TL;DR
- Crimson Desert has 3 playable characters: Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka.
- Kliff is available from the start. Damiane unlocks in Chapter 3, Oongka unlocks in Chapter 7.
- Switch characters by pressing Up on the D-Pad (controller) or F1 (keyboard).
- Summon companions to fight alongside you by opening the Character Wheel and pressing Pause/Options/Start.
- Companions cannot be used during main story missions or boss fights.
- Kliff is the best character — he’s the only one who can access Abyss puzzles and has the largest skill tree.
- The Character Wheel has two empty slots — Pearl Abyss hasn’t confirmed what they’re for yet.
Crimson Desert drops you into Pywel as Kliff Macduff, a mercenary trying to restore order to a continent in chaos. What the game doesn’t make clear early on is that you’re eventually building a small band of fighters, and two of them become fully playable characters with their own weapons, skill trees, and combat styles.
This guide covers everything — when each character unlocks, how to switch between them, how to summon companions, and which one you should actually be investing your Abyss Artifacts into.
For a full look at what the game offers before going further, check out our Crimson Desert review.
All Playable Characters in Crimson Desert
There are three playable characters in Crimson Desert:
| Character | Unlock Requirement | Weapons | Combat Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kliff | Available from the start | One-handed swords, maces, two-handed swords, spears | Versatile — best overall |
| Damiane | Chapter 3 — Homestead sub-chapter | Rapiers, guns, muskets | Fast, agile, glass cannon |
| Oongka | Chapter 7 — Decisive Battle sub-chapter | Axes, arm cannons, staves | Heavy, slow, tank-style |
Each character has a completely separate skill tree. You unlock and upgrade abilities using Abyss Artifacts earned through exploration and quests. Because of this, it’s important to be thoughtful about how you spend your points — investing too heavily in Damiane or Oongka before Kliff is fully built can leave you underpowered for story-critical moments.
For advice on redistributing your points if you’ve over-invested in the wrong character, see our guide on how to respec in Crimson Desert.
How to Switch Characters in Crimson Desert
Once a character is unlocked, switching between them is quick.
On Controller:
- Hold Up on the D-Pad to open the Character Wheel.
- Use the Right Stick to hover over the character you want.
- Release the Right Stick to swap to that character.
On Keyboard:
- Press F1 to open the Character Wheel.
- Move your cursor to the character you want.
- Click to swap.
The camera will zoom out, and you’ll load into control of the selected character — similar to switching protagonists in GTA V. Your new character will be wherever they currently are in the world, not necessarily next to where you were playing.
Note: Characters are locked during main story missions and cannot be switched during major boss fights. If a companion is currently required for an active quest, they also won’t be available to switch to or summon until that quest is finished.
How to Use Companions in Crimson Desert
You don’t have to play as Damiane or Oongka to benefit from them. You can summon them as AI-controlled companions who fight alongside you in the open world.
Here’s how to do it:
- Press Up on the D-Pad (or F1 on keyboard) to open the Character Wheel.
- Hover over the companion you want and press X (PlayStation) / A (Xbox) to Summon.
- Hold Start / Options and use the D-Pad to scroll down to “Gather”.
- Your companion will spawn next to you.
You can have both Damiane and Oongka with you at the same time if you’re playing as Kliff. If you’re playing as Damiane or Oongka, you can summon Kliff and the other character as your support.
Companions will draw enemy attention, soak up damage, and help clear bandit camps and fortified areas. They’re genuinely useful for open-world content. Just don’t rely on them for boss fights — they won’t be available for those.
Kliff — Starting Character
Unlocked: From the start of the game Weapons: One-handed swords and maces, two-handed swords and spears
Kliff Macduff is the main protagonist of Crimson Desert. The story is built around him, and he’s the only character who can fully explore the Abyss, complete Abyss puzzles, and progress through the main story missions.
He’s also the most versatile fighter of the three. His skill tree is the largest, and you can build him in multiple directions — heavy melee, elemental attacks, wrestling-style grapples, or stamina-based combos. Skills like Turning Slash, Nature’s Snare, and various elemental powers make him adaptable to almost every situation in the game.
Bottom line: Kliff should receive the bulk of your Abyss Artifact investment, especially early on. He’s the only character who can solve Mysterious Zone puzzles like the Arboria Forest fountain puzzle or the Hunter’s Cabin graveyard puzzle.
How to Unlock Damiane in Crimson Desert
Unlocked: Chapter 3 — Homestead sub-chapter Weapons (exclusive): Rapiers, guns, muskets Flight mechanic: Propeller
Damiane is unlocked partway through Chapter 3. You’ll meet her before this point in the story, but she won’t become playable until you hit the right story beat in the Homestead sub-chapter.
She’s a fast, agile fighter built around precision and speed. Her Shield Toss ability stuns enemies, and her Shield Sentinel skill turns her shield into a floating sentry turret that fires at nearby enemies on its own. Her heavy attack, Smiting Bolt, deals a burst of light damage. Her guns are also well-suited for hunting wildlife across the open world.
The right way to play Damiane is carefully. She hits hard and moves fast, but she has low HP compared to Kliff and Oongka. Build into her stamina and pierce mechanics, use her speed to stay out of danger, and focus on exploiting enemy weak points.
Think of her as a glass cannon — high damage output, but she punishes mistakes.
How to Unlock Oongka in Crimson Desert
Unlocked: Chapter 7 — Decisive Battle sub-chapter Weapons (exclusive): Axes, arm cannons, staves
Oongka is a Greymane orc and the last character you’ll add to your roster. He’s locked behind Chapter 7, which is a significant time investment — expect roughly 30–40 hours of gameplay depending on how much side content you do.
You’ll actually fight alongside Oongka briefly in Chapter 6 before he becomes permanently playable. After a forced Chapter 7 mission, he unlocks fully.
Oongka is a melee bruiser. His Rampage ability lets him cleave through groups of enemies. His Scatter Shot cannon attacks pack serious punch at range. His Rage power grants super armor, letting him absorb hits that would stagger most fighters. He’s slower than Kliff and Damiane, but nearly impossible to stop once he gets going.
Build Oongka with super armor and healing skills to lean into the tank role. He’s best for assaulting heavily fortified camps where you want to smash through enemy defenses rather than dodge around them.
The Two Empty Character Wheel Slots
Once all three characters are unlocked, you’ll notice the Character Wheel still shows two empty slots. Pearl Abyss has not confirmed what these are for. They could be reserved for future DLC characters, hidden unlockables, or something else entirely. For now, there’s nothing to fill them.
Which Character Should You Play As?
Play as Kliff for almost everything. He’s the strongest overall character, has the largest skill tree, and is the only one who can access all Abyss content in the game. The story is built around him, and Abyss puzzles — which are tied to skill progression and fast travel unlocks — require him specifically.
Use Damiane when you want fast, precise combat or need her ranged options for wildlife hunting. She’s a great choice once you’re comfortable with the game’s systems and want more challenge.
Use Oongka when you’re hitting a heavily defended area and want raw destructive power. His AOE attacks and super armor make clearing bandit strongholds significantly easier.
As companions, both Oongka and Damiane are worth summoning during open-world exploration. The extra firepower makes a real difference in difficult areas.
Managing Skills Across All Three Characters
Each character has a separate skill tree, and your Abyss Artifacts are spent individually for each one. This means you need to think carefully about how you distribute points.
A common mistake is dumping points into Oongka or Damiane the moment they unlock, then finding Kliff underpowered for a forced story boss fight. Prioritize Kliff’s tree first, then gradually invest in the others.
Also worth knowing: resetting one character’s skills does not affect the others. Each character is independent for skill resets.
If you’re unsure how to redistribute your builds, our how to respec in Crimson Desert guide walks you through the exact process.
To get more Abyss Artifacts for your skill investments, see our guide on how to open Sealed Abyss Artifacts in Crimson Desert.
Keeping Your Characters Equipped
Each character uses weapon types exclusive to them. Kliff cannot equip Damiane’s rapiers or Oongka’s axes, and vice versa. This means you’ll need to manage gear for all three separately as you progress.
Keep all three characters equipped with reasonably upgraded gear. Even if you’re only playing as companions, their damage output scales with their equipment. Neglected gear means a weaker companion in combat.
For help gearing up, see our how to upgrade weapons and armor in Crimson Desert guide.
More Crimson Desert Guides
Story and Quests
- Crimson Desert All Main Story Quests and Chapters
- Crimson Desert Man Trapped in a Mire Quest Guide
- Crimson Desert Blix Bounty Quest Guide
- Crimson Desert Bruna’s Request Quest Guide
- Crimson Desert Reunion Quest Walkthrough
- How to Complete Renee’s Request in Crimson Desert
- How to Complete Rhett’s Request in Crimson Desert
Puzzles and Challenges
- How to Solve the Arboria Forest Fountain Puzzle in Crimson Desert
- How to Solve the Hunter’s Cabin Graveyard Puzzle in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert Abyss Without Balance Puzzle Solution
- How to Beat Kearush the Slayer in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert Belltowers Fog of War — All Bell Locations
- How to Ascend Lioncrest Watchtower in Crimson Desert
- How to Enter Halssius House of Healing in Crimson Desert
- How to Enter Hernand Castle in Crimson Desert
Exploration and Navigation
- How to Fast Travel in Crimson Desert
- How to Unlock Camp in Crimson Desert
- How to Change Time of Day in Crimson Desert
- How to Increase Inventory Space in Crimson Desert
- All Legendary Horses Locations in Crimson Desert
- How to Get a Dragon in Crimson Desert
Items and Resources
- How to Get Lost Loot in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Keys in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Iron Ore in Crimson Desert
- How to Get Palmar Pills in Crimson Desert
- How to Get a Pet in Crimson Desert
- How to Steal Items in Crimson Desert
Other Tips
- Best PC Settings for Crimson Desert Optimization
- How to Put Away Weapons and Become Unarmed in Crimson Desert
- How to Win Arm Wrestling in Crimson Desert
- Crimson Desert Duo Card Game Guide
- How to Get Crimson Desert Twitch Drops
- How to Claim Preorder and Deluxe Edition Items in Crimson Desert
