Crimson Desert won't scale to the player – enemy difficulty is fixed per region

Pearl Abyss has revealed a key detail about the difficulty system in Crimson Desert – enemy levels are fixed and do not scale with the player character. The information came from content creator Mats Katage (P4wnyhof) following a hands-on session with the game.

Enemies in the first region will always be first-region enemies, regardless of how powerful Cliff has become. Wandering into a higher-threat area without proper preparation can mean getting killed in a single hit.

This approach ties directly into the core progression mechanic – the Abyss Artifact system. Rather than gaining experience through kills, character development revolves around Abyss Fragments, which can be obtained in three ways:

• defeating bosses and completing story encounters

• clearing hidden ruins and crypts

• completing key quests

Fragments are spent on upgrading core stats – health and stamina – as well as unlocking new branches in the skill tree. Certain advanced techniques can't simply be purchased; they must be learned by personally observing enemies or masters within the game world performing them.

Pearl Abyss PR director Will Powers noted that the main story campaign accounts for only a small portion of the total available content, and that the balance between narrative and gameplay falls somewhere between The Witcher 3 and Breath of the Wild.

Beyond stat progression, gear plays a significant role in strengthening the character. Weapons and armor can be purchased from merchants, found in the world, or crafted at a blacksmith using materials gathered through hunting and mining.

Advanced gear supports special stones – Abyss Gears – which add elemental effects like fire and ice and unlock unique combo bonuses. Defeating bosses rewards not only Fragments but also exclusive equipment carrying the unique abilities of the fallen enemy.

Based on early impressions, the fixed difficulty fits naturally into the overall game loop – explore the world, collect Artifacts, craft gear, and return to previously inaccessible enemies with significantly more power. Players decide for themselves how thoroughly to prepare – whether to grind starting areas or push forward immediately.

Crimson Desert launches on March 19, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series.