Crimson Desert Restored Balance Quest Walkthrough
This walkthrough explains how to complete the “Restored Balance” quest in Crimson Desert, covering the objective, the steps to finish it, and what you get as a reward. You’ll need to reach a specific point in the main story and then follow a short series of combat and exploration tasks. The quest is part of the game’s main storyline, so you cannot miss it permanently, but this guide ensures you know exactly what to do and what to expect.
Background: What Is the Restored Balance Quest?
Restored Balance is a main story quest in Crimson Desert, the open-world action-adventure game developed by Pearl Abyss. It appears during the early-to-mid portion of the campaign, after you’ve gained access to the wider world and have completed several story missions in the starting region. The quest’s name refers to the in-game narrative theme of restoring order to a land torn by conflict and magical corruption.
In this quest, you are tasked with investigating a disturbance in a specific area, defeating a group of enemies, and then reporting back to a quest-giver. The quest introduces you to a core gameplay mechanic: using your grappling hook and climbing abilities to reach elevated locations. It also serves as a tutorial for fighting multiple enemies at once, as you’ll face a small group rather than a single boss.
How to Start the Quest
Restored Balance becomes available after you complete the main story quest “The First Step” and have spoken to the elder in the village of Keplan. To start the quest:
- Open your quest log (press J on PC, or the equivalent on console) and look for the main story tab.
- Find “Restored Balance” in the list. If it’s grayed out, you need to progress further in the story or reach the required level (around level 10).
- Travel to the quest marker on your map, which will be located in the forest east of Keplan.
- Talk to the NPC standing near the marker. They will give you the quest details and ask you to investigate a nearby ruin.
The quest giver is a scout named Daelin, who will tell you that a group of bandits has been seen entering an ancient temple. Your objective is to find out what they’re doing and stop them if necessary.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- Head to the temple ruins – Follow the quest marker to the ruins, which are about 300 meters east of the village. You’ll encounter a few wild animals on the way, but they are low-level and can be ignored or easily defeated.
- Enter the temple – The entrance is a large stone archway. Inside, you’ll find a large open hall with a broken ceiling. Use your grappling hook (hold the grapple button) to pull yourself up to the higher ledges.
- Defeat the bandits – Once you reach the upper level, you’ll find a group of five bandits. They are melee fighters with one archer. Take out the archer first, then focus on the melee fighters one by one. Use your dodge and counter-attack to avoid taking too much damage.
- Investigate the altar – After defeating the bandits, approach the glowing altar at the back of the room. Interact with it to trigger a short cutscene. This reveals that the bandits were trying to steal a magical artifact.
- Return to Daelin – Fast travel back to Keplan (or walk) and speak with Daelin. He will thank you and give you the quest rewards.
The entire quest takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on your combat efficiency and whether you stop to explore.
Rewards and Unlocks
Completing Restored Balance grants you the following rewards:
- 1,200 XP – which is enough to gain about half a level at level 10.
- 500 Gold – a modest sum for early-game purchases.
- A new piece of armor: the Scout’s Leather Gloves, which provide +3 defense and +1 stamina regeneration.
More importantly, completing this quest unlocks the next main story quest, “The Forgotten Path,” which takes you to a new region. It also unlocks the ability to upgrade your grappling hook at certain crafting stations, allowing you to reach higher ledges.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
Many players get stuck on this quest for a few reasons. Here are the most common issues and their solutions:
- Can’t find the temple entrance – The entrance is not visible from the quest marker. Look for a large stone archway with a broken statue beside it. If you’re at the marker and see a cliff, turn around – the entrance is behind you.
- Can’t climb the ledges – You need to hold the grapple button (not tap) and aim at the glowing yellow spots on the wall. If you’re playing on console, the button is L2/R2 (depending on your controller scheme).
- Bandits are too tough – If you’re dying repeatedly, make sure you’re using your shield (if you have one) and dodging. Also, use the environment – you can lure the archer into a corner and fight him alone.
- Quest marker disappears – This is a known bug. If the marker vanishes, reload your save (or fast travel to a different location and back). This usually fixes it.
Tips for Completing the Quest Efficiently
To make the quest easier, consider these tips:
- Level up to at least level 10 before starting. You can do this by completing side quests in Keplan or killing enemies in the nearby fields.
- Stock up on health potions (at least 5) from the merchant in Keplan. They cost 20 gold each.
- Upgrade your weapon at the blacksmith before the quest. A +1 weapon makes a noticeable difference in damage.
- Use stealth to get the first hit on the archer. You can sneak up behind him and perform a stealth kill, reducing the enemy count to four.
- If you’re playing on a lower difficulty, the bandits are less aggressive and deal less damage, so you can be more reckless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Restored Balance a main story quest or a side quest?
It is a main story quest. You must complete it to progress the main storyline. It is not optional, but you can delay it and do side quests first if you want to level up.
Can I miss the quest permanently?
No, you cannot miss it. Main story quests are always available in your quest log until you complete them. Even if you leave the area, you can return later and pick it up.
What level should I be for this quest?
The recommended level is 10. If you are below level 8, the bandits will be tough and you may die often. Level 10 gives you access to a new combat skill that makes the fight much easier.
Do I need to defeat all the bandits, or can I sneak past?
You must defeat all the bandits. The quest objective explicitly says “defeat the bandits.” Sneaking past will not trigger the next step, and the altar won’t be interactable until the area is clear.
What happens if I die during the quest?
If you die, you respawn at the last checkpoint, which is usually just outside the temple. The bandits will have their health reset, but you keep your items and XP. You can retry as many times as you like.
Is there a boss fight in this quest?
No, there is no boss fight. The quest only involves a group of regular enemies. The boss fight comes in the next main quest, “The Forgotten Path.”
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