Crusader

The Crusader is one of the playable Characters in Darkest Dungeon.

Like the Vestal, Leper and the Flagellant, he will refuse to embark on missions with the Abomination.

Class Description
"Every cause needs a champion, a hero to rally otherwise common men to a righteous cause and lead them to victory. The Crusader is that champion. With holy blade in hand he smites the wicked and sends them back to the darkness from whence they crept. While his armor restricts his movement it affords him great protection, allowing him to stand in the frontlines to take the blows that his weaker comrades cannot. No matter the pressures he faces he will remain strong, finding strength within himself to keep fighting on while inspiring others to do the same. Even in the midst of battle he can galvanize his allies, giving them the strength to fight off madness for a little longer. When the Crusader is leading the charge, all of hell will know to fear the flame."

Combat Skills
"Battle-hardened and stalwart, the Crusader has held the front lines in a hundred holy wars. He either attacks foes head-on with righteous fury, or embraces a melee support role by leveraging his powerful defensive buffs & off-heals."

- Guild

Camping Skills
"Righteousness and conviction inspire compelling speeches around the campfire! In the face of mounting stress, the Crusader is a leader, standing tall and refusing to break. His unshakable belief can assuage companions' fear, reassuring them that despite the hardships they will most certainly endure, all will be well in the end."

- TSurvivalist

Equipment
"The Crusader wears heavy plate mail and wields a longsword. While affording him excellent protection and damage, his armor restricts movement, and his sword cannot be swung effectively in the back ranks."

- Blacksmith

Each Hero has trinkets unique to them that only they can equip. The Crusader has eight; 3 common, 2 Crimson Court and 1 uncommon, rare and very rare. In the base game, his lower level trinkets are crests (likely war decorations) and his high level trinkets are scrolls, likely what he uses in his Zealous Accusation attack. The Crimson Court DLC adds a pauldron and conscription letter.


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District Bonus
The Crimson Court DLC adds Districts to the Hamlet, some of which confer passive benefits to heroes.


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Customisation
As for every hero, the Crusader has four different color palettes to choose from: purple, red, white and blue.

Trivia

 * The design of the Crusader is based on armor from troops in "The Crusades", which were a series of conflicts between the 11th and 15th century.
 * The Crusader has the most Backer Heroes with a staggering 64, with the runner up (the Man-At-Arms) only having half as many.
 * A previous iteration of the Crusader during development featured an open-helmet chain mail design with the Crusader's face visible. This design has a wallpaper on Red Hook Studio's main website and it was shown off in the game's "Terror and Madness" trailer in 2013.
 * According to his Hopeless barks, the Crusader used to love somebody and was even married once. This was confirmed in his origin comic where he leaves his wife and child to embark on the crusade, but was changed so much by the war he chose to remain on the crusade than return to his family.
 * Another one of his afflicted barks, this time while being Irrational, shows that he might have been mistreated by his father or a priest during childhood. Bark is shown below.
 * The predetermined name of the Crusader is Reynauld, named after an actual crusader who died during The Battle of Mount Cadmus.
 * While most characters have seven trinkets, The Crusader, Highwayman, Plague Doctor and Vestal all have the most at eight.

Barks
"Truth prevails!"

- Crusader

"My reverie is haunted by things unsaid, loves lost..."

- Crusader

"My friends, we can pass any test. Do not despair!"

- Crusader

"Forget not that our errand is holy and just! Light will prevail!"

- Crusader

"Nothing will break me!"

- Crusader

"Light, grant me the strength to overcome whatever appears on our path."

- Crusader

"Of course I know what I'm doing! I'm a soldier!"

- Crusader

"I've led more difficult charges than this."

- Crusader

"I will turn this madness into force!"

- Crusader "Stand aside! Let the Light in!"

- Crusader

"My every step sanctifies this unholy earth!"

- Crusader

"The power of the light flows through me..."

- Crusader

"Why did I trade her for this life? She loved me..."

- Crusader while Hopeless recalling his former loved one. "Yes, I married once. But she is dead now."

- Crusader while Hopeless stressing the party while camping. "I will learn my verses, Father! Not the whip!"

- Crusader while Irrational stressing the party. "Father! I defy all that you made me!"

- Crusader while Irrational attacking himself. "Take me now. I have already sacrificed so much..."

- Crusader while Hopeless moving forward. "Father!... FATHER! I HEAR YOU!"

- Crusader while Irrational after receiving an injury. "NOO! He is just a child! He didn't do anything wrong!"

- Crusader while Irrational and one of the other heroes receives a hit. "Just... STOP TOUCHING ME!"

- Crusader while Irrational refusing to be buffed. "These scars are on the inside... and much too old..."

- Crusader while Irrational refusing to be buffed at camp. "I... I want only one thing, and it is forbidden."

- Crusader while Irrational refusing to be buffed at camp. "Unholy foulness! I will take you with me!"

- Crusader