How to Stop Re-Blockades in Crimson Desert

TL;DR

• Re-Blockades are a Patch 1.05.00 feature that lets enemies retake your liberated forts and camps.
• You can stop re-blockades completely by setting Re-Blockade Frequency to Stable in Settings.
• On PC: open the menu, go to Settings, then Gameplay, and change Re-Blockade Frequency.
• On console: press Start/Options → R1/RB (Others tab) → L2/LT (Options) → Settings → Gameplay.
• There are three settings: Stable (off), Conflict (default, occasional), and War (frequent).
• Changes apply after the current re-blockade plan finishes — not instantly.
• Re-blockades only trigger after a loading screen such as sleeping or saving and reloading.

If you are tired of coming back to forts you already liberated only to find them overrun with enemies again, you are not alone. How to stop re-blockades in Crimson Desert is one of the most searched questions since Patch 1.05.00 dropped and flipped liberated territories into a contested system. The good news is that turning re-blockades off is simple — you just need to know where to find the right setting. This guide explains exactly how to do it, what all three settings mean, and when you might want to leave them on. For a full overview of what else came with this update, check out the Crimson Desert guide hub.

What Are Re-Blockades in Crimson Desert?

Before Patch 1.05.00, every stronghold, fort, and camp you liberated stayed that way permanently. Once cleared, enemies were gone for good. The re-blockade system changed that. Now, enemy factions can return and retake locations you have already cleared — forcing you to go back and liberate them again.

At launch, the system covers 23 forts and quarries across 13 different factions. Pearl Abyss has confirmed plans to expand both the number of factions and locations in future updates. Re-blockades only activate after a loading screen — for example, after sleeping in a bed, saving and reloading, or using fast travel. You will receive a notification each time a location has been re-blockaded. The system was designed alongside the Boss Rematch feature as an endgame combat loop for players who have already liberated most of the map. If you want to revisit boss fights as well, check out our guide on all boss locations in Crimson Desert.

How to Stop Re-Blockades in Crimson Desert

To completely stop re-blockades, you need to change the Re-Blockade Frequency to Stable in the game settings. Here is how to get there on each platform.

On PC

1. Open the main menu.
2. Select Settings.
3. Navigate to the Gameplay tab.
4. Find Re-Blockade Frequency and change it to Stable.

On PlayStation and Xbox

1. Press Start / Options to open the menu.
2. Press R1 / RB to go to the Others tab.
3. Press L2 / LT to reach Options, then select Settings.
4. Use L2 / LT again inside Settings to navigate to the Gameplay section.
5. Find Re-Blockade Frequency and set it to Stable.

Once set to Stable, re-blockades will no longer occur. Any location you liberate stays liberated permanently, just like before Patch 1.05.00.

Important: If there is already a re-blockade planned or in progress when you change the setting, you will need to deal with that existing re-blockade first. The new setting kicks in after the current plan is resolved, not immediately. The game follows through on its current schedule before applying your change.

All Three Re-Blockade Frequency Settings Explained

There are three settings to choose from. Each one changes how often enemy factions can retake your liberated locations.

Stable — Re-Blockades Off

With Stable selected, re-blockades will never occur. Any stronghold you liberate stays under your control forever. This setting is ideal if you prefer to focus on exploration, quests, and finding secrets without constantly being pulled back to re-clear locations. This is the best option for players in the middle of the main story who do not want interruptions. It is also the recommended setting if you are tracking down hidden items, doing puzzle content, or hunting for rare pets like the Legendary Hyacinth Macaw or completing content in regions like Pailune.

Conflict — Re-Blockades Occasional (Default)

Conflict is the default setting as of Patch 1.05.00. With this mode active, your liberated strongholds will be intermittently retaken by enemy factions. It is not constant — the re-blockades happen at a set probability after loading screens, so you will not always log back in to find everything re-blockaded. This is the middle ground. It keeps the world feeling alive without being relentless. Good for players who like the occasional combat challenge but do not want it to define every session.

War — Re-Blockades Frequent

War mode cranks up the frequency significantly. Enemy factions retake your forts and quarries much more often, creating a near-constant state of conflict. This mode is built for players who want non-stop combat content — especially those farming XP, Abyss Artifacts, and enemy drops. With War active, you can chain multiple fort clears in a single session without waiting long between spawns. It pairs well with a strong late-game build. If you are looking to maximize what you get from fights, check our guides on the best weapon Abyss Gears and best armor Abyss Gears before diving in.

Can You Switch Between Settings Freely?

Yes. You can change the Re-Blockade Frequency setting at any time. There is no penalty or permanent commitment to any mode. If you want to turn re-blockades off while doing exploration or questing, switch to Stable. When you are ready to farm again, switch back to Conflict or War. The only thing to keep in mind is that any re-blockade already planned will complete before the new setting takes effect. The change does not cancel an in-progress plan — it applies from the next cycle onward.

How Re-Blockades Are Triggered

Re-blockades do not happen in real time while you are playing. They only trigger after a loading screen. Events that cause a loading screen include:

• Sleeping in a bed
• Saving and reloading your game
• Fast traveling to a new area

When a loading screen occurs, the game runs a probability check for each eligible stronghold. If the roll succeeds, that location gets re-blockaded and the hostile garrison is restored. You will see a notification and the map icon for that location will revert to its hostile state. If you want to delay re-blockades without switching to Stable, simply avoid sleeping and loading screens for as long as possible during an exploration session. For more on how fast travel works, see our guide on how to fast travel in Crimson Desert.

Which Forts and Quarries Can Be Re-Blockaded?

As of Patch 1.05.00, re-blockades are limited to 23 specific forts and quarries spread across the map, involving 13 different factions. Not every camp or outpost is eligible — only this set of locations participates in the system at launch. Pearl Abyss has said the list will grow with future patches.

Community players have noted that certain locations — particularly Crimson Mountain Fortress and Marni Mechworks — tend to get re-blockaded much more often than others due to how the system distributes its priority. If you have dispatches running at those locations, enemies may retake them before your mission completes. One workaround is to re-liberate other eligible forts on the map to spread the re-blockade activity around. For more on the dispatch system, see our guide on how to do large-scale expeditions in Crimson Desert.

Should You Turn Re-Blockades Off?

It depends entirely on where you are in the game and what you want from your sessions.

Turn re-blockades off (Stable) if:

• You are still working through the main story and do not want distractions.
• You are focused on exploration, puzzles, and finding secrets across the map.
• You find being pulled back to old locations frustrating and time-consuming.
• You are hunting rare items, legendary animals, or completing side quests in liberated regions.

Leave re-blockades on (Conflict or War) if:

• You have already liberated most or all of the map and want ongoing combat content.
• You are farming XP, Abyss Artifacts, and crafting materials efficiently.
• You enjoy a world that keeps pushing back and does not feel static.
• You want to test your build in repeated combat scenarios.

For players still progressing through the story and unlocking new regions, Stable is the cleaner experience. You can always turn re-blockades back on once you are done with the main content and want something to do in the endgame. If you are unsure how long the main story actually takes, check our guide on how long Crimson Desert takes to beat.

Re-Blockades and Dispatch Missions

One common frustration is sending companions on dispatch missions to a fort, only for enemies to retake that fort before the mission finishes. This is a known issue the community has flagged. For now, the best approach is to either switch to Stable while running dispatches, or avoid sending missions to the locations that get re-blockaded most aggressively. To learn more about managing your companions and camp, check our guides on how to get comrades and how to unlock camp in Crimson Desert.

What Is Coming Next for Re-Blockades?

Pearl Abyss has confirmed that the re-blockade system is still evolving. Future patches will increase the number of factions and targeted strongholds, and the enemy garrisons during re-blockades will be upgraded to pose a greater challenge. The overall Liberation and Re-blockade system is also planned to receive broader improvements over time. For now, the setting options give you enough control to tailor the experience to your preference.

Quick Summary

• Open Settings → Gameplay → Re-Blockade Frequency.
• Set it to Stable to stop re-blockades completely.
• Use Conflict for occasional re-blockades (this is the default).
• Use War for frequent re-blockades and maximum combat farming.
• Changes apply after the current planned re-blockade cycle finishes.
• Re-blockades only trigger after loading screens — sleeping, saving, or fast travel.

For more game settings you can tune to improve your experience, check our guides on best PC settings for Crimson Desert, best camera settings, and all difficulty modes in Crimson Desert. You can also jump into the game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, or the Epic Games Store.