Unlocking Shadow Armor in Crimson Desert: A Guide
The Shadow Armor set in Crimson Desert shares a vibe with the Frostcursed Armor, perfect for those who love the lich king aesthetic or want to channel the Wild Hunt from The Witcher 3. You can snag the entire set by taking down Beloth, a tough boss lurking in the Hoenmark Ruins, or by exploring Everfrost where most pieces are scattered.
Beloth serves as a significant DPS check due to his high health, along with an ice damage-over-time effect and the occasional freeze to keep things interesting. He can be quite a challenge, especially if you opt for a direct fight instead of using the pillar cheese strategy. Here’s how to collect the Shadow Armor in Crimson Desert, which offers daze and petrification immunity along with solid fire resistance.
The Shadow Armor consists of four pieces located throughout the Everfrost region in northwest Hernand. For the fifth piece, the Plate Helmet of the Shadows, you’ll need to defeat Beloth in the Hoenmark Ruins.
Defeating Beloth will reward you with all pieces of the Shadow Armor, but be prepared for a tough battle, especially if you’re early in the game. The pieces are relatively close together, so I’ve mapped out the most efficient route for you.
Start with the Shadow Gloves, found in Everfrost Cave, located west of Fort Warspike. Follow the river to its end, northwest of Scholastone, where you’ll find a cave entrance blocked by ice. Smash through, slide down the tunnel, and grab the chest at the end to claim the Plate Gloves of the Shadows.
Next, head to Frostclaw Cave for the Shadow Boots, which are directly northeast of the previous cave along the river. You’ll encounter a waterfall that you can drop down to reach the base.
Use the Stab skill to get through the waterfall and find the chest inside. Open it to obtain the Plate Boots of the Shadows.
The Shadow Cloak is located in the Hoenmark Ruins, north of Frostclaw Cave. This area requires some trekking across challenging terrain, so consider fast traveling from Calphade if you can. It’s also near the Sanctum of Benediction, a location you might recall from the Witch quest.
As you approach, expect ghostly foes and frost damage (depending on your resistances). The cloak is hidden in a building on the west side, close to Beloth’s location. Don’t forget to unlock the Abyss Nexus while you’re there.
On the roof, you’ll find a trapdoor. Crouch and use Force Palm to enter a hidden room containing the chest with the Plate Cloak of the Shadows.
To acquire the Shadow Helmet, you must defeat Beloth at the center of the Hoenmark Ruins. Unlike the Frostcursed Armor, there’s no separate location for this piece. After taking down the boss, you’ll be directed to his loot, which includes the helmet and completes your armor set. This helmet is particularly valuable as it allows you to breathe frost.
To tackle Beloth, equip the Frostcursed Armor and other ice resistance gear to mitigate the damage-over-time effects. Make sure to evade periodically to avoid freezing, as this will help manage your temperature. If you need an alternative helmet while you gather the set, the Frostcursed Helmet pairs nicely, as does the Crowcaller’s black bird head.
Finally, the Shadow Armor itself can be found at the Everfrost Watchtower, north of the Hoenmark Ruins, across the river.
Defeat the enemies guarding it, then look for a small cave covered by a metal gate with a lamp nearby. Light the lamp, open the chest, and claim the Plate Armor of the Shadows.
