Crimson Desert Keys: How to Farm Them, Our Guide

Fabian Lainé March 20, 2026 at 3:50 PM

In brief

Crimson Desert is full of locked doors hiding treasures and valuable resources. This guide shows you how to easily obtain keys by killing enemies or buying them from black market shops, so you can unlock all the secrets of the open world.

Crimson Desert being above all an exploration game, it's not uncommon to come across locked doors. But rest assured, there are simple methods to open them, simply by using keys.

Are keys really that important in Crimson Desert?

Keys give you the ability to access treasures, side quests or even highly valuable resources. Each of the keys you can find allows you to open the majority of closed doors, except for certain ones tied specifically to quests. In other words, it's not necessary to find the matching key to open a closed door: instead, all you need to do is build up a stock of keys.

Methods for obtaining keys

One of the easiest methods for obtaining keys in Crimson Desert is to kill enemies. While exploring the vast open world, you'll encounter various types of enemies such as bandits or goblins. By attacking them, you'll have the chance to loot keys from their corpses.

Notes

Although getting a key isn't guaranteed, the probability that you'll be able to pick one up is high, and sometimes you can even get two.

Bodies disappear quickly, so be careful to loot items before they vanish.

Black-market shops are also a reliable source of keys. These vendors, often located in out-of-the-way areas, sell various categories of items, including keys. They can be bought for around 30 coins. This price may seem high, but these shops are a sustainable source. You'll find these black-market shops in several locations, notably southeast of the town of Hernand, along a stream.

Note

Vendors restock daily, allowing you to buy your keys every day.

Which method do you prefer for getting keys in Crimson Desert?

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to find a specific key to open each door?

No, you don't need to find the exact matching key. It's enough to build up a generic stockpile of keys to open most locked doors, except for certain ones tied to specific quests.

What's the best method for farming keys quickly?

Killing enemies is one of the simplest methods, as you have a good chance of looting one or two keys per defeated enemy. Supplement this with daily purchases from black market shops for a steady supply.

Where can you find black market shops?

These shops are located in out-of-the-way areas of the open world. You'll find some notably southeast of the town of Hernand, along a stream, selling keys for around 30 coins each.

How often do black market shops refresh their stock?

Vendors refresh their inventory daily, allowing you to reliably and consistently buy keys every day.

Key takeaways

Keys grant access to treasures, side quests, and valuable resources hidden throughout Crimson Desert.
Kill enemies such as bandits and goblins to loot keys from their corpses with a good drop chance.
Black market shops sell keys for around 30 coins and refresh their stock daily.
You don't need to find the exact matching key: a generic stockpile is enough to open most doors.
Collect your loot quickly before the bodies disappear, as they only remain for a short time.