Black Desert Online (BDO) thrusts players into a vast, open-world fantasy landscape where prowess in combat, strategic life skills, and economic acumen carve the path to triumph and prosperity. Among its myriad of life skills, cooking stands as a quintessential pillar that not only adds depth to the gastronomic desires of adventurers but also serves as a pivotal mechanism for wealth accumulation and societal contributions through the Imperial Cooking system. This guide shall embark you on a culinary journey, unraveling the mysteries, techniques, and secrets of cooking within the realms of BDO, tailored for those stepping into the kitchen for the first time and seasoned chefs aiming to refine their craft.
Cooking Basics
In BDO, culinary enthusiasts will discover cooking as more than just a life skill—it’s an art form and a strategic endeavor that weaves together the threads of resource management, timing, and recipe mastery. The first step into this esteemed craft begins with acquiring a Residence in any town or city. This personal space is where you’ll place your Cooking Utensil—the hearth of your culinary ventures.
Equipping oneself with a Cooking Utensil can be as simple as purchasing a “Basic Cooking Utensil” from a General Goods vendor in any city. However, as you progress, the allure of elevated versions like the “Advanced Cooking Utensil” becomes apparent, offering reduced cooking times at the expense of durability.
Understanding Recipes
Recipes in BDO are more than just a list of ingredients; they are blueprints to gastronomic creations that can enhance your abilities, fulfill quest requirements, or be sold for silver. Each recipe demands specific ingredients that can be sourced from the bountiful lands of the Black Desert world—be it fishing, farming, hunting, or from the marketplace. Embarking on the journey of understanding and memorizing recipes is fundamental in becoming a master chef.
Recipe Collection
Gathering an extensive collection of recipes is paramount in mastering the culinary arts in BDO. Several resources, both in-game and in the vast expanse of the internet, offer comprehensive lists and details of recipes ranging from simple meals to the most tantalizing dishes that can summon a King from his castle. Notable among these is the “Cooking Honey” which can be used in various recipes. Engaging with the community, participating in events, and unlocking knowledge in-game can also reveal hidden or rare recipes that can set you apart in the culinary world of BDO.
Essential Recipes
While the spectrum of recipes is vast, certain dishes like “Beer” serve as a cornerstone in every chef’s recipe book. Beer is crucial for replenishing the stamina of your workers, ensuring the continuous flow of resources to your storage. Other foundational recipes include “Good Feed,” for your pets, and “Balenos Special,” a well-rounded meal that offers buffs beneficial for adventurers of all paths.
Cooking Utensils
Your arsenal of cooking utensils fundamentally shapes your cooking journey. As mentioned earlier, starting with a “Basic Cooking Utensil” is common, but as your culinary skills mature, investing in an “Advanced Cooking Utensil” or even the elusive “Balenos Traditional Cooking Utensil” becomes a game-changer. Each utensil offers different benefits, from reduced cooking time to increased durability, catering to the needs of both casual cooks and hardcore chefs aiming for efficiency and high output.
Managing Durability
The durability of cooking utensils serves as a measure of how many dishes you can prepare before needing a replacement. Advanced and specialized cooking utensils offer higher durability but at a higher cost or crafting requirement. Balancing the cost, availability, and your cooking needs is crucial in selecting the right utensil for your culinary quests.
Cooking for Profit
BDO’s economy thrives on the trade of goods and services, and cooking is no exception. Crafting dishes that are in high demand by players can be a lucrative business. Ingredients can often be purchased directly from the marketplace or obtained through your workers and personal farming efforts, transforming raw materials into gourmet dishes that fetch a high price.
Strategic Dish Selection
Success in the culinary market involves strategic selection of dishes based on demand, ingredient availability, and profit margins. Meals that provide buffs for popular activities like node wars, grinding spots, or life skilling tend to maintain consistent demand. Monitoring the market and staying abreast of community trends can provide insight into profitable culinary ventures.
Imperial Cooking
Imperial Cooking elevates your culinary endeavours from mere sustenance to contributing towards the empire’s demands, reaping greater rewards in the process. This system allows chefs to box up their cooked dishes and sell them to Imperial Cuisine NPCs for a substantial profit, often exceeding what the open market offers. It also rewards Contribution Points and valuable items like Imperial Seals, which can be exchanged for even more lucrative items.
Understanding Imperial Cooking Boxes
Not all dishes can be sold through Imperial Cooking—only specific recipes qualify for these boxes. These recipes can change over time and differ between servers, demanding a chef’s attention to current demands. The profit from Imperial Cooking is not solely based on the silver earned from selling these boxes but also in the efficiency of producing the required dishes and managing resources.