The Crusader has found his way to Darkest Dungeon 2 as part of the new Binding Blade expansion pack. He is one of the original heroes that were noticeably missing from the sequel at launch. His righteous cause to smite the unholy and the wicked now continues against the eldritch forces on the road to the Mountain where the Iron Crown lies.

Unlike the other playable heroes in Darkest Dungeon 2, the Crusader cannot be unlocked by spending Candles at the Altar of Hope. He is locked behind an exclusive quest called The Lost Crusade that requires you to find several items from different regions and encounters.

The Binding Blade DLC also adds a brand-new hero called the Duelist, who will be available from the start. She has no quests that you need to complete.

The Lost Crusade is a lengthy quest with added dangers, so expect to recruit the Crusader over the course of multiple expeditions. That being said, it is possible to unlock him as a playable hero in a single run if you know exactly where to go and what to do. The RNG nature of Darkest Dungeon 2, however, can make that attempt a bit frustrating.

How to Complete The Lost Crusade in Darkest Dungeon 2

When you reach the first Inn after starting a new expedition, you will receive a unique trophy called the Battered Helm. Do note that the prompt will only show if the Binding Blade expansion is installed. Take the Battered Helm trophy and equip it on your stagecoach to start the Lost Crusade quest. If the helm is left unequipped in your inventory, you will have to wait until the next Inn before being able to start the quest.

Equipping the Battered Helm enables special encounters that drop the quest items required to recruit the Crusader in Darkest Dungeon 2. If you die or abandon the expedition, you do not have to worry about starting over. Your next expedition will automatically give you the last item you found to continue the Lost Crusade quest.

Step 1: Win a Military Road Encounter

The Binding Blade update added a new encounter that spawns Soldiers behind Spiked Barricades. You need to find and complete one of these road battles to get your hands on the Tattered Banner, the first item on the list.

Bandages will be useful for healing since Spiked Barricades apply Bleed to attackers when hit.

Take note that barricade encounters are not exclusive to the DLC, but you will need to have the Battered Helm to progress the Lost Crusade quest.

Step 2: Use the Tattered Banner on a Bishop

The Tattered Banner is a combat item that can be equipped on any hero, but it needs to be used only on a Bishop (part of the Lost Battalion) who is exclusive to the Tangled region.

Keep in mind that the Bishop gains a powerful buff with the Tattered Banner, so make sure to kill him quickly afterward. Once the encounter is won, you will receive another item called the Unique Reliquary.

Step 3: Deliver the Unique Reliquary to the Next Inn

When you reach the Inn, the Unique Reliquary will be automatically exchanged for the Sanctified Scroll. This is a stagecoach item that needs to be equipped to further advance the Crusader quest in Darkest Dungeon 2. Make sure to also buy some Inn items for more buffs for the road ahead.

Do not remove the Battered Helm. Both the helm and the scroll need to be equipped on your stagecoach.

Delivering the Unique Reliquary will also give your party a powerful buff that remains for a single region: 5 percent stress resistance per negative token and 5 percent damage resistance per positive token.

Step 4: Find an Assistance Encounter

The next step is fairly simple. You need to head to an assistance encounter, also known as the Desperate Few, which is a pretty common node on the road.

Speak with the peasants with the Sanctified Scroll equipped, and choose the hero with the special dialogue: "We seek a lost knight - what have you heard?" This will get you a treasure map item called the Rumor of Riches.

Step 5: Sell the Treasure Map to a Hoarder

You now need to buy the Blessed Blade from a Hoarder at the cost of the Rumor of Riches map. There is a strong possibility that you are reaching the end of your expedition by this point, so finding a Hoarder might be difficult. Do not fret, though. You can always start a new expedition and receive the last item, Rumor of Riches, from the first Inn to continue the quest.

Step 6: Take the Blessed Blade to the Next Inn

When you reach an Inn with the Blessed Blade, the deliverable weapon will be combined with the Battered Helm to become the Helm and Blade. This is another stagecoach trophy and the final item in your quest to unlock the Crusader in Darkest Dungeon 2.

Step 7: Defeat the Warlord

Oblivion's Rampart is always the last encounter before the final Inn. Equipping the Helm and Blade trophy will change that to a special encounter called The Caged Knight. If you manage to reach there with your party, you will need to defeat the new Warlord mini-boss. Do that, and you can unlock the Crusader as a playable hero from the Altar of Hope.

The Warlord becomes a wandering mini-boss after the Crusader completes all of his hero shrines. You have a chance of fighting him again in any military encounter.

How to Unlock the Crusader in a Single Run

It is extremely difficult, but not impossible, to complete the Lost Crusade quest in a single expedition. There is a certain order that must be followed to increase your chances of finding all the items without having to start a new run. Of course, the RNG elements of Darkest Dungeon 2 will always be in play to thwart those chances. Here is what you do.

1. Choose the second confession act for your quest. This is because you need to complete three regions at minimum, and the first confession only has two. The second confession also has easier enemies compared to the third, fourth, and fifth.
2. Choose The Tangle as your first region to complete the military barricade and Bishop encounters.
3. Choose any region after finishing The Tangle to find the Desperate Few and the Hoarder. Make sure to activate a Watchtower as soon as possible to reveal their nodes on the map.
4. Reach the Warlord and defeat him in the third, final region of your choice.

The Crusader can fill several roles in a party. He is mainly designed to be a front-line fighter who can taunt/tank enemies, do good damage in return, and stun a target when necessary. However, he can also be used as a support on the back lines to heal, bolster, and remove negative tokens from other heroes. His excellent skill set makes the long hours that go into his quest all the more worth it.