Comrades are the fighters and specialists you recruit to the Greymane Camp in Crimson Desert. Some handle specific camp functions like managing provisions or overseeing other Comrades, while others act as Freeswords you can send out on Dispatch Missions to gather resources. The more Comrades you have and the higher their level, the more capable your camp operation becomes. Getting this system working early pays off significantly as you push deeper into the game.
How do you unlock Comrades in Crimson Desert?
Comrades become available after you unlock the Howling Hills Camp in Chapter 3. From that point, the main way to recruit them is through the Grounds of the Sunrise Faction Quest chain, which you can access in a couple of ways:
- Open your Journal, navigate to Faction Quests, select Greymanes, then open the Grounds of the Sunrise tab.
- Alternatively, speak directly with Marius, who stands near your tent at camp.
Once inside the questline, look for missions that begin with "A rumor..." These quests track down missing Greymanes and bring them into the fold. Completing A Rumor in Goldleaf Trading Post, for example, unlocks six Comrades at once: Conrad, Wynstan, Kamu, Alec, Ed, and Ben.
Greymane Camp comrades overview
Not every Comrade works the same way. Carl manages camp provisions, while Ross oversees Comrade operations. The rest are available for Dispatch Missions, which are separate from the leveling system entirely.
How to level up Comrades in Crimson Desert
Here is the part that trips up a lot of players: Comrades do not have individual EXP bars. There is no feeding them items, no grinding specific enemies, and no dedicated upgrade menu for individual Comrades. Their level is tied entirely to the level of the Greymane Camp itself.
When the camp advances, every Comrade advances with it. This means your focus should always be on camp upgrades rather than anything Comrade-specific.
Camp progression comes primarily from following the Grounds of the Sunrise questline. As you complete quests and expand the camp, you eventually reach a point where you are asked to physically expand the camp, which is the gateway to unlocking Comrade skills.
Grounds of the Sunrise quest tab
What unlocks when Comrades level up?
As the camp grows and Comrade levels increase, they gain access to new skills. These skills expand what each Comrade can contribute, making Dispatch Missions more effective and broadening the camp's overall capabilities. The skill unlock is a direct reward for investing in camp infrastructure, which is why following the Grounds of the Sunrise questline as a priority is the fastest path forward.
How to upgrade the camp efficiently
Since camp level directly controls Comrade level, here is where to focus your time:
- Complete Grounds of the Sunrise quests with the tent icon first. These are the direct camp upgrade triggers.
- Build camp structures like farms and ranches. Each new structure contributes to overall camp advancement.
- Use Dispatch Missions passively. Sending Freeswords out while you do other content means resources accumulate without extra effort. The level of your Comrades is directly tied to your camp level, so every camp improvement counts.
- Recruit more Greymanes through the rumor quests.Rrecruiting more Greymanes through the questline also unlocks additional vendors at camp, expanding what you can buy and craft.
For more on navigating Crimson Desert's many systems, browse more guides on GAMES.GG covering everything from builds to boss strategies.