Top Heroes for Kingdoms Mode in Darkest Dungeon 2 Revealed

Summary

Darkest Dungeon 2‘s Kingdoms update adds a new game mode, changing team dynamics.
Key heroes like the Occultist, the Crusader, and the Leper are effective picks for Kingdoms mode.
The new character, Abomination, offers stun, block, and self-heal, making him a top hero choice.

Darkest Dungeon 2 has expanded significantly since its early access debut in 2021. Fresh adversaries, heroes, and territories have been incorporated, while the Kingdoms update introduces an entirely novel gameplay mode, redefining the game’s architecture and introducing fresh foes to battle. This expansion also aligns with the independent launch of the game’s second DLC character, the Abomination.

In light of the numerous updates, players should brace themselves for potential changes in the optimal team compositions. The latest additions include a novel character and the innovative Kingdoms mode, which alters strategies for map navigation and hero development. Furthermore, the freshly introduced Beastmen adversaries come with unique mechanics and vulnerabilities that need to be accounted for. Given these factors, here are some top picks for heroes to employ in Darkest Dungeon 2’s Kingdoms mode.

12. Occultist

Dark Spellcaster

Best Path: Ritualist
Best Skills: Abyssal Artillery, Weakening Curse

In the latest Kingdoms update, the Occultist can prove beneficial, particularly for debilitating or canceling out the enemy’s advantages. His abilities like Weakening Curse and Vulnerability Hex are effective against Beastmen foes, while Abyssal Artillery deals damage as well.

It is advisable to steer clear of depending too heavily on the Occultist’s Wyrd Reconstruction for healing, since the randomness involved can result in annoyance if a healing attempt fails or triggers a bleed on a character who is already suffering from persistent damage effects.

11. Crusader

Holy Defender

Best Path: Banneret
Best Skills: Stunning Blow, Inpiring Cry

In simpler terms, the Crusader remains a reliable, though not exceptional, choice in the Kingdoms game mode. His ability to heal himself independently is consistently beneficial, and moreover, he possesses stunning moves which most Beastmen find challenging to resist.

The taunt capabilities work less efficiently against the Beastmen due to their positional moves that consistently attack specific rows, which can negatively impact some of the Crusader’s skill set.

10. Leper

Frontline Sustain

Best Path: Wanderer
Best Skills: Chop, Solemnity

The Leper is often an excellent option for the frontline, yet his slower pace might pose a problem. Powerful attacks such as “chop” are beneficial for dishing out high damage to individual targets.

In most Beastmen battles, it’s crucial for the player to take down each enemy before they become enraged. The Leper character can effectively contribute by dealing a heavy blow to an already weakened enemy. He works best when used alongside a character who provides buffs or debuffs, finishing off the weakened opponents.

9. Hellion

Berserker’s Rage

Best Path: Carcass
Best Skills: If it Bleeds, Iron Swan

In the realm of Kingdoms, the versatility of the Hellion, capable of inflicting both physical harm and persistent bleed damage on multiple enemy locations, proves incredibly useful. Interestingly, Beastmen display a higher resistance to contagions like blight as compared to bleed. Consequently, skills such as “If It Bleeds” can effectively disseminate potent damage-over-time effects swiftly among them.

In combat, it’s crucial to note that when Beastmen go into the “Berserking” mode, they become invulnerable to immediate harm but remain susceptible to ongoing damage from effects such as bleeding. If a battle stretches on, these types of damage-over-time impacts can prove beneficial.

8. Vestal

Cardinal Healer

Best Path: Confessor
Best Skills: Judgement, Divine Grace

In simpler terms, the Vestal serves effectively as a main healer, yet the Confessor path proves exceptionally beneficial when playing in Kingdoms mode. This character has a flexible design that can adapt to various strategies.

The Consecration of Light serves as a potent boost for your damage-dealing heroes, Judgement inflicts burn damage and stuns enemies, while Mantra facilitates the removal of detrimental markers from characters. In other words, there are numerous efficient strategies to utilize Vestal in Kingdoms gameplay.

7. Jester

Shuffle The Pack

Best Path: Wanderer
Best Skills: Fade to Black, Encore

In a Kingdom setting, the Jester performs optimally when adhering to its standard Wanderer route. Additional paths provide buffs that aren’t advantageous in this scenario, potentially even impairing the player’s performance due to unfavorable trade-offs. However, the damage from his bleeds and the buffs provided by his basic abilities make the Jester a highly effective character for the Kingdoms game mode.

Switching to Blackout and Reap have proven beneficial when dealing with bleeds, while Encore remains consistently useful. In case players find themselves struggling with character positioning issues within the Kingdoms mode, Battle Ballad can serve as a helpful utility move.

6. Highwayman

Versatile DPS

Best Path: Wanderer
Best Skills: Double Cross, Pistol Shot

In Kingdoms mode, a crucial aspect of the Highwayman’s equipment becomes inactive, reducing his effectiveness compared to normal situations. Ripostes aren’t particularly effective against Beastmen because it’s more important to interrupt their turns and end battles swiftly instead.

As a gamer, I realize that the Rogue path might not be an option for me in this game, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make the most of the Highwayman’s skills! The Pistol Shot is absolutely stunning, Open Vein provides some serious bleed damage, and Double Cross? That’s a game-changer with its block for me and vulnerability for my enemies.

5. Plague Doctor

Pocket Healer

Best Path: Alchemist
Best Skills: Plague Grenade, Battlefield Medicine

Players may assume that the Plague Doctor might not work well in the Kingdoms mode due to the Beastmen’s natural resistance to blight. However, through the Alchemist path, this issue can be circumvented, and a Plague Grenade opening move remains an efficient option for eliminating backline enemies.

In simpler terms, Battlefield Medicine provides a valuable healing function, and players have the option of equipping the Plague Doctor character with a toolkit that includes healing abilities not related to diseases, boosts, and close-combat damage capabilities.

4. Man At Arms

Holding The Line

Best Path: Sergeant
Best Skills: Rampart, Hold the Line

In the latest Kingdoms update, The Man At Arms stands out as an excellent pick for a tank character. His unique skills, such as deploying Guards and Blocks against enemies, along with his moves that cause stun, prove incredibly beneficial during battles against Beastmen.

The Sergeant path allows the Blacksmith (Man At Arms) to collaborate with other characters and enhance his moves by creating combos, granting beneficial effects such as partial healing from attacks. However, it is important to note that players should focus on dealing damage (DPS) with other characters since the Blacksmith himself does not contribute significantly to it.

3. Runaway

Burn It All Down

Best Path: Arsonist
Best Skills: Smokescreen, Firefly

In the thrill of the Kingdoms update, I’ve noticed a significant boost in The Runaway’s overall performance. Her knack for dealing persistent fire damage particularly shines against beastmen foes, who are swiftly reduced to cinders. Moreover, her Smokescreen ability is a game-changer, effortlessly triggering the blind status. This can defer enrage turns and strategically keep enemies from entering the Berserking state, making gameplay significantly smoother for me.

The Character Known as “The Runaway” also has the ability to create combos, making her a great fit when teamed up with other characters who possess similar skills. In terms of preferred paths, the “Arsonist” route is likely the most advantageous since it allows for the gradual distribution of damage from burning effects over time.

2. Bounty Hunter

Singular Focus

Best Path: Wanderer
Best Skills: Mark for Death, Guard

In the Kingdoms mode, The Bounty Hunter complements many player strategies superbly, making them an excellent pick for a Damage Per Second (DPS) character. They excel at dealing massive blows against opponents who are stunned, which can be highly beneficial when players have other characters to cause stuns.

In simpler terms, the Bounty Hunter is skilled at dishing out significant damage to weakened or targeted foes. This means that if utilized correctly, it will consistently deal high damage per second (DPS).

1. Abomination

Manacled Beast

Best Path: Wanderer
Best Skills: Backlash, Instinct

In simple terms, the latest downloadable character, the Abomination, performs exceptionally well in the new Kingdoms mode. He has the ability to stun and block with his basic moves, particularly Backlash, making it easier for him to handle fights against Beastmen. Furthermore, Absolution allows the Abomination to heal himself, providing impressive durability as a melee tank character.

The fighting techniques of the Abomination deal decent melee damage and can cut through the first two rows of enemies. Additionally, Instinct lets players counter enemy ripostes. Depending on a player’s team setup, the Abomination could become one of the most powerful characters in Darkest Dungeon 2’s Kingdoms expansion.

2025-02-03 22:16