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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHwando is the strongest optional early pickup for players who want heavy damage in Crimson Desert. It is a two-handed sword found in a locked storeroom at Lioncrest Manor in Hernand, and an April 2026 guide reports 19 Attack with three preloaded Abyss Gears. It cannot be paired with a shield, so it is not automatically the best choice for a new player. Keep the Sword of the Wolf and a shield for safer learning, take the Hollow Visage for a fast one-handed setup, use the Sword of the Lord as a normal Chapter 2 reward, or carry the Warspike Spear when reach matters more than burst damage.
There is no single best weapon for every early-game build
Early weapons in Crimson Desert solve different problems. A two-handed sword gives up shield protection for larger, more committed hits. A one-handed blade lets you block with a shield and recover from mistakes more safely. A spear extends your threat range and helps you control space. Story rewards avoid exploration detours, while optional chests can give you a stronger or more specialized tool sooner.
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That makes “best” a decision about access, handling and progression rather than a permanent damage tier list. Gamers.Wiki’s September 9, 2026 guide (fresh through Version 2.01.00) specifically cautions that community weapon tables disagree, particularly when refinement levels differ. Treat numbers below as guide-reported values, inspect the item’s current refinement state in your own game, and do not assume that a displayed base attack will remain the same after upgrades.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| What you need | Best early choice | How you get it | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum impact from an optional detour | Hwando | Locked second-floor storeroom at Lioncrest Manor in Hernand | Two-handed; no shield |
| Safe learning, blocking and ordinary progression | Sword of the Wolf with a shield | Starting setup recommended by the September guide | Defensive baseline, not a highest-damage claim |
| Fast one-handed attacks | Hollow Visage | Chest in Dawn Cave, behind a waterfall | Community attack figures vary by refinement |
| A one-handed story reward | Sword of the Lord | Defeat Kailok Hornsplitter at the end of Chapter 2 | Unavailable until that story fight |
| Reach and spacing | Warspike Spear | Free early spear | Chosen for range and control rather than a quoted attack number |
| An upgraded spear without waiting | Tommaso Guard’s Dagger-Tipped Spear | Icemoor Castle Ruins, northwest of Hernand Castle | Guide-reported Refinement Level 2; verify the current item state |
| A short-sword puzzle pickup | Legionary’s Gladius | Chest unlocked by the Statue of Justice candle puzzle | Raw stats are described as comparable to other early blades |
Hwando: the standout optional heavy weapon
Hwando is the clearest recommendation when “best” means a powerful early weapon worth leaving the main route to obtain. All Things How’s April 3, 2026 guide reports 19 Attack and three preloaded Abyss Gears associated with critical rate, damage and stamina siphon. Those are guide claims, not an official item-database entry, but they explain why Hwando stands out among the early optional pickups.
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Why choose it
- Its two-handed moveset is suited to players who want each opening to produce a large hit.
- The reported preloaded effects give it useful offensive identity before you have access to every gear-management option.
- It can be obtained during early exploration rather than waiting for a later chapter reward.
What you give up
Hwando cannot be paired with a shield. You lose the shield’s blocking option and must rely more heavily on spacing, dodging, interruption and recognizing enemy recovery windows. That cost is significant for anyone still learning enemy patterns or fighting in cramped spaces. A lower-damage one-handed blade can be the better practical weapon if it prevents repeated hits.
Guide-reported route to Lioncrest Manor
- Find the back-alley merchant near the windmill below Hernand’s south-side church and obtain the key described by the April guide.
- Travel to Lioncrest Manor in Hernand and locate the smaller stone building west of the manor’s main building.
- Climb to the second-floor window and enter the building.
- Unlock the storeroom door and open the chest containing Hwando.
The guide says guards do not react to climbing the outer walls. That is a route description from a secondary guide, not a claim of hands-on testing, and enemy behavior can change with a patch. If the key is not available, the window route is blocked, or guards respond differently, leave the area and confirm the current quest or merchant conditions rather than forcing the encounter.
Sword of the Wolf and a shield: the safest default
Gamers.Wiki recommends the Sword of the Wolf with a shield during normal early progression. This is the sensible starting setup for players who are still learning Crimson Desert’s attack timing, stamina demands and enemy tells. The recommendation is about defensive safety, not a claim that the Sword of the Wolf has the highest raw damage.
When this setup is better than Hwando
- You are taking frequent hits while learning a new enemy.
- You want to hold a guard while studying an opponent before committing to a counterattack.
- You prefer a forgiving general-purpose loadout over a specialized heavy weapon.
- You want to stay on the story route instead of detouring to Lioncrest Manor.
Use the Sword of the Wolf as your baseline, then switch to an optional weapon when you can explain what the new weapon improves for your own fights. A weapon that looks stronger on paper is not an upgrade if its handling causes you to lose your shield at the moments you need it.
Hollow Visage: the fast one-handed detour
Hollow Visage is the optional choice for players who want a quicker one-handed weapon while retaining shield compatibility. The April guide lists 15 Attack and additional bonuses, but Gamers.Wiki notes that community tables report different Hollow Visage values and that refinement changes the displayed result. Check the item panel in-game before comparing it with another blade.
How to reach Dawn Cave
- Travel to the southern mountain line of Hernand, near Vellua and north of the Mountain of Frozen Souls.
- Locate the waterfall described in the guides.
- Use the Stab action to pass through the waterfall and enter Dawn Cave.
- Open the chest inside the cave to obtain Hollow Visage.
The Stab interaction is the important step: approaching the waterfall without using the required action will not reveal the route. Because this is an optional chest, it is a good detour for a player who wants a one-handed alternative without abandoning shield use.
How to evaluate its damage
Do not compare the April guide’s 15 Attack as though it were a universal, fully refined value. Refinement state and conflicting community tables make that number a snapshot. Compare the item’s current attack, effects and refinement cost in your save, then test whether its speed and shield compatibility fit your combat habits.
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Sword of the Lord: the story-route one-handed reward
Defeating Kailok Hornsplitter at the end of Chapter 2 rewards the Sword of the Lord. It is the natural choice for players who want a one-handed weapon without making a separate early exploration hunt. All Things How describes a Wind Slash effect that adds a ranged wind arc to certain attacks.
Why it fits a normal playthrough
- The weapon arrives through a required story milestone rather than an obscure chest.
- It preserves the one-handed-and-shield style that is easier to defend with than Hwando.
- Wind Slash gives some attacks additional reach, which can help finish or pressure targets outside normal blade range.
The reward is chapter-gated. It should not be presented as an option available before the Hornsplitter fight, and it does not replace Hwando for a player who wants an optional heavy two-handed weapon immediately.
Warspike Spear: reach, spacing and crowd control
The Warspike Spear is described by both reviewed guides as a free, early spear that is available almost immediately. Its main value is reach. You can threaten enemies from farther away, control the approach of multiple opponents and punish openings without standing as close as you would with a sword.
Choose it when distance is your defense
- You prefer to keep enemies at the end of your attack range.
- You are uncomfortable trading hits in close quarters.
- You need a secondary weapon for groups where a longer threat line is easier to manage.
- You value crowd-control space more than a quoted maximum attack figure.
The cited guides do not provide a conflict-free attack number for Warspike, so its recommendation rests on role and availability. That is enough to make it useful: reach changes which attacks are safe, even when two weapons have similar displayed damage.
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Tommaso Guard’s Dagger-Tipped Spear: a refined spear option
All Things How places Tommaso Guard’s Dagger-Tipped Spear in the Icemoor Castle Ruins northwest of Hernand Castle and reports it at Refinement Level 2. The refinement label matters: comparing this spear with an unrefined weapon can make the difference look larger or smaller than it really is in your game.
When to detour for it
Take the route if you already like spear spacing and want a more developed spear without waiting for later progression. If you are still deciding whether you enjoy the moveset, start with the free Warspike and postpone the detour. The guides do not establish an official, patch-independent damage ranking for Tommaso’s weapon, so inspect the item before spending resources around it.
Legionary’s Gladius: a short-sword puzzle pickup
The Legionary’s Gladius is found in a chest near the large bridge north of Hernand Castle, close to Three Saints’ Falls. The April guide says the chest opens after you light both candles held by the Statue of Justice. Its raw statistics are described as comparable to other early blades; its appeal is the distinct short-sword option and the small environmental puzzle.
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Statue of Justice route
- Reach the large bridge north of Hernand Castle near Three Saints’ Falls.
- Find the Statue of Justice and light the two candles it holds.
- Use the gate that opens after both candles are lit.
- Open the chest beyond the gate to collect the gladius.
This is a useful pickup for completionists or players who want to try a short-sword feel. It is not supported by the guides as a universal damage upgrade over every other early blade.
How to choose between the early weapons
Pick by hand use and defense
| Preference | Weapon direction | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Shield and forgiving defense | Sword of the Wolf or another one-handed option | Preserves shield compatibility while you learn encounters |
| Heavy committed hits | Hwando | Two-handed design and guide-reported offensive effects |
| Fast blade plus shield | Hollow Visage or Sword of the Lord | One-handed handling; Hollow Visage is optional, Sword of the Lord is story-gated |
| Longer attack range | Warspike or Tommaso’s spear | Spear reach supports spacing and crowd control |
| Short-sword experimentation | Legionary’s Gladius | Distinct weapon type obtained through a nearby puzzle |
Pick by route
- Stay on the main story: Continue with the Sword of the Wolf, then claim Sword of the Lord after Chapter 2.
- Explore Hernand early: Take the Lioncrest Manor route for Hwando if you want two-handed damage.
- Explore the southern mountains: Use Stab at the Dawn Cave waterfall for Hollow Visage.
- Want a free immediate secondary: Pick up Warspike and use its reach to control approaches.
- Enjoy environmental puzzles: Solve the Statue of Justice candle puzzle for Legionary’s Gladius.
Pick by upgrade timing
Preloaded effects can make an optional weapon feel valuable before you have full control over gear management, but they can also reduce flexibility if you later want a different setup. A story weapon may arrive later while fitting your established resources more cleanly. Compare not only the attack number, but also whether the weapon’s effects, refinement and handling support the way you actually fight.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Abyss Gears and when customization opens up
PC Gamer reports that Sealed Abyss Artifact challenges can provide Abyss Gears before the Witch’s Lair vendor becomes available. The same guide places broader gear management—adding slots, removing gears and crafting them—after Chapter 5 progression. This is a guide-reported progression description and may be patch-sensitive, not a permanent guarantee for every version.
The timing changes how you should judge an early weapon. A weapon with useful preloaded effects can be attractive before the vendor, because you may not yet be able to rebuild its slots. Later, once the vendor features are available, slot capacity and removable gears can matter more than the effect package you received in the chest. Check your current progression and the item’s actual gear screen rather than planning around an assumed unlock date.
Common mistakes when chasing an early upgrade
Calling Hwando mandatory
Hwando is a strong optional pickup, not a required weapon. Its two-handed limitation makes it a poor fit for players who depend on shields, and its route requires a key and a detour.
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Treating guide statistics as permanent database facts
The 19 Attack Hwando figure, 15 Attack Hollow Visage figure and Refinement Level 2 description for Tommaso’s spear come from the April 2026 guide. Gamers.Wiki records disagreements among community tables, especially for Hollow Visage. Inspect the current item and include its refinement state whenever you compare values.
Confusing access with power
A free spear available almost immediately has a different value proposition from a Chapter 2 reward or a locked manor chest. “Best” should include the time, risk and exploration required to obtain the weapon.
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Ignoring the shield trade-off
Two-handed damage does not compensate for a defensive option you never use. If losing the shield causes more missed attacks and healing than it saves in combat time, return to a one-handed setup.
Assuming the route is unchanged
Merchant availability, guard reactions, cave interactions and gear progression can be affected by updates. The routes above are attributed to the named guides and should be checked against your current version if a door, key or interaction does not behave as described.
Recommended early loadouts
For a new player
Use the Sword of the Wolf with a shield. Learn enemy timing and stamina management first. Move to a different weapon only when you have a clear reason, such as needing reach or wanting to practice two-handed attacks.
For an explorer seeking a power spike
Follow the Lioncrest Manor route for Hwando. Keep a one-handed weapon available for encounters where blocking is more valuable than maximum hit size.
For a fast, defensive blade user
Reach Dawn Cave for Hollow Visage if you want an optional one-handed weapon, or wait for Sword of the Lord if you prefer to receive your upgrade through the Chapter 2 story.
For a spacing-focused fighter
Carry Warspike early, then consider Tommaso Guard’s Dagger-Tipped Spear in Icemoor Castle Ruins once you are comfortable with the spear’s range and have checked its current refinement state.
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Get Hwando first if you want the strongest optional heavy-damage case supported by the current guides and accept giving up a shield. Stay with the Sword of the Wolf and a shield if survival and learning matter more. Choose Hollow Visage for an optional fast one-handed route, Sword of the Lord for a story-earned one-handed weapon, and Warspike for free early reach. Treat every quoted number as refinement- and version-dependent guide data, then verify the item panel in your own game.
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