How to unlock all Characters in Crimson Desert

How to unlock characters in crimson desert — (Image credit: Pearl Abyss)

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How to get every character
Best character

There are three playable Crimson Desert characters you can find and unlock - Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka. Each have different abilities and skillsets, equipment that can be unique to them, as well as their own specific missions and challenges.

However, Damiane and Oonkga aren't available from the start, and you'll have to play through the game to some specific points to actually access them. Below I'll explain how to unlock all Crimson Desert characters, and what they have to offer you when you get them.

How to get every playable character in Crimson Desert

To get the three main characters in Crimson Desert, you'll need to do the following:

Kliff
- Unlocked by default. Kliff is playable from the start of the game and the main character. He has the most abilities and powers to unlock, and the main campaign is focused on him overall. Although there are moments in the story where he will be unplayable until you complete sections with other characters.
Damiane
- Unlocked in Chapter 3. Damiane is teased before you can play as her, but she'll only be unlocked once you get part way through Chapter 3 in the main campaign. She specialises in speed, ranged combat options, and fighting groups. Her preferred Crimson Desert weapons are rapier and small shield, along with a flintlock pistol and musket.
Oongka
- Unlocked in Chapter 7. Oongka the Orc is around a lot before you can play as him, which happens near the end of Chapter 7 in the main campaign. At this point you'll be forced to play as him but, after that, he'll be locked again until you complete the side quest "Gentle Sound of Flowing River" to fully access him. Oongka specialises in heavy melee attacks, dual-wielding, tanking damage, and local AOE effects, all done with large axes and cannons.

Who is the best character in Crimson Desert?

Kliff is undeniably the best character in Crimson Desert. As the main hero he gets the most Crimson Desert skills, item options, and unique powers. Despite the other playable characters, this is definitely Kliff's game, with the other two more like side characters - with their own secondary stories you can pursue as side quests. Ultimately though, Kliff has to be able to do more, so he is capable of more.

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Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and Very Tired Man with a BA from Brunel University, a Masters from Sussex University and a decade working in games journalism, often focused on guides coverage but also in reviews, features and news. His love of games is strongest when it comes to groundbreaking narratives like Disco Elysium, UnderTale and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as innovative or refined gameplay experiences like XCOM, Sifu, Arkham Asylum or Slay the Spire. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at Eurogamer, Gfinity, USgamer, SFX Magazine, RPS, Dicebreaker, VG247, and more.