The Hwando is one of the strongest weapons you can grab in the opening hours of Crimson Desert, and most players walk right past it. It sits locked in a chest inside a guarded building near Lioncrest Manor, and getting to it takes a bit of setup. Do it right and you'll have a 19-damage two-handed katana with three pre-slotted Abyss Gear bonuses before you've even cleared the first major area.
What makes the Hwando worth getting?
The Hwando is classified as a Unique two-handed weapon, which already sets it apart from the generic gear you loot off early enemies. Its base attack sits at 19 damage per hit, and it comes with 5 Abyss Gear slots pre-loaded with three active bonuses: Insight I, Stamina Transference, and Destruction I (listed in-game as Critical Rate I, Stamina Siphon Lv1, and Attack 1 depending on source). That combination of raw damage and built-in Abyss bonuses makes it punch well above its weight for where you find it.
The weapon has a Refinement level of 1 out of the box, meaning you can upgrade it further at a blacksmith to extend its usefulness even deeper into the game.
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The Hwando has 0 Defense and its Movement Speed and Attack Speed both start at Level 0, so it's a pure offense pick. Pair it with armor that compensates for the lack of defensive stats.
What do you need before you go?
Two items are required. One is optional but useful if you want to loot the rest of the building while you're there.
The key is non-negotiable. Without it, the locked door on the second floor of the target building stays shut. The mask only matters if you plan to steal items from the building beyond the chest itself. If you just want the Hwando, skip the mask entirely.
The Back Alley Shop sits southeast of Hernand Town, right at the base of a windmill. It's the fastest way to get both items without grinding bandits. If you're low on coins, check bandit camp areas first since keys drop off corpses regularly.
Back Alley Shop near Hernand windmill
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You can also steal a key off a table on the second floor of the main Lioncrest Manor building itself. Just know that stealing without a mask triggers the wanted system and can damage your Contribution standing, so it's the worst option of the three.
How to get the Hwando: step-by-step
Step 1: Head to Lioncrest Manor
Lioncrest Manor is in the northwestern part of Hernand Town. Set it as your active waypoint and ride or run there directly. The manor complex is hard to miss once you're in the area.
Step 2: Find the smaller building to the left
The main manor is not your target. Look to the left side of the manor for a separate, smaller building. Guards are posted at both doors and won't let you through the front. Head around to the western side of the building and look for a window without glass. Climb the wall and interact with the window to open it and drop inside.
If you've already completed enough of the House Alfonso faction questline, the guards will wave you through the front entrance without any climbing required. For everyone else, the window route works cleanly and the guards don't react.
Climb in through the west window
Step 3: Open the locked door
Once inside, go to the second floor. The locked door is right there. Walk your character into it and, as long as the key is in your inventory, the door opens automatically. No menu interaction needed.
Step 4: Loot the chest
The treasure chest is on the left side of the room, glowing along the wall. Interact with it to receive the Hwando and a Refined Palner Pill. That's the whole run.
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If you want to ransack the rest of the building for sellable items, equip your mask first. Stealing without it active flags you as a criminal, which can lead to imprisonment and a Contribution penalty.
What else is in the building complex?
Once you have the Hwando, the main manor itself is worth a detour. Climb through the windows at the back of the large building and you'll find a puzzle box on one of the floors, a locked door with a shield inside, a Visione memory, and gauntlets in a chest on the first floor. A community tip from TheGamer readers also flagged a Gold Bar hidden in the chimney on the first floor, so check there before you leave.
For more Crimson Desert tips and weapon guides, browse the latest guides on GAMES.GG to stay ahead of the meta as the game gets patched and expanded.