Crimson Desert Playable Characters: How to Unlock Damiane and Oongka

Crimson Desert’s campaign is shared across three playable characters, each with their own skill tree, exclusive weapons, and combat identity. Two of them unlock through the main story — and both briefly lock again before they’re yours for good.

Kliff — the main character

• Unlocked by default. Kliff Macduff is the protagonist and has the deepest kit: the most story, the most abilities, and the most powers to unlock.
• Some story segments force you off Kliff onto other characters — and, importantly, he’s the only one who can solve Abyss puzzles. When a rune-locked mechanism or glowing seal blocks your path, you need Kliff.
• Guides consistently rate him the most powerful all-rounder — his exclusive systems (Axiom Force, Flight) have no equivalent on the others.

Damiane — Chapter 3

• Unlock: early in Chapter 3 “Howling Hill”, during the Homestead questline that establishes the Greymane Camp. Marshall Middler introduces her when you arrive — she’s a guest of the Marquis staying with the Greymanes for safety.
• Weapons: rapier and small shield, plus flintlock pistol and musket — guns that Kliff and Oongka can never equip.
• Identity: speed, ranged options, and fighting groups — the fast, mobile counterpoint to Kliff’s brute toolkit.
• She becomes temporarily unplayable again later in the story, then returns permanently.

Oongka — Chapter 7

• Unlock: the Greymane orc heavy is around from the prologue and rejoins the fight in Chapter 6, but becomes playable near the end of Chapter 7 — around the Ashclaw Keep Myurdin battle, when you’re briefly forced to play as him while Kliff recovers.
• Re-unlock: he locks again shortly after. Permanent access comes via the side quest “Gentle Sound of Flowing River” — don’t leave Chapter 7 without grabbing it.
• Weapons: massive axes and hammers, plus an arm cannon / orc blaster for ranged work — again, exclusive to him.
• Identity: slow, hard-hitting, tanky — heavy melee, dual-wielding, and local AoE.

How to switch

Once unlocked, press F1 on keyboard (up on the d-pad on controller), point at the character, and release — the camera zooms out and drops you into them wherever they are, GTA V-style. You can also have your comrades follow you while questing, letting you face the world’s fights together.

New to the game? Start with the getting started guide.