If you’ve ever loaded into a The First Descendant mission only to realize you picked a character totally wrong for the task ahead, you’ve probably asked: can you change characters in the first descendant? I’ve been there too, stuck with a support-focused Viessa when my team needed a high-damage dealer to take down a giant Colossus boss. This guide breaks down every scenario where you can swap characters, limitations you need to watch for, and tricks to make the process as smooth as possible so you never get stuck running a mismatched build again.
Can You Change Characters in The First Descendant Mid-Mission?
So when asking can you change characters in the first descendant during an active run, the short answer is almost always no. You cannot swap characters once you have entered an active combat zone outside of pre-planned checkpoints. The devs built this restriction to keep co-op play balanced, as team compositions are calculated based on each character’s unique kit and loadout when the mission launches.
That said, there are a few exceptions to this rule. You can swap characters between waves in most defense-style missions, as long as you are standing in the designated safe zone near the objective. You can also swap if you are still in the pre-mission lobby before anyone hits the “start mission” trigger, or if you return to the main Albion hub between runs.
I tested this last week during a Void Intercept run where I accidentally picked Freyna instead of my main damage dealer Ajax. Since we hadn’t crossed the mission start line yet, I was able to swap in 10 seconds flat, no hassle. But once we started fighting the boss, there was no option to swap even when I died and respawned later in the run.
Step-by-Step Process to Swap Characters Safely
Swapping characters is incredibly simple when you are in an allowed area, but there are a few small steps you can follow to avoid common glitches and mistakes. I’ve had runs ruined because I rushed the swap and forgot to transfer my gear over, so these tips will save you that headache.
- Head to the character selection terminal in the main Albion hub, or open the main menu if you're in a pre-mission lobby to access your full roster of unlocked characters
- Select the character you want to swap to, and confirm that all their equipped modules, weapons, and cosmetic items are set up correctly before finalizing the swap
- Wait 2-3 seconds for the game to load your new character model, then check your skill bar to make sure all abilities are properly mapped to your preferred keybinds
If you’re playing in a co-op party, let your team know you’re swapping so they can adjust their own builds to complement your new character’s kit. For example, if you switch from a damage dealer to a healer, your teammates can drop their support modules to run more damage-focused gear for the run. It only takes a quick text chat message to avoid misalignment that can cost you the mission.
Limitations to Character Swaps You Need to Know
A lot of new players reach out asking can you change characters in the first descendant for ranked matches, and the answer is only before the lobby is locked. Once all players in a ranked Void Mission have clicked the “ready” button, the lobby locks and you won’t be able to swap your character even if you haven’t entered the mission zone yet.
You can only swap to characters you have already unlocked too, so you won’t be able to test new characters you haven’t earned through story progression or in-game events in live missions. If you want to try a new character before you commit to unlocking them, you can test all playable characters in the free training room in the Albion hub with no restrictions.
Some special limited-time event missions also have total swap restrictions, even in the pre-mission lobby. Always check the mission details tab before you queue for an event to see if swaps are allowed, or you might end up stuck with a bad pick for the entire run. I learned this the hard way during the 2024 Halloween event, when I picked a single-target focused character for an A-heavy wave defense mission and couldn’t swap to a better fit.
How to Pick the Right Character Before You Lock In
Even though character swaps are allowed in most pre-mission scenarios, it’s always better to pick the right character first to save time and avoid miscommunication with your team. The easiest way to do this is to check the mission type and enemy details before you make your pick.
For boss fight missions, pick a character with high single-target damage like Gley or Ajax to burn through boss health bars fast. For wave defense or mob clear missions, pick an AOE-focused character like Viessa or Blaze to take out groups of enemies quickly. For co-op runs, ask your team what roles are missing before you lock in your pick, so you don’t end up with three support characters and no damage dealers.
You can check the mission's recommended element and enemy type in the mission description to pick a character that has elemental advantages, which will boost your damage output by 30% or more for the entire run. If you’re still not sure which character to pick, spend 5 minutes testing them in the training room first to get a feel for their kit before you queue for a mission.
At the end of the day, the answer to can you change characters in the first descendant is mostly yes, as long as you follow the game's simple rules for when and where swaps are allowed. Taking a few extra seconds to confirm your character pick before you launch a mission will save you a lot of frustration later, and knowing when you can swap will help you adjust your team's strategy for even the hardest endgame content. Don't be afraid to test out different characters too - each has a totally unique playstyle, and you might find a new main you never expected to love.