How to Get & Repair the Mech (A.T.A.G.) in Crimson Desert

TL;DR

The A.T.A.G. mech (All-Terrain Armored Gear) first appears in Chapter 10 during the Secret Weapon quest
You can craft your own Small Kuku A.T.A.G. after the New Designs faction quest in Chapter 11
Repair broken mechs by pulling a lever at any A.T.A.G. factory in Gorthak — Regent’s Rise has plenty
Three mech variants exist: Small Kuku A.T.A.G., standard A.T.A.G., and High Mobility A.T.A.G.
The High Mobility A.T.A.G. requires completing the Sanctum of Exaltation
Weapon upgrades like cannons, lasers, and flamethrowers are unlocked through Research Institutes in Delesyia

Crimson Desert has horses, wolves, and even dragons, but nothing hits quite like climbing inside a giant walking war machine. The A.T.A.G. — short for All-Terrain Armored Gear — is Crimson Desert’s mech. It is a fully armored combat unit with machine guns, cannons, EMP blasts, rocket fists, flamethrowers, and jetpacks depending on the version. Kliff can pilot it directly, using it to tear through enemy formations from behind thick metal plating.

You will not get your hands on one until deep into the story, but once you do, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in the game. This guide covers every version of the A.T.A.G., how to craft each one, how to repair them, and how to upgrade the weapons.

Table of Contents

When Do You Unlock the Mech in Crimson Desert?

The A.T.A.G. mech first appears during Chapter 10 of the main story. The quest is called Secret Weapon, and it is part of the broader Chapter 10 arc called Counterattack. During this mission, you help the Ironflame Orcs defend Gorthak from a mechanical invasion and get hands-on time with the mech for the first time.

For most players doing minimal side exploration, Chapter 10 lands around 50 to 60 hours into the game. The A.T.A.G. is not a shortcut you can rush to early.

Once inside the mech, you have access to a wide range of controls. The base unit comes equipped with:

Rapid-fire machine gun
Cannon
EMP blast
Iron Fists

Higher versions of the mech add flamethrowers, missile launchers, rocket fists, and jetpacks. You can check which version you are climbing into by looking at the Mk number displayed before you enter.

How to Repair the Mech in Crimson Desert

The A.T.A.G. runs on a battery. That battery is also its health pool. When the charge drains to zero from enemy attacks or extended use, the mech shuts down and becomes useless.

To get a fresh mech, head to any A.T.A.G. factory in Gorthak, which sits in the southeast region of the map in Delesyia. These factories have lever mechanisms on the side. Simply pull the lever to reveal a brand new unit ready to pilot.

Regent’s Rise is the best spot for this. It has multiple A.T.A.G. units available and is easy to reach once you have the area unlocked. If you are having trouble getting around Delesyia, check our guide on how to fast travel in Crimson Desert.

How to Craft the A.T.A.G. in Crimson Desert

There are three craftable versions of the A.T.A.G. in Crimson Desert. You unlock them in order, each requiring the previous one as a crafting material.

Step 1: Craft the Small Kuku A.T.A.G.

At the start of Chapter 11, a new faction quest called New Designs unlocks under the Ironflame Orcs tab in your Journal. Head to Zargan Tankworks in Gorthak and speak with the artisan Marek. He will hand you the Small Kuku A.T.A.G. Design blueprint.

Take the blueprint to the Mysterious Iron Pot Workshop in Hernand to craft it. You will need the following materials:

1x Kuku Pot — Crafted at the Mysterious Iron Pot Workshop in Hernand. You first receive one during Chapter 4’s Mysterious Pot main quest at Kilnden Workshop. If you need more, send Greymane comrades on dispatch missions to Kilnden Workshop. See our Kiln Repair at the Kilnden Workshop quest guide for help.
1x Abyss Cell — Dropped by Abyss-corrupted enemies. These look like ordinary rocks, bushes, or shrubbery but glow with an Abyss orb. Check the mountains west of Calphade or east of the Crimson Desert region.
5x Cogwheel — Dropped by mechanical enemies including golems, robot mosquitoes, and other contraptions in Delesyia.
5x Small Battery — Dropped by robotic enemies and pirates in Delesyia.

Once you craft the Small Kuku A.T.A.G., return to Marek and show it to him to complete the New Designs quest.

Step 2: Craft the Standard A.T.A.G.

After showing Marek your Small Kuku A.T.A.G., he hands you the blueprint for the full standard A.T.A.G. Head back to Grimnir’s Kuku Shop in Hernand to craft it. Required materials are:

1x Small Kuku A.T.A.G.
300x Small Batteries
300x Cogwheels
2x Power Core — Verse of Sowing
1x Core of Benediction

The standard A.T.A.G. is a major step up. It comes fully equipped with Iron Fists, a machine gun, cannon, and EMP. This is the version you will use for most of the late game.

Step 3: Craft the High Mobility A.T.A.G.

The High Mobility A.T.A.G. is the most powerful mech variant. It is stronger in every stat and capability compared to the standard version. To unlock it, you must first cleanse the Sanctum of Exaltation in Pailune. That requires starting the Witch of Kindness quest first. See our Sanctum of Exaltation Puzzle Solution guide for a full walkthrough.

Required materials to craft the High Mobility A.T.A.G.:

1x Small Kuku A.T.A.G.
400x Small Batteries
200x Cogwheels
2x Power Core — Crown of Shadows — Dropped by creatures inside the Abyss
1x Core of Temperance — Earned by completing puzzles in the Sanctum of Temperance. See our Sanctum of Temperance Puzzle Solution guide.

Important crafting note: Do not use a Kuku Pot that has items stored inside it when crafting the Small Kuku A.T.A.G. The Kuku Pot is consumed entirely during the process. If it has Fusion Reactor Cores or other sealed items inside, you will lose them. Always use an empty pot. Our how to craft the Kuku Pack guide has more context on managing your Kuku items.

How to Upgrade A.T.A.G. Weapons

The base A.T.A.G. is powerful, but you can unlock far more destructive weapons through the Research Institutes in Delesyia. These are academic hubs where you fund research projects using Silver over a set number of hours. Once complete, they unlock blueprints and dispatch missions for advanced gear.

Here are the key research unlocks for the A.T.A.G.:

Gorthak Ironworks — The first institute to visit in Delesyia. Fund the Machine Parts Research project to unlock:

ATAG Cannon
ATAG Laser
ATAG Pincers
Vertical Flight upgrade for Oongka’s Rocket Pack

Power Joints System Research at Gorthak unlocks:

ATAG Fist
ATAG Machine Gun
ATAG Flamespitter
ATAG Welder

Dewhaven Keep Institute (southwest Delesyia, costs 1x Diamond to unlock) offers:

ATAG Boots Mk. II and Mk. III
ATAG Thrusterpack Mk. II and Mk. III via the Abyss Energy Applicable Device Research

For more on managing research and funding the right projects first, see our Crimson Desert research guide.

A.T.A.G. Mk Versions Explained

Every A.T.A.G. you find or craft has a Mk number that indicates its loadout. Check this before entering a unit so you know what tools you have. Higher Mk numbers generally mean better weapons and more utility. The Mk status is visible on the mech’s entry screen before you climb in.

Some variations include:

Standard Mk — Machine gun, cannon, Iron Fists, EMP
Flamethrower variants — Add close-range fire damage
Rocket Fist variants — Add ranged explosive melee
Jetpack variants — Add vertical mobility for aerial combat and traversal
High Mobility variants — Faster, more durable, better overall stat line

Tips for Using the A.T.A.G. Effectively

Watch the battery level constantly. It doubles as the mech’s health bar. When it hits zero, the mech is done. Head to the nearest factory and pull a fresh one.
Use EMP against mechanical enemies. It staggers and disrupts robots far more effectively than cannon fire alone.
Park the mech before narrow areas. The A.T.A.G. is large. It cannot pass through every doorway or canyon. Dismount, clear the area on foot, then remount.
Keep Cogwheels and Small Batteries in stock. Running out of crafting materials mid-game means grinding Delesyia robots all over again.
Gear up before Chapter 10. Going into the mech introduction underprepared makes the surrounding quests harder. Check our best early build guide and tips on how to increase your attack level.

Related Guides

Where to Play Crimson Desert

The A.T.A.G. is one of the most satisfying things in Crimson Desert once you have it. Get your first look in Chapter 10, build your own in Chapter 11, upgrade it through the Research Institutes, and keep fresh units stocked at the Gorthak factories. The High Mobility version is the real prize — clear the Sanctum of Exaltation and it opens right up.