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Crusader — Darkest Dungeon hero
Hero Class

Crusader

The Crusader is one of the playable Heroes in Darkest Dungeon. Playing the role of frontline defensive support, he has the second highest max HP of all the heroes, but comes with very low speed.

TankStress Heal

Featured in comps

S Bleed Comp S Darkest Dungeon Finale B Antiquarian Gold Run A Houndmaster Anchor C Quad Crusader

Recommended for

Necromancer Necromancer ★ Prophet Prophet ★ Hag Hag ◆ Siren Siren ◆ Shambler Shambler ★ Brigand Vvulf Brigand Vvulf ★ Shuffling Horror Shuffling Horror ★ The Fanatic The Fanatic ◆ Crocodilian Crocodilian ★

Best trinkets All trinkets →

1
Holy Orders
Holy Orders S
+15% Virtue Chance · -20% Stress Received
2
Sun Ring
Sun Ring S
+10% DMG (torcha: 75) · +5% ACC (torcha: 75)
3
Martyr's Seal
Martyr's Seal S
+60% DMG (dd) · +14% CRT (dd)
4
Ancestor's Mustache Cream
Ancestor's Mustache Cream S
+50% Debuff Resist · +50% Blight Resist
Class-locked
Defender's Seal Defender's Seal Knight's Crest Knight's Crest Swordsman's Crest Swordsman's Crest Paralyzer's Crest Paralyzer's Crest Commander's Orders Commander's Orders Holy Orders Holy Orders Glittering Spaulders Glittering Spaulders CR Signed Conscription Signed Conscription CR Non-Euclidean Hilt Non-Euclidean Hilt CO

Combat Skills

Battle-hardened and stalwart, the Crusader has held the front lines in a hundred holy wars. He either attacks foes head-on with righteous fury, or embraces a melee support role by leveraging his powerful defensive buffs & off-heals.
— Guild

Note: New Crusaders will always come with the Smite skill.

Smite.png

Smite#

Range
Melee
Rank
Grey dot.pngGrey dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Target
Red dot.pngRed dot.pngGrey dot.pngGrey dot.png
Damage
+0%
Accuracy
85
Crit
0%

Effect+15% DMG vs Unholy

Zealous Accusation.png

Zealous Accusation#

Range
Ranged
Rank
Grey dot.pngGrey dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Target
Red dotr.pngRed dotl.pngGrey dot.pngGrey dot.png
Damage
-40%
Accuracy
85
Crit
-4%
Stunning Blow.png

Stunning Blow#

Range
Melee
Rank
Grey dot.pngGrey dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Target
Red dot.pngRed dot.pngGrey dot.pngGrey dot.png
Damage
-50%
Accuracy
90
Crit
0%

EffectStun (100% base)

Bulwark of Faith.png

Bulwark of Faith#

Rank
Grey dot.pngGrey dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Target
Self

EffectTorch +24

Self+20% PROT (1 Battle)
Mark Self (1 Battle)

Battle Heal.png

Battle Heal#

Rank
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Target
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Heal
2-3
Holy Lance.png

Holy Lance#

Range
Melee
Rank
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngGrey dot.pngGrey dot.png
Target
Grey dot.pngRed dot.pngRed dot.pngRed dot.png
Damage
+0%
Accuracy
85
Crit
6.5%

Effect+15% DMG vs Unholy

SelfForward 1

Inspiring Cry.png

Inspiring Cry#

Rank
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Target
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Heal
1-1

EffectStress -5
Torch +5

Camping Skills

Righteousness and conviction inspire compelling speeches around the campfire! In the face of mounting stress, the Crusader is a leader, standing tall and refusing to break. His unshakable belief can assuage companions' fear, reassuring them that despite the hardships they will most certainly endure, all will be well in the end.
— Survivalist

Camping skills are special skills heroes can use while they are camping. They take a certain number of "respite" points to use, and can only be used once per camp (unless the skill says otherwise). Most heroes have three shared camping skills and all heroes have 4 unique camping skills (with the Flagellant being the exception, having only unique camping skills). Only 4 of these can be equipped at one time. Any Buffs or lasting effects given from a camping skill lasts for 4 battles.

At camp the Crusader focuses on keeping his party's stress levels in check. All his skills involve reducing and resisting stress of himself or his party. He can also pray for The Light to keep them safe during the night.

Equipment

The Crusader wears heavy plate mail and wields a longsword. While affording him excellent protection and damage, his armor restricts movement, and his sword cannot be swung effectively in the back ranks.
— Blacksmith

Equipment upgrades are all bought at the Blacksmith:

Great Sword
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
Eqp weapon 0cru (1).pngBattered LongswordEqp weapon 0cru (2).pngLongswordEqp weapon 0cru (3).pngQuesting LongswordEqp weapon 0cru (4).pngGreatswordEqp weapon 0cru (5).pngThe Long Crusade
DMG base:6-12DMG base:7-14DMG base:8-16DMG base:9-17DMG base:10-19
CRT base:3.0%CRT base:4.0%CRT base:5.0%CRT base:6.0%CRT base:7.0%
SPD base:1SPD base:1SPD base:2SPD base:2SPD base:3
Chain and Plate
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
Eqp armour 0cru.pngRusty HauberkEqp armour 1cru.pngChainmailEqp armour 2cru.pngChain and PlateEqp armour 3cru.pngPlateEqp armour 4cru.pngZealous Conviction
DODGE base:5DODGE base:10DODGE base:15DODGE base:20DODGE base:25
HP base:33HP base:40HP base:47HP base:54HP base:61

Each Hero has Trinkets unique to them that only they can equip. The Crusader has eight; 3 common, 2 Crimson Court, and 1 uncommon, rare, and very rare. In the base game, his lower level trinkets are crests (likely war decorations) and his high level trinkets are scrolls, likely what he uses in his Zealous Accusation attack. The Crimson Court DLC adds a pauldron and conscription letter, while the Color of Madness DLC adds a crystalline sword hilt.

ImageNameRarityClassDungeonEffectNotes
Inv trinket-defenders seal.png
Defender's SealCommonCrusader
  • +5% PROT
  • -3% CRIT
Inv trinket-knights crest.png
Knight's CrestCommonCrusader
  • +10% MAX HP
Inv trinket-swordsmans crest.png
Swordsman's CrestCommonCrusader
  • +10% DMG Melee Skills
  • -50% Healing Skills
Inv trinket-paralyzers crest.png
Paralyzer's CrestUncommonCrusader
  • +20% Stun Skill Chance
  • -2 DODGE
Inv trinket-commanders orders.png
Commander's OrdersRareCrusader
  • +15% Stress Heal Received
  • +33% Healing Skills
  • -10% DMG
Inv trinket-holy orders.png
Holy OrdersVery RareCrusader
  • +15% Virtue Chance
  • -20% Stress
  • +12% Death Blow Resist
  • -20% Blight Resist
  • -20% Bleed Resist


Each hero has a unique trinket set consisting of two hero-exclusive trinkets, and a hero who equips both will gain an additional set bonus. Most heroes' set trinkets can only be found in the Crimson CourtCourtyard and have the rarity Crimson Court. Each set trinket is unique and limited to one copy in the inventory. The Shieldbreaker Shieldbreaker's set trinkets can only be obtained by completing her nightmare encounters and do not interact with Crimson Court The Crimson Court in any way.

ImageNameClassEffectSet EffectQuoteNotes
Inv trinket-cc set cru glittering spaulders.pngCrimson CourtGlittering SpauldersCrusader
  • +15% PROT
  • +35% Move Resist
  • -15% Stress
  • -2 SPD
  • +20% MAX HP
"I will forget them. Regret is sin."
Inv trinket-cc set cru signed conscription.pngCrimson CourtSigned Conscription
  • +20% Healing Skills
  • +20% Stress Skills

Color of Madness The Color of Madness DLC introduces trinkets with a new rarity, Crystalline, which must be purchased by spending Crystal Shards at the Jeweler in the Nomad Wagon. There are both generic crystalline trinkets as well as one exclusive crystalline trinket for each hero.

ImageNameRarityClassShard CostEffectNotes
Cru non euclidean hilt.png
Color of MadnessNon-Euclidean HiltCrystallineCrusader200 Shards
  • +15% MAX HP
  • +5% Random Target Chance
  • +25% Stun Skill Chance if Holy Water in inventory
  • On Attack Hit: Blight (120% base) 2 pts/rd for 2 rds

District

Crimson Court The Crimson Court DLC adds Districts to the Hamlet, some of which confer passive benefits to heroes.

Districts
Name and ImageEffectsCosts
District Altar of Light.png
Crimson CourtAltar of Light		Crusader, Vestal, and Flagellant receive:
  • +10% Stun Resist
  • +10% Healing Skills
Currency.gold.large icon.png5000 (100)
Icon Deed.png200
Currency.blueprint.icon.png1