This page discusses unlock conditions and DLC content. It does not list every cosmetic suit, pet, assignment reward, or gadget upgrade in detail.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
The current playable roster has four keepers: Engineer, Assessor, Infiltrator, and Beastmaster. Engineer is the straightforward drill-focused option, Assessor mines with bouncing orbs and supports defensive control, Infiltrator uses explosive kunai, rope movement, and jumps, and Beastmaster combines tentacle-based movement with catgoblin helpers. Engineer and Assessor are included with the base game. Infiltrator and Beastmaster require The Lost Keepers DLC in solo play, although multiplayer guests can use them when the host owns the expansion.
Roster
All four playable keepers
Dome Keeper separates its playable characters into keepers. Your keeper changes how you move through the mine, break blocks, carry resources, and approach the battle phase. The dome, primary weapon, gadgets, and run modifiers are separate loadout choices, so selecting a keeper does not lock you to one dome type or one weapon.
The base roster contains Engineer and Assessor. The Lost Keepers expansion adds Infiltrator and Beastmaster, bringing the current total to four. These are genuine gameplay additions rather than cosmetic skins: each DLC keeper changes the rhythm of mining and transportation.
- Engineer: the direct, beginner-friendly miner. He drills individual tiles by moving into them and has simple free movement through the mine. Choose him when you want the clearest baseline for learning maps, upgrades, and battle timing.
- Assessor: the ranged mining specialist. He launches gravity spheres that travel and bounce through the mine, while also retaining a slower compression-mining option. His projectiles can make unusual tunnel layouts and distant resource clusters easier to reach.
- Infiltrator: the agile, gravity-bound keeper. Explosive kunai break blocks, while jumps, wall-slides, and a rope provide fast movement. He does not fly freely like Engineer or Assessor, so positioning and route planning matter more.
- Beastmaster: the minion-focused keeper. Mechanical tentacles provide movement and limited direct mining, while catgoblins collect resources through openings in the mine wall. She is strongest when you prepare routes and let helpers handle transport.
| Keeper | Main role | Best fit for | Unlock or access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | Direct drilling and reliable movement | New players and general-purpose runs | Base game |
| Assessor | Bouncing-orb mining and battlefield control | Players who like ranged tools and planned shots | Base game |
| Infiltrator | Kunai mining, rope movement, and jumps | Agile routes and active movement | The Lost Keepers DLC; multiplayer access through a DLC-owning host |
| Beastmaster | Tentacle movement and catgoblin transport | Resource automation and prepared tunnels | The Lost Keepers DLC; multiplayer access through a DLC-owning host |
The current keeper list is four: Engineer, Assessor, Infiltrator, and Beastmaster. Cosmetic packs such as the Engineer Gear Pack and Assessor Gear Pack add skins, pets, and music, not new playable keepers.
Unlocks
How keeper unlocks work
Engineer and Assessor do not require a separate character purchase. They are the two non-DLC keepers in the base game and form the standard starting roster. If one appears unavailable, check that you are looking at the keeper selection screen rather than a suit, pet, or dome unlock menu.
Infiltrator and Beastmaster are included in The Lost Keepers. The DLC is sold as an expansion requiring the base game, and its store description identifies both as new playstyles. Buying a cosmetic gear pack does not unlock either character.
Multiplayer has an important exception. Current community reference material records that players without the expansion can use the two DLC keepers when the multiplayer host owns The Lost Keepers. This is useful for trying both playstyles before buying, but it should not be confused with owning the DLC for solo runs.
- For solo play, purchase and install The Lost Keepers to select Infiltrator or Beastmaster.
- For multiplayer testing, join a session hosted by someone who owns the expansion, then check the keeper selection screen.
- If a keeper is missing after purchase, verify that the DLC is installed for the correct platform and that the game has been restarted.
- Do not spend Guild Assignment medals expecting to unlock a new character. Those rewards are primarily skins, pets, or permanent gameplay options.
| Content | Adds a playable keeper? | What it actually provides |
|---|---|---|
| The Lost Keepers | Yes | Infiltrator, Beastmaster, assignments, pets, keeper suits, and music |
| Engineer Gear Pack | No | Engineer cosmetic content, a pet, and music |
| Assessor Gear Pack | No | Assessor cosmetic content, a pet, and music |
| Guild Assignment rewards | No | Mostly cosmetics and permanent account or run options |
The game uses “keeper” for the playable character. A suit, pet, or gear pack may mention a keeper without adding a new character.
Modes and modifiers
Brutal Monsters, No Monsters, and character questions
Brutal Monsters is not a fifth keeper. It is a difficult challenge condition or assignment-style ruleset that changes how dangerous the battle phase is. Your character choice still matters, but the mode does not add a new playable unit or change the roster.
No Monsters is also not a character unlock. It is a Relic Hunt run modifier that creates a world without monster waves. This makes it useful for learning a keeper's mining, movement, and transport systems without defending the dome between trips. It is not the same as a permanent “no monsters” character mode, and it does not remove enemies from every game mode.
For a first run with a new keeper, use a normal Relic Hunt before attempting Brutal Monsters. If you want to study mining routes or test a DLC keeper's movement, No Monsters is the safer environment. Remember that some character-related cosmetic conditions can specifically require a no-monster world, multiplayer, or a keeper in the lobby; those requirements are for outfits or rewards, not for unlocking the keeper itself.
- Use Engineer for the most readable first run and the simplest emergency return to the dome.
- Use Assessor when you are comfortable predicting projectile bounces and want to mine from safer positions.
- Use Infiltrator when you enjoy movement mastery and can exploit rope routes, wall-slides, and kunai carriers.
- Use Beastmaster when you are willing to leave resources near catgoblin access points and build compact, navigable tunnels.
- Treat Brutal Monsters as a difficulty test after learning the keeper, not as a roster milestone.
- Treat No Monsters as a practice and relaxation modifier, not as a new character or permanent toggle.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is there a keeper called Brutal Monsters? | No. Brutal Monsters refers to a challenge condition involving stronger monster pressure. |
| Is there a keeper called No Monsters? | No. No Monsters is a Relic Hunt run modifier that removes battle waves for that run. |
| Are there new characters after Engineer and Assessor? | Yes. Infiltrator and Beastmaster are the two DLC keepers in The Lost Keepers. |
| Do character mods count as official keepers? | Not automatically. Mods can add or alter content, but only the four keepers above are verified as the current official roster. |
Community mod projects exist, especially around the Steam Workshop and mod loader ecosystem, but their quality, compatibility, and roster additions can change. Treat a modded character as unofficial and check its release notes before installing it.
Recommendations
Which keeper should you choose?
Choose Engineer if you want to learn the core loop without an unusual control scheme. His single-tile drilling is predictable, his movement is straightforward, and most general guides transfer cleanly to him. He is also a dependable choice for difficult monster conditions because there is less mechanical overhead during emergencies.
Choose Assessor if you like planning lines, bouncing shots, and contributing to defense while mining. His spheres reward a good understanding of angles and tunnel geometry. He can feel less immediate than Engineer at first, but his ranged tools are valuable when a resource or opening is awkwardly positioned.
Choose Infiltrator if movement is the part of the game you want to master. His gravity-based movement is less forgiving than the free-flight keepers, yet rope travel and kunai carriers can create fast routes once learned. He is a poor choice only if you want the most conventional mining experience.
Choose Beastmaster if you enjoy setting up systems rather than personally carrying every resource. Catgoblins are most useful when tunnels remain easy to navigate and resources are left within reach of their openings. Her unusual movement and helper management make her the most distinctive choice, but also the least immediately familiar.
- Best first keeper: Engineer.
- Best for projectile experimentation: Assessor.
- Best for mobility specialists: Infiltrator.
- Best for automated resource handling: Beastmaster.
- Best practice mode for a new keeper: No Monsters, when the modifier is available in your Relic Hunt loadout.
The role descriptions and unlock requirements are factual. “Best” choices are recommendations based on each keeper's mechanics, not official rankings.
FAQ
Common questions
How many playable characters are in Dome Keeper?
There are four official playable keepers in the current Steam release: Engineer, Assessor, Infiltrator, and Beastmaster.
What is the newest character?
The newest official keepers are Infiltrator and Beastmaster, released together in The Lost Keepers DLC on April 13, 2026.
How do I unlock the DLC characters?
Buy and install The Lost Keepers for solo access. In multiplayer, a player without the DLC may be able to use those keepers when joining a lobby hosted by someone who owns the expansion.
Does the Assessor Gear Pack add a character?
No. The Assessor Gear Pack adds cosmetic content, a pet, and music for the Assessor. It does not add another playable keeper.
Can I play Dome Keeper without monsters?
Yes, through the No Monsters run modifier in Relic Hunt when it is available to select. It removes battle waves for that run, but it does not create a new character or permanently disable monsters.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialDome Keeper on Steam, official base-game store page
- OfficialDome Keeper: The Lost Keepers, official DLC store page
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Keepers roster reference
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Engineer
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Assessor
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Infiltrator and Beastmaster
- ReferenceDome Keeper Wiki: Run Modifiers
- CommunityDome Keeper Mods project