Some hero and cosmetic details are revealed through campaign progression. The unlock section avoids exact mission spoilers but confirms the general progression requirement.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
The six playable heroes are Egan, Kelsey, Maximillian, Gabriella, Cygnus, and Vorwick. Egan and Kelsey are the main apprentice pair; the other four are returning or established Order characters. You do not create a custom hero. Instead, you unlock or gain access to fixed heroes as the campaign progresses, then select them through the Spellbook for eligible maps. Their biggest differences are health, mana, weapons, and unique movement or survival abilities. Character skins change appearance only and do not create new classes or alter the hero roster.
Roster
All six playable heroes
The complete roster is made up of six fixed War Mages. The game does not use traditional classes, so these characters are best compared by their weapons, resources, and special abilities rather than by formal tank, damage, or support labels.
Every hero can use the wider weapon and trap systems, especially after campaign restrictions are cleared. That means a hero's starting equipment is important early on, but it does not permanently define the character in free selection modes.
- Egan is the ranged apprentice associated with the Magic Longbow. His Ground Slam gives him a close-range crowd-control option by knocking back and stunning nearby enemies.
- Kelsey is the other new apprentice and starts with the Blunderbuss. Her Levitate ability lets her hover and reposition through the air, making her useful around ledges and dangerous lanes.
- Maximillian, usually called Max, is the veteran War Mage from the earlier games. His Double Jump is simple but reliable for movement, evasion, and reaching useful positions.
- Gabriella is the returning Sorceress. Her Feather Fall slows her descent and gives her controlled aerial movement rather than a conventional second jump.
- Cygnus uses Play Dead to collapse and recover while enemies ignore him. This makes him a recovery-oriented choice when a defense has become chaotic.
- Vorwick has Teleport, allowing him to move a medium distance forward. His mobility is especially useful for crossing gaps, escaping pressure, or reaching another lane quickly.
| Hero | Practical identity | Unique movement or survival tool |
|---|---|---|
| Egan | Ranged apprentice and crowd control | Ground Slam |
| Kelsey | Close-range apprentice with aerial repositioning | Levitate |
| Maximillian | Veteran all-purpose War Mage | Double Jump |
| Gabriella | Veteran Sorceress with controlled descent | Feather Fall |
| Cygnus | Recovery-focused veteran | Play Dead |
| Vorwick | High-mobility hero | Teleport |
These are practical comparisons, not hard classes. Trap placement, weapon choice, and upgrades usually matter more than the hero name once the full loadout system is available.
Unlocks
How hero access works
The publisher confirms six playable characters and says they are unlocked as you progress through the game. In practice, the main campaign presents the apprentices and returning characters through story progression, so a new save does not necessarily expose the entire roster immediately.
The safest route is to keep advancing the campaign instead of spending skulls looking for a hero-unlock purchase. Heroes are not obtained through a random drop, paid character pack, or character-creation screen. Community reports consistently describe broader hero and weapon selection after the main campaign is completed, although the exact story lock can feel different between campaign sections and downloadable content.
- Start the campaign and use the hero assigned by the current story segment when selection is restricted.
- Continue clearing campaign missions to reveal additional heroes.
- After completing the main campaign, open the Spellbook and check the Heroes section before replaying maps.
- If a Drastic Steps mission forces a particular character, finish the relevant story content before assuming the hero selector is broken.
- Do not confuse War Guardians such as the Priestess and Knight with playable heroes. They are separate battlefield units used in War Scenarios.
| Question | Verified answer |
|---|---|
| How many playable heroes are there? | Six in the game roster: Egan, Kelsey, Maximillian, Gabriella, Cygnus, and Vorwick. |
| Are heroes bought with skulls? | The available evidence supports campaign progression, not a normal skull purchase for the hero itself. |
| Are War Guardians heroes? | No. The Priestess and Knight are War Guardians, not entries in the six-hero playable roster. |
| Are Orcs Must Die! Unchained heroes included? | No. The larger Unchained cast is not the playable roster for this game. |
The official FAQ confirms the count and campaign-based unlocking, but it does not publish a complete mission-by-mission unlock table. Exact mission names are therefore omitted rather than guessed.
Selection
How to change character
To change your hero, open the Spellbook from the main menu or map-selection interface, then go to the Heroes section. Select the portrait you want and confirm the choice. This is the normal answer to the question of how to change character; there is no separate lobby-wide character creator.
Story missions can override your selection. If the game loads a particular hero despite your Spellbook choice, the level is probably still using a story lock, or the campaign section has not yet been cleared for free replay. Complete the relevant campaign before testing the selector on replayable maps.
- Open the Spellbook.
- Choose the Heroes tab.
- Select an unlocked portrait.
- Confirm the selection.
- Load an eligible replay, Endless map, Weekly Challenge, or other mode that permits free hero choice.
- If the old hero remains active, verify that the mission is not a story-locked segment and restart the map after changing the selection.
| What you want to change | Where to do it |
|---|---|
| Playable hero | Spellbook, Heroes section |
| Weapon or trap loadout | Spellbook loadout screens |
| Hero appearance | Hero or costume selection, where the cosmetic is unlocked |
| Story-controlled hero | Usually cannot be overridden until the relevant progression restriction is cleared |
In two-player co-op, the available hero can also depend on the campaign state and player position in the session. Test hero changes in a completed campaign replay if you need unrestricted selection.
Customization
Character creation, differences, and skins
There is no full character creation system. You cannot design a new face, body, name, class, or custom apprentice. The playable characters are authored heroes with fixed identities, voice lines, base statistics, signature abilities, and story roles.
Character customization is therefore loadout-focused. You change the weapon, traps, trinket, and upgrades used in battle, while the hero determines the built-in movement or survival ability. This creates meaningful differences without turning the game into a role-playing character builder.
Skins are cosmetic. The released game includes hero costume options, including the pre-order Overlord skins for Egan and Kelsey, while Drastic Steps adds three hero skins according to the game's official FAQ listing. Availability can depend on the edition or content owned, so a missing costume does not mean that the hero itself is locked.
- Choose Egan when you want ranged pressure plus a panic button against enemies that reach the kill box.
- Choose Kelsey when aerial repositioning and close-range weapon pressure are more useful than a second jump.
- Choose Cygnus when recovery time and staying alive are more important than fast traversal.
- Choose Vorwick when crossing distance quickly is the main problem on a map.
- Use Max or Gabriella when you prefer straightforward movement control and veteran character kits.
- Treat skins as appearance changes, not alternate statistics or new abilities.
| Customization type | Available? | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Create a new hero | No | The roster uses fixed characters. |
| Change hero | Yes, after the hero is available and the map permits it | Changes the built-in ability and character model. |
| Change weapon and traps | Yes | Changes combat strategy and loadout. |
| Use hero skins | Yes, for unlocked or owned cosmetics | Changes appearance without creating a new hero. |
For a first playthrough, use the hero assigned by the story and learn the map flow. For replays, choose based on movement needs first, then build the weapon and trap loadout around that choice.
FAQ
Common questions
Who are the two new apprentices?
Egan and Kelsey are the two new apprentice War Mages introduced in the game's new story. They are the main starting pair and have different weapons and movement abilities.
Can you play as Max and Gabriella?
Yes. Maximillian and Gabriella are both playable heroes, not merely story characters. They become available through campaign progression and can be selected for eligible replay content.
Are Cygnus and Vorwick playable?
Yes. Cygnus and Vorwick are part of the six-hero roster. Their Play Dead and Teleport abilities give them noticeably different survival and movement options.
How do you unlock all characters?
Advance through the campaign and complete the story progression that reveals the roster. The official material confirms campaign-based unlocking, but it does not provide a definitive public mission-by-mission table.
Can you make a custom character?
No. There is no full character creator. You select from fixed heroes and customize your combat loadout, with skins available as appearance options.
Do character skins change abilities or stats?
No verified evidence indicates that skins create new abilities or classes. Treat them as cosmetic appearances and check the in-game description for the exact unlock or edition requirement.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.