Crimson Desert doesn't just scatter collectibles around its world for the sake of padding. The Sealed Abyss Artifacts scattered across the continent of Pywel are tied to actual challenges, and completing them pays out in skill points, skill reset currency, and weapon and armor mods. There are over a hundred of these polygonal objects out there, and the Hernand region alone is packed with them.
How the Artifacts Actually Work
Before hunting anything down, you need to know how to spot them. Activating Blinding Flash (pressing the lantern button and light attack button simultaneously) reveals glints of light in the distance. Those glints could be Abyss Nexus fast travel points, Abyss Cresset puzzles, or Sealed Abyss Artifacts. Most artifacts sit on altars and cairns along roadsides, so they're easy to miss if you're just sprinting past.
When you pick one up, a challenge tally flashes briefly on the left side of your screen. Things like defeating a set number of enemies with a specific weapon type, or riding a certain distance on horseback. If you miss that prompt, the Journal: Challenges menu breaks everything down across Mastery, Combat, Life, and Minigame tabs. Skip the inventory descriptions entirely as they read like riddles, not instructions.
Once a challenge is complete, the artifact icon appears on the right side of your screen. Open your inventory, find the flashing item, and select it to claim your reward.
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Don't check Sealed Abyss Artifacts through your inventory for challenge details. The descriptions there are intentionally cryptic. The Journal: Challenges menu gives you the actual tally requirements.
Central Hernand: The Capital and Its Surroundings
The heart of Hernand has 12 artifacts spread across the capital area and its surrounding landmarks. Here's what's waiting:
- Sword of Trials I (near Three Saints' Falls fast travel point): Defeat three enemies within 30 seconds using a sword.
- Shield of Unchanging Will I (Castle Hernand stables): Defeat three enemies with a shield.
- Sharpened Spear II (Greymane Shrine, southeast river confluence): Defeat 30 enemies within 30 seconds using a spear.
- Sword of Trials III (road between Hernand Castle and nearby farms): Defeat three enemies with a sword without taking damage.
- Sliding Down the Slope (east of the Trading Post along Nas River): Slide down for 50 meters.
- Keeping Balance on the Wind (Unicorn Cliff hillside path): Walk 10 meters on a rope.
- Night of the Silent Banner Pike (road to St. Halssius House of Healing): Destroy 10 Banner Pikes at night without being detected.
- Spot the Trickery in Duo (northeastern Anvil Hill, between Abyss Cresset and underground Abyss Nexus): Use Insight to catch a cheater in a Duo match.
- The Herder's Lament (between the "A" and second "N" in "Hernand" on the world map): Sell three goats to Bram at the camp ranch.
- Overwhelming Slash III (lakeside ruins southwest of Haunted Hill): Knock back 10 enemies within 30 seconds using a sword.
- Judgment of the Storm (northeast of Haunted Hill encampments): Defeat 30 enemies within one minute.
- Father of the Earth (north of Three Saints' Falls fast travel point): Carry five birds.
Southern Hernand: Witchwoods to the Steel Mountains
The southern stretch of Hernand runs through some of the game's more memorable areas, including the road toward the Scholastone Research Institute. Seven artifacts are tucked along these routes.
The Harmonious Hooves IV challenge is the most involved of the bunch, requiring a full road ride from the southwestern edge of the map all the way to the northeastern edge.
Northern Hernand: Hills of No Return and Beyond
Northern Hernand edges toward the Duchy of Calphade, and its artifacts lean into more combat-specific challenges. Ten are documented here, with a few standouts worth flagging.
Northern Hernand artifact spread
- Bow Aimed at Fate II (riverbed south of Deepfog Basin): Defeat seven enemies in a row using only normal arrows.
- Into the Barrage (eastern Deepfog Basin road): Defeat five enemies at once with a cannon.
- Sharpened Spear III (pathway north of Hook Rapids): Take down five enemies within five seconds using the Stab ability.
- Disruption (across the river from Stormtalon Ridge): Defeat 10 One-Eyed Jackals while wearing the Black Bears' Leather Helm.
- Touch of Darkness (north of Hills of No Return Abyss Nexus): Assassinate three enemies within one minute.
- Sharpened Spear V (Street Shop vendor between Hills of No Return and Drakesfall Gorge): Defeat five enemies without taking spear damage while at 100% health.
- Animal Meat (mountain ridge north of Sage's Peak): Acquire all meat knowledge.
- Ground-Shaking Impact III (Trovak Camp near Pailune border): Send five enemies flying at once with a two-handed club or axe.
- Worth Its Weight (farmlands north of Calphade): Sell 10 pigs to the Livestock Fence.
What the Artifacts Are Worth Hunting
The payout from completing these challenges isn't cosmetic. Abyss Artifacts function as skill points, Faded Abyss Artifacts let you reset skills, and Abyss Gears modify weapons and armor. For anyone trying to build out a specific playstyle in Crimson Desert, these are meaningful rewards tied to actual progression.
It's also worth noting that the Hernand locations are just the beginning. Pearl Abyss built a massive open world here, and the artifact list extends well beyond this one region. The developer has been actively responding to player feedback since launch, so updates to accessibility and discovery systems could make tracking these down even smoother over time.
For now, the Journal: Challenges menu is your best friend, and Blinding Flash is the tool that makes the hunt possible. If you're working through the rest of Pywel's secrets, browse more guides to keep the momentum going. Make sure to check out more:
