Black Desert Online tips: getting started in an unconventional MMO

One of the worst things you could do is play Black Desert Online as if it was any other MMORPG—it’s not. While the temptation to rush to level 50 might be strong, I really suggest taking your time to talk to NPCs and soak in the ambiance. Black Desert Online is incredibly dense, and if you try to swallow it all at once you’re just going to get a stomach ache. What’s more, by going slow and exploring the world, you’ll increase your character’s knowledge. In Black Desert Online, knowledge is power.

Monsters you kill, items you find, and characters you talk to will all contribute to your character’s repository of knowledge, which does a lot more than provide you with little tidbits of lore about the world. When you gain enough knowledge on a topic, like meeting all of the merchants in a certain town, you’ll be given more energy points which will, in turn, allow you to craft or gather more. Energy replenishes fairly quickly, but having an ample supply of it is going to be necessary once you get further into your journey. By taking the time to comb over environments and talk to characters, you’ll be well armed with a ton of energy and a greater appreciation for the lore and history of Black Desert. Plus it gives you something to read on those long trips in between cities.