Crimson Desert Armor Refinement Materials List
To max out any armor piece in Crimson Desert, you need the full refinement material set for its tier and quality, plus a steady supply of Black Stone (Armor) and the specific enhancement materials for each level from +1 to +20. This guide lists every material category you will need, how to get them, and the costs involved, so you can plan your progression without wasting time.
Understanding Armor Refinement in Crimson Desert
Armor refinement (also called enhancement or upgrading) in Crimson Desert increases your armor’s base defense stats and can unlock additional effects at higher levels. Each piece of armor—helmet, chest, gloves, and boots—follows the same enhancement path, but the materials required scale with the item’s base tier (e.g., green, blue, yellow) and the current enhancement level. The system is designed so that you gradually invest more resources as you push toward the maximum level, which is currently +20 for most gear.
Unlike some MMOs, Crimson Desert does not use a single universal material for all upgrades. Instead, you combine a base material (Black Stone) with tier-specific items and a chance-based success rate. At higher levels, you also need “Refined� versions of the base material, which are crafted from the standard ones.
Core Materials: Black Stone (Armor) and Its Variants
The primary material for all armor refinement is Black Stone (Armor). You will use this from +1 all the way to +15, and then you need its upgraded forms for the final stretch.
- Black Stone (Armor) – Used for enhancements +1 to +15. It is the most common refinement material and can be obtained from grinding mobs, completing quests, and opening loot boxes.
- Concentrated Black Stone (Armor) – Required for +16 to +20. This is crafted by combining 10 Black Stone (Armor) with a “Trace of Memory� or purchased from the Central Market. It is the main gate for endgame enhancement.
- Refined Black Stone (Armor) – Some high-tier gear (yellow grade) may require this instead of the concentrated version. It is made from Concentrated Black Stone and a “Memory Fragment.�
You will also need Weapon Black Stone for weapons, but that is separate from armor. For armor, always stock up on the Armor variant.
Tier-Specific Materials: Memory Fragments and Traces
Beyond Black Stone, each armor piece requires Memory Fragments and Traces of Memory to enhance beyond a certain level. These are not consumed at every level, but they are mandatory for the higher steps.
- Memory Fragment – Used for +6 to +10 enhancements. You need 1-3 fragments per attempt, depending on the gear’s base tier. They drop from world bosses, elite mobs, and can be obtained by extracting old gear.
- Trace of Memory – Required for +11 to +15. Similar to fragments, but rarer. You can get them from gathering nodes, field bosses, or by dismantling blue-grade gear.
For example, a green-quality chest piece might require 1 Memory Fragment at +6, while a blue-quality chest requires 2, and a yellow-quality requires 3. The same pattern applies to Traces of Memory at +11.
Enhancement Stones and Cron Stones (Prevention)
To increase your success chance and prevent downgrades, you will need two additional materials:
- Enhancement Stone (Armor) – These are used as a “catalyst� to boost the success rate by a small percentage (e.g., +5% per stone). You can use up to 5 per attempt. They are obtained from daily quests, guild bosses, and crafting.
- Cron Stone – A premium material that, when used, prevents your gear from downgrading if the enhancement fails. It is consumed on failure only. Cron Stones are earned from events, loyalty rewards, and can be bought with Pearls (premium currency).
For the final +20 attempt, many players use both Enhancement Stones and Cron Stones to protect their investment, as the failure penalty at that level is a downgrade to +18.
How to Obtain the Materials Efficiently
Grinding is the main source, but you can speed up the process by focusing on specific activities:
- Grind mobs near your level – They drop Black Stone (Armor) at a rate of about 1-2 per hour. The best spots are usually in the Mediah or Valencia regions for level 50+ players.
- Do daily and weekly quests – Many give Enhancement Stones and Memory Fragments as rewards. The “Refinement Support� questline from the Black Spirit gives a set of materials every day.
- Participate in world bosses – They drop Memory Fragments and sometimes Concentrated Black Stone. The boss “Kzarka� has a chance to drop a full set of armor stones.
- Extract old gear – If you have gear you no longer need, use the “Extract� function at the blacksmith to get Memory Fragments and Traces.
- Buy from the Central Market – The easiest but most expensive way. Prices fluctuate, but you can set a bid and wait.
Cost Breakdown: What You Need for a Full +20 Set
To give you a realistic picture, here is the approximate material cost for one armor piece from +0 to +20, assuming average luck (no fail stacks, but using Cron Stones on +16 to +20):
- Black Stone (Armor): 300–400 pieces
- Concentrated Black Stone (Armor): 50–60 pieces
- Memory Fragments: 150–200 pieces
- Traces of Memory: 80–100 pieces
- Enhancement Stones (Armor): 200–300 pieces
- Cron Stones: 500–700 pieces (if you protect every attempt from +16 to +20)
For a full set of 4 armor pieces, multiply these numbers by 4. That means you will need roughly 1,200–1,600 Black Stones, 600–800 Memory Fragments, and 2,000–2,800 Cron Stones. This is a significant grind, but the game provides many ways to earn them over time.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
One of the biggest mistakes is using Cron Stones on lower levels (+1 to +10) where the failure penalty is minimal. Save them for +16 and above. Another misconception is that Enhancement Stones are only for weapons—they are also for armor, but you must select the “Armor� tab in the enhancement UI.
Also, many players think that using more Enhancement Stones always increases success rate linearly. In reality, each stone adds a small flat percentage, but the base success rate at +20 is only 5%, so even 5 stones bring it to 7.5%. That is still very low, so you need to build “fail stacks� by intentionally failing on cheap gear to increase your global success rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I max out armor without using Cron Stones?
Yes, but it is risky. If you fail at +16 or above, your gear can downgrade to +14 or lower, which means you lose progress and materials. Using Cron Stones is recommended for the final levels, especially if you have a high-tier item.
What is the maximum enhancement level for armor in Crimson Desert?
Currently, the maximum is +20. There is no +21 or higher as of the latest major update. Some event gear may have different caps, but standard armor is +20.
Do I need different materials for boss armor vs. regular armor?
Boss armor (yellow grade) requires more Memory Fragments and Traces per attempt, and sometimes uses Refined Black Stone instead of Concentrated. The base materials are the same, but the quantities are higher.
How do I get fail stacks?
Fail stacks are built by failing enhancement attempts on any gear. Each failure adds a stack, and your success rate increases by 0.5% per stack up to a cap. You can build stacks on cheap green gear, then use them on your main gear.
Is it better to buy materials or grind them?
If you have silver to spare, buying from the Central Market is faster. However, prices are high for Concentrated Black Stone and Cron Stones. Grinding is time-consuming but free. A mix of both is usually the most efficient.
Can I extract enhancement materials from my old gear?
Yes, you can extract Memory Fragments and Traces from gear you no longer need. You lose the gear, but you get back a portion of the materials used. This is a good way to recycle old drops.
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