Your route into Charting the Unknown depends on what you want to unlock. In Crimson Desert, sailing opens through Greymane camp progression after Chapter 3, while the new character stories and Garden of Trials require Epilogue: Journey's End. Housing has its own quest requirement, and romance can begin without finishing the campaign. Match the feature you want to your save's progress, then follow the named journal entries below. The camp check matters even if you've already beaten the main story.
What do you need to start Charting the Unknown?
For ocean exploration, complete Chapter 3: Howling Hill, then finish Gathered Will within the Greymanes faction questline Grounds of the Sunrise. For the new character stories and Garden of Trials, finish the original campaign, including its Epilogue. Housing and romance have separate requirements.
| Content you want | Required progress | Where to begin |
|---|---|---|
| Ships and Great Ocean quests | Chapter 3 and the later Expanding the Camp quest within Gathered Will | Follow A Wider World in the Charting the Unknown faction category |
| Upgraded housing | Acquire the Howling Hill camp and complete Luke's Request | Use the expanded home-building options |
| New character stories | Complete Epilogue: Journey's End | Check your journal and select the relevant character |
| Garden of Trials | Complete Epilogue: Journey's End | Visit the Axiom Archive in the Abyss |
| Romance | No campaign-completion prerequisite | Check an NPC's interaction menu for romance options |
| Festivals | Available after updating, with visits dependent on resident trust and camp development | Build relationships and upgrade your camp |
Which camp quests should you finish first?
Grounds of the Sunrise is the questline to check if you want ships or expanded housing. Its Luke's Request objective unlocks the upgraded housing system, while completing Gathered Will opens the new faction category that leads to sailing.
Crimson Desert Guide: How to Start Charting the Unknown DLC
Unlock housing through Luke's Request
Acquire the Greymane Camp on Howling Hill, then complete Luke's Request within Grounds of the Sunrise. The upgraded housing system lets you construct your home, choosing its ground design, walls, windows, and decorations.
Complete the correct Expanding the Camp quest
After Chapter 3, advance Grounds of the Sunrise through Gathered Will until you complete Expanding the Camp. This opens the Charting the Unknown Greymanes faction category, which contains 14 quests. Three quest chains are initially available:
- A Wider World, your route to building the first ship.
- Shield of Hernand.
- Renewed Vitality.
Crimson Desert Guide: How to Start Charting the Unknown DLC
Check facilities and castles separately
Acquiring the Howling Hill camp reveals facility icons on the map. These identify strongholds that can be rented and managed, but you must liberate the relevant region and complete its faction-related quest before accessing a facility.
Two castles also have specific requirements:
- Drakesfall Castle: Complete Journey's End and liberate Drakesfall Castle.
- Flame Knight's Castle: Complete Damiane's Politician quest and liberate Flame Knight's Castle.
For a broader explanation of these systems after you unlock them, use the Charting the Unknown features and unlocks guide.
How do you get your first ship?
Once the camp requirement is complete, open your Journal and find the Charting the Unknown Greymanes faction category. Choose A Wider World, then follow its shipbuilding quests to obtain a small ship. Continuing this questline leads into the new ocean story.
Your first ship is the small version. Medium and large ships become options later, with separate costs for buying and building them.
Should you buy or build a larger ship?
| Ship size | Purchase cost | Building alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 1,200,000 Camp Funds | Fewer Camp Funds, but more materials |
| Large | 6,000,000 Camp Funds | Fewer Camp Funds, but more materials |
Building a medium or large ship reduces the Camp Funds requirement compared with purchasing one, but demands more materials. For context on sailing and the other systems you're opening, check the Charting the Unknown feature breakdown.
Crimson Desert Guide: How to Start Charting the Unknown DLC
How do you start the new character stories?
Complete the original main questline through Epilogue: Journey's End, then check your journal with Charting the Unknown active. Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka each have new story content, and you must control the character associated with the quest you're starting.
| Character | Journal entries to look for | Starting action |
|---|---|---|
| Kliff | Beyond the Margins, beginning with A Moment's Respite | Play as Kliff and head to Pailune |
| Damiane | From the Ashes, beginning with Reclaimed and Remaining | Play as Damiane and head to Demeniss |
| Oongka | Forged Resolve under A New Path | Play as Oongka and follow the journal entry |
Where do you unlock Garden of Trials?
Garden of Trials becomes accessible after Journey's End. You do not need to complete the new Charting the Unknown character stories first, so you can head straight to its boss challenges once the original campaign is finished.
To enter Garden of Trials:
- Find the Axiom Archive in the Abyss, directly above the Town of Hernand. On the Abyss map, it sits within The Path of Providence.
- Travel to the archive's Abyss Nexus.
- Approach the archive building straight ahead to trigger the introductory cutscene that takes you to Garden of Trials.
- Continue to the short pillars topped with cubes. Stand on the pad beside a trial and examine its cube to access the challenge.
How do romance and festivals become available?
Romance and festival systems are accessible after updating your game, without the campaign-completion requirement attached to Journey's End. Individual relationships and festival visits still depend on your progress with Pywel's residents and your camp.
Start with an NPC's interaction menu
Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka can each romance specific NPCs. Check the NPC's interaction menu first to see whether romance is possible for your current character.
For an eligible NPC, the relationship sequence is:
- Build trust through gifts and interactions.
- Reach 100 trust, then select Seduce.
- Fill the NPC's likeability, then select Propose.
The four witches have an extra requirement: complete the relevant witch's Sanctum quest. Their new faction quests let you build trust and likeability toward romance. After marriage, a spouse can follow you or live at your house, and divorce is also available.
Crimson Desert Guide: How to Start Charting the Unknown DLC
Why haven't festival visitors appeared?
Festival access does not require finishing Journey's End, but visits depend on your relationships with Pywel's residents and camp development. Keep building resident trust and upgrading the Greymane Camp if you're waiting for visitors.
For your next objective, follow A Wider World if you want to sail, or finish Journey's End if you're aiming for the new character stories and Garden of Trials. Use the Crimson Desert guide collection to plan the quests you still need.
