How to Defeat Reed Devil Boss in Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert features around 76 boss fights, all of which bring a different challenge to the table. This includes the Reed Devil boss, a masked foe who terrorizes the citizens of Hernand. Formerly a slum-dweller, the Reed Devil’s fate changed after he donned a mysterious mask and inherited dangerous powers. He used these newfound abilities to wreak havoc on the locals, causing them to call on Kliff for help. So, if you’re struggling with this duel, here are some tips on how to defeat the Reed Devil boss in Crimson Desert.

Crimson Desert Reed Devil Boss Location

The Reed Devil boss in Crimson Desert is located in Frozen Soul Mountain in the Hernand region, which is the very first explorable region of the game. You’ll encounter him during the End of Greed main quest in Chapter 3.

After being tasked with slaying this boss, head to the search area as marked on your map. Once you’re there, a cutscene should trigger automatically. If not, you’ll have to skip time until it’s early in the morning (5 AM).

The boss arena is a field of reeds, of course, which the Reed Devil uses to his advantage. Make your battle preparations before arriving at this location since the fight begins almost instantly. If you’re looking for specific location pointers, check out our Crimson Desert map guide for an overview of the region.

How to Beat Reed Devil Boss in Crimson Desert

The Reed Devil boss has three phrases that you’ll need to deal with. Every phrase is complemented by new moves that the boss tends to spam. Below, we’ve provided an overview of every phrase and how to deal with it:

Reed Devil Phase 1

The first of Reed Devil’s three phases will largely revolve around his sword attacks. Here are some tips on how to counter the early threat:

• Avoid the Sword Draw Attack: When you spot a red glint and a lowered stance, do not strike; your blade will bounce, leaving you vulnerable to a two-hit slash and teleport combo.
• Interrupt with Blinding Flash: While the boss is charging his sword draw, use the Blinding Flash ability to stun him and create a quick opening for a counter-attack.
• Watch out for Spears: If you move too far away, the Reed Devil will fling three spears before dashing in for a follow-up strike. To regain the offensive, dodge the incoming projectiles and immediately block the dash attack that follows the third spear.

Red Devil Phase 2

The second phase has a bit of gimmick behind it, which can be said for many other bosses in Crimson Desert. It triggers after a cutscene and sees the Reed Devil spawn Wicker Totems in the arena. During this phase, you won’t be able to engage him directly, as your goal will be to destroy 5 Totems.

The easiest way to do this is via Explosive Arrows, as they can be fired quickly without interrupting your mobility. Keep rolling and running after releasing an arrow since the Reed Devil will be hot on your tail, and there’s really no way to block his attacks.

Red Devil Phase 3

Once the Totems are down, the third phase of the Reed Devil boss fight will commence. This is easily the most challenging part of the encounter, as the devil will use aggressive Iaijutsu strikes to cut down your health bar. Here are some tips on how to get past the third phase:

• Counter the Iaijutsu Strikes: When the boss begins his aggressive sword draws, close the distance immediately to interrupt him with a grapple or a well-timed Dropkick.
• Watch for Red-Colored Waves: Be prepared to evade the projectile waves sent from his blade, which are now accompanied by a clone designed to ruin your dodge timing.
• Avoid the Disguise Attacks: When the Reed Devil disappears into the reeds to strike from a new direction, move to the center of the field to gain better visibility and more room to maneuver.
• Stay Aggressive to Prevent Chains: Focus on punishing these two specific moves early, as failing to interrupt his lengthy attack chains can quickly deplete your health bar.

Learn to punish these moves, and you’ll breeze past the Reed Devil boss in Crimson Desert.

Best Skills and Weapons to Defeat Reed Devil in Crimson Desert

The Reed Devil boss in Crimson Desert is far from the game’s most challenging enemy. This also means that he’s susceptible to various abilities and skills, but these are the ones that we recommend:

• Blinding Flash: Use it while he charges the sword draw to temporarily stun him.
• Advance Grapples: A standard Throw is good enough to disrupt his attacks. If you’ve unlocked the Lariat, even better.
• Shield Bash: Block incoming attacks with your shield while simultaneously striking the enemy.

As for weapons, since the Reed Devil is an early game boss, you don’t need to be armed to the teeth in order to bring him down. Just make sure to upgrade and refine your weapons beforehand. On that note, here are our recommended weapons:

• Sword of the Lord
• Upgraded Sword of the Wolk
• Rhett’s Longsword

Be sure to check our Crimson Desert weapons guide for a look at some of the other tools you can use for this boss fight.

Preparations for Reed Devil Boss in Crimson Desert

While we’ve provided a general overview of the boss’s moveset and some pointers on how to avoid his biggest swings, we’ve also compiled a handy list of tips that make beating the Reed Devil easier:

• Activate Fast Travel Point: Right near the boss arena is an Abyss Cresset location. We highly recommend activating it to get back into the action quickly in case you’re defeated. For more info, check out our guide on all Crimson Desert fast travel locations.
• Upgrade Stamina: You’ll be doing a lot of running and dodging during the boss fight since the Reed Devil essentially hunts you during the second and third phase. Given this, Stamina is crucial for both attack and defence, so we recommend investing Abyss Artifacts into this foundational skill.
• Bring Plenty of Food: Your best bet of sustaining the Reed Devil’s deadly attacks is by carrying along a sack full of consumables. Make sure to top up on food items, especially nourishing ones such as Modest Grilled Meat.
• Carry a Shield: Most Shields are excellent at tanking enemy attacks. The gear will allow you to survive the Devil’s onslaught while also being light on the Stamina requirements.

Crimson Desert Reed Devil Boss Rewards

After the Reed Devil is vanquished, here are the rewards you’ll receive:

• Swift Stab Skill: Perform a follow-up attack after a successful charged Stab.
• Hernadian Contribution x600 (Region Reputation XP)
• Sunset Reed Cloth Gloves (Unique Gear)

And that wraps up our guide on the Reed Devil boss in Crimson Desert. Let us know if you struggled with this fight in the comments.