Embarking on a journey through the treacherous depths of the Darkest Dungeon can be a daunting task, but having the right heroes by your side can make all the difference. With a vast array of hero classes to choose from, each with its unique strengths and weaknesses, building an effectiveteam can be a challenge. But worry not, we've compiled a list of some of the best characters in Darkest Dungeon that can help you overcome even the darkest of dungeons.
The best way to approach character selection is to build a team that complements each other's skills, resistant each other's weaknesses, and works well together strategically. This guide will help you identify some of the strongest characters in three different roles: vanguard, scanner, and healer.
Vanguard Characters
Vanguard heroes are at the forefront of your team, absorbing damage and controlling the battlefield. They are essential for surviving the dungeon's brutal encounters.
Vanguards are typically tanky, dealing with high damage, and possess various means to provoke, stun, or debuff foes. They are instrumental in controlling the initiative and keeping your damage dealers safe.
The Highwayman
The Highwayman is a formidable vanguard, boasting high health and excellent damage output. His 'Test of Faith' ability allows him to trade 25% of his max health for a significant damage boost, making him terrifying in close combat. His bleeding effects and stun capabilities also ensure he stays at the top of the stress meter, further enhancing his damage potential.
Pairing the Highwayman with heroes like the Bounty Hunter or Houndmaster can construct a deadly bleeding and stun combo, controlling the initiative and melting through foes.
The Jester
The Jester is another powerful vanguard option, offering excellent stress relief and utility. His 'Larksong' ability can remove stress from allies and can be used to delay enemy turns. His 'Madness' and 'Lullaby' abilities also allow him to manipulate the stress meters of both allies and foes, giving you a significant edge in battle.
Team up the Jester with a stress-heavy damage dealer like the HellsIng or Occultist to mitigate stress buildup, and utilize his stress manipulation abilities to keep enemies in check.
Scout Characters
Scout characters are your primary means of dealing damage from a safe distance. They help whittle down foes before your vanguards engage, making encounters more manageable.
Scouts typically deal high damage, often aided by bleeds or other damage over time effects. They also frequently possess means to delay or manipulate enemy turns, giving your vanguards time to set up a stun-and-bleed combo.
The Hellion
The Hellion is an excellent scout, boasting high damage output and potent bleeds. Her 'Simmering Vengeance' ability allows her to land more accurate hits, making her an excellent choice for dealing with high-armor foes. Her 'Burning Rage' and 'Infernal Blaze' abilities also provide valuable stress relief, helping her stay in the fight longer.
Pair the Hellion with a vanguard like the Highwayman to create a devastating bleed-and-stun combo, and utilize her stress relief abilities to keep both heroes in the fight.
The Bounty Hunter
The Bounty Hunter is a top-tier scout, offering excellent damage output, bleeds, and stunning capabilities. Her 'Marked For Death' ability allows her to target a foe for increased damage, and her 'Whirling Turning' ability can stun and deal high damage to a single target or multiple foes.
Combine the Bounty Hunter with another hero from this list, like the Highwayman or Houndmaster, to set up powerful stun-and-bleed combos that can quickly dispatch foes.
Healer Characters
Healers are crucial for keeping your team alive and preventing stress buildup. They often possess potent stress relief and, sometimes, debuff removal abilities.
While Darkest Dungeon encourages a playstyle that focuses on accepting and mitigating stress, having a skilled healer on your team can significantly improve your survival chances, allowing you to take on more challenging dungeons.
The Arbalest
The Arbalest is a top-notch healer, providing excellent stress relief and utility. Her 'Piercing Bolt' ability allows her to damage enemies and remove positive effects, while her 'Focused Fire' ability can remove stress from a single ally.
Pair the Arbalest with another healer, like the Vestal, to provide a solid stress management foundation for your team. Alternatively, pair her with the Jester to take advantage of his stress manipulation abilities.
The Vestal
The Vestal is a reliable healer with exceptional stress relief capabilities. Her 'Divine Grace' ability can remove stress from all allies, while 'Illumination' provides a substantial stress reduction to a single target and can remove negative effects.
The Vestal works well with any team composition. Pair her with another healer for increased stress resistance or with a stress-heavy damage dealer to help manage their stress buildup.
Building an effective team in Darkest Dungeon is an ongoing process of learning and adaptation. This guide provides a solid foundation for creating powerful teams, but each player will find their unique combinations and strategies. So, dive into the darkness, experiment with different heroes, and ultimately, find the best characters that work for you.