Starter characters
Lacerta and Mist are available from the start. After completing the tutorial, two additional starter characters unlock automatically. These first four Travelers are accessible within your first few runs.
Unlocking Bismuth
Bismuth requires the Once Upon a Time achievement: keep any Traveler movement speed above 900 for 3 seconds. Use Mist with Light as a Feather passive, Corrosive Trails memory (15 percent speed boost), and Immolation memory (20 percent speed boost). Stack speed Essences and trigger both memories in sequence. The Star Sky map location has a special area granting 35 percent additional speed.
Unlocking Yubar
Yubar unlocks by completing a specific in-run challenge. Hover over his icon in the character select screen to see the current unlock condition. The challenge typically involves dealing a certain amount of ability power damage in a single run. This unlock does not take long once you focus on it.
Unlocking Vesper
Vesper has his own unlock quest visible when you hover over his character icon. The condition usually involves taking a certain amount of damage or surviving a specific duration. Play through several runs and check the requirement regularly, as it may align with natural gameplay.
Unlocking Aurena
Aurena unlocks through a healing-based challenge. Check her character icon for the specific condition. You typically need to heal a certain total amount across your kit. Playing Aurena-adjacent characters or focusing on healing Essences can help progress this unlock.
Later Travelers: Nachia, Husk, Cetus, and Shell
Nachia, Husk, Cetus, and Shell were added in post-launch updates. Each has an unlock condition displayed on their character icon. These conditions are generally achievable within a few focused runs. Nachia involves summon-based challenges, while Shell requires specific combat timing achievements. Check the in-game descriptions for the current requirements, as they may update with patches.