I arrived in Hernand with a chipped sword and one phoenix potion between me and a boss that would chew through my stamina. You can feel the map tilt the moment you realize there’s a single forge that can save you — and it’s not marked by fireworks. I’ll walk you through where to find the forges, how to use them, and what to chase next so you don’t turn back to camp empty-handed.
All Crimson Desert Blacksmith Locations
Most open-world games put their gear-smithing NPCs in the same handful of settlements; Crimson Desert follows that pattern.
You’ll meet blacksmiths primarily in the major towns. They sit near the equipment or tailor shops and show up as an anvil icon on the in-game map. From early testing and developer notes, the first guaranteed forge you’ll find is in the city of Hernand — the game’s early hub where supplies, quests, and upgrades converge. The city forge is like a compass needle for your journey: once you find it, planning your next move becomes a lot less guesswork.
Where is the first blacksmith in Crimson Desert?
The first blacksmith is in the City of Hernand — that’s the early-game safe point and upgrade hub. Open your map, find the anvil icon, and head to the market quarter. If you’ve pre-ordered on Steam, PlayStation, or Xbox, the standard price is $59.99 (€56); pre-order bonuses vary by platform and retailer (developer: Pearl Abyss).
How to Upgrade Gear in Crimson Desert
When I sit at a forge in a new game, I expect a simple, clear path to improve the tools I actually use.
Using a blacksmith in Crimson Desert is straightforward. Here’s the quick flow I follow — and you should too:
- Find the blacksmith NPC and interact to open the upgrade menu.
- Select the equipped item you want to improve; the UI lists the resources and currency needed.
- Confirm the upgrade if you have materials. Changes are instant — no long timers to fight through.
How to upgrade gear in Crimson Desert?
Open the blacksmith menu, pick an equipped weapon or piece of armor, check the required materials and currency, then hit Confirm. If anything is missing, the UI tells you what to hunt or mine next.
What Are the Requirements to Upgrade Gear in Crimson Desert
Collecting crafting resources in any RPG quickly becomes part of the routine — and it pays to know where each type drops.
Upgrades require specific materials that you gather from the world. Materials are the engine oil for your weapons: no matter the level, improvements stall without a steady supply. The common sources are:
- Hunting: Beasts drop leather, fangs, hides, and other organic components.
- Mining: Ores and metals come from caves and deposits; use a pickaxe to extract them.
- Mob & Boss Drops: Stronger enemies and named bosses yield rarer materials used for higher-tier upgrades.
How to get materials to upgrade gear in Crimson Desert?
Hunt wildlife for hides and bones, mine deposits for ore, and clear enemy camps for rare drops. Bosses and elite mobs are your best bet for high-tier components. Community maps on Reddit and Discord, and resources on Steam guides or the Pearl Abyss forums, are useful when you’re chasing a specific drop.
There’s also Abyss Gear: a separate system that uses special items to add stats or abilities. Those upgrades are handled by the Witch NPC rather than the blacksmith, so you’ll want to memorize both locations if you plan to min-max your setup. Fast travel and mounts make shuttling between Hernand and other points less of a headache.
If you’re already pre-ordering for bonuses, check the platform store pages (Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store) and the developer’s official channels for exact details and dates.
I’ve shown where the forges stand and what to bring; will you trust Hernand’s anvil or push into the wild for better loot?