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This page includes spoilers for hero unlock conditions, late-game maps and challenge difficulty.

Fast answer

The answer before the background

Our recommendation

The documented roster contains 10 playable heroes. Vylat and Ninn are the default choices. Lance, Rhys, Allure, Veromus, Lyah and Maeve are progression heroes from the original roster, while Amelia and Crowley were added in the free Ashen Nightmare update. For practical play, choose Vylat for sustain and mobility, Ninn for freezing and elemental control, Rhys for a durable frontline, Lance for ranged damage, Allure for fast physical clearing, Veromus for risky scaling, Lyah for magic area damage, Maeve for drain-based survival, Amelia for time control and Crowley for gunfire plus hellhound summons. Unlock requirements can be checked from the game’s Unlockables menu; only some conditions are consistently documented outside the game.

Roster

All 10 playable heroes at a glance

Heroes are not simple cosmetic swaps. Each one starts with a different main weapon and has a separate ultimate and passive kit, so the best choice depends on whether you want reliable defense, ranged control, burst damage, summons or sustain. The game also lets you improve hero abilities through passive upgrades and glyphs.

The role labels below are recommendations based on each hero’s documented weapon and ability kit, not official class rankings. A hero can fill more than one role after you add weapons, talents, familiars and equipment.

HeroStarting weaponPractical roleBest fit
VylatScarlet SwordPhysical sustain and mobilityNew players who want healing, drain and safe repositioning.
NinnCosmic OrbMagic control and elemental summonsPlayers who prefer freeze, chill and companion damage.
LanceCelestial BowRanged physical damage and crowd controlKeeping distance while marking targets and slowing groups.
RhysHammer of JusticeFrontline defense and supportSurviving pressure while buffing or protecting allies.
AllureDual KatanaFast physical burstAggressive players who can maintain kill streaks.
VeromusDeath ScytheRisk-reward scaling and soul controlPlayers comfortable converting missing health and kills into power.
LyahMoonlight StaffMagic area damage and night scalingLarge groups, magical builds and day-night synergy.
MaeveVampiric KnifePhysical drain and evasive burstClose-range survival through dashes, mist and healing.
AmeliaChrono StaffMagic burst and time controlEarly-run power, enemy freezes and tactical resets.
CrowleyDevil’s PistolsRapid physical fire and summonsPlayers who like attack speed, gunfire and hellhounds.
Verified roster count

The original hero reference lists eight heroes through Maeve. The developer’s v2.0.0 announcement adds Amelia and Crowley, and a later Steam guide documents all 10 in its hero index. Treat 10 as the current documented roster, but recheck the selection screen after a major update.

Unlocks

How to unlock the heroes

Start with Vylat or Ninn. They are the two default heroes and require no unlock challenge. The original game used achievement-style progression for its other heroes, so normal play, map clears and enemy-hunting challenges are more important than spending a separate currency.

Three requirements are especially well supported by the available references. Allure unlocks after defeating 5,000 enemies at nighttime. Maeve unlocks after beating Corruption 10 with Darkness Knife in the arsenal. Amelia unlocks by defeating Death in Nightpine Valley before midnight on Nightmare difficulty. The developer confirmed that an Amelia unlock bug was fixed in version 2.0.15.

The exact current requirements for Lance, Rhys, Veromus, Lyah and Crowley are not consistently exposed in the sources checked for this page. Do not rely on an old list, a translated tooltip or a guide that predates the Ashen Nightmare systems. Open the in-game Unlockables menu, select the locked portrait and follow the condition shown there. That is the safest version-aware method.

  • For Allure, prioritize nighttime survival and keep counting kills across runs until the total reaches 5,000.
  • For Maeve, make sure Darkness Knife is actually in the arsenal when attempting Corruption 10; merely owning or having unlocked the weapon may not satisfy the condition.
  • For Amelia, select Nightpine Valley on Nightmare, locate Death when he appears late in the run and defeat him before the timer reaches midnight.
  • For every other locked hero, record the exact wording shown in Unlockables before attempting the challenge, especially if the requirement names a map, difficulty, weapon or corruption level.
Why some conditions are marked uncertain

Community references preserve many older requirements, but the current game has received a major free expansion, new maps, Nightmare mode and balance changes. Where a precise condition could not be confirmed by an official post or a consistent current reference, this guide does not guess.

Build choices

Which hero should you use first?

Vylat is the safest first recommendation. His Scarlet Sword deals physical damage and drains health, while Bat Aspect improves movement during dashes and Transfusion adds another damaging drain pulse. He is forgiving when you are still learning enemy patterns and the day-night cycle.

Choose Ninn when you want control instead of sustain. Her Cosmic Orb is magical, and her kit combines an elemental summon with repeated freeze effects. Freeze, chill and area damage make her useful when enemies begin surrounding you, although she benefits from careful positioning and magical-power upgrades.

Rhys is the defensive option. His hammer applies knockback, Consecration creates damaging ground effects and can support allies, and his ultimate temporarily boosts several defensive and offensive statistics. He is a strong answer when a map or challenge is killing you before your build comes online.

For damage specialists, Lance and Allure play very differently. Lance attacks from range with arcane arrows and adds marked-target bursts and a slowing prison. Allure wants constant momentum: his solar aura activates after rapid kills, while his charged dash gives burst damage and brief invulnerability.

Veromus, Lyah and Maeve are more specialized. Veromus scales through souls and missing health, Lyah turns missing health, moon shots and nighttime into area damage, and Maeve combines knives, a powerful dash and Red Mists for survival. Amelia is built around time manipulation and a very strong early magic window. Crowley trades precision for volume, combining rapid pistol shots with hellhound summons.

  • Pick Vylat for the most forgiving first runs.
  • Pick Ninn for freeze-heavy control and magical builds.
  • Pick Rhys when survival and ally support matter more than speed.
  • Pick Lance for ranged play and Allure for aggressive physical clearing.
  • Save Veromus, Lyah, Maeve, Amelia and Crowley for builds that match their specific scaling mechanics.
Recommendation versus fact

The role descriptions and beginner recommendations are gameplay guidance. They are not official tier rankings, and balance changes can alter which hero feels strongest.

Progression

How hero abilities and weapons work

Each hero has one ultimate, two passive abilities and glyph choices attached to those passives. The starting weapon is unique to the hero, but the rest of the run is shaped by secondary weapons, weapon fusions, talents, familiars and equipment. This means a hero’s opening role does not permanently lock you into one build.

Use the hero’s starting weapon to decide which early upgrades are most efficient. Physical heroes generally benefit from physical power, attack speed and critical effects, while magic-focused heroes prefer magic power, spell acceleration and control effects. Drain heroes value health and survivability when their kit converts damage into healing.

Do not confuse heroes with familiars or friendly allies. Familiars are companions unlocked through eggs or achievements, while allies and summons appear through quests, faction systems or weapons. They can complement a hero, but they are not additional playable characters.

  • Level the starting weapon when it is carrying your early clear, then add complementary secondary weapons.
  • Use control effects such as freeze, chill, knockback or slow when a hero lacks reliable escape tools.
  • Build around the hero’s passive trigger instead of treating the ultimate as the entire kit.
  • Check equipment bonuses after unlocking Ashen Nightmare content because character-specific sets can change a hero’s preferred role.
Platform note

The verified sources cover the PC version and its Steam updates. Scarlet Tower is also available on Nintendo Switch, but this page does not assume that every menu label or patch is identical across platforms.

FAQ

Named hero questions

  • Who are the starting heroes? Vylat and Ninn are available immediately.
  • How do I unlock Allure? Defeat 5,000 enemies at nighttime, according to the current hero reference.
  • How do I unlock Maeve? Beat Corruption 10 with Darkness Knife in your arsenal, according to the documented hero entry.
  • How do I unlock Amelia? Defeat Death in Nightpine Valley before midnight on Nightmare difficulty. The developer reported this condition as fixed in version 2.0.15.
  • Are Amelia and Crowley paid characters? No. The developer announced both as part of the free Ashen Nightmare update added to the base game.
  • Is Crowley the same type of hero as Veromus? No. Crowley uses Devil’s Pistols and focuses on rapid physical shots and hellhound summons, while Veromus uses a Death Scythe and scales through souls and missing health.

FAQ

Common questions

How many playable heroes are in Scarlet Tower?

The current documented roster has 10 heroes: Vylat, Ninn, Lance, Rhys, Allure, Veromus, Lyah, Maeve, Amelia and Crowley.

What is the easiest hero for a new player?

Vylat is the safest starting recommendation because his weapon and passives combine damage, mobility and health drain. Ninn is another good choice if you prefer freezing enemies and using magic.

Why can’t I unlock Amelia after defeating Death?

Make sure you are playing Nightpine Valley on Nightmare and defeat Death before midnight. A known unlock issue was reported by players and marked fixed by the developer in version 2.0.15. If it still fails, verify the game version and try again without quitting the run early.

Where can I see the exact unlock condition for a locked hero?

Open the hero or Unlockables menu and select the locked portrait. Because older community lists can be out of date, the in-game condition should take priority over an external guide.

Sources

What we checked

Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.