TL;DR
- Crimson Desert does not have a traditional character creator — you play as pre-made protagonists.
- There are three playable characters: Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka, unlocked through the story.
- You can customize hair, facial hair, tattoos, and gear colors using the Barber and Dyehouse.
- PC players can install the Character Creator mod for 98 face presets and 159 hairstyles.
- Console players are limited to the in-game customization options only.
One of the first things players ask before jumping into Crimson Desert is whether you can build your own character. It is a fair question, especially coming from Pearl Abyss, the studio behind Black Desert Online — a game famous for one of the most detailed character creators in any RPG.
The short answer is no. Crimson Desert does not have a built-in character creation screen. But there is still quite a bit you can do to personalize your look, and PC players have even more options through mods.
Here is everything you need to know.
For a full overview of everything in the game, the Crimson Desert hub page is a great starting point.
Does Crimson Desert Have a Character Creator?
No. Unlike most open-world RPGs, Crimson Desert skips the character creation screen entirely. You do not build a hero from scratch. Instead, you play as three pre-written protagonists, each with their own backstory, personality, and combat style.
All three characters are unlocked progressively as you work through the main story. You do not choose at the start — Kliff is who you begin with.
The Three Playable Characters
Kliff MacDuff is the main character and the one you will spend the most time with. He is a soldier from the Greymane faction, a group dedicated to protecting the innocent across Pywel. His combat style is well-rounded — sword and shield as the main tools, with a bow for ranged situations. He is the best starting point for learning how the game’s combat works.
Damiane is a ranged and melee hybrid. She uses a pistol and musket for distance, then switches to a rapier and buckler for close-quarters fighting. She plays very differently from Kliff and rewards aggressive, mobile play.
Oongka is a large Orc who swings a two-handed axe and carries a heavy firearm. He is built for players who want raw, hard-hitting combat. His armor style also exposes more of his body, making him the best canvas for showing off tattoo customizations.
All three have their own skill trees. You are not locked into one playstyle just because of the weapon set. For the full breakdown on skills, check out the best skills to level up first guide.
What You Can Customize In-Game
Even without a character creator, the game offers meaningful ways to personalize your look. There are two main systems for this: the Barber and the Dyehouse.
The Barber
Eric the Barber sets up shop at the Howling Hill Camp after you complete the Solid Foundation questline under Greymane Faction Quests. Once he is available, you can visit him to change:
- Hairstyle and hair color
- Facial hair
- Face tattoos
- Body tattoos
The tattoo options are most visible on Oongka given his armor style, but all three characters have access to them. Changing your look at the Barber costs a small fee each time.
If you want to know more about changing your appearance later in the game, see the how to change appearance guide.
The Dyehouse
The Dyehouse is where you customize the look of your gear, not your face. You can dye individual pieces of armor, weapons, horse gear, and even War Robot armor. Each piece can be adjusted by color and material finish.
To dye anything, you first need dye. You can find bottles of it around the world, buy limited options from Dyehouse NPCs, or craft your own using insects and flowers at a cauldron. Once you have dye in your inventory, you use it there first — which essentially learns it like a recipe — and it then becomes available at the Dyehouse.
For the full breakdown on this system, the how to dye armor, weapons, and horse gear guide covers everything step by step.
None of the customization options — Barber or Dyehouse — affect your stats or combat performance. Everything is purely visual.
How to Get More Customization: The Character Creator Mod (PC Only)
PC players who want a true character creation experience have an option. A mod called Character Creator, developed by modder Khione95 and available on Nexus Mods, expands the Barber system significantly.
The mod gives you access to 98 face presets and 159 hairstyles. As of now, it is built around a female character model, with male customization planned for a future update.
Here is how to install and use it:
Step 1: Go to NexusMods.com and download the JSON Mod Manager from PhorgeForge.
Step 2: Download the Character Creator mod from Nexus Mods.
Step 3: Open JSON Mod Manager and add CharacterCreator to your active mods list using the green arrow.
Step 4: Make sure CharacterCreator is listed above any armor module you have active.
Step 5: Click “Apply Mods” on the bottom left, then click “Start Game.”
Step 6: Head to the Howling Hill Camp and find Eric the Barber. Interact with him to enter the Barber and Customize screen. You will find the 98 face presets listed under the “Beard” tab, and the 159 hairstyles under the “Hair” tab.
One important note: this mod modifies the Barber system, so it is not compatible with other mods that do the same thing, such as Barber Unlocked. Do not run both at once.
Console players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S cannot use mods, so this option is PC-exclusive.
Will Crimson Desert Add an Official Character Creator?
There is no official character creator in the game at launch. Pearl Abyss has not confirmed one is coming, but it is a highly requested feature. Given the studio’s history with Black Desert Online — which has one of the deepest character creators in gaming — it is not out of the question for a future update.
There have also been discussions around a planned “Another Journey” co-op mode post-launch, which was reported to allow custom character creation for multiplayer. Whether that mode arrives and what it includes remains to be seen.
Quick Summary: Customization Options at a Glance
| Feature | Available In-Game | Available via Mod (PC) |
|---|---|---|
| Face presets | No | Yes (98 options) |
| Hairstyles | Limited | Yes (159 options) |
| Hair color | Yes | Yes |
| Facial hair | Yes | Yes |
| Tattoos | Yes | Yes |
| Armor color and dye | Yes | Yes |
| Mount gear color | Yes | Yes |
| Race or body type | No | Partial (female model) |
Crimson Desert is not a game that lets you build a hero from nothing, but it does give you solid tools to make each character your own. The Barber and Dyehouse systems go deeper than they might first appear, and PC players have even more to work with through the mod scene.
While you are personalizing your build, it is worth thinking about gear upgrades too. The how to get better equipment guide and the best unique weapons and armor list are good next steps. And if you are looking to fund those upgrades, check out how church donation boxes work to maximize your Dispatch Mission income passively.
Crimson Desert is available on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Visit the official Crimson Desert website for the latest updates.
