The Duskbloods is breaking new ground for FromSoftware. It's the Soulslike developer's first original game built for Nintendo Switch 2 and a rare multiplayer-only spin on Bloodborne and Dark Souls-inspired combat. Unlike games like Elden Ring, The Duskbloods will feature a list of prebuilt characters called Bloodsworn for players to choose from. Each Bloodsworn has their own weapons, superpowers, and passive abilities, but they can also be customized as players unlock more content from the game.
In The Duskbloods' upcoming network test, players will have access to six playable Bloodsworn. They range from straightforward all-rounders like the saber-swinging Albert to the truly weird Zork who can fly around The Duskbloods' map with his jetpack-powered diving suit.
FromSoftware says that players can expect a dozen or more playable characters in The Duskbloods. Here's what we know about the game's roster so far.
Albert
Players will meet Albert in The Duskbloods' tutorial. As such, Albert is perhaps the easiest Bloodsworn to understand. He's an all-rounder with an easy-to-use kit featuring a sword and sub-machine gun that can help deal with mobs.
**Armament**
Lorrik’s Jeweled Saber & SMG - A pair of weapons inlaid with ebony jewels. The primary weapon is a jeweled saber for performing melee attacks, while the submachine gun is for ranged attacks.
**Bloodsworn Skill**
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**Blood Blade**- Fires off a blade formed of the wielder’s blood. Scales with wielder’s blood caliber. Hold X: Fire off stronger blood blade.
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**Light of Hayern**(Level 12) - Raise the crystal of light mounted on the casing and shine forth a beam of light. Hold X: Continuous beam.
**Aspect**
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**High Lorrik Blood**- Blood-based Bloodsworn skills begin with additional usages.
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**Upriser**- Increases stagger potential of attacks against Bloodsworn with high Virtue.
Bloodhound Jan
Players will also meet Bloodhound Jan in The Duskbloods tutorial — as a foe. Jan uses a heavy ax to strike with staggering slashes and can fire a column of flame at foes with the jewel embedded in his left hand.
**Armament**
Bloodthirsty Axe & Stone of Sorcery - A bloodstained battle-ax made from a cast. The primary weapon is for performing melee attacks, and landing a strong attack slightly restores HP. A Stone of Sorcery is embedded in the left hand which can be activated to unleash flames straight ahead.
- Hold ZL: Send forth flames for as long as input is held. Jumping is possible while emitting flames.
**Bloodsworn Skill**
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**Blink**- Uses the wielder’s blood to enhance the speed of evasion. Effect will be lost after some time.
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**Surrender to my Blood**(Level 12) - Quench the thirsty ax’s thirst with the wielder’s blood, strike the blade into the ground and rend the surrounding area with blood slashes. Hold X: Move while ax is readied.
**Aspect**
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**Bloodhand Lineage**: Counterattacking after receiving damage restores HP.
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**Lord of Blood**: Heals HP of spellbound foes and also boosts attack power.
Trang Lanh
Players who prefer a speedier, more elegant fighter will gravitate toward Trang Lanh. She's a graceful rogue/thief archetype, similar in some ways to Elden Ring Nightreign's Duchess. She can turn invisible and summons a giant snake on the battlefield.
**Armament**
Full Moon Blade - A circular blade made from cold silver, which glows faintly with the magic of the cold moon. As a prime weapon it can be used to perform melee attacks, but can also be thrown like a chakram to attack from range. Hold ZL: Throw multiple blades.
**Bloodsworn Skill**
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**Darkmoon**- Conceals the body behind the dark moon for a limited period of time. Attacking or drawing too close to an enemy will dull the concealing effect.
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**Mama Natha**(Level 12) - Summons a giant silver serpent, the guardian of the Ratnam, to attack the surrounding area for a time. X+left on D-pad: Command great serpent to attack head-on.
**Aspect**
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**Alluring Bride**- Drinking blood also spellbinds nearby enemies.
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**Daughter of the Darkmoon**- Hide self from distant foes, and become harder for foes to target.
Sniper Layla
The mummified Sniper Layla combines dual-wielded blades with a long-range rifle — not your typical sniper, but she's handy when fighting strong foes from a distance and at close range. She can summon a Gatling gun from her chest cavity.
**Armament**
Hieroglyph Katars & Sniper Rifle - Dagger-like blade of polished bronze wielded in both hands dealing melee attacks
Special Actions
- R+A - Evasive Attacks
- Hold XL and press L, precision shot
**Bloodsworn Skill**
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**Neb-ra Vanishing**- Assume the form of a swarm of insects to move to a distant location. The afterimage confuses foes. Can be activated immediately after taking damage
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**Verd Gatling Gun**(Level 6) - Extracts a giant Gatling gun from the wielder’s body and prepares to fire. R: Fire gun. X: Stow gun.
**Aspect**
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**Neb-ra Lineage**- HP gradually restored to 1/2 of max. A Goldblood stake restores less.
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**Nighteye**- Longer range for lock-ons and observation.
Senator Samir Patres
Senator Samir Patres uses a straight sword and a magical ring in battle, the latter of which summons a spectral bird to attack foes. As seen in The Duskbloods' previous trailers, he's the guy who also transforms into a pint-sized dinosaur to chomp his enemies.
**Armament**
Senate Rapier & Soulbird Ring - A well-tempered, narrow-bladed straight sword that can be used as a cane when sheathed. Used to perform melee attacks as the primary weapon. Paired with a ring which can send forth a pre-historic spectral bird to attack from range.
Special actions
- R + A: Evasive attack
- R after sending out spectral bird: Follow-up rapier attack
**Bloodsworn Skill**
Bloodstone - Form a swamp of blood at the feet of foes. A colossal bloodstone rises from the swamp.
Special Actions
- Hold X: Swamp follows enemy
- Release X: Raise bloodstake
Saurian Form (Level 6) - Assume the form of a carnivorous dinosaur before charging at foe and taking them in its great jaws.
Special Actions
- R: headbutt
- X: end transformation
**Aspect**
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**Blood Disciple**- Lowers required Bloodsworn skill level.
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**Unshakable Sword**- Perfect guarding boosts melee power.
Zork
Players who prefer a Dark Souls-style "fat roll" heavy character are going to love Zork. He takes big swings and fires slowly, and his diving suit is packed with impressive tech. Zork's suit is equipped with a jetpack that lets him fly at high speeds to crash into foes and a cannon that launches a volley of missiles. He may be The Duskbloods' least approachable starting character, but potentially its most powerful.
**Armament**
Undersea Cable & Speargun - A severed portion of an outmoded undersea cable in which electric current still sputters. Used to perform melee attacks as the primary weapon. Paired with a speargun for ranged attacks
Special Actions
- Hold ZL: charged attack (speargun)
**Bloodsworn Skill**
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**Human Rocket**- Deploys a propulsion mechanism from the back of the diving suit, shifting to flight mode and charging straight ahead.
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**Missile**(Level 6) - Deploys a cannon from the back of the diving suit and prepares to fire.
Special Actions
- R: fire missile
- L3: precision bombardment
- X: stow cannon
**Aspect**
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**Law of the Deep Sea**- Defeat Bloodsworn to steal max HP. Gained HP is lost if defeated by victim.
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**Dread Resonance**- A howl of inhuman sonic wavelength. Hold L and ZR to extend howling.
Unknown Bloodsworn
FromSoftware says to expect at least 12 Bloodsworn in The Duskbloods. Three of those characters have appeared in previous trailers for The Duskbloods, but are not in the network test version of the game.