How to Get Hwando (Two-Handed Katana) in Crimson Desert

TL;DR

The Hwando is one of the best early-game weapons in Crimson Desert — a two-handed katana with 19 base attack
You need a Key (30 Bronze Coins) and optionally a Mask (10 Coins) — both available at Hernand Farmhouse from Grimrack
Head to Lioncrest Manor, north of Hernand Village
Climb through a window on the smaller building to the left of the manor
Unlock the second-floor door and loot the chest to get the Hwando + a Refined Palmar Pill
No fighting required — you can grab it in minutes

The early hours of Crimson Desert are no joke. Enemies hit hard, bosses act as real gear checks, and your starting weapons will only take you so far. That is where the Hwando comes in.

The Hwando is a two-handed katana sitting inside a locked chest at Lioncrest Manor. It has 19 base attack, comes with three pre-slotted Abyss Gears, and has two open slots for a total of five. For an early-game weapon, that is exceptional. The best part? You can grab it without fighting a single enemy.

Here is exactly how to do it.

Table of Contents

What You Need Before You Go

You only need one item to get the Hwando: a Key. The mask is optional — it lets you steal loose items from the manor without getting caught, but the Hwando itself sits in a treasure chest and is not flagged as stolen loot. If all you want is the sword, you can skip the mask.

That said, buying both is cheap and worth it if you want to explore the rest of the manor while you are there.

Where to buy them:

Visit Grimrack at Hernand Farmhouse, located south of Hernand Village. From his inventory, you can buy:

Key — 30 Bronze Coins
Mask — 10 Bronze Coins

Once you have them, equip the Mask from your inventory if you plan on taking any loose items. The key does not need to be equipped — just having it in your inventory is enough.

Need coins? Check out our guide on how to make money fast in Crimson Desert if you are running low.

How to Get to Lioncrest Manor

Lioncrest Manor is located northwest of Hernand Village. It is a large estate with guards stationed at every entrance. None of them will let you in through the front door — but that is fine because we are not using the front door.

The building you actually want is not the main manor. It is the smaller building to the left of the main entrance. Guards watch both doors, so do not even try them.

Instead, go around to the western side of the smaller building. Look for a window with no glass. You will get a prompt to climb up and open it. Do that, and you are in.

Step-by-Step: How to Get the Hwando

how to get hwando in crimson desert 2

Buy a Key from Grimrack at Hernand Farmhouse (south of Hernand Village) — 30 Bronze Coins. Pick up the Mask too for 10 Coins if you want it.
Equip the Mask from your inventory (optional, but recommended if you want to steal extra items).
Travel to Lioncrest Manor, northwest of Hernand Village.
Ignore all the main doors. Head to the smaller building on the left side of the manor entrance.
Find the glassless window on the western side of the smaller building. Climb up and open it to get inside.
Once inside, head to the second floor. You will see a locked door.
Walk into the locked door while carrying the Key. Your character will automatically use it to unlock the room — no extra prompt needed.
Inside the room, open the glowing chest. You will receive:
- Hwando (Two-Handed Katana)
- Refined Palmar Pill (revives you at 100% Health instead of 30%)
Exit back through the window the same way you came in. The guards will not notice a thing.

The whole process takes just a few minutes once you know where to go.

Hwando Stats and Abyss Gears

Here is what the Hwando comes with right out of the chest:

Stat	Value
Weapon Type	Two-Handed Katana
Base Attack	19
Abyss Gear Slots	5 (3 pre-slotted, 2 open)

Pre-slotted Abyss Gears:

Critical Rate Lv. 1 — increases your chance of landing critical hits
Stamina Siphon Lv. 1 — recovers stamina on hit
Attack Lv. 1 — flat attack boost

At max upgrade, the Hwando can reach 44 attack. That is a weapon you can carry deep into the mid-game without feeling underpowered.

Want to upgrade your gear further? See our guide on how to get better equipment in Crimson Desert and how to upgrade weapons and armor.

Why the Hwando Is Worth Getting

Two-handed katanas balance power and speed well. They are faster than heavy weapons and hit harder than one-handers. The Hwando specifically gives you:

High base damage for the early game
Built-in crit chance from the first swing
Stamina recovery on hit — which keeps your combat flow smooth
5 total Abyss Gear slots — room to grow as you find better gears

This makes it great for learning the game’s combat mechanics. If you are still getting used to how to parry, counter, and dodge in Crimson Desert, the Hwando gives you the damage output to make fights forgiving.

Most players will not find a clear upgrade until they take down a much harder boss much later in the story.

What Else Is in Lioncrest Manor?

If you brought the Mask, the manor has more to offer. While you are there, it is worth checking out:

Gold Bar — hidden inside the fireplace in the same smaller building. Easy to miss.
A decent shield — behind another locked door in the main manor building.
Gauntlets — inside a chest on the first floor of the main manor.
A Visione memory and a puzzle box are also in the main building if you want to explore.

You can enter the main manor the same way — climb in through the back windows. Just keep your Mask equipped if you are planning to take anything.

Looking for more hidden loot? Check out our Crimson Desert accessories guide and how to get lost loot.

Tips Before You Go

You do not need the Mask for the Hwando. The chest is not flagged as stolen. Only grab the Mask if you want to take loose items from the estate.
The Key is all that matters. It costs just 30 Bronze Coins and Grimrack sells them reliably.
You will also get a Refined Palmar Pill. This item revives you at full health instead of 30%, which is extremely useful for tough boss fights. See our guide on how to get and use Palmar Pills.
Do not fight the guards. There is no need and it will get you a bounty. Read our guide on how to remove a bounty in Crimson Desert if you accidentally pick one up.
If you have progressed far enough in the House Alfonso faction quest, the guards will actually let you walk right through the front entrance. But for most new players, the window method is the fastest route.

More Crimson Desert Guides

Getting the Hwando early gives you a great foundation. Here are a few more guides to keep your momentum going:

Crimson Desert is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games Store.