How to Easily Beat Keglord in Crimson Desert by Completing and Solving

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Keglord Garnier stands out as one of the most unique and tough boss fights in Crimson Desert. If you don’t understand how its mechanics work, beating it can be quite difficult. Luckily, there’s a straightforward way to defeat Keglord quickly by playing smartly.

There may be lots of carnival tents around the area where the boss fight takes place, but entering unprepared makes the battle less fun. We’ll guide you through unlocking the Midnight Circus quest chain, locating the boss, and getting ready for the fight against Keglord.

How to Unlock the Midnight Circus Quest

Before battling Keglord, progress the story until you reach Demeniss and unlock the House Marshell Faction Quests. After that, follow the Midnight Circus quest chain and go to the marker in Demeniss as part of the “Mysterious Messenger” quest.

First, find the messenger just below the letter ‘M’ in “Demeniss” and talk to him. He’ll tell you that Lord Keg is looking for you, which begins the “Nightmare on Stage” quest. Follow your marker and speak with him underneath the big tent at night.

How to Defeat Keglord

Before approaching the tent, make sure you have these skills ready, whether you’re fighting with melee or ranged attacks:

Focus (Spirit)
Keen Sense (Spirit)
Evasive Roll (Spirit)
Stab (Stamina)
Stamina Level 9 or higher
Health Level 5 or higher
Spirit Level 4 or higher

If you’re using a ranged build with a bow, add these skills:

Evasive Shot (Stamina)
Marksmanship (Stamina)

For melee fighters, focus on these skills:

Turning Slash (Stamina)
Armed Combat (Stamina)
Forward Slash (Stamina)

It’s recommended to equip the Leather Helm of the Fallen Kingdom, which boosts your Turning Slash damage by 35%, helping you deal more damage.

Once you arrive at Lord Keg, you’ll face an unexpected enemy — the Keglord Garnier Mk. 23. To find his weakness, do the following:

Dodge his initial lightning slam and flamethrower attacks by backing up until he slams his hands down.
When he does a slam, shoot or slash his hands to expose the green weak points.
Use Explosive Arrows or Turning Slash to hit his central electric core — this deals huge damage and starts a stun gauge.
When stunned, focus on attacking one hand. Follow the prompt to stab it:
- Hold RB+Y / R2+Triangle to stab.
- Use RT/R2 Pierce to trigger a big explosion that breaks Keglord’s shield.
Repeat this process on the opposite hand.
After both hands are stabbed, attack him again with Explosive Arrows until he’s stunned.
Climb his torso and use the cling ability to stab one of the shoulders, which should destroy his shield because of residual damage from explosions.

How to Finish Keglord’s Second Phase

When his shield is gone, his main HP will be visible. This is when you can do the most damage, especially if you’re a bow user.

To damage him effectively:

Use arrows to attack from a distance.
Melee users should stick to Turning Slash for maximum damage and stun potential.

Your goal is to stun Keglord again. Once he’s stunned:

Use Stab to plunge your weapon into his exposed green dome.
Pierce the dome to instantly defeat him.

Rewards for Defeating Keglord Garnier

After the boss falls, a cutscene will show his defeat, and you’ll receive your loot:

Abyss Artifact
Tech Hat — provides 2 Defense and a fun Fanfare that launches fireworks with a silly sound
Official Knight’s Cloth Cloak — grants 4 Defense, 4 Refinement, and Lv. 3 Ice Resistance
Wrecked Keglord — a one-time treasure that gives a large amount of Camp Wood

Be cautious with the Wrecked Keglord item; it might trigger other one-time items, like the Golden Piggy Bank, unintentionally.