You Are Missing The Best Upgrades In ‘Crimson Desert’

Crimson Desert has about ten million systems to keep track of, and while you may have run into this one over the course of the game, I think most players are missing just how important it is in terms of getting meaningful upgrades over the course of the game.

I’m talking about research hubs, places where you assign a local to research various things for you for silver. They are marked with a series of little circles on the map if you have the building view. The upgrades usually don’t take that long, but they range from $1 to $500. Almost all of them are worth it.

One problem here is that there will be a big long description for each upgrade, and in some cases you have to literally wait until it scrolls down a little to see what it actually unlocks for you. Which will often have little to do with what is being researched. Classic Crimson Desert! But if you read the list, I think you’ll see what I mean. I’m going to do three trees (there are two more past where I am) where the third is in Crimson Desert. The first two are more readily accessible. Remember, if $500 seems steep, you still have the unlimited noble gold bar farm. Sometimes you will find research is “halted” or unavailable, but you just have to do an often not-hard local quest to get it going again.

Scholastone – You will get here over the course of the main story. It features a very annoying “solve the crime” quest and also a bad boss fight. Fortunately, it also has a researcher. The upgrades:

• Abyssal Environment Research ($1) – Beekeeper suit blueprint (okay it starts slow)
• Abyss Energy Restoration Phenomenon Research ($12) – Faded Abyss Artifact blueprint
• Abyssal Energy Research ($130) – Allows health to surpass limits, takes it from 14 max to 18 max upgrades.
• Cloudcart Efficiency Enhancement Research ($9) – Allows you to craft Cloudcart on expedition missions
• Cloudcart Altitude Enhancement Research ($100) – Craft Skystreaker which lets you actually fly from the ground into the Abyss
• Abyss Energy Applicable Device Research ($500) – Lets you craft ATAG (the mech) Thrusterpacks, and gives Damiene the ability to imbue Skystep into shields (double jump/enhanced flight time)
• Skyroot Research ($7/$90) – Lets you harvest seed from Skyroot (important upgrade material)

Pororin – You may have wandered here and been hit with sleep darts so you can’t get near the town. Do this a few times and it will unlock a mission that lets you in. Once you do, head to the research station.

• Natural Harmony Research ($1.10) – Shadowleaf disguise blueprints and Replenishing Arrows, which regenerate in time so you don’t have to use disposable arrows
• Medicinal Herbs Research ($7) – Palmar Pill blueprint, the resurrection item that’s one of the most important in the game
• Mysterious Wild Ginseng Energy Research ($130) – The upgrade that lets spirit “surpass its limits,” getting past that cap
• Palmar Leaf Research ($9) – Gives you more Replenishing Arrows
• Plant Combination Research ($120) – Gives you three elixir recipes and even more Replenishing Arrows
• Secret Tools of Life ($500) – Dispatches can craft magic scythe for farming and Pororin fishing rod
• Efficient Gathering Research ($70) – Chance of gathering addition plants when gathering. I have gotten 7-11 plants at one time when this chance hits
• Reachwood Ruins Dispatch Plan ($80) – A Reachwood Ruins dispatch missions (I am not sure what the reward is yet)

Great Gate of Urdavah – This is in the north-ish part of the Crimson Desert, a giant gate that is hard to miss. You will be here for a main story mission eventually.

• Desert Lifestyle Research ($1.10) – Varnian Equipment blueprint
• Bioenergy Amplification Research ($11) – Gain more energy from cooking
• Red Seaweed Research ($12) – Allows Stamina past cap (this one makes you go far away)
• Wild Energy Fusion Device Research ($7) – Dispatch missions to craft Propeller Spear, Gale Shield and Air Blaster
• High-Capacity Energy Power Device Research ($70) – Dispatch missions to craft ATAG Plating
• Gold Vein Research ($130) – Marks gold ore caves (tons of gold) on the map
• Circulating Energy Research ($100) – Accessories of the World Vol. IV (max) blueprint

So, you can see what I mean. Breaking all stat caps, respawning arrows, more harvesting, loads of recipes, loads of crafting projects, it’s a lot. Do not miss this aspect of the game.

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