All 6 Shield Challenges in Crimson Desert (2026 Locations)

Let me guess—you picked up your shield thinking it’s just for blocking… and then the game hits you with these “Shield of Unchanging Will” challenges out of nowhere.

Yeah, same here.

These challenges are actually way more important than they look. If you do them early, they give you a serious boost—extra skill upgrades, a respec option, and even a trophy. But the game explains almost nothing, which is why most players either skip them or struggle way more than they should.

So let’s break everything down properly—like you and I are figuring it out together mid-playthrough.

What These Shield Challenges Actually Are

These are hidden combat trials across Pywel that only unlock after you pick up Sealed Abyss Artifacts.

And here’s the catch most players miss:

Nothing counts until you pick up the artifact.

So if you’ve been using your shield for hours already… yeah, none of that progress matters.

The Core Mechanic You NEED to Know (Most People Mess This Up)

Everything revolves around Shield Bash.

Here’s how you actually do it:

• Hold Guard
• Then hold Heavy Attack (while still guarding)

If you release guard too early → it fails.

The game never clearly teaches this, which is why players think the challenges are bugged. They’re not—you’re just not inputting it correctly.

Before You Start – Small Tips That Save You Hours

• Always fight on flat ground (fall damage kills don’t count)
• You can weaken enemies first, then finish with shield
• Don’t rush—most challenges have no timer
• Pick up artifacts early so progress tracks

Shield of Unchanging Will I (Easiest Start)

Location: Hernand (near Royal Trading Post, Meandering Hills)
Objective: Defeat 3 enemies with shield

This one is just getting comfortable with the mechanic.

How to Do It Easily:

• Find weak bandits
• Lower their HP with normal attacks
• Finish with Shield Bash

Don’t overthink it. This is basically your tutorial.

Reward: 1x Abyss Artifact

Shield of Unchanging Will II (Free Rewards If Done Smart)

Location: Hernand (north of Kharonso)
Objective: Block 10 arrows

This sounds annoying—but it’s actually super easy if you do it right.

Best Method:

• Find a camp
• Kill all melee enemies
• Leave one archer alive
• Stand at medium range and just hold guard

Watch stamina. That’s it.

Reward:

• 1x Abyss Artifact
• 1x Faded Abyss Artifact (very valuable)

Shield of Unchanging Will III (Positioning Matters)

Location: Central Hernand
Objective: Hit 3 enemies in one bash

This is where players get stuck.

Trick:

Don’t chase enemies—group them.

• Pull 4–5 enemies
• Let them surround you
• Use one Shield Bash

You don’t even need to kill them—just hit all three.

Reward: 1x Abyss Artifact

Shield of Unchanging Will IV (The First Real Challenge)

Location: East of Embernest Beacon
Objective: Kill 5 enemies without taking damage

Yeah… this one is where things get serious.

Best Strategy:

• Fight enemies one at a time
• Avoid archers completely
• Use this rhythm:
  → Bash → Stagger → Kill → Repeat

Take even 1 hit → reset.

Patience wins this one, not aggression.

Reward: 1x Abyss Artifact

Shield of Unchanging Will V (Character-Specific)

Location: Demeniss (west side)
Objective: Flip 5 enemies

Here’s where people get confused:

You cannot do this with Kliff.

You NEED:

• Damiane (story unlock)

What to Do:

• Use her shield throw ability
• Flip enemies (not kill them)
• Do it 5 times

Simple—but locked behind progression.

Reward:

• 1x Abyss Artifact
• Fortitude I

Shield of Unchanging Will VI (Fast but Tricky)

Location: Near Calphade South Gate
Objective: Hit 10 enemies in 1 minute using Charge

This one is all about setup.

Requirements:

• Unlock Charge ability (skill tree)

Best Method:

• Find a dense enemy camp
• Charge through multiple enemies
• Loop around and repeat

If enemies scatter → restart.

Reward: 1x Abyss Artifact

The Reward Breakdown (Why You SHOULD Do These Early)

Completing all 6 gives you:

• Multiple Abyss Artifacts (skill upgrades)
• Faded Abyss Artifact (full respec)
• Fortitude I
• Master of Shields Trophy

And honestly, the respec item alone is worth it later when your build starts falling apart.

The Biggest Mistakes Players Make

Let’s keep it real—most frustration comes from these:

• Not picking up artifacts first
• Doing Shield Bash incorrectly
• Letting enemies fall off cliffs
• Trying to rush Challenge IV
• Attempting Challenge V without Damiane

Fix these, and suddenly everything feels easy.