Chapter 3 in Crimson Desert marks a real turning point in how you approach the game. Where Chapter 2 kept things focused on the critical path, Howling Hill opens the door to a much richer experience, mixing main story missions with bounties, puzzles, faction quests, and gear progression that will carry you through several chapters ahead. Getting the most out of this section means knowing exactly where to look and what order to tackle things in.
Where Should You Start in Chapter 3 Howling Hill?
The first thing worth doing when Chapter 3 kicks off is heading back into town to speak with Turnali. His request might seem like a minor errand, but he becomes a critical vendor throughout the rest of the playthrough. Completing Turnali's Request early also gives you your first real introduction to the equipment refining mechanic, which is one of the most important systems in Crimson Desert to understand before things get tougher.
After sorting out Turnali, pivot straight to the Bounty Notice board. Two early targets, Jeffrey and Billy, are both accessible in this opening stretch of Chapter 3 and reward you with resources that feed directly into your gear upgrades. Neither fight is particularly punishing if you arrive with even modestly upgraded equipment.
Dragon's Stone Chamber Puzzle
One of the most memorable moments in this chapter is the Dragon's Stone Chamber puzzle, accessed through a mysterious door on a cave wall in Serkis Estate within the Hernand Highlands. You'll actually pass this door the first time and need to return once you've acquired a specific item from a nearby diamond mine (found in Hernand Highlands Cavern).
Solving the puzzle rewards you with the Memories of Abundance Abyss Artifact, which is genuinely valuable because it reveals other secret locations across the map. Prioritizing this early in Chapter 3 saves you a lot of exploration time later.
danger
The cave door won't open on your first visit. Head to the diamond mine in Hernand Highlands Cavern first, then return to unlock the chamber. Skipping the mine visit means a wasted trip.
Dragon's Stone Chamber solution
What Are the Key Side Missions in Howling Hill?
Chapter 3 layers in a healthy number of sub-missions alongside the main story beats. Here's a breakdown of the most important ones and what they offer:
The Estate in Dismay faction quest for House Roberts deserves special attention. Completing it opens the Strongbox in Bluemont Manor, which contains the Oath of Darkness equipment earring, a solid accessory upgrade at this stage. The full quest chain also ties into the Sealed in Stone sub-mission, so work through it methodically rather than cherry-picking.
How Do You Enter Pororin Forest Without Getting Knocked Out?
This is one of the more unusual mechanics in Chapter 3. Pororin Forest has a barrier that knocks you out if you attempt to enter without the right access. The trick is intentional: you need to get knocked out three times near the forest entrance. This triggers an NPC to appear close to your position, and speaking with them unlocks the Unreachable Village side mission. Completing that mission grants you legitimate access to the forest.
Pororin Forest fast travel point
While you're in the area, unlock the Abyss Nexus fast travel point at Grace Estate in the Pororin Forest region. This becomes a key hub for navigating the next section of the game. From there, make your way to the Sanctum of Temperance to grab the Odeck's Protector Plate Boots from a treasure chest inside, a free gear upgrade that requires no combat to obtain.
info
The Bianca Bounty in town operates on a time-of-day schedule. If she isn't near the church when you check, come back at a different time. She will eventually appear, and the bounty reward is worth the patience.How to Handle the Marni's Excavatron Boss Fight
The Marni's Excavatron boss fight is the major combat challenge in this section of Chapter 3, tied to clearing Karin Quarry as part of the Stolen Quarry mission. The fight itself is manageable if your equipment is upgraded, but clearing the full quarry afterward is a lengthy process, so go in with full heals and a good stock of Palmar Pills (revival items).
If you're running low on supplies heading into this fight, backtrack to town first. The quarry liberation that follows the boss takes considerable time, and you don't want to be underprepared halfway through.
Excavatron boss in Karin Quarry
What Gear Should You Prioritize in Chapter 3?
Gear decisions in Chapter 3 set you up for the next several hours of the game. Here's what to focus on:
- Buy Rhett's armor early in town. This becomes your primary upgrade path for multiple chapters.
- Sharpen your weapons at the dedicated sharpening spot in town (marked once you're in the area).
- Halssius outfit: Required to enter the House of Healing during the Homestead mission. Purchase and equip it before heading there or you'll be turned away.
- Oath of Darkness earring: Grab this from the Strongbox in Bluemont Manor after completing the Estate in Dismay chain.
- Odeck's Protector Plate Boots: Free from the Sanctum of Temperance chest, no combat required.
Refining your equipment is introduced properly during Turnali's Request, and it's worth spending time understanding the system here rather than waiting. Better-refined gear makes the Excavatron fight and the Devil of Reed Field encounter (which you can optionally attempt in this chapter) significantly more forgiving.
warning
The Devil of Reed Field boss can be attempted during Chapter 3, but the game signals clearly that leaving and doing more side content first is the intended approach. Only engage if your gear is upgraded and your heal stock is full.Damiane and the Second Playable Character Introduction
Chapter 3 also introduces Damiane as a second playable character, which opens up new story perspectives and gameplay variety. Her introduction is tied to the Homestead main mission, which concludes with the acquisition of the next main story quest, The Face Behind the Mask. There's also a fishing spot right at the mission's end point, making it a natural moment to pause and try the fishing mechanic if you haven't already.
Fishing controls follow a straightforward rhythm: move the left stick opposite to the direction the fish is pulling, hold until the fish stops thrashing, then use the right stick to reel in. If the fish starts pulling again, stop reeling and repeat the process. It's a relaxing side activity that also feeds into requests like Annabella's Request.
For more tips and strategies across the full game, you can always browse more guides to stay ahead of what's coming next in your playthrough.