Once you have a ship, you need a crew. There are six roles, and in battle the number of Gunners and Carpenters matters most. This guide covers each role, the upgrade order and how naval combat works.

Crimson Desert official site key image · Image source: Pearl Abyss Crimson Desert official site
Crew roles: 6
Reassigning crew: Only at ports
Suggested upgrade order: Crew, sails, cannons, teleport device, bigger ship
Combat options: Cannons, ramming, boarding
The 6 crew roles
First Mate: takes the helm when you leave it during combat.
Rigger: manages the sails when you change speed.
Lookout: marks nearby reefs and fishing spots on the map.
Carpenter: repairs damage; more Carpenters repair faster.
Gunner: operates the cannons; more Gunners fire more cannons.
Deckhand: fishes while stationary and helps with island pioneering missions.
Crew can only be changed in port
You can only reassign crew at ports. If you expect fights, fill the Gunner and Carpenter slots first. For exploring, add a Lookout and Deckhands. Once you leave port you cannot change the setup.
Suggested upgrade order
Crew: get Gunners and Carpenters first
Sails
Cannons
Ship teleportation device
A bigger ship (medium or large)
Buying and installing parts
Parts are sold by Ship Outfitters at Demeniss and Delesyia. Demeniss sells pricier gear, including stronger versions of basic parts. The categories are sails, side cannons, prow cannons (including dual-cannon attachments), figureheads and bow equipment, stern equipment and the ship teleportation device. Talk to a Ship Manager at a port, open Manage Ship and pick your vessel to install them. Some parts can also be crafted from blueprints or manuals at a workbench.
How naval combat works
Cannons: fire from either side, and you aim them manually.
Ramming: charge into enemy ships; rocket thrusters can help.
Boarding: get close and fight the enemy crew, or leave the ship and glide over to attack.
Enemies: pirates, other factions and ghost ships, with sharks, sea serpents and a Kraken in the water.
Known issues: the camera is awkward near 90 degrees at the bow, and some players report frame rate drops at sea. A hotfix fixed some bugs.
Making the ship teleportation device
Get the Forgotten Treasure Map on Auronui Island, go to the western coast and dig up the chest buried under the trees with a shovel to find the blueprint. Craft it at the Furniture Shop workbench in Greymane Camp with 15 Shiny Ore, 5 Azurite and 10 Iron Ore, then install it through a Ship Manager so your ship becomes a fast-travel point.
💡 Tip: If you mainly want to explore, take a Lookout. If you want to fight, build up Gunners and Carpenters first.
⚠ Role, part and facility names are translated from English sources. Cannon damage, sail speed, repair fees and part prices were not confirmed.
Sources
Raon Community compiled this guide from official announcements and several guide sources (as of 2026-11-07). Rights to the game and videos belong to their developers and channels.
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