The Crusader is a front-line bruiser who hits any rank with high damage and supports with health/stress heals and a Light bonus. He has the second-highest max HP of all heroes but the lowest speed in the game, so build the party around that weakness.
Role and difficulty
Front line, beginner-friendly. High HP + stress heal + party buffs make him safe for new players. His low SPD means he usually acts last — pair him with fast stunners or dancers who can negate or exploit that.
Skill kit (wiki-sourced)
| Skill | Type | Usable ranks | Key numbers / effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smite | Melee | 1–2 | DMG 6–12 (scales with weapon level), ACC 85, +15% DMG vs Unholy |
| Zealous Accusation | Ranged | 1–3 (hits all) | ACC 85, −40% DMG, −4% CRIT |
| Stunning Blow | Melee | 1–2 | ACC 90, Stun 100% base, −50% DMG |
| Bulwark of Faith | Self | — | Torch +24, +20% PROT (1 battle), Mark Self; Limit 1 / battle |
| Battle Heal | Heal | 2–3 | Heals an ally’s HP and stress |
| Holy Lance | Melee | 1–2 (reach forward 1) | ACC 85, +6.5% CRIT, +15% DMG vs Unholy |
| Inspiring Cry | Heal | 1 | Stress −5, Torch +5 |
Base stats by level: MAX HP 33 → 61, SPD 1 → 3, CRIT 3% → 7%, DMG 6–12 → 10–19.
How to play him
- Keep him in rank 1–2.
- Open with Stunning Blow on the biggest threat.
- Use Zealous Accusation to reach back ranks or clear a group.
- Battle Heal when an ally drops.
- Trigger Inspiring Cry when party stress climbs.
- Pop Bulwark of Faith early for +PROT — only once per fight.
- Holy Lance to punish enemies sitting in the back.
Party synergy
He fits almost any party. Fast stunners (Houndmaster, Jester) offset his low SPD, and his stress heals sustain bleed or blight teams that need to survive long fights. His Light bonus also helps the whole run.
Tips
- Rank 2 is his sweet spot for coverage.
- Stun the enemy that hurts most.
- Battle Heal before a death blow, not after.
- Don’t let his stress hit 100 — he is no use afflicted.
Common mistakes
- Camping in rank 1 too long and eating front-row damage.
- Wasting the stun on a nearly dead enemy.
- Ignoring stress until he is afflicted.
- Shoving him to the back ranks and losing his melee damage.