How runs work in Crimson Moon
Three missions, a boss, and the two things people get wrong about what happens in between.
A Crimson Moon run is three missions followed by a boss. You choose each mission at the War Table in Sanctus Clypeus, and returning to the hub between missions does not end the run — your gear and upgrades carry forward through all three. Before you hold three Abraxas Stones the run ends at a World Boss; once you have three, the third mission leads to the Final Boss instead.
- Missions per run
- 3
- Mission length
- 15 to 45 minutes
- Hub
- Sanctus Clypeus
- Run ends at
- A World Boss, or the Final Boss
- Stones for the Final Boss
- 3
- One sitting required
- No
The two run structures
Which one you are in depends only on how many Abraxas Stones you hold.
Fewer than three Stones
Mission 1 → Mission 2 → Mission 3 → World Boss
Defeating the World Boss completes the run and awards one Abraxas Stone.
Three Stones held
Mission 1 → Mission 2 → Mission 3 → Final Boss
The run goes straight from the third mission to the Final Boss, with no World Boss in between.
A run, step by step
Six stages. Step four is the one that confuses people.
| # | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose a mission at the War Table | Every run starts at the War Table in Sanctus Clypeus, which is where you choose where to travel next. |
| 2 | Choose a loadout | Visit the Loadout Station before the first mission. Every run begins with zero Souls and a new loadout; equipment cannot be carried directly from the previous run. |
| 3 | Complete mission one | During a mission you find new equipment, collect resources and can change the gear you are using. |
| 4 | Return to the hub — the run is still active | Returning to Sanctus Clypeus does not end the run. The Loadout Station is no longer accessible, and eligible equipment you brought back is Purified automatically on arrival. |
| 5 | Repeat for missions two and three | Back to the War Table each time. Equipment and upgrades acquired during the run carry forward through all three missions. |
| 6 | Face the boss | After the third mission you reach the run's final encounter. Which boss it is depends on how many Abraxas Stones you have. |
What you keep, and what you lose
The single most useful thing to internalise before planning a build.
You keep the gear. Eligible equipment brought back to Sanctus Clypeus is Purified automatically when you arrive, which adds it to your collection permanently. From there it can be upgraded and taken into future runs. This is the permanent-progression half of the game.
You lose the temporary Boons. Boons applied to equipment during a run belong to that run only and do not become part of the item. Innate Boons — the ones that are a fixed part of a piece of gear — stay. Of the 91 documented Boons, the reliable way to hold a specific one is a trinket that grants it.
You start the next run with nothing banked. Every new run begins with zero Souls and a fresh loadout. Equipment cannot be carried directly from the previous run — it goes through your collection, not straight across.
Why the hub makes people think their run ended
A known UI problem, not a misreading on your part.
Returning to Sanctus Clypeus after a mission looks like the end of a run: you are back at the hub, you can talk to NPCs and upgrade gear. But the run is still active, and the tell is that the Loadout Station is unavailable — you cannot select a new starting loadout mid-run. The development team has acknowledged this is not as clear as intended and has said an improvement is planned for a future patch. Until then, if the Loadout Station is closed to you, you are still in a run.
Common questions about runs
How long is a run in Crimson Moon?
A run is three missions followed by a boss. Individual missions usually take somewhere between 15 to 45 minutes, and you return to Sanctus Clypeus between each one without ending the run.
Does returning to Sanctus Clypeus end your run?
No. Your run stays active when you return to the hub between missions, and the equipment and upgrades you acquired carry forward. The giveaway is that the Loadout Station becomes unavailable — that is the game telling you the run has not ended. The developers have said this is not currently as clear as intended and are planning to improve it.
What are Abraxas Stones?
Abraxas Stones are awarded for defeating a World Boss, one per completion. Once you hold three, completing the third mission of a run leads to the Final Boss instead of another World Boss. They are the game's gate on reaching the ending.
Do you keep the gear you find in a run?
Yes, if you finish the mission. Eligible equipment brought back to Sanctus Clypeus is automatically Purified on arrival and added to your collection permanently, after which it can be upgraded and taken into future runs. Temporary Boons applied during the run are not kept.
Do you have to finish a run in one sitting?
No. A run does not need to be completed in a single play session — it can be ended and resumed later.