As May 8 draws closer, the game is set to receive its first major roster refresh. This update isn't just about shifting player ratings - it's a prime opportunity for the market to reset and for savvy players to generate a substantial influx of stubs.

Following this initial wave, updates are expected to accelerate to roughly once every three to five weeks. Positioning your collection strategically ahead of the refresh can help shield your roster from value erosion and may even allow your Stub reserves to expand.

May 8th Update

Newcomers might wonder why May 8th update carries such weight. First, understand that in MLB 26, Live Series player ratings and attributes are not fixed. The developers adjust them to mirror real-world performance, and May 8th marks a significant recalibration of player data across the board.

With that in mind, your investment strategy should center on securing Gold and Diamond cards poised for a ratings boost. For certain breakout candidates, employing an over-holding strategy could yield even greater returns.

While Diamond cards often steal the spotlight, don't overlook the potential of Silver cards. When handled correctly, Silver cards can produce six-figure Stub profits with minimal initial outlay. Let's examine where these opportunities may originate.

Diamond Cards

Several Diamond cards currently rated 87 overall run the risk of dipping to their Quick Sell floor. Paradoxically, this scenario can create an attractive entry point for those looking to accumulate inventory. Some are eyeing 88 OVR Yordan Alvarez, wondering if a surge past the 90 overall threshold might increase his scarcity in packs. This particular move carries elevated risk, so you may consider waiting until his valuation softens further before committing.

86 OVR Tyler Glasnow

Tyler Glasnow stands out as one of the most compelling Diamond arms on the radar. Internal projections suggest Glasnow's rating could see an increase approaching +3. A conservative estimate places him at an 88 overall post-update, pushing his Quick Sell return to 5,500 stubs. With the current market spread hovering around 1,700 stubs, holding 20 units could translate to roughly 40,000 stubs in net gain. Stockpiling in advance appears to be a near-certain path to a healthy profit.

90 OVR Corbin Carroll

Despite maintaining a .300 average and swatting three home runs, Corbin Carroll's bat has cooled recently. With roughly two weeks remaining until the roster lock, he'll need to rediscover his rhythm in short order. The projected adjustment ranges from +1 to +2, though the community largely expects the safer +1 floor. If you're considering adding him to your portfolio, you'll want to monitor his upcoming at-bats closely.

85 OVR Max Fried

The jury remains out on Max Fried, whose results have been steady but not spectacular, leaning slightly toward the positive. Given his current basement valuation and the expectation of two more starts in pinstripes before the cutoff, adding him to your holdings carries virtually no downside. He profiles as a stable, low-maintenance flip among pitchers.

Gold Cards

Gold cards are the primary workhorses for accumulating MLB The Show 26 stubs during this refresh cycle. If your Stub balance is robust, directing resources toward high-upside Golds is a prudent move.

High-Potential List

84 OVR Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sánchez has allowed his share of hits, but his elite strikeout ability sets him apart. The recent outings present a mixed bag, yet a strikeout tally of 39 is the kind of metric that often leads to a promotion. Even if the jump doesn't materialize immediately, holding him long-term retains strong appeal. Acquiring beyond the usual limit is recommended.

84 OVR Joe Ryan

Joe Ryan finds himself in a similar boat to Sánchez. The underlying metrics aren't discouraging, but he hasn't quite hit the threshold for Diamond status just yet. Continuing to add shares or maintaining existing positions while awaiting a dominant outing in his next start is a sound approach.

83 OVR William Contreras

His batting average sits at a sturdy .300, and the timing of his recent uptick is favorable. The lone red flag is the low home run count (just two), which caps his odds of vaulting to Diamond at roughly 2%. Expectation points to a modest +1 boost. Holding steady is advised.

82 OVR Matt Olson

Matt Olson has caught fire, launching six home runs and lifting his average to .280. His upgrade trajectory could stretch to +2, meaning his post-adjustment value is likely to climb meaningfully. Maintaining a minimum of 20 units is a wise target.

82 OVR Andy Pages

Andy Pages boasts a scorching .382 average alongside five home runs - numbers that already scream Diamond caliber. His valuation previously spiked before retracing, so the ideal zone for re-entry hovers around the 1,200 Stub mark. Patience during market fluctuations will be key here.

81 OVR Elly De La Cruz

While he may have cooled slightly from his blistering pace, his average and six-homer output remain exceptional by his own baseline. A ratings bump to an 84 overall appears likely. Currently trading near its historical floor, this card presents a strong case for accumulation.

80 OVR Drew Rasmussen

Rasmussen's most recent start was unsteady, and the sample size is limited, yet a +2 to +3 overall boost remains within reason. The magnitude of his jump will hinge on how he performs over his next couple of appearances. Collecting now, in modest volume, seems prudent.

80 OVR Kevin Gausman

Kevin Gausman appears destined to rebound to an 84 overall. The current market asking is a mere 400 stubs. Acquiring a stack of 20 could effortlessly generate a 30,000 Stub windfall. This is a high-confidence, low-stakes recommendation.

Proceed with Caution List

83 OVR Jackson Merrill

Jackson Merrill's average has plummeted to .221, and the overall profile looks shaky. While the system currently suggests he's safe from a downgrade, tying up significant liquidity in a stagnant asset is rarely ideal. Considering a gradual reduction of exposure may be wise.

80 OVR Oscar Hernandez

Oscar Hernandez's real-world production and in-game attributes both register as pedestrian. The community outlook is tepid at best. Reallocating elsewhere before the update appears to be the logical course of action.

80 OVR Ceddanne Rafaela

Ceddanne Rafaela is mired in a deep freeze at the plate. Oddly enough, because his baseline was already quite low, this poor stretch might not derail a potential +1 or even +2 boost. Nonetheless, the situation carries inherent volatility and shouldn't be a top priority over more stable alternatives.

The players above represent the most actionable names on the board. If you prefer to unearth your own targets, focus on upgrade candidates hovering near their Quick Sell floor. And remember: players currently on the Injured List generally won't see their ratings adjusted upward; exercise restraint when evaluating those names.

To continuously strengthen yourself in an open-world RPG like Crimson Desert, enabling you to face dangerous endgame enemies and secure more valuable loot, Abyss Artifact is an absolutely indispensable asset!

Judging by its name, Abyss Artifact might seem like a mysterious piece of gear; however, its actual function is closer to that of a material required for upgrading your equipment.

Below, we will introduce the specific functions of this item, as well as the strategies and tips you need to master in order to farm it effectively within Crimson Desert.

What is Abyss Artifact?

As with most RPGs, in Crimson Desert, you rely primarily on skills to attack or defend against enemies. Each playable character possesses a unique skill system, composed of three distinct skill trees that govern different aspects of gameplay.

These three skill trees determine your Stamina, Spirit, and Health, respectively, and are represented by the corresponding colors: blue, green, and red.

Within this system, Abyss Artifacts function essentially as skill points: you must consume these artifacts to unlock additional skills.

Of course, there is a limit to how many skills can be unlocked. Once you reach that limit, and as you progress into the endgame, you will acquire high-tier Crimson Desert items.

At this stage, the role of Abyss Artifact shifts to refining these items, thereby enhancing their capabilities.

Methods for farming Abyss Artifacts

Given the critical importance of Abyss Artifact, there are currently multiple ways to acquire it within the game.

These methods primarily include searching for them in the open world, receiving them as rewards for completing quests, trading with other players, and utilizing various other special methods.

It is worth noting that most of these acquisition methods, including those where artifacts drop as loot, have a specific cap or limit on the number of Abyss Artifacts you can obtain.

Generally speaking, it is advisable to prioritize utilizing these limited methods first; once those sources are exhausted, you can then focus on farming through other available channels, thereby avoiding the need to juggle multiple farming strategies simultaneously.

Utilizing the special progress bar

Although Crimson Desert does not feature a traditional character leveling system, whenever you are in combat, you will notice an inconspicuous yellow curved progress bar located just to the left of the mini-map in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

During combat, this bar fills up based on the efficiency with which you defeat enemies. Once the bar is completely filled, you will be rewarded with one Abyss Artifact; the bar will then reset and begin tracking progress anew.

Notably, if you combine one piece of normal gear with one piece of special gear to create and equip Aptitude Abyss gear, it will significantly accelerate the rate at which this yellow progress bar fills up.

Although this farming method involves combat, unlike standard drop mechanics, there is no cap on the number of Abyss Artifacts you can acquire; you can earn rewards at any time.

Combat drops

This method primarily refers to the loot obtained after defeating a boss. While completing quests also involves combat, Abyss Artifacts in that context serve as final quest rewards rather than standard drops.

It is worth noting that you can utilize specific techniques to repeatedly farm certain bosses, allowing you to acquire their dropped Abyss Artifacts multiple times.

For instance, after defeating a boss, locate the river situated south of Hernand starting region on the map. On the southern bank of this river lies a mountain, atop which sits a fast-travel waypoint.

From this location, you can directly collect an Abyss Artifact, then immediately glide down the river channel to find the Icewalker boss.

If you manually collect the boss's core and store it in your Kuku Iron Pot, that boss will not respawn.

However, if you immediately use the fast-travel function to return to the aforementioned waypoint, the boss will respawn the next time you visit that area.

Quest completion

Upon completing certain main and side quests, the system will reward you with Abyss Artifacts, for example, the main quests Chapter 2: Flames of Greed and Chapter 4: Gate to the Otherworld.

To accelerate your character's progression, we recommend prioritizing the completion of quests that offer Abyss Artifacts as rewards, particularly the main storyline quests.

Completing Sealed Abyss Artifact Challenges

The open world of Crimson Desert is known as the continent of Pywel. Scattered across the continent are a total of 141 Abyss Artifacts, also referred to as Sealed Abyss Artifacts.

Once you activate Blinding Flash skill, you will see Sealed Abyss Artifacts emit a glow, making them easier to spot. However, keep in mind that glowing objects could also be Abyss Nexus fast-travel points or Abyss Cresset puzzles.

To acquire a Sealed Abyss Artifact, you must not only locate its specific site but also complete the corresponding challenge. Some challenges require the use of specific weapons or skills; in such cases, remember to switch to the appropriate character.

The following is a breakdown of the number of Abyss Artifacts contained within each specific region:

• Central Hernand: 18
• South Hernand: 14
• Northern Hernand: 12
• Southern Pailune: 8
• Northern Pailune: 7
• Central Demeniss: 19
• Southern Demeniss: 7
• Northern Demeniss: 4
• Northern Delesyia: 8
• Southern Delesyia: 17
• Southern Crimson Desert: 15
• Northern Crimson Desert: 12

In addition to these challenges, some Abyss Artifacts are hidden in special locations; these can be obtained directly without the need for combat.

Solving puzzles

Aside from Abyss Nexus, you can also use Abyss Cressets for teleportation; however, the stone pillars associated with these cressets also allow you to retrieve Abyss Artifacts. Note that some of these pillars will require you to solve a puzzle first.

Beyond Abyss Cresset puzzles, every island within the floating archipelago known as Abyss serves as a dedicated puzzle zone, each containing multiple specific puzzles to solve.

For every puzzle you solve on an island, the totem located there will be activated, and you will be rewarded with an Abyss Artifact.

Trading with vendors

The continent of Pywel is home to various Witch vendors, as well as a special merchant known as Patrigio the Wandering Merchant; all of these vendors offer Abyss Artifacts for sale.

Therefore, to ensure that you can immediately acquire Abyss Artifacts through trade, even when other acquisition methods are temporarily unavailable, don't forget to save up your currency during your daily gameplay!

We hope this guide on farming Abyss Artifacts helps you make faster progress in the game! Best of luck on your journey!