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Jester — Darkest Dungeon hero
Hero Class

Jester

The Jester is one of the playable Heroes in Darkest Dungeon. In the {{Rank|ally|oo..}} back ranks (or while camping) he can greatly buff the party's offensive capabilities and heal their stress, and in the {{Rank|ally|..oo}} front ranks he becomes one of the strongest DODGE tanks in the game. He can also inflict {{Bleed|-}} on the {{Rank|enemy|.oo.}} middle ranks.

Stress HealDPS

Featured in comps

Recommended for

Best trinkets All trinkets →

Combat Skills

Combat is a power ballad - a slow build up, and a grand finale! On the offense, the Jester leaps to and fro in a bloody cacophony, positioning himself for a glorious end in the front ranks! Alternatively, he can hang back, delivering chilling melodies and unsettling riffs that terrorize his foes, and give strength to his allies.
Guild
Dirk Stab.png

Dirk Stab#

Range
Melee
Rank
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Target
Red dot.pngRed dot.pngRed dot.pngGrey dot.png
Damage
+0%
Accuracy
85
Crit
5%

SelfForward 1
Bypass Guard
Finale: +30% DMG (8 rds)

Harvest.png

Harvest#

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

EffectBleed (100% base)
2 pts/rd for 3 rds

SelfFinale: +30% DMG (8 rds)

Finale.png

Finale#

Range
Melee
Rank
Grey dot.pngGrey dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png
Target
Red dot.pngRed dot.pngRed dot.pngRed dot.png
Damage
+50%
Accuracy
140
Crit
5%

SelfBack 3
-25 DODGE
-3 SPD
+100% Stress
(1 Battle)

Solo.png

Solo#

Range
Ranged
Rank
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngGrey dot.pngGrey dot.png
Target
Red dotr.pngRed dotlr.pngRed dotlr.pngRed dotl.png
Damage
-100%
Accuracy
125
Crit

SelfForward 3
Mark Self (3 rds)
+20 DODGE (4 rds)
Finale: +75% DMG (8 rds)
Finale: +8% CRIT (8 rds)

Slice Off.png

Slice Off#

Range
Melee
Rank
Grey dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngGrey dot.png
Target
Grey dot.pngRed dot.pngRed dot.pngGrey dot.png
Damage
-33%
Accuracy
95
Crit
8%

EffectBleed (100% base)
3 pts/rd for 3 rds

SelfFinale: +30% DMG (8 rds)

Battle Ballad.png

Battle Ballad#

Rank
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngGrey dot.pngGrey dot.png
Target
Yellow dotr.pngYellow dotlr.pngYellow dotlr.pngYellow dotl.png

Effect+5 ACC
+2% CRIT
+2 SPD
(4 rds)

SelfFinale: +30% DMG (8 rds)
Finale: +8% CRIT (8 rds)

Inspiring Tune.png

Inspiring Tune#

Rank
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngGrey dot.pngGrey dot.png
Target
Yellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.pngYellow dot.png

EffectStress -8
-10% Stress

SelfFinale: +30% DMG (8 rds)
Finale: +8% CRIT (8 rds)

Notes

  • All buffs and debuffs last for 3 rounds unless otherwise specified.
  • Newly recruited Jesters will always have Harvest equipped.
  • Self-debuffs (from Finale, for example) cannot be removed with Medicinal Herbs.

Camping Skills

The Jester shines in the flickering light of the campfire, bringing his lute and unerring wit to bear against the fears and stress his companions suffer. He can inspire greater combat prowess, or raise the group's spirits at the cost of singling out a target for his acrimonious scandalizing.
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.

Jester is all fun and games at camp, singing songs and making jokes to keep everyone's stress levels down. However, sometimes he can go too far with a joke.

Equipment

Clad only in mildewed cloth, the Jester makes a mockery of battle. Only a fool would underestimate the vicious bloodletting power of his sharpened sickle, or the discordant throng of his lute.
Blacksmith

Equipment upgrades are all bought at the Blacksmith:

Sickle & Lute
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
Eqp weapon 0jes (1).pngWorn Sickle, Untuned LuteEqp weapon 0jes (2).pngReclaimed Sickle and LuteEqp weapon 0jes (3).pngSharpened Sickle, Restrung LuteEqp weapon 0jes (4).pngMasterwork Sickle, Fine LuteEqp weapon 0jes (5).pngSlash and Solo
DMG base:4-7DMG base:5-8DMG base:6-10DMG base:6-11DMG base:7-13
CRT base:4.0%CRT base:5.0%CRT base:6.0%CRT base:7.0%CRT base:8.0%
SPD base:7SPD base:7SPD base:8SPD base:8SPD base:9
Garb
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
Eqp armour 0jes.pngMotley GarbEqp armour 1jes.pngMocking GarbEqp armour 2jes.pngPadded GarbEqp armour 3jes.pngArmored GarbEqp armour 4jes.pngThe Cruelest Crown
DODGE base:15DODGE base:20DODGE base:25DODGE base:30DODGE base:35
HP base:19HP base:23HP base:27HP base:31HP base:35

Each Hero has Trinkets unique to them that only they can equip. Jester has seven; 2 common, 2 Crimson Court and 1 uncommon, rare and very rare. In the base game, his lower level trinkets are dice and his high level trinkets are tambourines. The Crimson Court DLC adds a necklace made from a finger bone and poisoned goblet, while the Color of Madness DLC adds a crystal filled lute.

ImageNameRarityClassDungeonEffectNotes
Inv trinket-bloody dice.png
Bloody DiceCommonJester
  • +30% Bleed Skill Chance
  • -10% Bleed Resist
Inv trinket-lucky dice.png
Lucky DiceCommonJester
  • +4 ACC
  • +4 DODGE
Inv trinket-critical dice.png
Critical DiceUncommonJester
  • +7% CRIT
Inv trinket-bright tambourine.png
Bright TambourineRareJester
  • +20% Stress Skills
  • -25% Stress if Torch above 75
  • +15% Stress if Torch below 51
Inv trinket-dark tambourine.png
Dark TambourineVery RareJester
  • +12% Death Blow Resist
  • -25% Stress if Torch below 26
  • +10% Virtue Chance if Torch below 26


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 jest tasting cup.pngCrimson CourtTyrant's Tasting CupJester
  • +33% Stress Skills
  • +25% Stress
  • +33% Stress Skills while Camping
"Heh. The last laugh is mine!"
Inv trinket-cc set jest tyrants fingerbone.pngCrimson CourtTyrant's Fingerbone
  • +3 SPD if in position 1
  • +20 DODGE if in position 1

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
Jes dirge for devoured.png
Color of MadnessDirge For The DevouredCrystallineJester60 Shards
  • +25% Stress Skills
  • +25% DMG if Laudanum in inventory
  • +10% Stress

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 Theatre.png
Crimson CourtPerformance Hall
Jester receives:
  • -10% Stress
  • +2 SPD
  • Finale: +20% DMG
Currency.gold.large icon.png2500 (500)
Icon Crest.png75
Currency.blueprint.icon.png1