Unlocking characters in Vampire Crawlers is one of the most satisfying parts of the game. Instead of handing you everything from the start, the game slowly expands your roster as you play, pushing you to explore different builds, cards, and dungeons. The more you experiment, the faster you unlock new Crawlers. If you’re trying to grow your roster efficiently, this guide breaks down how character unlocks work and what you should focus on early.
How Character Unlocks Work in Vampire Crawlers
Characters, also called Crawlers, are unlocked through specific in-game conditions. These are tracked inside the Town Hall, where you can see exactly what you need to do next.
Most unlock requirements don’t require you to finish a full run. This means even failed attempts still count toward progress. Whether you’re defeating enemies, playing certain cards, or reaching level milestones, everything adds up over time.
Because of this system, it’s important to always play with a goal in mind. If you know what unlock you’re targeting, you can shape your run around it instead of playing randomly.
All Characters and How to Unlock Them
Here’s a clear breakdown of the currently known characters and how to unlock each one.
Antonio
Antonio is your first real character and the easiest to unlock. You’ll find him early in the game as part of the main progression. He uses the Whip, which is simple and reliable. This makes him the best starting point for learning the basics of combat and combos.
Imelda Belpaese
Imelda is available right from the beginning through the Inn. She uses Magic Wand cards, which are great for consistent damage. More importantly, she plays a key role in unlocking other characters, so using her early is highly recommended.
Gennaro Belpaese
To unlock Gennaro, you need to defeat a boss called Mantichana in the Mad Forest. His Knife-based playstyle is a step up in difficulty compared to Antonio, but still manageable once you understand combos.
Pasqualina Belpaese
Pasqualina requires you to reach Level 20 while playing Imelda in the Inlaid Library. This unlock condition encourages you to stick with Imelda for a while and explore deeper into the second dungeon.
Poe
Poe is unlocked by playing Garlic cards a total of 25 times across your runs. This is a cumulative requirement, so you don’t need to do it in a single run. Just keep picking Garlic whenever possible until you hit the target.
Arca
To unlock Arca, you need to play Fire Wand cards 100 times. This takes longer than most early unlocks, so it’s best treated as a background goal. If you see Fire Wand cards during runs, pick them to slowly build progress.
Character unlocks in Vampire Crawlers are designed to reward steady progress. You don’t need perfect runs or advanced strategies to unlock them all—just consistency and a bit of planning. Start with the easier characters, focus on simple goals, and build your way up. As your roster grows, the game opens up in a big way, giving you more tools to experiment and push further into each dungeon.