If you’re just starting your journey in Duet Night Abyss, one of your first big decisions will be picking your main character. But here’s the thing—this isn’t just a one-time choice. The game actually features a dual-narrative system where you’ll eventually select a second protagonist as well. So before you lock in your decision, let’s break down everything you need to know about the main characters in DNA.
Understanding the Dual-Narrative System
Duet Night Abyss takes an interesting approach to storytelling by letting you experience the narrative through two separate protagonists. This isn’t your typical gacha game setup where you’re stuck with one character forever—instead, you’ll get to shape two distinct storylines that eventually intertwine.
What makes this system particularly compelling is that each main character offers a completely different perspective on the world and events unfolding around them. It’s a design choice that adds serious replay value and keeps the narrative fresh as you progress.
How Many Main Characters Are There?
Here’s the breakdown:
- Four total main characters exist in the game
- Two are your initial protagonist options at the very start
- Two more become available as your second main character later in the story
- Each pair consists of different character models, but they share the same default names
Think of it like this: you’re essentially choosing between two visual representations for each protagonist role, but the story beats remain consistent regardless of which model you pick.
When Does the Second Main Character Unlock?
The second protagonist doesn’t appear immediately—you’ll need to put in some time first. Here’s the exact progression:
Unlock Requirements:
- Complete The Black Iron And White Flower mission (this unlocks co-op features)
- Reach Trial Rank 24
- Progress to the Beyond the Sands quest
Once you hit this milestone, you’ll be introduced to your second main character and immediately dive into their unique storyline. The game shifts gears here, taking you to a completely different location from where your first protagonist operates.
Here’s something interesting: as of version 1.0, these two main characters don’t actually interact outside of dream sequences. The second MC is literally introduced as “The Boy/Girl in the Dream,” which perfectly ties into the game’s mysterious atmosphere. Eventually, they’ll return to the first protagonist’s area, but don’t expect any crossover moments just yet—that might come in future updates.
What Are the Default Names?
If you’re stuck on what to name your protagonists (we’ve all been there), the developers have you covered with canon names:
- First Main Character (The Phoxhunter): Vita
- Second Main Character (The Boy/Girl in the Dream): Mors
These names actually carry some symbolic weight. “Vita” means life in Latin, while “Mors” means death—fitting for a game that explores dualities and contrasts. Of course, you’re free to rename them whatever you want, but these defaults give you a good sense of the thematic direction.
If you’re planning to create content about the game or discuss it with other players, using these default names helps keep communication clear and avoids confusion.
Which Main Character Should You Pick?
Let’s be honest—this is the question everyone wants answered. The good news? There’s no wrong choice here.
Key considerations:
- Visual preference matters most since there’s no gameplay difference between models
- Both options experience the same story beats and dialogue
- You can pick the same gender/model for both MCs or mix it up for variety
- Neither choice is more “canon” than the other
That said, there’s one thing worth noting for immersion purposes. When you start the game, your chosen protagonist will have dreams featuring the opposite model. So if you want the most natural narrative flow, consider choosing the model that appears in your first MC’s dreams as your second protagonist. It creates a nice symmetry to the storytelling.
For example, if you pick the male model first, you’ll see the female model in dream sequences—so picking her as your second MC makes those dreams feel more connected to the overall narrative.
Can You Change Your Main Character Later?
Here’s the tough part: No, you cannot change your main character in Duet Night Abyss as of version 1.0.
This follows the standard approach used by similar games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, where your initial protagonist choice is permanent. It’s a significant decision, so take a moment to really think about which model you want to see throughout your entire playthrough.
However, there’s a glimmer of hope. If the developers take a page from Wuthering Waves’ playbook, we might see the ability to swap main characters added in future updates. But don’t count on it—better to assume this is a one-time decision and choose accordingly.
Pro tip: If you’re really torn between options, consider checking out some gameplay footage or character unlock guides to see both models in action before committing.
Additional Tips for New Players
Since you’re making these important choices early on, here are a few extra things to keep in mind:
- Customize your experience: Check out the language and voice settings guide to ensure you’re playing with your preferred audio options
- Unlock Psyche features: Don’t miss out on the Psyche system—it adds significant depth to character progression
- Master combat early: The Demon Wedges guide will help you understand one of the game’s core combat mechanics
Final Thoughts
The main character system in Duet Night Abyss offers a refreshing take on protagonist selection in gacha games. While you can’t change your choice later, the dual-narrative approach ensures you’ll experience multiple perspectives regardless of your initial pick.
My advice? Go with your gut on visual preference for the first protagonist, then consider choosing the opposite model for your second MC to maximize the dream sequence connections. But honestly, there’s no penalty for picking the same model twice if that’s what you prefer—this is your story to tell.
Just remember that Trial Rank 24 milestone for unlocking your second protagonist. It gives you plenty of time to get comfortable with the game’s mechanics before making that second choice, which is a nice touch from the developers.
What main character combination are you planning to choose? The classic contrast approach, or sticking with your preferred model for both? Either way, you’re in for an interesting narrative experience.
