How Material Extraction Ensures Success in Crimson Desert

Select Language:

A new update has been released for Crimson Desert, adding several new features to enhance gameplay. Players can now feed their mounts and purchase saddles for rarer animal species. Additionally, sword sheaths can now be displayed when not in use, providing a more realistic look. These changes are aimed at improving the overall quality of life in the game.

The most notable addition is the Extraction feature available at blacksmiths across various cities. Here’s how it works, whether it’s worth your effort, and what you earn by extracting unused weapons and armor.

To get started, visit any Smithy in the game world. When you interact with the blacksmith, you will see a new option called “Extraction” alongside Refinement and Crafting. Selecting this option opens a list of all your current weapons and armor pieces. You can choose any item to extract materials from, which then shows all its previous refinement levels.

You can select any level from this list to reset that piece of gear to the designated earlier refinement level. Doing so refunds you the materials used to reach that level. The amount of materials you receive depends on the rarity of the item. For common materials like Bloodstone or Iron Ore, you recover about 70% of the original materials. Rarer items like Abyss Artifacts or Aeserion’s Scales are returned at a full 100%.

The quantity of materials gained increases the lower you set the refinement level. For example, downgrading your Molten Ambition sword to Refinement Level 3 will give you 22 Iron Ore, 21 Copper Ore, 8 Bloodstone, and 3 Abyss Artifacts. Importantly, the actual weapon isn’t destroyed in the process—it’s just downgraded, so you won’t lose key gear you’ve invested heavily in. However, you cannot reduce a weapon or armor piece below its original discovery level.

This feature is accessible regardless of whether the character associated with the gear (like Oongka or Damiane) is present. As long as the gear is in your inventory, you can reduce its refinement level to recoup materials. Remember, gear needs to be in your inventory to modify it—if it’s stored in a large chest, you’ll need to carry it to a Smithy first.

Using extraction is a great way to reclaim materials you might have spent on gear you no longer use, especially Abyss Artifacts. Since these artifacts are essential for higher-level refinement and unlocking new skills, gaining more of them is very helpful for progression. Although the process might take some time, reviewing your unused weapons and armor and downgrading them at a Smithy can significantly aid in strengthening your key equipment, making your advancement in the game smoother and less frustrating.