Crimson Desert Dragon: How to Get and Use It

Fabian Lainé March 20, 2026 at 3:50 PM

In brief

In Crimson Desert, the dragon Blackstar is a major flying mount that you unlock in chapter 11 of the main story, after roughly 50 hours of play. Once obtained, it offers offensive capabilities and aerial mobility, but with usage time limits to balance the gameplay.

In Crimson Desert, dragons are flying mounts that can be obtained to travel across the vast territory of Piwel. This article will walk you through the steps to unlock these majestic dragons and use them in the game.

How to get the dragon

To obtain the dragon in Crimson Desert, it is essential to progress through the main story. This dragon, named Blackstar, is obtained during the main quest of chapter 11. It will take you on average a little over 50 hours of gameplay to reach this chapter by progressing through the main narrative, without exploring too much side content, or that time could balloon considerably...

Note

The dragon is actually a mount designed for the endgame, where it plays a major role. Acquiring it too quickly could alter the way you experience the world, and you might be tempted to fly over it rather than explore its intricacies.

Using the dragon

To summon your dragon, hold down the bottom button of the D-Pad and select it with the right joystick. You can then mount your dragon and take flight.

The dragon can be used for a maximum of fifteen minutes, with a fifty-minute cooldown in real-world time. This is a mechanism designed to balance gameplay, so that you continue your explorations on foot or on horseback. Rest assured, the game has enough content to justify all the sessions where you won't be flying!

The dragon also has offensive abilities such as firing fireballs (R1) or breathing fire (R2), which consume stamina. However, this stamina regenerates even while flying, giving you some leeway during aerial combat.

It can fly, but also perform dodge rolls (Circle/B) to avoid certain attacks, though this consumes stamina. To complete the picture, your dragon can of course land (Square/X).

Would you rather quickly unlock the dragon or discover it naturally as you progress?

Frequently asked questions

At what point in the game can I get my dragon in Crimson Desert?

You obtain the dragon Blackstar during the main quest in chapter 11. It takes on average a bit more than 50 hours of play to reach it by following the main storyline without exploring too much side content.

What are the controls for using my dragon?

Hold down the D-Pad and choose the dragon with the right joystick to summon it. Use R1 for fireballs, R2 for fire breath, Circle/B for evasive rolls, and Square/X to land.

Are there any limitations on using the dragon?

Yes, you can use the dragon for a maximum of 15 minutes before a 50-minute cooldown. This limitation is intentional to balance the gameplay and encourage you to explore on foot or on horseback.

Can the dragon fight in the air?

Absolutely, the dragon has aerial offensive abilities such as fireballs and fire breath that consume stamina. This stamina regenerates while flying, giving you some leeway during aerial combat.

Key takeaways

The dragon Blackstar is obtained mandatorily in chapter 11 of the main quest after roughly 50 hours of progression.
The mount is limited to 15 minutes of use with a 50-minute cooldown to preserve exploration on foot or on horseback.
The dragon has offensive abilities such as fireball shots (R1) and fire breath (R2) that consume stamina.
You can perform aerial rolls to dodge attacks while flying, but this costs stamina.