Beginner Tip: How to Win Arm Wrestling in Chapter 1

The first arm wrestling match in Crimson Desert appears during Chapter 1 in Hernand Tavern. It is part of the Where Rumors Gather objective, so you need to win at least the required match to keep the story moving.

Route Flowchart

Arm wrestling flowchart from rumor setup to the final table win. Flowchart with crimson-desert.xyz watermark. — Arm wrestling flowchart from rumor setup to the final table win.

Screenshot Walkthrough

Tavern entry before starting the arm wrestling side activity. Screenshot with crimson-desert.xyz watermark. — Tavern entry before starting the arm wrestling side activity.

Rumor-gathering step that frames the arm wrestling challenge. Screenshot with crimson-desert.xyz watermark. — Rumor-gathering step that frames the arm wrestling challenge.

Arm wrestling table location for the Chapter 1 tavern challenge. Screenshot with crimson-desert.xyz watermark. — Arm wrestling table location for the Chapter 1 tavern challenge.

Where to Start Arm Wrestling

Head to Hernand Tavern during the early Chapter 1 errands. Speak with the man seated at the table to begin the minigame. The tavern is also where the chapter starts pushing Kliff toward rumors about the scattered Greymanes.

How the Minigame Works

When the countdown ends, rapidly press the prompted input to build advantage.
Watch for the quick-time event that interrupts the button-mashing section.
Press the QTE input when the moving indicator reaches the highlighted success zone.
After the QTE, return to rapid inputs until Kliff slams the opponent’s hand down.

The match is simple once you understand the rhythm: build pressure, react to the QTE, then build pressure again. Losing usually means you missed the quick-time input or stopped pressing during the recovery window after it.

Tips for Winning Consistently

Keep your eyes on the QTE indicator, not just the strength meter.
Do not panic if the opponent regains ground after a missed prompt; recover and continue pressing.
Use a controller if keyboard inputs feel awkward, especially if you struggle to switch from rapid tapping to QTE timing.
Try the other arm wrestlers in the tavern if you want extra challenge progress after the required story match.

Is It Worth Beating Everyone?

Yes, if you enjoy minigame challenges. Beating additional opponents can contribute to arm wrestling challenge progress, and early challenge rewards are useful while your build is still limited. If you only want story progression, one required win is enough to move on.