How to get the Shadow Armor in Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert Shadow Armor
(Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

The Shadow Armor set in Crimson Desert is a bit similar to the Frostcursed Armor, so if you enjoy those lich king vibes, or looking like a member of the Wild Hunt from The Witcher 3, you're sure to like this set. While you can get the entire set for defeating Beloth, a tanky and fairly annoying boss in the Hoenmark Ruins, you can also find most of the set scattered around Everfrost.

Beloth is a bit of a DPS check since he has so much health, you're contending with an ice DoT, and you'll periodically freeze (just for some added fun). He can be a pain, especially if you choose to fight him properly versus doing the pillar cheese. Either way, here's how to get the Shadow Armor in Crimson Desert, which grants daze and petrification immunity and some decent fire resistance.

All Plate Armour of the Shadows piece locations in Crimson Desert

There are four pieces of Shadow Armor, scattered across the Everfrost region of northwest Hernand, though for the fifth and final piece, the Plate Helmet of the Shadows, you'll have to defeat Beloth in the Hoenmark Ruins.

It's worth noting that defeating Beloth will get you all pieces of the Shadow Armor as well, though he's a tough boss, especially early on. All the pieces are relatively close to each other, so I've arranged them in the most efficient route.

Plate Gloves of the Shadows location

Crimson Desert Shadow Armor - Everfrost Cave location

Everfrost Cave is up in the mountains of west Hernand (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

The Shadow Gloves are located in Everfrost Cave to the west of Fort Warspike, following the river to its end, and northwest of Scholastone, in the mountains. There really isn't much to identify this one landmark-wise, but you're essentially looking for a cave entrance with some ice blocking the path just inside.

You can smash this, slide down the tunnel and grab the chest at the end to get the Plate Gloves of the Shadows.

Plate Boots of the Shadows location

Frostclaw Cave is just to the northeast of Everfrost Cave (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

You can find the Shadow Boots in Frostclaw Cave, directly northeast from the previous Everfrost Cave, along the river. You'll come to a waterfall you can drop down to the base of.

Use the Stab skill to get through the waterfall and find the chest inside. Open it up to get the Plate Boots of the Shadows.

Plate Cloak of the Shadows

The Hoenmark Ruins are far to the north of Frostclaw Cave (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

The Shadow Cloak is in the Hoenmark Ruins, far to the north of Frostclaw Cave. This one is a bit of a hike across tough terrain, so you might want to approach it from Calphade instead if you have a fast travel there. It's also to the north of the Sanctum of Benediction, which you might remember from the Witch quest.

You'll know when you reach it because ghosts will start attacking you and you'll take frost DoT damage (depending on your resistances). The cloak itself is hidden in the building on the west side, shown in the clip below, close to where Beloth is. Make sure you unlock the Abyss Nexus while you're here also.

On top of the building you'll find a trapdoor where you crouch and Force Palm to enter a hidden room with the chest containing the Plate Cloak of the Shadows.

Plate Helmet of the Shadows

You can get the Shadow Helmet by defeating Beloth in Hoenmark Ruins (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

To get the Shadow Helmet, you need to defeat Beloth at the centre of the Hoenmark Ruins. Unlike the Frostcursed Armor, there doesn't seem to be a location where you can grab this. After the boss, you'll be directed to find his loot, which will lead you to his helmet and give you the whole armor set when you pick it up. This is also the best piece, since it lets you breathe frost.

My key tips to beat Beloth are to grab the Frostcursed Armor and other ice resistance to prevent the DoT, and periodically evade to stop yourself from freezing, since this increases your temperature. If you're looking for an alternative helmet for this set in the meantime, the Frostcursed Helmet looks pretty good with it, as does Crowcaller's black bird head.

Plate Armor of the Shadows

The Everfrost Watchtower is north from the Hoenmark Ruins (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

The Shadow Armor itself is at the Everfrost Watchtower, to the north of the Hoenmark Ruins, across the river.

Fight the enemies to liberate it, and then look for a little cave covered by a metal gate with a lamp off to the side of the main watchtower. Light the lamp, open the chest, and the Plate Armor of the Shadows is yours.

Sean Martin
Senior Guides Writer

Sean's first PC games were Full Throttle and Total Annihilation and his taste has stayed much the same since. When not scouring games for secrets or bashing his head against puzzles, you'll find him revisiting old Total War campaigns, agonizing over his Destiny 2 fit, or still trying to finish the Horus Heresy. Sean has also written for EDGE, Eurogamer, PCGamesN, Wireframe, EGMNOW, and Inverse.

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