Characters

0:13 Crimson Desert has three playable characters: Kliff, the leader of the Greymanes, and two comrades who join him later, Damiane (from Chapter 3) and Oongka (from Chapter 7). In English they are voiced by Alec Newman, Stewart Scudamore and Rebecca Hanssen, who introduce themselves at the start of Pearl Abyss's "Meet the Cast" video (Feb 25, 2026). Around them stand the rest of the Greymanes, among them Yann and Naira; their sworn enemies the Black Bears and their leader, Myurdin; the people of the Greymane Camp; and the strangers Kliff meets in Pywel and The Abyss, such as Alustin and White Crow. The story ends against Umbra.

Quick facts

The three playable characters

Pearl Abyss's Steam page says "The story of Crimson Desert centers on Kliff", and that Oongka and Damiane are "2 new playable characters" who "come to join your journey": once they are available they can explore freely and take on side quests, and "each character has their own combat style, as well as unique skills and weapons". Since patch 2.00.00 (Aug 25, 2026) the three share a skill resource: when one learns a skill with an Abyss Artifact, the other two get an equal number of Abyss Links (see Skills and Abyss Artifacts).

• Kliff: the protagonist, a warrior of the Greymanes and their leader, the only character for the first chapters. He uses the widest range of weapons (swords and shields, spears, bows, guns and more) and was, at launch, the only one who could solve Abyss puzzles.
• Damiane: playable from Chapter 3, a fast fighter with rapiers and guns that only she can use, according to Game Rant.
• Oongka: playable from Chapter 7, a slow, heavy fighter with massive axes and arm cannons, according to Game Rant, and one of Kliff's oldest Greymane comrades.

Pearl Abyss spent the months after launch giving Damiane and Oongka more to do, after players said they lagged behind Kliff. Its Dev Update of Apr 10, 2026 named the goal: skills to match Kliff's Force Palm and Axiom Force. Later patches gave them Axiom Force (1.03.00), unarmed skills (1.06.00 and 1.07.00), Blackstar (1.12.00) and the Abyss (1.13.00); each page lists them.

Switching characters

Crimson Desert switches characters on the Character Wheel, according to Game Rant's guide (Mar 19, 2026). The two who are not being played can be called to follow as companions with "Gather", and Kliff can follow when the player is Damiane or Oongka; companions do not take part in boss battles. Patch 2.00.00 reduced the damage companions take. Some main quests can only be played as Kliff; patch 1.13.00 (Jul 3, 2026) improved the message shown when the player tries them as someone else. Any of the three can fight a Boss Rematch.

The Greymanes

0:57 The Greymanes are Kliff's band, a faction from northern Pailune that Pearl Abyss's featurette (Jan 29, 2026) describes as "known for its commitment to peace and unity". In "Meet the Cast", Stewart Scudamore describes Oongka as a nomadic warrior with a passion for the cause, "for his people, for his tribe, and for the Greymanes". Pearl Abyss names Oongka, Yann and Naira as the comrades scattered with Kliff in the Black Bears' attack, and Yann returns in quests such as "Faces on the Bounty Notice". Damiane joins the Greymanes in Chapter 3, when Kliff founds the camp at Howling Hill.

Allies and camp people

18:03 Kliff meets helpers of every kind. In Pearl Abyss's "50 Minutes of Early Gameplay" (Sep 12, 2024, a pre-release build) he stands beside a figure in a white robe and wide white hat in white ruins above the clouds, then glides away; Pearl Abyss's description of the video says that in the Abyss Kliff meets "the enigmatic Alustin and White Crow", who gives him his gliding ability. Alustin returns in Chapter 4's quest "The Words of Alustin".

Other allies named in Pearl Abyss's patch notes and guides:

• Bilwise, who gives Kliff Double Jump in Chapter 2's "Unexpected Gift" (since patch 2.00.00).
• Marquis Serkis of House Hernand, who grants the land for the camp at Howling Hill, and Marius, the camp's overseer, according to TheGamer.
• Carl, who keeps the camp's provisions and recovers lost items, with Ross (dispatch), Eric (barber) and Oliver (dyes), according to TheGamer.
• Torstein, whom Kliff meets in Chapter 7's "Time to Face Justice", and Woosa and Maegu, who appear in Chapter 9's "Mysterious Voice".

Antagonists

4:18 The Black Bears are the Greymanes' "sworn enemies", in Steam's words, and Myurdin leads them. The 2024 footage shows him in the ambush that opens the story: subtitles give him the lines, and his boss bar appears as he faces Kliff. Kliff meets him again at Ashclaw Keep in Chapter 7, and once more in Chapter 12 as "Myurdin, the Avatar of Umbra", Pearl Abyss's name for the boss in its patch notes.

0:17 The launch trailer (Mar 12, 2026) lets an enemy speak for all of them: "You Greymanes are a hard lot to kill. Clawing your way back from death's door over and over." Beyond the Black Bears, Kliff faces those who would use the Abyss: Ludvig at Pailune Castle, Caliburn of Demeniss, the witch Hexe Marie, whom Pearl Abyss calls "a shadowy figure who defied the sacred laws", Marni and her machines, among them Golden Star, and in the end Umbra, the final boss.

The cast

2:50 Pearl Abyss's "Meet the Cast" (Feb 25, 2026; posted to Steam on Feb 28) takes the three English leads into the recording studio. Alec Newman says some of his favorite sessions as Kliff were matching the sound of the fight sequences, and describes Kliff as "fiercely loyal", with "a really strong moral compass". Stewart Scudamore found Oongka's grunts the hardest part of the role, and Rebecca Hanssen calls Damiane "a fierce fighter, and headstrong". Every character was voiced in English, Korean and Simplified Chinese at launch; the Crimson Desert Enhanced update of Aug 25, 2026 added full voice-over in German, French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese.

In Charting the Unknown

0:33 The first DLC, Charting the Unknown (Oct 29, 2026), brings new faces. Its reveal trailer (Sep 3, 2026) shows a woman in a dark red coat holding up a sealed decree before a crowd as a voice says "Spoken by you, these words may yet earn their trust." Steam's DLC page says players "follow Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane as they forge their own paths forward" and "talk with the people of Pywel to forge deeper bonds". Pearl Abyss has not named the DLC's new characters as of Oct 21, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the playable characters in Crimson Desert? Crimson Desert has three playable characters: Kliff, the leader of the Greymanes, Damiane, playable from Chapter 3, and Oongka, playable from Chapter 7.

Who voices Kliff in Crimson Desert? Alec Newman voices Kliff in the English version of Crimson Desert, as Pearl Abyss's "Meet the Cast" video (Feb 25, 2026) shows.

Who are the voice actors in Crimson Desert? Crimson Desert's English leads are Alec Newman (Kliff), Stewart Scudamore (Oongka) and Rebecca Hanssen (Damiane).

How do you switch characters in Crimson Desert? In Crimson Desert you switch between Kliff, Damiane and Oongka on the Character Wheel once they are unlocked, and the other two can follow as companions with "Gather".

Can you play as Damiane for the whole game in Crimson Desert? No. Crimson Desert's first chapters are Kliff's alone, Damiane unlocks in Chapter 3, and some main quests can still only be played as Kliff.

Who is the main villain in Crimson Desert? Crimson Desert's first villains are the Black Bears and their leader, Myurdin; the final boss is Umbra, a power of the Abyss.

Who are the Greymanes in Crimson Desert? The Greymanes are Kliff's band in Crimson Desert, a faction from northern Pailune scattered by the Black Bears' night ambush; Oongka, Yann and Naira are among them.

Sources

• Crimson Desert on Steam, Pearl Abyss, read Oct 20, 2026
• Meet the Cast, Pearl Abyss, Feb 28, 2026
• Pearl Abyss Releases New Crimson Desert Featurette Highlighting Story, World and Gameplay, Pearl Abyss, Jan 29, 2026
• Pearl Abyss Unveils Epic 50-Minute Crimson Desert Early Gameplay Preview, Pearl Abyss, Sep 12, 2024
• Pearl Abyss Unveils Stunning Crimson Desert Boss Battle with the Powerful Hexe Marie, Pearl Abyss, Dec 5, 2024
• Dev Update, Pearl Abyss (Steam news), Apr 10, 2026
• Patch Notes Version 1.13.00, Pearl Abyss, Jul 3, 2026
• Patch Notes Version 2.00.00, Pearl Abyss, Aug 25, 2026
• Crimson Desert Enhanced: Charting the Unknown on Steam, Pearl Abyss, read Oct 20, 2026
• Crimson Desert: all playable characters and companions, Game Rant, Mar 19, 2026
• Crimson Desert: what to expect, Game Rant, Dec 23, 2024
• Crimson Desert Greymane camp management guide, TheGamer, Apr 27, 2026
• Meet the Cast: Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane, Crimson Desert, Feb 25, 2026 (video)
• 50 Minutes of Early Gameplay, Crimson Desert, Sep 12, 2024 (video)
• Official Launch Trailer, Crimson Desert, Mar 12, 2026 (video)
• Charting the Unknown Official DLC Reveal Trailer, Crimson Desert, Sep 3, 2026 (video)