Crimson Desert Guide – All Sealed Abyssal Artifacts in Hernanda

Abyssal Artifacts in Crimson Desert are used as skill points to unlock new abilities for the main character and two additional characters. Because of the vast number of these abilities, there are several hundred artifacts in the game.

Artifacts themselves are divided into three types: simple Abyssal Artifacts, which count as skill points when acquired; you can see their number on the skill tree screen; tarnished Abyssal Artifacts, which are used to reset all skills if you want to completely rebuild your build (one stone resets all unlocked skills for one hero; of course, the skills you’ve acquired through mastery remain); and sealed Abyssal Artifacts.

We’ll talk about the latter: Sealed Abyssal Artifacts are the same artifacts that grant one skill point, but are activated only after completing a specific challenge associated with the given “stone.”

There are a total of 141 sealed Abyssal Artifacts in Crimson Desert, scattered across the Pyvel continent. Trying to find all of these artifacts on your own is fraught with challenges, so in our guide, we explain how to obtain them, show you where to find each stone, and briefly explain what you need to do to complete the challenge (literally stating the objective of that challenge).

General information about sealed Abyssal artifacts – how to find them

Think of the Sealed Abyssal Artifacts in Crimson Desert as a mixture of collectibles (which can be picked up and then found) and challenges. There are over a hundred of these scattered throughout the game world. To find Sealed Abyssal Artifacts yourself, you can use Reflection of Light (CTRL + LMB). After raising your sword with this ability, look around and notice the glowing dots.

But keep in mind that such a glow could indicate one of three potential objects:

Abyssal Focus (standard fast travel platform),
ancient ruins puzzles ,
Sealed artifacts of the Abyss.

Most often, such artifacts are found on roadside altars or stone mounds along the same roads. After obtaining an artifact, a challenge will briefly appear on the left side of the screen. For example, “defeat a certain number of enemies with a specific weapon type” or “ride a certain distance on horseback ( sometimes within a certain time).”

To view the challenge again, open the “Diary” and go to the “Challenge” tab. The challenge tabs are divided into five categories, but in this case, “Exploration” and “Minigames” aren’t of interest (they contain labyrinths, ancient ruins, and so on). You need the other three tabs:

Mastery
Battles
Non-combat

Advice: Don’t look at artifacts through your inventory—the descriptions in that section are very cryptic and ambiguous.

Enemy attacks can interrupt the pickup animation, so it’s recommended to unlock the Element: Dark Clouds ability, which creates a smoke screen and helps you hide from enemies.

Please note : Some challenges can only be completed with other characters, such as Damian and Unku, although most of them are available to Cliff.

How to get rewards from Sealed Abyssal Artifacts

Once you complete the challenge, an icon will appear on the right side of the screen. Go to your inventory, select the flashing artifact, and it will reveal itself, revealing your reward:

Abyssal artifacts (skill points),
Tarnished Abyssal Artifacts (skill reset),
Abyssal gear (weapon and armor mods, but only if they have the appropriate slots for this category).

Sealed Abyssal Artifacts in the center of Hernand

The screenshot above shows all the artifacts in the central part of the Hernand region, inside or around the capital.

Artifact #1: Sword of Trials I

Location : Near the fast travel point at Three Saints Falls (see map).
Challenge: Defeat 3 enemies in 30 seconds with a sword.

Artifact #2: Shield of Unbending Will I

Location: At the stables behind Castle Hernand.
Challenge: Defeat 3 enemies using a shield.

Artifact #3: Shield of Unyielding Will IV

Location: East of the Embernest signal tower on Rocca’s Hill (Rocca’s Hill on the map).
Challenge: Defeat 5 enemies using a shield without taking damage.

Artifact #4: Sharpened Spear II

Location: Confluence of rivers southeast of Ernand, altar at the Sanctuary of the Gray-Manes (Sanctuary on the Nas River).
Challenge: Defeat 30 enemies in 30 seconds with a spear.

Artifact #5: Sword of Trials III

Location: road between Hernand Castle and the farms .
Challenge: Defeat 3 enemies with a sword without taking damage.

Artifact 6: Sliding Down the Slope

Location: East of the trading post at the Nas River.
Challenge: Slide 50 meters.

Artifact 7: Maintaining Balance in the Wind

Location: Hilly trail near Unicorn Cliff.
Challenge: Walk 10 meters on a rope.

Artifact 8: Night of the Silent Banner

Location: road to the Sanctuary of St. Galcia.
Challenge: Destroy 10 banners at night without being noticed (in reality, you can act openly; the main thing is at night).

Artifact 9: Caught cheating in the game “Deuce”

Location: Northeast of Anvil Hill.
Challenge: Expose a cheater during the card game “Two” using your intuition.

Artifact 10: Earth Feather

Location: North of Three Saints Falls (see Three Saints Fall on the map).
Challenge: Raise 5 new birds .

Artifact 11: Judgment of the Storm

Location: Camp northeast of Haunted Hill (marked “Haunted Hill” on the map). Look for the mountain image on the map and mark it below. This means this altar is not on the road!
Challenge: Destroy 30 enemies in 1 minute.

Artifact 12: Sharpened Spear I

Location: South of Kalfad Gate.
Challenge: Land 15 spear counterattacks within 30 seconds.

Artifact 13: Mighty Slash III

Location: Ruins by the lake southwest of Haunted Hill (marked “Haunted Hill” on the map). Look along the road behind the shrine ruins. Only available when playing as Unka.
Challenge: Knock back 10 enemies with a two-handed sword in 30 seconds.

Artifact 14: Abyssal Star, Slicing Through the Sky

Location: Near the Golden Leaf Guild trading post, south of the HERNAND sign on the map (or rather, south of the letter A in that sign). By the road.
Challenge: Jump from the Abyss and reach the ground within 30 seconds.

Artifact 15: The Shepherd’s Lament

Location: Between the letters A and H in the word HERNAND on the map.
Challenge: Sell 3 goats to Bram at Camp Ranch.

Artifact 16: Sword of Trials IV

Location: Near Kilnden’s workshop.
Challenge: Defeat 3 enemies at once with a one-handed sword attack using Roundhouse Kick.

Artifact 17: Rainbow in the Sky

Location: Western road in the Twin Rivers area of the Dark Forest. Go straight up to the dead end of the path marked on the map. West of Fort Warspike.
Challenge: Use the banner to perform 5 dash jumps in 30 seconds.

Artifact 18: Shield of Unyielding Will III

Location: A winding path in the Mountains of Eternal Winter . The altar stands right along the road.
Challenge: Hit 3 enemies with one hit while using a shield.

Sealed Abyssal Artifacts in Southern Ernand

The artifacts are located in the southern part of the region – you will travel along these roads during the story quest when you are asked to reach the Scholastone Institute and the witch Elowen.

Artifact 1: Under the Ashed Banner

Location: At the Foneil Ranch in the Witchwood.
Challenge: Find 20 surviving Greymanes.

Artifact 2: Dancing Blade, Shining Shield I

Location: Southeast of the Witch Forest.
Challenge: Defeat 5 enemies with a rapier in 60 seconds.

Artifact 3: Bow Aimed at Destiny I

Location: Fields near Glenbright Farm.
Challenge: Defeat 5 enemies in 60 seconds using a bow.

Artifact 4: Earthquake I

Location: Road east of Fort Pervin. The altar is right next to it. Not far from the fort itself. Only available when playing as Unka.
Challenge: Hit enemies 30 times with a two-handed club or axe within 30 seconds.

Artifact 5: Shield of Unyielding Will II

Location: near the village of Kharonso.
Challenge: Block 10 arrows.

Artifact 6: Desperate Rescue

Location: Mountain of Frozen Souls. From the Mountain Frozen Souls sign, head north along the nearest road (west).
Challenge: Heal an ally 3 times with an ability using Palmara’s Strike: Heal.

Artifact 7: Harmony of Hooves IV

Location: Road to Golden Sunset Valley (east of where you fought the Reed Devil in the game’s story).
Challenge: Ride from Golden Sunset Valley to Warnia within 40 minutes on horseback.

Artifact 8: Equipment

Location: near the Valley of the Golden Sunset.
Challenge: Craft one sword and one bow in the forge. You don’t have a bow blueprint by default, so find one or get one from side quests.

Artifact 9: Uninvited Guest

Location: Near the village of Vellois, to the west, an altar along the only road.
Challenge: Open 20 locked doors.

Artifact 10: When Lightning Strikes V

Location: Fork in the road south of Castlewood Ruins.
Challenge: Hit 3 enemies with regular shots from a rifle. Neutralize 3 enemies with Evasive Shot or Wandering Shot. Hit 3 enemies while jumping. All of these can only be accomplished while playing as Damiana.

Artifact 11: Steel Chest Grip

Location: Road between Pororin Village and the Sanctuary of Repentance.
Challenge: Defeat 3 enemies with wrestling moves in 1 minute.

Artifact 12: Harmony of Hooves VII

Location: border between Hernand and Demenisse.
Challenge: Ride Pryden for more than 100 meters. Ride Brianto for more than 100 meters. Ride a Numont horse for more than 100 meters. Ride Elantrim for more than 100 meters. These are four different horse breeds.

Artifact 13: Naked Courage

Location: Bandit camp near the Willow River (crossroads north of the river and the Willow River sign). Altar along the road.
Challenge: Neutralize 3 enemies in 1 minute without using weapons.

Artifact 14: Sword of Trials II

Location: At the foot of the Steel Mountains (west of the Steel Mountains sign on the map). The altar is along the road with a beautiful view of the sea .

Challenge: Defeat 3 enemies simultaneously using a sword.

Sealed Abyssal Artifacts in Northern Ernand

The map below shows the locations of just a few of the Sealed Abyssal Artifacts in the northern sectors of Ernand. There’s no need to rush—you’ll still visit almost all of these locations while completing quests in the Duchy of Kalfada.

Artifact 1: Shield of Unyielding Will VI

Location: Before the wooden bridge on the way to the Hohenmark ruins. The altar is located along the road next to a small wooden bridge.
Challenge: Hit 10 enemies in 1 minute using Rush.

Artifact 2: Bow Aimed at Destiny II

Location: Riverbed south of Foggy Pool (Deepfog Basin on the map). Below is the sign “Deepfog Basin.” There’s a bridge across the river, and the roadside altar is located on the south side of the river, if you follow the road east from the bridge.
Challenge: Defeat 7 enemies in a row using only regular arrows.

Artifact 3: Into the Flames

Location: The main road in the eastern part of Foggy Basin (Deepfog Basin on the map). To the right and below the Deepfog Basin sign.
Challenge: mount a cannon and kill five people with one volley.

Artifact 4: The Lost Wagon

Location: On the road north of Deepfog Basin (map). Straight along the road.

Challenge: Sell 3 carts to a reseller.

Artifact 5: Earthquake III

Location: in front of the Trovac camp at the border with Pailun.
Challenge: Knock back 5 enemies with a single blow from a two-handed club or axe. Only when playing as Unka.

Artifact 6: Value Corresponding to Weight

Location: Farmlands north of Kalfada and Deepfog Basin. The road between the fields, west of the crossroads, is where the altar stands near the wooden buildings.
Challenge: Sell 10 pigs to a reseller.

Artifact 7: Animal Meat

Location: Mountain ridge north of Sage’s Peak (to the left of the Ancient Rift sign on the map). Right at the crossroads, just a few steps along the southern road from the T-junction.
Challenge: Gain all knowledge about meat.

Artifact 8: Mighty Slash I

Location: West, along the road from the Drakesfall Watchtower, in Drakesfall Gorge. It’s the road to the left of the Drakesfall Gorge sign on the map.
Challenge: Hit 3 enemies with a single strike from a two-handed sword while below 50% health.

Artifact 9: Sharpened Spear V

Location: Next to a street vendor south of Drakesfall Gorge. It’s down the road from the “Drakesfall Gorge” sign on the map. You can see a ring there indicating the vendor’s base.
Challenge: Defeat 5 enemies with a spear without taking damage and maintaining 100% health.

Artifact 10: Touch of Darkness

Location: North of the Abyssal Focus teleporter in the Hills of No Return, near the Wilkom Outpost, which is northwest of the Hills of Nor Return sign on the map.
Challenge: Kill 3 enemies stealthily in 1 minute.

Artifact 11: Sabotage

Location: East, behind the bridge over the river, opposite Stormtalon Ridge (across the river to the right of the Stormtalon Ridge sign on the map). Hidden among the trees. Open the map, zoom in, and you’ll see the mountains depicted. The altar is hidden in the lower left corner of the lower mountains in this picture.
Challenge: Defeat 10 One-Eyed Jackals while wearing the Black Bear Leather Helmet.

Artifact 12: Sharpened Spear III

Location: Trailhead north of Hook Rapids. Literally at the intersection to the left of the Hook Rapids sign on the map.
Challenge: Defeat 5 enemies within 15 seconds using the Spear’s Thrust ability.