Completing Antumbra's Sword Challenge in Crimson Desert

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There are many tough bosses you can face in the wilds of Pywel during your Crimson Desert journey, but Antumbra’s Sword is definitely among the hardest. You can choose to fight this boss anytime, but to progress the Antumbra Order quest line, you’ll need to clear out the entire area beforehand.

You can start the quest by locating Antumbra’s Sword at the Sanctum of Absolution. This place is situated in western Hernand, far southeast of Scholastone. Facing Antumbra’s Sword is one of the toughest fights in Crimson Desert if you’re unprepared or unfamiliar with its move set.

However, with proper preparation and understanding how to find the right opening to strike, you can defeat it easily. We’ll guide you on the best gear to bring and how to beat Antumbra’s Sword.

Preparing for the fight

To get ready for Antumbra’s Sword, do the following:

Cook or buy plenty of food supplies to help survive mistakes. Palmar Pills are also useful for revivals.
Equip the best armor and weapons available—ideally at least at Refinement Level 5, with higher levels being better. Good options include Frostcursed Plate Armor Set and the Armor of Shadows Set. For weapons, Darkbringer is ideal, though Hound Sword also works for quick hits.
Increase your maximum Health, Stamina, and Spirit. Aim for about seven points in Health, eleven in Stamina, and at least four in Spirit.
Upgrade key skills such as Turning Slash (Stamina), Keen Senses (Spirit), Force Palm (Spirit), and Focus (Spirit) to level 3 or higher.

Be sure your cold journey to the Sanctum of Absolution is manageable, especially if you haven’t equipped frost-resistant gear.

How to fight Antumbra’s Sword

Ensure you level up your health and armor sufficiently; otherwise, you risk being one-shot by its flurry of area attacks. Its attack patterns are tricky and deadly when they hit.

Some of its main attacks include:

Teleporting Slash: The sword disappears and reappears nearby to deliver a devastating slash. Dodge is the best way to avoid this.
Wound of Darkness AoE: The boss stabs the ground, unleashing claw-like waves outwards. Blocking is more reliable here since the wave patterns can be unpredictable.
Jump Slash: When prepared, the boss glows red. This attack cannot be parried and must be dodged. Keeping your distance allows you to react better.

Keep your guard up—dodge and block as needed, particularly during its AoE attacks. When you see the boss wind up for a slash, or before it teleports, look for openings to counterattack. When its attack is about to strike, parry to open a window for a powerful follow-up move like Turning Slash, which builds up a stun meter for extra damage.

Avoid getting greedy with hits when the boss is vulnerable; instead, wait for the right moment to strike. Use Focus mode to slow down time and plan your response, especially when the boss unleashes unparryable attacks—dodge to stay safe.

How to get the most damage

Force Palm is your best tool for interrupting Antumbra’s Sword attacks. Time it well to stop its action and leave it open for follow-up hits. Wait patiently for long windups or the boss’s teleportation cues to unleash Force Palm. Building up the stun meter with this move enables you to deal significant damage more easily.

Consistently dodge, block, and use food supplies to stay alive. After repeating this cycle of dodging, Force Palm, and attacking, you’ll eventually bring the boss down.

Rewards for defeating Antumbra’s Sword

Defeating the boss grants you the Vessel of Dark Pursuit, a powerful two-handed sword. This weapon features a special attack that mimics Antumbra’s claw AoE attack, making it particularly useful.

Immediately after victory, you will receive the Vessel of Dark Pursuit, which has:

25 attack power (refinement level 4)
Bonus effects including +1 attack, +1 critical rate, and the Wound of Darkness ability, creating a claw-like AoE similar to that of the boss.

After the fight, make sure to clear the remaining enemies in the area to officially complete the quest. Clearing out the area might also allow you to progress the Witch of Wisdom quest line if you’ve already cleared other Sanctums.

Once prepared correctly and with patience, you can take down Antumbra’s Sword and claim your rewards.