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The Dark Crusader class is available if you purchased the Deluxe Edition of Lords of the Fallen, or after completing the game if you meet certain conditions. This class is very powerful and will be a great choice from the start due to its great stats, which are higher than in other starting classes. If you are a fan of aggressive melee combat using Radiance weapons and spells, then check out our tips for Dark Crusader build in Lords of the Fallen.
Lords of the Fallen: Dark Crusader Starting Items
Here are the starter items that you will begin playing with this class:
- Paladin Armor Set.
- Paladin Isaac’s Sword.
- Radiantburst Parchment.
- Throwing Hand.
- Paladin’s Pendant.
Yes, the starter kit is not as varied as in other classes, but it will actually be very useful for you in the beginning. You don’t have any spells at the beginning, but instead, you get great armor and a strong sword that can easily deal with the initial enemies. It’s also worth noting that the default stats are perfectly distributed for the early game, and it will be easy for you to level up to achieve the desired result. Here are the initial stats:
- Strength: 12
- Agility: 8
- Endurance: 14
- Vitality: 14
- Radiance: 11
- Inferno: 8
Based on this information, you can start creating a good build, considering all the advantages and disadvantages of this class. Don’t worry; we have done everything for you and described each piece of equipment below.
Lords of the Fallen: Best Stats and Equipment for Dark Crusader Build
From the start, you won’t have access to powerful weapons right away, so the first thing you should focus on is stats. Foremost, you need to prioritize which ones to level up first, and the most reasonable choice is Radiance. This stat will not only give you the opportunity to use unique Radiant weapons, but also to utilize Radiance Spells, which will be extremely useful for both attack and defense. It is also worth noting that this build is paladin-based, so you will have to wear heavy armor and weapons that will take up a lot of weight, so leveling Endurance and Vitality is a must. It’s up to you to decide how to level up everything else, here’s what our character’s stats looked like at level 70:
- Strength: 16
- Agility: 10
- Endurance: 21
- Vitality: 29
- Radiance: 40
- Inferno: 9
And below we will describe all the equipment that is recommended to use.
Dark Crusader Build: Pieta’s Sword
Pieta’s Sword is the weapon of the boss Pieta, which you can get after killing her and collecting Remembrance. After that, take the Remembrance to Molhu and you can buy the weapon for 40 Umbral Scourings. This sword is perfect for this build because it does Holy damage and scales exclusively with Radiance. You can use this short sword when you reach Radiance level 25, so until that point, you can use the starting equipment or buy other Radiance weapons from Exacter Dunmire if you prefer.
Dark Crusader Build: Vanguard Armor Set
Your initial armor itself is ideal for this build, but if you want to be even more effective, the Vanguard Armor Set is a great choice. With this armor, you get even more damage mitigation and higher resistance to various effects, so you can feel more confident on the battlefield, which is critical for a paladin. This set includes the following items:
- Vanguard Gauntlets
- Vanguard Armor
- Vanguard Helm
- Vanguard Leggings
You cannot buy this set, instead, you will need to explore Forsaken Fen to find the Vanguard Barros’ Rosary, which you can give to Exacter Dunmire to buy this armor.
Dark Crusader Build: Spells
Spells are an indispensable part of this build, as they will help you get out of even the toughest battles. The following 3 will work best for you:
| Spells | Effect | Requirements | Mana Cost |
| Piercing Light | You create a piercing and charged burst of Radiant magic that deals damage to all enemies in the area of effect. | Radiance: 8 | 39 |
| Radiant Weapon | When used, it imbues a weapon with Radiance, allowing it to deal additional Radiance damage. | Radiance: 18 | 60 |
| Blessed Reflections | Use it to summon Radiant duplicates of Pieta that will help you in battle. | Radiance: 30 | 99 |
Dark Crusader Build: Amulet & Rings
Last, but not least, are accessories that will give you even more effectiveness in battle. To further improve and finally complete this build, we recommend using the following items:
| Items | Effect | How to get | Cost |
| Empyrean Pendant | Increases holy defense and holy damage. | Buy from Exacter Dunmire | 4500 Vigor |
| Ring of Eternal Faith | Increase Radiance attribute. | Buy from Stomund | 3,000 Vigor |
| Mineowners Ring | Increase maximum stamina and the rate of stamina regeneration. | Find in Abandoned Redcopse | – |
Fully equipped with our tips, you can easily finish the entire game from start to end without even feeling the complexity of this Soulslike game.
Lords of the Fallen is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
