If you’ve spent any time exploring the vast world of Crimson Desert, you’ve likely stumbled across Bounty Posters. At first glance, they seem like a straightforward way to earn some early-game silver: pick up a poster, track down the target, and haul them back to the prison. However, the game throws a frustrating curveball into this process. You cannot fast travel while carrying a bounty target, and if you try to rest or sleep, the bounty location resets, forcing you to trek across the map one tedious run at a time. But what if I told you there is a way to bypass this limitation entirely, effectively cutting your bounty hunting time in half?
The secret lies in a simple but game-changing mechanic involving your horse. Instead of making a separate trip for each wanted criminal, you can capture and transport two bounties in a single expedition. Here is exactly how the “double bounty” strategy works to maximize your efficiency and silver per hour.
Understanding the Bounty System in Crimson Desert
Before diving into the strategy, it helps to understand how bounties function. Bounty posters can be found scattered across the world—on notice boards, vendor counters, and even as lootable items. When you inspect a poster, the quest is added to your map, marking the target’s general location. These targets are typically hostile NPCs that you must defeat, but the real challenge begins after the fight.
Once subdued, you must physically carry the target or load them onto your horse and transport them to the prison. The prison is often located far from the bounty zones, and the game imposes strict limitations: no fast travel while carrying a target, and sleeping or waiting will reset the bounty location, forcing you to track them down again. This makes efficiency paramount.
The Double Bounty Strategy: Step by Step
Step 1: Gather Multiple Bounty Posters
The first requirement is simple: have at least two active bounty quests. You can hold multiple posters in your inventory, and they will appear separately on your map. Look for targets that are relatively close to one another geographically. While not strictly necessary, choosing two bounties in the same region will save you travel time and reduce the risk of complications.
Step 2: Locate and Subdue Your First Target
Travel to the first bounty marker and engage the target. Defeat them as you normally would. Once they are down, you have a choice: load them onto your horse. Approach your mount with the incapacitated target and use the prompt to secure them to the horse’s back. The target will remain tied there, unconscious but secure, while you move on.
This is the foundation of the strategy. The horse can carry one bounty without any movement penalty, allowing you to continue exploring.
Step 3: Hunt Your Second Target on Horseback
Now comes the clever part. With the first bounty secured on your horse, ride to the second bounty location. You can engage the second target while mounted or dismount as needed. After defeating the second target, pick them up and carry them manually while riding your horse.
Yes, you can ride a horse that already has a bounty on its back while carrying a second bounty yourself. The game allows this, and it does not slow your horse’s movement speed. You are now effectively transporting two bounties simultaneously.
Step 4: Return to the Prison
With both targets secured—one on the horse and one in your arms—ride directly to the prison. There is no need for multiple trips. Once you arrive, interact with the prison entrance to turn in your targets. You will receive credit for both bounties, along with the silver and any reputation rewards associated with them.
Pro Tips for Maximizing Efficiency
Use Your Horse’s Cargo Capacity Wisely
Not all bounties are created equal. Some targets are larger or more cumbersome, but the game does not differentiate in terms of transport mechanics. The key is to always load the first target onto the horse before engaging the second. If you attempt to carry the first target manually while hunting the second, you will be unable to fight effectively.
Plan Your Route
Before setting out, open your map and mark both bounty locations. Plot a route that allows you to reach the first target, load them, then move efficiently to the second before heading to the prison. If the prison is far, consider which target is closer to the prison after both are secured—you can adjust your order accordingly.
Avoid Combat While Carrying a Target
Once you are carrying the second bounty, your combat options are limited. You cannot use your weapon while holding a target. Therefore, avoid unnecessary encounters on the way back to the prison. Stick to main roads where enemy spawns are predictable, and use your horse’s speed to outrun any threats.
Bounty Resets Are Only a Concern If You Rest
One of the most important details to remember: sleeping or waiting will reset uncompleted bounties. If you stop at an inn or use a bed while carrying a target, that bounty will fail, and you will need to track them down again. Always complete the run in one continuous session without resting.
Why This Strategy Matters
Bounty hunting is one of the most reliable sources of silver in the early and mid-game. It also introduces you to various regions and enemy types, making it a valuable activity for both progression and exploration. By doubling your efficiency, you effectively halve the time spent traveling, allowing you to focus on other activities like upgrading gear, hunting Abyss Artifacts, or building trust with vendors.
Moreover, this technique helps you avoid one of the game’s most tedious mechanics: the forced slow trek back to the prison. Instead of making two separate journeys across the map, you consolidate everything into one streamlined run.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to load the first bounty onto the horse. If you carry the first target manually and then engage the second, you will be unable to fight properly. Always secure the first target to your mount.
- Choosing targets too far apart. While the strategy works regardless of distance, efficiency drops if your bounties are on opposite ends of the map. Try to pair targets within the same region.
- Resting mid-run. Even a short nap to restore health can reset your bounties. Use healing items or food instead of sleeping until both targets are turned in.
- Selling completed posters prematurely. Bounty posters remain in your inventory after completion. You can sell them for a small amount of silver, but be sure you have actually turned in the target before doing so.
Mastering the double bounty technique in Crimson Desert is one of those small but impactful strategies that separates efficient players from those who find themselves constantly running back and forth across the map. By using your horse as a mobile holding cell and carrying a second target manually, you can complete two bounties in the time it would normally take to complete one.
This approach not only saves time but also reduces the risk of bounty resets, conserves resources, and lets you focus on the more exciting aspects of the game—like upgrading your gear at the blacksmith, hunting for Abyss Artifacts, or building trust with the village dogs that can eventually loot enemies for you.
So the next time you pick up a bounty poster, grab a second one while you’re at it. Your silver pouch—and your patience—will thank you.
