blackstar the Dragon.
- Always go West (Gatling) → Middle (High Elevation) → East (Explosive Volley). Never deviate from this order.
- You cannot heal mid-mission. If Blackstar drops to around 5% health, the quest fails.
- Barrel rolls and Fireballs drain dragon stamina — glide periodically to recover it.
- Never fly in a straight line. The cannons use lead-targeting and will hit you with 100% accuracy if you do.
- If Blackstar respawns with low health, hit “Give Up” (Square/X) for a full reset — 50-minute cooldown applies.
- Build the Abyssal Dragon Armor and upgrade your Fireball at an Abyss Alchemist before attempting this.
Deferred Advance is one of the hardest missions in Crimson Desert. It’s Mission 156 in Chapter 12 – The Abyss (Sub-Chapter: The Final Battle), and it comes right after completing Precise Execution. You’re on your dragon Blackstar, trying to liberate Fort Musket — and standing between you and victory are three massive Musket Ultimate Weapon Cores. These giant cannons fire high-velocity explosives and Gatling rounds that will shred Blackstar fast if you don’t know the fight.
This guide covers everything — the right order, how each cannon works, stamina management, and what to do when things go wrong. Before you attempt this mission at all, complete the Abyssal Dragon Armor (Abyssal Fusion) guide first. It makes a real difference.
Before You Start: Critical Preparation
You cannot heal during this mission. There are no Recovery Items, no food, no way to restore Blackstar’s health mid-flight. If his health drops to around 5%, the quest fails and all three cannons reset. You have to destroy all of them in a single run.
This changes everything. Going in underprepared is not just hard — it’s a guaranteed fail. Sort these things out first:
Build the Abyssal Dragon Armor. The Abyssal Fusion armor gives Blackstar significantly better damage resistance. Without it, the east cannon can destroy you in very few hits.
Upgrade your Fireball at an Abyss Alchemist. Faster Fireballs mean you don’t have to lead your shots as much when targeting the cores. This is an easy upgrade that makes a noticeable difference in this fight specifically.
Understand dragon stamina. Barrel rolls and Fireballs both consume dragon stamina. If you run out while in the line of fire, you won’t be able to dodge. To recover stamina quickly, stop flapping and glide. Build gliding into your rhythm during every lull in combat.
Never fly in a straight line. The Musket Weapons use a lead-targeting system. They don’t fire where you are — they fire where you’re going to be based on your current trajectory. A straight flight path means they will hit you every single time. Always tilt, strafe, or curve your path.
The Correct Cannon Order
Always follow this order: West → Middle → East.
Triggering the middle or east cannon before the west is destroyed means fighting multiple cannons at once. That will end your run immediately. Stay in the west zone until that cannon is down before moving on.
How to Destroy All 3 Musket Ultimate Weapon Cores
Musket Ultimate Weapon Core 1 – West (Gatling Gun)
The west cannon fires sustained Gatling gun bursts at a high rate. It’s the most relentless of the three, but it has a clear recharge cycle you can exploit.
The cores are also not permanently exposed — they’re protected by heavy plating that only opens during the cannon’s cooling/recharge phase. You can’t damage it while the plating is closed. Wait for the opening.
Here’s the step-by-step:
- Clear all blimps in the west region first. Blimp chip damage adds up fast when you’re also taking Gatling fire. Don’t engage the cannon until the airspace is clear.
- Do not fly toward the middle or east. Crossing into those zones triggers the other two cannons early.
- Strafe left and right using the mountains as cover. Keep the ridgeline between you and the Gatling gun. Never fly straight.
- Wait for the Gatling gun to overheat and recharge. When it pauses, the core glows orange — that’s your window.
- Spam Fireball (R1/RB) into the glowing orange core during the recharge phase.
- When it spins back up, return to the mountain and repeat the cycle until it’s destroyed.
Musket Ultimate Weapon Core 2 – Middle (High Elevation)
The middle cannon sits at the highest point in the fort. At this stage, the east cannon is still active — so you’re managing two threats at once.
- Use the mountain the cannon is sitting on as cover from the east. The cliff face blocks line of sight from the eastern cannon’s missiles. Stay close to it.
- Use the open airspace from the destroyed west cannon to give yourself room to maneuver without being boxed in.
- Use barrel rolls (Circle/B, Circle/B) to dodge tracking missiles from the east cannon while you work on the middle one.
- Target the glowing orange core underneath the weapon platform. You need to dive low, pull up, and fire Fireballs upward into the core. It’s not a straight-on shot — approach from below.
- Stay behind the mountain, strafe constantly, and spam Fireballs whenever the core is exposed. Keep pressure on until it explodes.
Musket Ultimate Weapon Core 3 – East (Explosive Volley)
The east cannon is the most dangerous but also the most predictable once you understand its pattern.
- Clear any remaining blimps before engaging. You want a clean 1v1 with this cannon.
- Learn the attack. This cannon fires a volley of three explosives in a line. Each shot deals massive damage. A full volley can end your run.
- The moment you see the first shot leave the barrel, strafe left or right and double-tap Circle/B to barrel roll. React to the visual cue of the shot, not the explosion. Reacting to the explosion is too late.
- After the third shot, there is a 5-second vulnerability window where the core is fully exposed and the cannon cannot fire. This is your primary damage window. Unload every Fireball you have into the orange core during those 5 seconds.
- Repeat the dodge-and-fire cycle until it explodes and the mission ends.
The rhythm here is everything. Dodge the volley, dump Fireballs in the window, repeat. Once you internalize the timing, this cannon is actually the most straightforward of the three.
What to Do If Blackstar Respawns with Low Health
If Blackstar goes down and respawns with reduced health, stop immediately and do not continue.
On the game over screen, select “Give Up” (Square/X) to exit the mission area. This resets the encounter fully. Your dragon will leave, and there will be a 50-minute real-time cooldown before you can summon Blackstar again — but he’ll return at full health.
Use that 50 minutes wisely. Gather materials for better Dragon Armor, upgrade your Fireball at an Abyss Alchemist, or stock up on supplies for your next attempt. Check the how to get Aeserion Scales guide if you need dragon-related crafting materials.
One important thing to know: if you destroyed a core and then died, that core stays destroyed. Progress is saved per cannon. If the west core is down when you fail, it stays down when you restart. You only have to redo whatever cannons were still standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Kliff’s bow instead of Fireballs on the cores? Technically yes, but the damage is negligible. Use your bow only to clear blimps. The Musket Cores require the full impact of Blackstar’s Fireballs to take down efficiently. Stick to R1/RB for the cores.
Can I destroy the cores from the ground? No. Fort Musket is built on sheer cliffs that are inaccessible on foot during this mission. You must stay mounted on Blackstar for the entire fight.
Why do the cannons keep hitting me even when I try to dodge? You’re probably flying in a straight line. The cannons use lead-targeting — they predict your next position based on your current path. Always curve, tilt, or strafe your flight. A straight line is a guaranteed hit.
What happens if I destroy a core but then die? Your progress is saved per core. If you destroyed the west core before failing, you’ll respawn with that core still destroyed. You only need to finish the remaining ones.
Why is there a 50-minute cooldown after giving up? This is an intentional mechanic. Blackstar needs time to recover from injuries. While it’s frustrating, it means he returns at full health — which is worth it compared to retrying with a weakened dragon.
More Crimson Desert Guides
- All New Power Challenges – Primal Frenzy Boss Locations
- Flying Fortress Orbian Walkthrough
- Abyssal Dragon Armor – Abyssal Fusion Guide
- How to Get a Dragon in Crimson Desert
- How to Remove the Spear from the Dragon’s Back
- How to Get Aeserion Scales in Crimson Desert
- How to Beat Titan in Crimson Desert
- How to Beat Ator, Archon of Antumbra
- How to Find Legendary Creatures in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Max Health in Crimson Desert
- Full Crimson Desert Guide Hub
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