Cradle of Defense Walkthrough

Guide to Crimson Desert's 73rd main mission, Cradle of Defense. Learn how to raise banner pikes at the siege armory, gunpowder mill, and Thalwynd.

Cradle of Defense is the 73rd main mission in Crimson Desert, located in the Hernand region. It is part of Chapter 6 – Cracks in the Shield, under the sub-chapter Under the Banner Pike Again. You must have finished the previous main quest, The Counterattack, to start this mission. There is no reward for completing this quest.

The quest description states: Allied banners fly once more over the southern reaches of Calphade. The cradle of the Shield will now serve as the foundation for the city reconstruction.

Objectives:

1. Raise the banner pike at the siege armory
2. Raise the banner pike at the gunpowder mill
3. Raise the banner pike at Thalwynd

To complete the objectives, you must fight through a battlefield and place 3 banners. The order you collect them is flexible, but the in-game objectives suggest a recommended order. You will need to use Nature’s Grasp with Square / X / Left Click to lift the banners. Carry them to the wooden platform and press X / A / Enter to place the banner in the slot, which will also clear enemies in the area. You can clear enemies first if they are bothersome.

Tip: The weapon “Tauria Curved Sword” (from Boss: Crowcaller) is highly recommended. Its heavy attack casts crows that home in on enemies and is extremely strong at clearing out big crowds of enemies. Pair it with the skill “Nature’s Echo” (green skill tree), it duplicates your heavy attacks. It requires buying all 3 Forward Slash skills (blue) & all 3 Keen Senses skills (green). Be careful of enemies that grapple you, they will punch you on the ground and you must quickly complete the X / A / Enter QTE to avoid the damage.

The siege armory banner is located here:

The Gunpowder Mill Armory is found here:

The Thalwynd Banner is located here:

Note: Artillery towers in the Thalwynd area will shoot at you. Using Nature’s Grasp slows time, making it possible to carry the banner even while under fire.

Completing these objectives finishes Cradle of Defense in Crimson Desert.