How to Fast Travel in Crimson Desert: Complete Guide

Introduction to Fast Travel

Fast travel is one of the most important systems in Crimson Desert, the upcoming open-world action RPG from Pearl Abyss. The game world of Pywel is vast, and traveling on foot everywhere would take hours. Understanding how fast travel works, when it unlocks, and how to use it efficiently will save you a tremendous amount of time whether you are doing main story quests, gathering materials, or exploring hidden dungeons.

This guide covers everything you need to know about fast travel in Crimson Desert, from unlocking your first travel points to optimizing your routes across the map.

How Fast Travel Works

In Crimson Desert, fast travel is tied to a discovery-based system. You cannot simply click anywhere on the map and teleport. Instead, you must physically visit and activate specific travel points scattered throughout the world. Once activated, these points become permanent fast travel destinations.

Key Mechanics

• Travel Shrines: Stone monuments found near major settlements and landmarks. Interact with them to unlock them as fast travel destinations.
• Campfires: Rest points you can set up in the wilderness. Once you rest at a campfire, it becomes a fast travel point for that region.
• Settlement Waypoints: Found inside towns and cities. These are unlocked automatically when you enter a settlement for the first time.
• Cost: Each fast travel consumes a small amount of stamina and may require a travel token or in-game currency depending on distance.

How to Unlock Fast Travel Points

Fast travel is not available from the very beginning of the game. Here is the progression:

1. Main Quest Progress: Fast travel unlocks after completing the prologue and reaching the first major settlement, typically around level 5-8. An NPC will introduce you to the travel shrine system.
2. Exploration: Once unlocked, you are encouraged to explore. Every travel shrine you find and activate adds to your fast travel network.
3. Map Revealing: Climbing to high vantage points (similar to towers or viewpoints) reveals the surrounding map and highlights nearby travel points.
4. Quest Rewards: Some side quests reward you with map fragments that reveal hidden travel shrines in remote areas.

The total number of travel points across Pywel is estimated at over 80, covering all major regions including the Crimson Wastes, the Verdant Highlands, and the Frozen North.

Fast Travel Costs and Limitations

Fast travel is not free, and there are restrictions to prevent abuse:

Plan your travels around these limitations. If you are overencumbered, drop unnecessary items at a storage chest before fast traveling to save on costs.

Mounts vs Fast Travel: Which is Better?

Crimson Desert features a robust mount system that complements fast travel. Here is how they compare:

• Fast Travel is best for covering huge distances instantly when you have already unlocked the destination. It is ideal for going back to town to sell loot or turn in quests.
• Mounts are better for exploration. You can ride through unexplored areas, fight from horseback, and discover new travel shrines along the way. Mounts also carry extra inventory.
• Combination: The optimal strategy is to use mounts for first-time exploration and fast travel for return trips to known locations.

Mounts can be acquired early in the game through a stable master NPC. Different mount types offer varying speed, stamina, and carrying capacity.

Tips for Efficient Travel

Here are advanced tips to make the most of fast travel in Crimson Desert:

• Prioritize shrine activation: Whenever you enter a new region, make it a priority to find and activate all travel shrines before moving on.
• Use campfires strategically: Place campfires near resource nodes or dungeon entrances you plan to revisit frequently.
• Manage stamina: Keep stamina-restoring food or potions in your inventory so you can fast travel even after long combat sessions.
• Storage management: Use settlement storage to offload heavy items. This keeps your carry weight low and fast travel costs down.
• Waypoint chaining: If a direct route is too expensive, chain two shorter fast travels through an intermediate point. This can sometimes be cheaper.
• Check for story locks: If fast travel is greyed out, you may be in a story-locked sequence. Progress the main quest to regain access.

Summary

Fast travel in Crimson Desert is a discovery-based system that rewards exploration. By activating travel shrines, setting up campfires, and managing your stamina and carry weight, you can move efficiently across the vast world of Pywel. Remember that mounts and fast travel work best when used together - explore on mount, return via fast travel. With over 80 travel points to discover, there is always a new shortcut waiting to be found.