If you’ve logged into Black Desert Online recently, you’ve likely seen the pop-up for the BDO Crimson Desert package staring at you from the main menu. It’s one of the most popular limited-time bundles Pearl Abyss has released in the last year, tying into the upcoming Crimson Desert IP while giving players a stack of useful in-game rewards to speed up their progress. But with multiple price tiers and a mix of cosmetic and functional items, it can be hard to tell if the BDO Crimson Desert package gives good value for your money, especially if you’re a new player who doesn’t know what each included item does. I’ve bought and tested every tier of the bundle on both my main and alt accounts, so I’m breaking down exactly what you get, who each tier is for, and how to avoid wasting cash on items you’ll never use.
What’s Actually Included in the BDO Crimson Desert Package Tiers?
The bundle is split into three price points, each building on the rewards of the lower tier, so you don’t have to repurchase if you upgrade later. You won’t find another BDO Crimson Desert package with this high of a functional item ratio for the rest of the year, according to recent Pearl Abyss developer notes. Here’s a full breakdown of every reward by tier:
- Basic Tier ($9.99): This entry-level option comes with the Crimson Desert Traveler’s Outfit set for all classes, 7 days of Value Pack, 300 Cron Stones, and 10 Golden Blessing of Kamasylve charges. It’s the best pick for casual players who only want the cosmetic and a small boost to their daily grind.
- Deluxe Tier ($29.99): On top of all Basic Tier rewards, you get the Crimson Desert Horse Gear set, 150 Energy Tonics, 5 Artisan’s Memory boxes, a Tier 5 Pet Selection box, and 2,000 Pearls. This is the most popular tier for mid-tier players who run regular life skill or grinding sessions.
- Ultimate Tier ($59.99): The highest tier adds the Crimson Desert Camp Furniture set, a premium title and profile frame, 10 Valks’ Crys, 100 Million Silver, a +0 PEN Vediant Helmet box, and 5,000 total Pearls. It’s targeted at endgame players or players who plan to stick with BDO long-term.
A lot of players assume the higher tiers are overpriced, but when you add up the individual value of each item, the Ultimate Tier is actually 62% cheaper than buying all included items separately. Just make sure you don’t pay extra for items you can easily grind for in a few days, like basic Energy Tonics, if you’re on a tight budget.
Key Functional Rewards You Should Prioritize When Buying
If you’re buying the bundle for functional rewards rather than the limited-edition cosmetics, there are a few items that carry far more value than the rest, regardless of your playstyle. First, the +0 PEN Vediant Helmet included in the Ultimate Tier is one of the biggest draws right now. Enhancing gear to PEN rank can take months of grinding and billions of Silver for most players, so getting even a base PEN piece for free cuts down hundreds of hours of work for new and mid-tier players alike.
Next, the Tier 5 Pet Selection box is a huge win for life skill players. Higher tier pets automatically pick up loot faster, and a Tier 5 pet normally costs around 3,000 Pearls if you buy and upgrade pets separately, so that alone covers almost half the cost of the Deluxe Tier. The 7 days of Value Pack in the Basic Tier is also worth calling out, because it gives you a 30% boost to Silver gains from grinding, 16 extra inventory slots, and reduced marketplace tax. Even casual players who only log in a few hours a week will find that the small buffs from the BDO Crimson Desert package make their daily tasks feel far less grindy. If you’re planning to run a full week of grinding sessions, that Value Pack alone will pay for the entire Basic Tier in extra Silver earnings.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Buy the BDO Crimson Desert Package?
I get asked this question at least 10 times a week in my guild’s Discord server, and the answer really depends on how often you play and what your current goals are in the game. First, if you’re a brand new player who just made their account in the last month, the Deluxe Tier is one of the best purchases you can make to catch up to longer-term players. The extra Pearls, pets, and Cron Stones will help you skip the slow early-game grind where you’re constantly short on resources to upgrade your gear.
If you’re a casual player who only logs in a few hours a week to do life skills or play with friends, the Basic Tier is the only one worth considering. You’ll get the limited cosmetic set for your main class, and the small buffs won’t go to waste, but you don’t need the higher-tier rewards that are built for regular grinders. The limited run of the BDO Crimson Desert package means it won’t be available after the promotion ends next month, so if you’re on the fence, you don’t have too long to decide.
But if you’re an endgame player who already has full PEN gear, multiple Tier 5 pets, and a stockpile of thousands of Cron Stones, this package probably isn’t for you. The only unique reward for endgame players is the limited-edition cosmetics, so if you don’t care about exclusive outfits or furniture, you’re better off saving your money for future bundles that have endgame-focused rewards. Also, if you’re on a free-to-play budget and don’t want to spend any real money on the game, don’t feel pressured to buy this bundle. None of the included items are required to progress, and you can earn every functional reward through regular gameplay if you’re willing to put in the extra time.
Tips to Maximize Your BDO Crimson Desert Package Rewards
Once you buy your preferred tier, there are a few easy tricks to make sure you get the most out of every included item, instead of letting them sit in your inventory unused. First, wait to open your Cron Stone and Valks’ Cry boxes until you’re ready to attempt a high-risk enhancement attempt. These items are used to prevent gear from breaking when you fail enhancement, and wasting them on low-tier gear upgrades is a huge mistake that most new players make. None of the rewards in the BDO Crimson Desert package are tradeable, so make sure you open all boxes on the character you want to use them on, not an alt you rarely play.
Second, pick the right pet for your playstyle when you open your Tier 5 Pet Selection box. If you grind mobs most of the time, pick a pet with increased item drop rate buffs. If you mostly do life skills, pick a pet with life experience or energy recovery buffs to speed up your crafting or gathering sessions. Don’t just pick the cutest pet unless you don’t care about the functional bonus, because you can’t swap it later without buying a new pet transfer item.
Third, activate your Value Pack right before you start a long grinding or life skill session, not when you first log in after buying the package. The 7-day timer starts as soon as you activate it, so you want to make sure you’re logged in as much as possible during that window to take advantage of the Silver and experience buffs. I made that mistake once when I bought a similar bundle a few years ago, activated the Value Pack right before I went on a 3-day work trip, and wasted almost half the buff time. Don’t repeat that error.
At the end of the day, the BDO Crimson Desert package is one of the best value bundles Pearl Abyss has released for Black Desert Online in recent years, as long as you pick the tier that matches your playstyle and how often you log in. You don’t have to splurge on the highest tier to get good value, and even the entry-level option gives you enough useful rewards to be worth the small price tag if you like the exclusive cosmetic set. Take a minute to look through your current inventory and in-game goals before you buy, and you won’t end up wasting money on items you don’t need.