Crimson Desert, the ambitious and complex RPG, stands apart in a genre crowded with open-world adventures. Its rich systems and unforgiving difficulty make for a compelling but demanding experience. With so much thrown at players from the start, it’s easy to misstep and create problems that can take hours to resolve. If you're diving into the game, here are 10 mistakes you must avoid to make the most of your journey.

1. Letting clutter fill your inventory

Inventory management in Crimson Desert is vital because space is extremely limited. Seemingly inconsequential items like quest notes and recipes take up space that could be used for crafting materials or gear. Key items highlighted in purple won’t eat into your storage, but once their purpose is fulfilled, they turn into regular inventory items. Notes can be discarded, and recipes should either be used or sold to vendors, as they stack up quickly. Regularly pruning unnecessary items will save you from unnecessary headaches later on.

2. Mismanaging side quests

The game’s side quests can be surprisingly unforgiving. Early on, tutorial missions that teach crafting and cooking systems allow for no mistakes. For example, you might get a quest to make "modest fish porridge," but the recipe offers multiple variants like "filling fish porridge." If you use the wrong materials, you won’t complete the quest and will have to gather new ingredients on your own. Always double-check quest descriptions to ensure you're crafting exactly what’s required. When it comes to investigative missions, the game does try to help by logging clues in your inventory. Remember to consult the investigation log when stuck.

3. Fighting the Red Devil boss at night

Crimson Desert’s boss fights are by far its most challenging segments. One notable early fight pits you against the Red Devil, a three-phase boss that grows increasingly aggressive. Attempting this fight at night compounds the difficulty. Reduced visibility in the reed-filled area makes navigation and combat nearly impossible. Make sure to begin the related quest, "Traces in the Manor," in the morning to avoid battling low visibility as well as the boss itself. Stocking up on healing items is also essential to surviving this encounter.

4. Hunting deer without the Deer Hat

Hunting can feel unnecessarily tedious unless you have the right tools. One essential item to make deer hunting easier is the Deer Hat. Equip it, and deer won’t flee when you approach, allowing you to hunt without the usual cat-and-mouse chase. This hat is dropped by Stag Lord cultists near the Icemore Castle ruins. Once you have it, hunting becomes far more manageable.

5. Chopping trees inefficiently

Lumber is a critical resource, but gathering it can be a laborious process. To speed things up, use weapons or abilities to knock down trees quickly. However, for the best results, ensure you use a logging axe for the final chopping phase. The axe significantly improves the quantity and quality of your lumber yield, often giving you fine lumber in addition to standard lumber.

6. Neglecting your camp upgrades

Upgrading your camp may seem like a mundane task compared to main quest missions, but it pays off in the long run. Early camp upgrades unlock vendors, including a chef who supplies healing items, and a smithy for crafting and repairs. Expanded camp facilities also offer inventory space upgrades and enable resource-gathering missions. Regularly running dispatch missions earns valuable materials and money, which you'll need for advanced upgrades and research later. Assigning some greymane recruits to guard duty is a good way to ensure your camp has a steady income.

7. Destroying trade wagons

The game’s trade system offers a unique way to earn income, but it’s fraught with risks. Trade wagons are fragile, and losing one means losing most of the goods it carries. Before embarking on a journey, always manual-save your progress. If your wagon breaks mid-route, you’ll face significant financial loss. Wagons are only accepted at specific trading hubs, so plan your route carefully before you set off.

8. Mishandling power cores

Power cores are essential for solving puzzles and other tasks, and the cuckoo pot can store them for later use. However, cores stored and removed from the pot may disappear if you leave the region, requiring a costly retrieval process through your camp’s lost items menu. To avoid this, make sure to carefully manage where and how you’re storing power cores.

9. Dropping items on the ground

Unlike some other RPGs, Crimson Desert doesn’t let you treat the environment as a limitless storage space. Items dropped on the ground despawn, and most won’t reappear in the lost-and-found inventory. Sell or store items immediately to prevent permanent loss. With inventory space at a premium, focus on completing quests that expand your carry limits.

10. Avoiding exploration

Crimson Desert’s world is more accessible than it first appears. Although certain areas look like late-game zones, they can be explored early. Regions like the titular Crimson Desert contain valuable resources and are less densely packed with enemies compared to mid-game zones. Venturing into uncharted areas also unlocks fast-travel points, making future travel faster and easier. Don’t hesitate to explore beyond what the game’s main narrative suggests.

Crimson Desert’s dense mechanics and systems reward careful planning and attention to detail. By keeping these common mistakes in mind, you can avoid unnecessary frustration and focus on enjoying its varied gameplay and sprawling world. Whether managing inventory, tackling side quests, or navigating boss fights, preparation is key. This game doesn’t hold your hand, but that’s part of its charm—assuming you know what to look out for.