How to unlock the Dark Crusader class in Lords of the Fallen

Dark Crusader is one of Lords of the Fallen’s 10 playable classes and it’s undoubtedly one of the best, but it’s not available to everyone by default.

Clad in dark steel armor and wielding a hard-hitting greatsword, choosing the Dark Crusader sets you off to a great start on your journey in Lords of the Fallen. But how do you unlock it? If you’re wondering, look no further than this guide.

What does the Dark Crusader do in Lords of the Fallen?

The Dark Crusader is effectively a dark paladin. You start with good Endurance, Vitality, and Strength stats, with decent Radiance and below-average Agility and Inferno. This stat allocation makes it easy to pivot or splash into holy magic if you choose to do so, or even Umbral magic if you spend stats leveling your Inferno.

Paladin Isaac’s Sword is an excellent starting weapon and arguably trumps those of every other class. It can easily stagger most small to medium-sized enemies and frequently staggered the first boss, Pieta, when I made a Dark Crusader to try it out for this guide.

The best part of the Dark Crusader for me is their throwing weapon. They come equipped with Radiantburst Parchment, which is effectively a holy hand grenade that consumes ammo (restorable with ammo pouches and at Vestiges) per use. It’s great for finishing off enemies at range, pulling creatures just out of reach, and especially getting treasure on hanging corpses suspended above the ground. It also solidifies the Dark Crusader’s theme as a holy warrior, which is nice.

How to unlock Lords of the Fallen’s Dark Crusader class

The easiest way to get the Dark Crusader is by purchasing the Deluxe Edition of Lords of the Fallen. The Dark Crusader has a unique armor set, weapon, and pendant that, as far as I’m aware, can’t be found during the main game. It’s a striking ensemble that nails the “dark paladin” vibe.

You can also get the Dark Crusader by completing Dark Crusader Isaac’s questline. We’ll have more information on how to complete this quest soon. You can unlock three further starting classes by beating the game, one for each of Lords of the Fallen’s three endings, incentivizing another playthrough if they don’t feel like continuing with your existing character on New Game Plus.