Crimson Desert: How To Obtain The Full Armor Of The Shadows Set
Looking like a terrifying nightmare specter is the only valid reason to turn into a human ice cube exploring the Argent Peaks.
If you have spent any amount of time exploring the continent of Pywel, you have probably realized that early game fashion is an absolute tragedy. You spend your first dozen hours wrapped in dirty cloth and rusted chainmail, looking less like a hardened mercenary and more like a desperate beggar. If you want to stop dying to random bandits, you can check out my Crimson Desert beginner tips guide, but if you want to actually look cool while playing, you need the Plate Armor of the Shadows.
This full black plate set is arguably the most visually striking armor in the game. It also happens to pack incredible defensive stats and vital status immunities. The developers clearly knew how coveted this gear would be, so they split the acquisition methods. You can get almost the entire set simply by exploring and solving environmental puzzles. The final piece, however, is locked behind an incredibly brutal endgame boss. I am going to walk you through exactly how to get your hands on the gear, the matching legendary weapon, and a secret cosmetic alternative for players who want to skip the boss entirely.
The Pacifist Route: Stealing The Set
If you do not feel like bashing your head against a massive health bar right now, you can acquire the breastplate, boots, gloves, and a cloak purely through exploration. You do not have to swing your sword at a single boss to get these four pieces.
Plate Gloves Of The Shadows
You need to head to the Everfrost Cave in the Argent Peaks. Open your map, follow the river directly underneath the word "Hernand", and take a sharp left up into the rocky mountains. The cave entrance is carved into the wall.
This is a pure ice cave, meaning it is pitch black and the floor has zero friction. You need to pull out your lantern immediately so you do not accidentally slide off a cliff into the abyss. There are no enemies guarding this specific chest. You just walk in, try not to slip, and pop the lid. The gloves come preloaded with two Abyss Core slots and passive buffs to both your climbing and swimming speeds. It is an incredibly generous free upgrade.
Plate Boots Of The Shadows
Leave the Everfrost Cave and head slightly north towards the Frostclaw Cave. You are going to follow the western river just below Hernand. Keep an eye out for a massive waterfall. The universal visual language in this game for a hidden secret is a small pile of stacked stones, and you will find exactly that sitting at the base of the falling water.
You cannot just walk through the water. The game physically repels you. You have to use the Stab skill. On a controller, press R1 and Triangle simultaneously to lunge straight through the water barrier. If you have not unlocked this yet, go grind some combat and invest a point. It is mandatory for exploration. You will find the chest waiting in the damp cavern behind the falls.
Plate Armor Of The Shadows
This is the heavy hitter of the collection. You are looking for the Everfrost Watchtower, located north of the Hoenmark Ruins. In the southern sector of the watchtower grounds, you will find a small cave entrance blocked by a heavy metal door covered in iron spikes.
The lock mechanism is not a key, but a light source. You just need to walk up to the unlit brazier next to the door and interact with it using your lantern. The fire catches, the bars drop into the floor, and the chest is yours. Be incredibly careful walking out of this cave, as Bleed Bandits patrol the immediate area. The breastplate gives you base immunity to petrification and massive defensive scaling. If you want to maximize its potential, I wrote a full breakdown on Crimson Desert weapon and armor upgrades that covers Abyss Core slotting.
Plate Cloak Of The Shadows
This piece requires you to brave the Hoenmark Ruins. This area is constantly battered by a raging blizzard. The cold will actively drain your health, so you either need to eat warming food from my Crimson Desert healing and cooking guide, or equip ice resistant gear.
Avoid the flying enemies patrolling the sky and run to the left side of the ruins. You are looking for a high rooftop with a distinctly different snowy brick pattern on the floor. It looks like a massive square tile. Crouch down on top of it and use the Force Palm skill. The sheer kinetic force flips the entire floor panel, dropping you into a sealed secret room. Loot the chest for the cloak, then light the brazier in the corner to lower the spikes and escape your temporary prison.
The Boss Wall: Claiming The Helmet
The pacifist route stops here. The actual Plate Helm of the Shadows is locked behind Beloth the Darksworn, or Dawnsworn depending on your translation. You encounter him during the House Lanford faction quest in Chapter 6.
I am not going to sugarcoat this encounter. Beloth hits like a freight train and leaves almost zero margin for error. His attack patterns are designed to brutally punish panic rolling. You have to learn his specific opening windows and chip away at him. Bring your highest tier Palmar Pills and prepare for a very long fight. Once you finally put him in the dirt, the quest updates and sends you to retrieve his armor from the adjacent ruins. The helmet grants a unique frost breath ability that allows you to freeze water and walk across it. The developers knew exactly how powerful that utility was, which is why they hid it behind a nightmare boss.
The Frostcursed Alternative
If you are severely underleveled and just want a helmet that aesthetically matches the dark armor, go to the Chattering Rocks located far north of Demeniss. You will find a cave wall choked by thick vines. Use Blinding Flash to burn the vegetation away and loot the Frostcursed Plate Helm inside. It looks great and provides Daze immunity.
The Matching Arsenal: Vow Of The Dead King
If you are wearing an imposing black plate set, you need a weapon that matches the aesthetic. The Vow of the Dead King is a legendary two handed axe that looks like it was ripped straight out of a gothic horror novel.
You have to clear the Frostfell castle ruins to get it. The dungeon is located near the town of Poon. The platforming here is obnoxiously lethal. You have to navigate a room filled with crushing floor jacks by hugging the wall, dodge falling debris signaled by red circles on the ground, and clear a massive chasm using a combination of an aerial jump, a Force Palm dash, and your glider.
After you sneak under a series of fire traps, you have to fight two massive Rock Worms. Use heavy spinning attacks to break their guard. Once they are dead, light the final brazier to drop the spikes and claim your legendary axe. If your bags are full from hoarding loot during this dungeon dive, you might want to quickly read my Crimson Desert inventory space guide before you accidentally leave something valuable behind.
Shadow Armor Stat Breakdown
To help you decide if this set is worth the miserable trek through the snow, I have compiled the base stats and effects for the core pieces.
