Vampire Survivors Characters — Every Character and How to Unlock Them
Vampire Survivors characters explained: the starting cast, how unlocks work (achievement-based), the best characters for beginners, and the DLC rosters including Ode to Castlevania's 80 characters.
Vampire Survivors Characters Guide — Every Character and How to Unlock Them
Vampire Survivors has 100+ characters — the base game roster plus the massive DLC casts (including Ode to Castlevania's 80 characters). If you're searching "vampire survivors characters," you want to know how unlocking works, who's worth playing, and what the DLC rosters contain. Here's the complete guide.
The Character System, Explained
- Every character = a different start: a unique starting weapon + stat skew (damage, speed, HP, etc.)
- Unlock by playing: almost all characters unlock through achievements — survive X minutes, kill X enemies, reach X stage, complete X challenge
- The gold/metagame: characters aren't power-gated — they're playstyle variety; the meta-upgrade shop (gold) is what actually makes runs easier
- The DLC casts: each expansion adds a full roster — Legacy of the Moonspell (Japan-themed), Tides of the Foscari, Emergency Meeting (Among Us collab), and the colossal Ode to Castlevania
The Starting Cast & Early Unlocks
| Character | Starting weapon | When you get them |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio | Whip | Default |
| Imelda | Magic Wand | Survive 1 minute |
| Pasqualina | Runetracer | Reach level 10 |
| Gennaro | Knife | Kill 500 enemies |
| Arca | Fire Wand | Reach level 20 |
| Porta | Lightning Ring | Survive 5 minutes |
The beginner path: the roster unlocks naturally as you play — the first ~6 characters come from basic milestones (minutes survived, levels, kills). Just playing through Mad Forest a few times unlocks the first row.
The Best Characters (Community Consensus)
- For beginners: Imelda (Magic Wand = homing, forgiving) and Pasqualina (Runetracer = strong projectiles) are the community's "best starter" picks
- For power: the secret/endgame characters (unlocked via specific achievements) are the strongest — the community's "broken" picks come from the late roster
- For Castlevania fans: the Ode to Castlevania roster (Alucard, Richter, Trevor, Sypha, and 76 more) — playable Castlevania icons with their signature weapons (see below)
Because every character is a different start (not strictly better), "best" means "best starting weapon for my build plan." Imelda/Pasqualina for reliable runs; the DLC characters for signature-weapon builds. There's no single tier-1.
Ode to Castlevania: The 80-Character Roster
The Ode to Castlevania DLC (October 2024) is the genre's most famous crossover — 80 characters and 107 weapons from the Castlevania series:
- The icons: Alucard (the Sword familiar build), Richter (the Belmont whip), Trevor, Sypha — the main-cast characters with their iconic kits
- The deep cuts: the roster reaches into Castlevania's decades of spin-offs and villains (the full 80 covers heroes, villains, and obscure entries)
- The weapons: 107 Castlevania weapons (whips, crosses, sub-weapons) with their own evolutions/unions — the DLC is effectively a second game's worth of content
The Castlevania characters unlock through the DLC's own achievements/stage progression (playing the Castlevania stage, surviving DLC content) — same achievement system, new roster.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many characters are in Vampire Survivors?
100+ across the base game and DLCs — the base roster plus expansions (Moonspell, Foscari, Emergency Meeting) and Ode to Castlevania's 80-character cast.
How do I unlock characters in Vampire Survivors?
Through achievements: survive minutes, reach levels, kill enemies, complete stages/challenges. Playing naturally unlocks the roster; DLC characters unlock via DLC achievements.
Who is the best character in Vampire Survivors?
Imelda (Magic Wand) and Pasqualina (Runetracer) for beginners; the secret/endgame characters for power; the Castlevania icons (Alucard, Richter) for signature builds. Every character is a different start, not a strict upgrade.
What characters are in Ode to Castlevania?
80 characters from the Castlevania series — Alucard, Richter, Trevor, Sypha, and deep-cut heroes/villains across the franchise's history, with 107 Castlevania weapons.
Can I play as the Castlevania characters?
Yes — the Ode to Castlevania DLC makes them playable with their signature weapons and their own evolutions/unions.
Related guides: Vampire Survivors Guide · Vampire Survivors Evolutions · Vampire Survivors Maps
Last updated: August 11, 2026.