How to Unlock Damiane and Oongka in Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert's protagonist Kliff is not your only playable option. Two additional characters — Damiane and Oongka — can be unlocked through story progression, each with completely unique weapons, abilities, and playstyles. This guide explains how to unlock both and when to use them.

How Character Switching Works

Once unlocked, switch characters by pressing F1 (keyboard) or holding Up on the D-pad (controller) and selecting the character. You can switch freely at any time the story allows it. All characters share the same inventory, gold, and quest progress, but have independent equipment slots.

Damiane — The Speed Fighter

Who She Is

Damiane is a guest of the Marquis who joins the Greymanes. Barden Middler insists she stays with the group for her safety, and she assists Kliff in rebuilding the faction.

How to Unlock

Damiane is unlocked at the start of Chapter 3, immediately after completing the "End of Greed" questline when you establish your camp. She becomes a freely switchable playable character from that point — no additional quest chain required.

Starting Weapons

• White Wind Rapier
• Absolute Justice Greatsword

Preferred Weapon Types

Rapier, small shield, flintlock pistol, musket

Skill Trees (Three Branches)

Stamina Tree — Ranged options and mobility:

• Charged Shot — Powerful ranged attack
• Marksmanship — Improved accuracy
• Unarmed combat techniques

Spirit Tree — Attack enhancement through focus mechanics:

• Blade Sentinel — Defensive ability
• Shield Sentinel — A floating sentry turret that fires at nearby enemies automatically
• Focus-based attack buffs

Health Tree — Elemental powers and mobility:

• Flight ability
• Elemental imbues for weapons

Playstyle

Damiane is a speed-focused combatant who excels at rapid rapier strikes, ranged combat, and fighting groups. She can summon a flying turret (Shield Sentinel) for ranged damage while simultaneously fighting in melee — a unique multi-tasking playstyle no other character has. She also has a Shield Toss ability (Captain America-style) and can seamlessly swap between rapier and musket to maintain constant damage from any distance.

Oongka — The Heavy Hitter

Who He Is

An orc and longtime Greymane ally who has spent years fighting alongside Kliff. Known for immense strength and a straightforward personality.

How to Unlock

Oongka's unlock happens in two stages:

Stage 1 (Temporary): During Chapter 7, in the "Homecoming" quest at Ashclaw Keep, Kliff is incapacitated after the Myurdin fight. Control automatically shifts to Oongka for a story segment. After this sequence, Oongka is locked again.

Stage 2 (Permanent): Complete the side quest "Gentle Sound of Flowing River" after the Chapter 7 events. Once this quest is finished, Oongka is permanently unlocked as a playable character.

Starting Weapons

• Dekarr Greataxe
• Orc Blaster (hand cannon)

Abilities

• Rampage — Cleave through enemies with devastating sweeps
• Scatter Shot — Powerful cannon fire for ranged damage
• Rage — Grants super armor, boosting survivability significantly
• Dual-wielding mastery — Can cleave with dual two-handed weapons simultaneously

Playstyle

Oongka is a heavy melee bruiser who deals massive damage and excels at clearing groups of enemies. He is slower than Kliff but hits dramatically harder. His Rage ability grants super armor that lets him tank through attacks without flinching — a fundamentally different defensive approach than Kliff's dodge/parry system. His hand cannon provides ranged destruction for when melee is not viable.

When to Use Each Character

Damiane Excels At:

• Fights requiring constant ranged pressure (Shield Sentinel + musket)
• Speed-based encounters where positioning matters
• Multi-enemy fights where the turret adds free damage
• Players who enjoy aggressive, fast-paced combat

Oongka Excels At:

• Fights against slow, heavy-hitting bosses where trading blows works
• Mob clearing — Rampage cleaves through groups instantly
• Situations where you want to power through with raw damage
• Players who prefer a tanky, aggressive playstyle

Kliff Excels At:

• First attempts at unknown bosses — his balanced kit is the safest option
• Encounters requiring both melee and ranged flexibility
• Puzzle-focused content requiring specific abilities (Blinding Flash, Force Palm)
• Players who want the full range of defensive options (parry, dodge, counter)

Shared vs Independent Progression

Related Guides

• Best Builds Guide
• Combat Guide — Parry, Dodge, and Counter
• Skill Tree Guide