How to 'observe this skill in action to learn it' in Crimson Desert
The whole idea that you can 'Observe this skill in action to learn it' in Crimson Desert is a lot of fun, since it's basically like unlocking an ability for free without having to use one of your precious Abyss Artifacts. All you need to do is observe the enemy, or boss in many cases, to learn their trick and turn it against them.
Skills that you can watch and learn are indicated in the skill tree, so maybe hold off purchasing these unless they feel vital to your playstyle. I guess if you found an enemy that performs the skill, you could always respec and learn it that way, giving you an extra point to spend, but it's probably better to just hold off. Here's how to watch and learn skills, and also all of the opportunities I've found so far to get them.
How to 'Observe this skill in action to learn it' in Crimson Desert
During many fights in Crimson Desert, an enemy will perform an attack, and the game suddenly slows down. A little "Learning" bar will appear in the top left, giving you a skill name and a number such as 1/3. This indicates the number of times you need to see that skill performed in order to learn it—once you reach that number, a pop-up will appear explaining how to do the skill.
Obviously, if you see a regular enemy perform a skill you can learn, you'll want to slow-roll the fight as much as possible. I suggest killing all the other enemies and then just hanging around baiting them until you've learned it. For boss fights, chances are you'll learn the skill more easily, since it's unlikely you'll defeat a boss so fast you won't see the skill enough.
Here are all of the observable skills I've encountered so far:
Skill | Location |
|---|---|
Pump Kick | During the fight with Matthias in Hernand during Chapter 2. |
Drop Kick | Learned from one of the bandits keeping Wooly the sheep hostage during the Missing Companion quest in Chapter 2. |
Evasive Roll | Learned during the fight with Kailok the Hornsplitter in Chapter 2. |
Swift Stab | Learned during the Reed Devil fight in Chapter 3. |
Focused Force Palm | Learned en route to Scholastone in Chapter 4. |
Aerial Roll | Learned during the Crowcaller fight in Chapter 5. |
Clothesline | Learned from many of the Black Bear enemies you encounter in Chapter 6 and 7. |
As you can see, most major bosses give you a chance to learn at least one skill, but there are some random enemies who can teach you skills when fighting them.
Crimson Desert characters: Unlock each
Crimson Desert respec: Swap your skills
How to steal in Crimson Desert: Pilfer some loot
How to get pets in Crimson Desert: Furry friends
How to tame horses in Crimson Desert: Mount up
How to fast travel in Crimson Desert: Going places