Crimson Desert is a genuinely massive game, and if you are trying to get a sense of just how much story content awaits you, the chapter count is a good place to start. The main campaign is split across a prologue, twelve full chapters, and an epilogue, with each chapter further divided into multiple arcs and individual quests. This guide breaks down the complete structure, so you know exactly what you are getting into.
How Many Chapters Are in Crimson Desert?
Crimson Desert contains 12 main chapters, along with a Prologue at the start and an Epilogue at the end. That brings the total to 14 sections if you count all three. Each chapter contains multiple sub-arcs, and those arcs each contain several individual quests.
The main story consists of exactly 168 individual mission steps in total across all chapters including the Prologue and Epilogue, divided into arcs and quest groups. Beyond the main story, Crimson Desert features 430 or more total quests when you factor in all side content, faction quests, and requests spread across the continent of Pywel.
Crimson Desert does not use a traditional level system. Instead, you unlock skills and improve attributes by spending Abyss Artifacts, which you earn through defeating enemies, completing quests, solving puzzles, and clearing challenge tallies. Because tougher bosses require a certain level of character strength, a purely story-focused run is difficult to maintain without doing at least some side content along the way. This is the primary reason the main story time estimate covers such a wide range.
Additionally, Sealed Abyss Artifacts are collectible objects found throughout the world, each carrying a unique tally or task. Completing these challenges rewards additional upgrades for Kliff and the other playable characters. There are exactly 141 Sealed Abyss Artifacts in the game, making them a significant part of character progression for players who engage with the system fully.
Playable Characters and When They Unlock
Crimson Desert has three playable characters, each unlocking at a specific point in the main story. Skill trees and Abyss Artifact progress are completely separate per character and do not transfer between them. You can switch freely between unlocked characters in the open world, but story sections lock you to a specific character.
Character
Unlocks
Combat Focus
Kliff
Default from the start
Balanced, versatile, main story protagonist
Damiane
Chapter 3: Howling Hill, during “A Fresh Start” in the Homestead arc
Speed, dodging, counters, dual blades
Oongka
End of Chapter 7: Homecoming, during and after “Twisted Fate”
Heavy axe and cannon, powerhouse attacks
How Long Does It Take to Complete Crimson Desert?
Playthrough Type
Estimated Time
Main story only (rushed)
60 to 100 hours
Main story plus side content
100 to 180 hours
Full completionist run
200+ hours
The wide range on a story-only playthrough reflects the artifact and progression system described above. Players who try to rush the main campaign will still need to engage with quests and exploration to stay strong enough for later bosses. A standard playthrough that mixes main story with side content tends to land in the 100 to 180 hour range for most players.
All Crimson Desert Chapters and Arcs
Here is the complete list of every chapter, arc, sub-task count, and main quest in Crimson Desert:
Prologue: Dead of Night
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Ambush
2/2
Unfamiliar Lands, In Ashes
Unknown Space
2/2
Realm of Uncertainty, New Journey
Chapter 1: The First Encounter
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Trials of Kindness
5/5
Where Rumors Gather, Mysterious Man, True Wisdom in Kindness, Actions Speak Louder Than Words, Hearts Beyond Borders
Trace
4/4
Mystical Key, Polar Opposites, Abyss Without Balance, Woman in White
Chapter 2: Golden Greed
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Unexpected Gift
3/3
Where the Light Leads, Memory Fragment, Reunion
Hernand in Chaos
8/8
For Honor, Awestruck, Shadow Cast Over the River, Where Misery Gathers, Trial After Trial, The Man Trapped in the Mire, Missing Companion, Secrets Hidden in the Dark
The End of Greed
5/5
The Dark Veil, The Flames of Greed, Kidnapped Healer, Rebellion or Revolution, Cheers Echoing From the Edge
Chapter 3: Howling Hill
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Homestead
6/6
Old Friend, First Step to Rebuilding, A Fresh Start, Reward for Their Sweat, Return of the Comrade, Familiar Curses
The Face Behind the Mask
5/5
Return, Traces in the Manor, Nonhuman, Seed of Unease, Dance with the Devil
Pioneering
6/6
Hope After the Draught, Scattered Comrades, Rumors from the Sawmill, A Gentle Touch, Bustling Hill, Greymanes Reunited
The Missing Seal, Crowcaller, The Crow’s Warning, Bloodwind, Secret at the Church, Toward the Nest
Chapter 6: Cracks in the Shield
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Blazing Beacon
3/3
News, To the Battlefield, The Counterattack
Under the Banner Pike Again
3/3
Cradle of Defense, The Touch of Deliverance, Fire on the Frontlines
Turning Tides
4/4
Fire Support, In Ashes, Hidden Fangs, Reclamation
The Unyielding Shields
5/5
A Thousand Troops, Traitor, All Quiet on the Front, News of Victory, Return Home
Chapter 7: Homecoming
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Dawn Mist
5/5
Ashes of Treachery, Trust Lost, Bared Fang, Rekindled Hope, Podium of Resolve
Dawnrise
6/6
Shadows Over Pailune, Driving out the Shadows, Lurking Wolves, Reclamation, Lonely Jackals, Resolution
Decisive Battle
6/6
The Counterattack, Unleashed Fury, The Final Bridge, Broken Claws, Battle at Silverwolf Mountain, Incomplete Victory
Twisted Fate
2/2
Ludvig’s Whereabouts, Time to Face Justice
Chapter 8: Blood Coronation
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Ashen Steps
4/4
Healing Pailune, A Bond, Ritual Preparations, Where the Wind Guides You
To Demeniss
9/9
Chasing a Shadow, Blazing Fire, Whispering Shadows, Bloodied Invitation, Resolve Amidst a Storm, Rebel Suppression, The Cursed Knight, The Blood Coronation, Preparations for Advance
Traitor
2/2
Clue, A Fleeting Dream
Chapter 9: The Sage of the Desert
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
The Calling
2/2
An Unknown Voice, The Cloister of Enlightenment
Shattered Ties
2/2
Mark of the Scar, Shackles of Fate
Thinning Blade
2/2
Crossing Point, Unwavering Steps
Six Pensive Statues and the Evil Spirit
6/6
Morning Fog, Jijeong Temple in Chaos, Path to Enlightenment, Path of the Disciple, True Strength, Face the Inner Self
Veiled Witch
3/3
Fragments of Darkness, Pursuit Beyond the Veil, Black Witch
Enlightenment
4/4
The Cloister of Enlightenment, The Sage of the Desert, New Perspectives, Lust for Power
Untouchable, The Gate of War, Master of the Ironworks, Hidden Ace, Clockwork Insect Clash
Greater Firepower
4/4
Beating Heart, Invaders from the East, Frozen Hearted Predator, Lingering Shadow
Chapter 11: Truth and Reality
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Brave New World
5/5
The City of Steel, Crossroads, Strange Manor, Fortress Keys, Truth and Lies
Foreboding Shadow
3/3
Master of a Forgotten Land, Whispers in the Wind, Cloud Castle Orbian
Chapter 12: The Abyss
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
The Final Battle
4/4
Precise Execution, Deferred Advance, Departure of the Brave, Forbidden Gate
The Void
2/2
A Shadow in the Void, Blinding Darkness
Epilogue: Journey’s End
Arc
Sub-Tasks
Quests
Journey’s End
8/8
A New Beginning, Peace in Hernand, The Unyielding Shields, The Heart of Pywel, The Desert’s Edge, The Enduring Flame, Evolving City, New Horizons
Key Main Story Bosses by Chapter
Crimson Desert features 76 total boss fights across the story and open world. Here is a spoiler-light overview of the key main story bosses you will encounter chapter by chapter:
Chapter
Boss(es)
Prologue
Myurdin (tutorial boss)
Chapter 2
Matthias (Hernand in Chaos), Kailok the Hornsplitter (The End of Greed)
Chapter 3
Reed Devil (The Face Behind the Mask, Dance with the Devil)
Chapter 4
Tenebrum (Forbidden Knowledge, Gate to the Otherworld)
Chapter 5
Kearush the Slayer (Uninvited Guest), Crowcaller (Black and White, fought multiple times)
Chapter 7
Ludvig variants (Decisive Battle and Twisted Fate), Myurdin rematch (Battle at Silverwolf Mountain)
Chapter 8
Gregor the Halberd of Carnage, Fortain the Cursed Knight, Cassius Morten
Later chapters continue to introduce additional bosses. The full 76 boss count includes both story bosses and open world field bosses discovered during exploration.
Useful Tips for Progressing Through the Main Campaign
Follow orange markers on the map. These indicate your current main quest objectives. Silver markers represent faction quests and side content.
Unlock fast travel Abyss Nexus points as early as possible. Most sit in wilderness areas rather than in towns, and many require puzzle solutions or specific activation steps. Prioritising them early saves significant travel time during later chapters where backtracking between regions becomes frequent.
Use the Lantern and Blinding Flash to highlight nearby points of interest, puzzle clues, and hidden items when you feel stuck or unclear on where to go next.
Do side content if a boss feels too difficult. Some main story bosses require additional Abyss Artifacts and better gear. Stepping away to complete side quests and Sealed Abyss Artifact challenges gives you the resources to return stronger.
Understand how time passing works for quests. Some quests require you to wait within the same day. In these cases, a Pass Time button appears on the right side of the screen and handles it instantly. Other quests require you to come back after several in-game days. For those, rest or sleep at your camp and use the waiting period to complete other activities.
Engage with Sealed Abyss Artifacts actively. With 141 in the game, each carrying a unique challenge that rewards permanent character upgrades, these represent a significant source of progression that complements your main quest advancement.
Completing all 12 chapters and the epilogue is just the beginning if you plan to see everything Crimson Desert has to offer. Here is the full scale of content waiting outside the main campaign:
The total quest count across all content types reaches 430 or more quests, covering main story, faction quests, side quests, and NPC requests.
The Greymanes faction alone has three quest categories containing 34, 38, and 27 quests respectively.
The city of Hernand has multiple factional quest chains across House Celeste, House Roberts, the Goldleaf Merchant Guild, the Scholastone Institute, Pororin Forest Guardians, Witches, Hernand Requests, Hernand Commissions, and Hernand Politics.
There are over 100 challenges tied to Abyss island puzzles, Ancient Ruin puzzles, Cresset fast travel points, Forgotten Sanctums, and Towering Spires.
There are 141 Sealed Abyss Artifact challenges, each with unique tasks that unlock skill upgrades for your characters.
A full completionist run asks you to eliminate 76 bosses, discover every settlement and landmark, complete all research projects, fully upgrade the Greymane Camp at Howling Hill, and acquire all unique abilities for Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka.
Post-Game and Modes
Crimson Desert does not feature a New Game Plus mode at launch. However, the world remains fully open after the Epilogue, allowing you to continue completing side content, faction quests, challenges, and exploration at your own pace. The game is single-player only at launch, with no co-op or multiplayer functionality currently available.
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