Crimson Desert Research Guide: All Institutes, Projects, Locations, Rewards

Everything you need to know about Research in Crimson Desert, including where to find each Institute, how to unlock and complete all of its Projects, and all rewards.

How Research Works

There are 6 Research Institutes spread throughout Pywel, though almost entirely in Hernand and Delesyia. Each Research Institute has 7-8 Research Projects for you to carry out, kind of like one-time Mission Dispatches. The rewards are pretty great and include:

• Blueprints and crafting manuals
• Crafting Mission Dispatch unlocks and A.T.A.G. upgrades
• Tutorials on how to gather rare materials (lame)
• Permanent Abyss Gear-style buffs for Kliff
• Ability unlocks for Oongka and Damiaine
• Replenishing ammo supplies
• Raised caps on Health, Spirit, and Stamina

Since the devs are trying to simulate the process of conducting scientific research and experiments, you’ll encounter roadblocks like sky-high project costs (like hundreds of Silver per project), interruptions, prior understanding, time, and geography.

Each institute has its own little research tree that depicts dependencies between projects, so you have to complete some research projects before you can start others.

You also need to gather preliminary information so you can fund the right questions. You can’t accidentally fund the wrong thing, but you do need to explore the institute and speak to the faculty (marked on your map) before you can proceed with a given project.

Projects that pertain to specific rare crafting materials and ingredients will get interrupted and require you to go find the field researcher and give them 1 of whatever material they’re researching. These materials tend to have special gathering methods, so you’ll learn how and where to find them.

Scholastone Institute

Research at the Scholastone Institute focuses on Cloudcart improvements, understanding Skyroot, increasing your max Health, and mobility upgrades for Damiane and the A.T.A.G.

The Scholastone Institute is located in Scholastone in southwestern Hernand. You’ll need to complete Chapter IV: The Price of Knowledge before you can fund research here.

Pororin Institute

Research at the Pororin Institute focuses on crafting magical equipment, Elixir recipes, understanding Palmar Leaves, increasing your max Spirit, and making a supply of Replenishing Arrows for Kliff.

The Pororin Institute is located in the Petalton Workshop subsidiary of Pororin. You’ll need to complete the Faction Quest called Trembling Woods before you can visit the village.

Dewhaven Institute

Research at the Dewhaven Institute focuses on Lightning-imbued weaponry, acceleration and automation of materials acquisition (including unlocking robots), and making a supply of Replenishing Bullets for Damiaine.

The Dewhaven Institute is located inside Dewhaven Keep in southwestern Delesyia. You may need to complete Chapter VIII: Blood Coronation before you can fund research here.

Urdavahn Institute

Research at the Urdavahn Institute focuses on Wind-imbued weaponry, increasing your max Stamina, and a few other odds and ends.

The Urdavahn Institute is located at the Great Gate of Urdavah in its namesake region of the Crimson Desert. You’ll need to complete Chapter IX: Sage of the Desert before you can fund research here.

Gorthak Institute

Research at the Gorthak Institute focuses on Fire-imbued weaponry, crafting efficiency, large-scale mission dispatches, understanding Brimstone, Vertical Flight for Oongka, and making a supply of Replenishing Cannonballs for Oongka.

The Gorthak Institute is located at Zargan Tankworks in Gorthak lands in northwestern Delesyia. You’ll need to complete Chapter X: Counterattack before you can fund research here.

Delesyian Institute

Research at the Delesyian Institute focuses on Ice-imbued weaponry, disrupting Machines, and understanding Mercury.

The Delesyian Institute is located in Marni’s city along the east coast of Delesyia. You’ll need to complete Chapter XI: Truth and Reality before you can fund research here.