Unlock the Archer first if you want a straightforward early goal: a secondary character guide lists her requirement as reaching the 26-minute mark in Haunted Caverns. That makes her a practical first target—not a claim that she is the strongest or the best fit for every play style.
Why the Archer is a practical first unlock
The Archer’s reported requirement is a survival milestone in Haunted Caverns, the starting hall. It gives a new player a clear target without first requiring a boss defeat or progress into a later hall. The requirement comes from Pro Game Guides’ character unlock guide; if its wording differs from the current game, follow the in-game quest text.
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This is a recommendation based on the route’s reported accessibility, not a character ranking. The official Steam listing describes “Several distinct characters allowing for many different play styles.” Choose the Archer as a first objective if the survival condition suits you; another character may better match how you want to play.
How the early unlock routes compare
The same guide lists several alternatives, but their requirements involve a boss, a later hall, or a one-run kill target. These are useful routes too; they simply make less direct first goals for someone just starting.
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| Character | Requirement reported by Pro Game Guides | What the route involves |
|---|---|---|
| Archer | Reach the 26-minute mark in Haunted Caverns. | Survive to a stated time milestone in the starting hall. |
| Cleric | Defeat the Lich in Haunted Caverns. | Defeat a boss in the starting hall. |
| Exterminator | Defeat 1,000 enemies in one Ember Grounds run. The guide says Ember Grounds opens after defeating the Imp Chieftain in Haunted Caverns. | Advance to another hall, then meet a kill target in a single run. |
| Warlock | Defeat the Wyrm Queen in Ember Grounds. | Reach a later hall and defeat its boss. |
| Shieldmaiden and Sorceress | The guide places both in Forgotten Viaduct and describes boss or kill progression. | Progress to a later hall; consult the guide or current quest text for the character-specific objective. |
This is a comparison of selected routes, not a complete or definitive roster database. The Steam listing enumerates 11 playable characters as of 2026, but its cited listing does not distinguish base-game and DLC availability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose a different first target if its goal suits you better
- Prefer a boss objective? The Cleric’s reported Haunted Caverns requirement is defeating the Lich.
- Want a later-stage challenge? The Exterminator and Warlock routes described in the guide involve Ember Grounds; the Shieldmaiden and Sorceress are associated with Forgotten Viaduct.
- Unsure what your version requires? Check the in-game quest board. The developer continues to publish updates, and the live quest wording is the most relevant reference for your platform and version.
What to check before committing to a route
- Open the in-game quest board and read the current objective for the character you want.
- Confirm which hall and objective it names: a survival time, a kill count, or a boss defeat.
- If it requires a later hall, pursue the progression needed to reach that hall before treating it as an immediate unlock goal.
- Choose based on the objective you want to attempt and the play style you enjoy, rather than assuming the earliest unlock is automatically the strongest.
The developer’s Steam news page records ongoing updates, which is why checking the live quest matters when a published guide and the game disagree.
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