How to Pole Vault in Crimson Desert

TL;DR

Double-tap the Jump button while holding a banner pike to pole vault.
Banner pikes are found in towns like Hernand or hostile camps. Steal them in friendly areas using a Mask.
Pole vaulting does NOT use up banner pike durability.
The Rainbow Across the Sky artifact is in Duskwood, west of Fort Warspike.
Complete the challenge anywhere — just have a banner pike equipped in your secondary slot.
Finishing it rewards you with one Abyss Artifact skill point.

Pole vaulting in Crimson Desert is one of those mechanics most players never discover on their own. You might go the entire game without knowing it exists. But one of the Sealed Abyss Artifacts puts it front and center — and once you learn it, you’ll wonder how you ever played without it.

This guide covers everything. How to pole vault, where to get a banner pike, where to find the artifact, and how to finish the challenge fast.

Table of Contents

Pole vaulting is simple. Hold a banner pike and double-tap your Jump button. That’s it.

You can do this even while standing still. No running start needed. It launches you up and forward, making it a great way to clear gaps, jump over spiked palisades, or just get somewhere faster.

The best part? It works as an alternative to Axiom Force when you don’t want to spend stamina. Both get you over obstacles, but pole vaulting costs nothing as long as your pike holds up.

How to Get a Banner Pike

Banner pikes are the only thing you need to pole vault. Here’s where to find them.

Hostile camps are the easiest source. Bleed Bandits, Black Bears, and other enemy factions leave banner pikes lying around their camps. Just walk in, grab one, and go. No consequences.

If the Crimson Nightmare boss area rings a bell, that’s the kind of bandit encampment you’re looking for. Big hostile camps almost always have them.

Friendly towns like Hernand also have banner pikes, but you can’t just pick them up. You’ll need to steal them. Equip a Mask first to hide your identity, then aim at the pike and take it. Just make sure no one important sees you. If you’re unsure how to steal items in Crimson Desert, that guide walks you through the whole process.

One important thing to know: banner pikes are weapons, and they have very low durability. Using them in combat will break them quickly. But pole vaulting is different — it does NOT consume durability. Vault as many times as you want without worrying about breaking the pike.

Banner pikes go into your secondary weapon slot, alongside any two-handed weapons you’re carrying. Open your equipment wheel and cycle through your weapons to equip one.

Rainbow Across the Sky – Sealed Abyss Artifact Location

The artifact for this challenge is in Duskwood. Head to the forest directly west of Fort Warspike, in the western Hernandian mountains.

The area can feel dense and hard to navigate. If you’re struggling to spot the artifact, get to higher ground. Then either use Blinding Flash or pull out your lantern. Both help you spot hidden objects nearby.

Once you locate it, interact with it to unlock the Rainbow Across the Sky challenge.

Rainbow Across the Sky Artifact Location

How to Complete the Rainbow Across the Sky Challenge

The challenge asks you to pole vault a set number of times. That’s the whole thing.

You don’t have to do it at a specific location. Anywhere works. Just make sure you have a banner pike in your secondary weapon slot before you start.

Here’s the exact process:

Equip a banner pike in your secondary weapon slot using the equipment wheel.
Double-tap Jump to pole vault.
Repeat until the challenge completes.

Keep jumping in place or across terrain — it doesn’t matter. The game tracks each vault. Once you hit the required count, the challenge is done.

Reward for Completing the Challenge

Finishing Rainbow Across the Sky rewards you with one Abyss Artifact skill point. This works the same as every other Sealed Abyss Artifact challenge in the game. Each one gives you a skill point that helps you grow stronger over time.

If you want to see the full list of challenges and rewards available, check out the Crimson Desert trophy and achievements list to track your progress.

Keep the Banner Pike After You’re Done

Once the challenge is complete, don’t toss the pike. Keep it in your inventory.

Pole vaulting is genuinely useful for getting around. Jumping over walls and obstacles without spending Axiom Force stamina is a real advantage. And if you ever want to move through rough terrain faster, it’s one more tool in your kit.

That said, if you prefer something more reliable for vertical movement, Aerial Force Palm lets you triple jump without needing any item. Both work. It just depends on your playstyle.

More Crimson Desert Guides

Pole vaulting is just one of many small mechanics worth knowing in this game. Here are some other guides that’ll help you explore more of what Crimson Desert has to offer:

Crimson Desert is available on PS5, Xbox, Steam, and Epic Games Store. You can also check the official Crimson Desert website for news and updates.