Kliff's starting sword gets the job done for about five minutes. After that, the enemies across Pywel start hitting harder, and you'll want something with real teeth. The good news is that Crimson Desert scatters several powerful weapons throughout the Hernand region — some hidden behind environmental puzzles, others locked inside guarded manors, and one earned by beating a Chapter 2 boss. All of them can be refined to stay relevant well into the mid-game.
Quick answer: The Hwando, a two-handed sword found inside Lioncrest Manor in Hernand, is widely considered the single best early weapon. It has 19 Attack and comes pre-loaded with Abyss Gears that boost critical rate, damage, and stamina recovery on hit.
Hwando — The Best Overall Early Pickup
The Hwando is a two-handed sword described in-game as hailing from a "foreign eastern land." With a base Attack of 19 and three pre-equipped Abyss Gears that raise critical rate, raw damage, and stamina siphon, it outclasses every other weapon you can buy or loot during Chapter 1. The trade-off is that you can't pair it with a shield, but the damage output and built-in sustain more than compensate. Kept refined, the Hwando can carry you through the entire main story.
Step 1: Purchase a Key and a Thief's Mask from the back-alley merchant near the windmill below the church on Hernand's south side.
Step 2: Head to Lioncrest Manor on the north side of Hernand Town. All entrances are guarded, but the guards won't react to you climbing the outer walls. Scale the smaller stone building west of the main manor and open a second-floor window to get inside.
Step 3: On the second floor, use your Key to unlock the storage room door. Inside, look for a glowing Treasure Chest — it does not require the Mask to open. The Hwando is inside.
Sword of the Lord — Wind Slash Included
This one-handed sword drops from Kailok, the Hornsplitter, the boss at the end of Chapter 2. What makes it special is the Wind Slash Abyss Gear that comes already socketed. Wind Slash fires a ranged arc of cutting wind automatically during certain attacks, including the four-hit light combo, a jumping slash, and the quick strike after an evade roll. It's effective against groups and adds a ranged option to an otherwise melee-focused kit.
Hornsplitter is fast and likes to send wind projectiles of his own, so stock up on food at the bonfire outside his camp before engaging. Dodge the projectiles, close the gap, and punish his recovery windows. If you already have the Hwando or the Hollow Visage, the fight goes quickly.
Hollow Visage — A Strong One-Handed Alternative
If you prefer sword-and-shield play, the Hollow Visage is the one-handed weapon to chase. It sits at 15 Attack with a Level 1 Critical Rate bonus and a Level 2 Attack Speed bonus baked in through its Refinement level and Abyss Gears. Those stats are exceptional for a one-handed blade this early.
Step 1: Travel to the southern mountain line of the Hernand region. Look for the short river near the west side of the mountains, close to Vellua and north of the Mountain of Frozen Souls.
Step 2: Climb up the left side of the waterfall until you find a path blocked by rushing water. Use your Stab attack to dash through the water unharmed and enter Dawn Cave.
Step 3: Open the glowing Treasure Chest inside the cave to claim the Hollow Visage.
Tommaso Guard's Dagger-Tipped Spear — Pre-Refined Reach
Spears shine in Crimson Desert because their range lets you tag enemies before they can swing back. The Tommaso Guard's Dagger-Tipped Spear already comes at Refinement Level 2, giving it 16 Attack plus Level 1 bonuses to both Critical Rate and Attack Speed. That puts it ahead of the Warspike Spear and most other polearms you'll encounter in the opening hours.
You'll find it in the Icemoor Castle Ruins, located northwest of Hernand Castle. On the map, the ruins sit just above the large "R" and "N" letters in the Hernand label.
Legionary's Gladius — Puzzle-Locked Short Sword
The Legionary's Gladius is a unique one-handed short sword. Its raw stats are comparable to other early blades, but it can be refined just like anything else, and short-sword users will appreciate having a distinct weapon this early.
Step 1: Head north of Hernand Castle to the large bridge near Three Saints' Falls — the same bridge you crossed at the start of Chapter 1.
Step 2: Walk along the top of the cliffs at the base of the falls. On the right side, you'll find a Statue of Justice holding two unlit candles.
Step 3: Light both candles. A nearby gate opens, revealing a Treasure Chest that contains the Legionary's Gladius.
Warspike Spear — Free and Immediate
The Warspike Spear won't top any damage charts, but it's available almost immediately and costs nothing. Its reach and strong-attack combo make it a reliable secondary weapon for the first few hours, and it pairs well with a one-handed sword as your primary.
To grab it, head east of Hernand Town to the river that splits around a small island. Look for a Greymane Shrine — a small wooden structure with a reddish roof. The spear is leaning against the right side of the shrine and can be picked up freely. While you're there, search inside the shrine for a Sealed Abyss Artifact.
Mining Knuckledrill — A Utility Weapon Worth Detour
The Mining Knuckledrill is less of a combat weapon and more of a quality-of-life tool. Its only attack is a continuous drilling thrust aimed at a single target, which isn't great in a crowd. Where it earns its spot is ore mining — equipping the Knuckledrill lets you mine while climbing mountainsides, and it starts with a 10% chance to double ore yields. Refinement pushes that bonus to 30%.
You get it by defeating the Marni's Excavatron boss inside the Karin Quarry, part of the Estate in Dismay questline for House Roberts. The boss hits hard, so bring healing items and use Blinding Flash when it tries to burrow underground to stun it for a long punish window.
Shield of Conviction — Best Early Defensive Option
Not a weapon in the traditional sense, but the Shield of Conviction deserves mention because it dramatically improves survivability. It arrives already refined with a large defense stat, plus Abyss Gears that increase damage reduction and lower stamina cost when blocking. The downside is its size — it offers no extra movement speed.
Step 1: Ride north from Hernand into the Calphade sub-region. You can get there by taking the road northwest of Hernand Castle over Haunted Hill, or by heading north across Rocca's Hill and swinging left past Hook Rapids to Deepfog Basin.
Step 2: In Calphade, find the small town to the left of the large castle. Head to the north end and locate the Church of Calphade.
Step 3: Climb up to the belltower (this also reveals the full Calphade map). Just below the tower on the north side, look for a broken window you can climb through. The Treasure Chest inside holds the Shield of Conviction.
Early Weapons Comparison
| Weapon | Type | Notable Stats / Perks | How to Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hwando | Two-handed sword | 19 Attack; Crit Rate, Damage, Stamina Siphon Abyss Gears | Lioncrest Manor locked storeroom (Key required) |
| Sword of the Lord | One-handed sword | Wind Slash Abyss Gear (ranged projectile on combos) | Defeat Hornsplitter, Chapter 2 boss |
| Hollow Visage | One-handed sword | 15 Attack; Lv 1 Crit Rate, Lv 2 Attack Speed | Dawn Cave Treasure Chest (south Hernand mountains) |
| Tommaso Guard's Dagger-Tipped Spear | Spear | 16 Attack (Refinement Lv 2); Crit Rate, Attack Speed | Icemoor Castle Ruins, northwest of Hernand Castle |
| Legionary's Gladius | One-handed short sword | Unique; refinable | Statue of Justice puzzle near Three Saints' Falls |
| Warspike Spear | Spear | Good reach; solid strong-attack combo | Greymane Shrine east of Hernand Town (free pickup) |
| Mining Knuckledrill | Fist weapon (utility) | Mines ore on cliffs; 10–30% double ore chance | Defeat Marni's Excavatron in Karin Quarry |
| Shield of Conviction | Shield | High defense; reduced block stamina cost | Church of Calphade belltower chest |
Every weapon in Crimson Desert can be refined to extend its usefulness, so don't hesitate to invest materials into whichever one fits your playstyle. That said, picking up the Hwando as soon as you have a Key is the single highest-impact move you can make in the opening hours — its damage, built-in sustain, and long reach make almost every early encounter significantly easier.