Crimson Desert Companions: Recruitment and Usage

Fabian Lainé March 23, 2026 at 3:20 PM

In brief

Recruiting companions in Crimson Desert is essential for progressing. By completing the Gray Maned faction quests, particularly the rumor-based missions, you unlock allies with varied skills. Once recruited, you assign them to Ross to carry out strategic dispatch missions that maximize your rewards.

In Crimson Desert, recruiting companions proves essential to progress. These allies, who belong to the Gray Manes faction, possess varied skills and strategic advantages. This article will explain how to recruit these companions and how to make the best use of them.

Recruiting companions

To start recruiting companions in Crimson Desert, you should embark on the Gray Manes faction quests. When you access the quest log, you can see a section dedicated to faction quests.

Faction quests are numerous, and those from the Gray Manes prove particularly important. By heading to this section, you will find missions that will grant you companions. Rumor-based missions are essential for unlocking new companions.

For example, by finishing the quest "A Rumor at the Golden Leaf Trading Post", you will be able to hire several characters who can take on interesting roles in your camp (opening new shops), or even agricultural ones (managing the farm).

Locating companions and assigning roles

Once you have started the Gray Manes quests, you'll notice that several missions require you to recruit specific companions. These missions are often scattered across the world of Crimson Desert, and you must complete them to progress in your companionship quest. These missions are varied, including combat challenges, exploration missions, or gathering tasks.

Each recruited companion can perform different functions in your camp: some can become workers, others manage shops, or even grow crops.

It's Ross who manages your companions. By going to see him (his location can be spotted thanks to a helmet icon on the map), you can view the list of your companions, and initiate dispatch missions.

Dispatch missions

Dispatch missions allow you to send your companions to carry out various tasks, which, once completed, will restart, but can be canceled if you wish to change tasks.

Note

Dispatch missions are strategic: each mission comes with a skill marker, meaning that certain missions call for companions with specific skills in order to maximize rewards.

Examples: to build a cart, at least one companion must have an engineering skill; assigning a farmer to a food mission can also increase the quantities harvested! The more companions you assign to a mission, the higher the rewards will be thanks to the "Companion" bonus.

Which type of companion would you prioritize recruiting first?

Frequently asked questions

How do I start recruiting companions in Crimson Desert?

Head to the quest log and access the Gray Maned faction quests section. Complete the rumor-based missions, such as the one at the Golden Leaf Trading Post, to unlock your first companions.

Where can I find Ross to manage my companions?

Ross can be located via a helmet icon on the map. It's with him that you check your companion list and launch dispatch missions.

What roles can my recruited companions have?

Companions can perform several functions: working as laborers, managing shops, growing crops, or carrying out other specialized tasks depending on their skills.

How can I optimize my dispatch missions?

Assign companions with the skills required by the mission (an engineer to build a cart, a farmer to harvest, etc.). The more companions you assign, the better the reward bonus will be.

Key takeaways

The Gray Maned faction quests let you recruit companions with diverse roles (workers, merchants, farmers).
Ross manages all your companions and lets you initiate dispatch missions from his location, marked on the map.
Each dispatch mission requires specific skills: assign the right companions to maximize rewards.
The more companions you assign to the same mission, the higher the companion bonus boosts your final earnings.