Crimson Desert's early hours can feel punishing. Several bosses and enemy-dense areas act as hard gear checks, and the weapons you start with won't carry you far. The Hwando — a powerful two-handed katana — is tucked inside a locked chest at Lioncrest Manor, northwest of the starting town, and you can pick it up almost immediately if you know what to bring.
Quick answer: Buy a key for 30 coins at the Back Alley Shop in Hernand, travel to Lioncrest Manor, climb through the glassless window on the western side of the smaller house, unlock the second-floor door, and loot the glowing chest.
What You Need Before Going to Lioncrest Manor
The only item you absolutely must have is a key. A mask is optional — it lets you steal loose items from the manor without getting caught, but the Hwando itself sits in a treasure chest and is not flagged as stolen loot. If all you want is the sword, skip the mask entirely.
| Item | Required for Hwando? | How to Get It | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key | Yes | Back Alley Shop (southeast of town, at the base of a windmill) or looted from dead bandits | 30 coins |
| Mask | No (only for stealing other items) | Complete the Jeffrey bounty at the Constabulary, or buy from the Back Alley Shop | Free (bounty reward) or 10 coins |
If you're short on coins, explore the area around Hernand and sell anything that looks remotely valuable. Bandits you kill along the way also have a chance to drop keys, so combat-focused players may never need to visit the shop at all.
Getting a Mask Through the Jeffrey Bounty (Optional)
Step 1: Head to the Constabulary on the western side of the starting town. A guard standing near a wanted poster will explain how bounty hunts work. Interact with the poster to pick up the bounty for Jeffrey.
Step 2: Set the bounty hunt as your active quest. A waypoint will appear, leading you to Jeffrey's location.
Step 3: Tackle Jeffrey, beat him into submission, and tie him up when the prompt appears. Carry him back to the Constabulary to collect your reward, which includes a mask.
Breaking Into Lioncrest Manor
Step 1: Travel northwest from the starting town to Lioncrest Manor. The estate is guarded, but the guards are remarkably inattentive. Head toward the smaller house to the left of the main manor building.
Step 2: Walk around to the western wall of this smaller house and look for a closed window that has no glass pane. Climb up the wall to the window and open it when prompted, then drop inside.
Step 3: Go to the second floor. You'll find a locked door. Simply walk your character into it, and they will automatically use the key from your inventory to unlock it.
Step 4: Inside the room, approach the glowing chest against the wall and open it. The Hwando is yours.
Hwando Sword Stats
The Hwando is a large two-handed katana that hits hard for an early-game weapon and comes with useful passive effects right out of the chest.
| Stat / Perk | Value |
|---|---|
| Base Damage | 19 per hit (no upgrades) |
| Critical Rate I | Increases critical hit chance |
| Stamina Siphon Lv I | Recovers stamina on hit |
| Attack 1 Abyss Gear | Equipped by default |
The combination of solid base damage, built-in crit chance, and stamina recovery makes the Hwando effective well into the mid-game. Most players won't find a clear upgrade until they defeat a significantly harder boss much later in the story.
Extra Loot Inside Lioncrest Manor
If you brought a mask and don't mind the Influence hit, the rest of the estate has several worthwhile pickups. The smaller house where you found the Hwando also contains a gold bar hidden in the fireplace — check it before you leave.
The main manor building can be entered the same way: climb through the windows at the back. Inside, you'll find a puzzle box that requires you to rotate pieces to form a complete picture, a second locked door hiding a decent shield in a chest, a Visione memory you can watch, and a pair of solid gauntlets on the first floor in another chest. The shield and gauntlets are especially useful if you're still running starter gear.
The Hwando is one of the strongest weapons you can get in Crimson Desert's opening hours, and reaching it takes only a few minutes once you have a key. Grab it early, and those first boss encounters become far more manageable.