It’s super common to pick the first descendant that looks cool when you boot up The First Descendant, only to realize a few missions in that their kit doesn’t fit your preferred playstyle. Maybe you picked a support-focused descendant when you’d rather run headfirst into fights with a shotgun, or a long-range sniper when you hate hanging back during boss fights. If that’s you, you’re probably wondering how do you change descendants in the first descendant without wasting all the progress you’ve already made. We’ve put together this guide based on 70+ hours of playtime, so you can swap characters without losing your hard-earned resources or mission progress.
How Do You Change Descendants in The First Descendant: Exact Step-by-Step Process
The process to swap your active descendant is way simpler than most new players expect, but it’s locked to a specific location in the game’s main hub, so you can’t switch mid-mission no matter how badly you want to. First, you’ll need to complete the opening tutorial missions and gain full access to the Operation Hub, the central base where you pick missions, upgrade gear, and interact with NPCs. Once you’re in the hub, head to the Descendant Terminal, which is located right next to the weapon upgrade station, near the eastern side of the main floor. If you’ve been searching for how do you change descendants in the first descendant, this process is exactly what you’re looking for, no extra steps required.
Once you interact with the terminal, you’ll see a full list of every descendant you’ve already unlocked, plus locked descendants with their unlock requirements listed clearly. To switch, just select the descendant you want to use, then confirm your selection. The game will take 2-3 seconds to load their character model and apply all their associated stats and abilities to your loadout. That’s all there is to the basic process, but there are a few key rules you need to remember to avoid frustration later.
- You can only swap descendants in the Operation Hub, or in the pre-mission lobby before you start a co-op or solo run
- Swapping descendants does not delete any progress you’ve made on other characters, including level ups, ability upgrades, or equipped cosmetics
- You can’t swap to a descendant you haven’t unlocked yet, even if a friend in your party is using that character
We’ve seen a lot of new players waste time running around the hub looking for a way to swap, so don’t make the mistake of trying to change characters through your main player menu – that only lets you adjust settings and view stats, not swap descendants.
What You Need to Unlock New Descendants Before You Can Swap
Before you can swap to a different descendant, you first have to unlock them, and each character has a specific set of requirements you need to meet before they’re available in your terminal. Most new players assume they have to pay real money to unlock new descendants, but that’s not true – every playable character in the game can be unlocked for free with in-game resources, as long as you’re willing to put in a bit of grind. Once you unlock a new character, you can go back to the Descendant Terminal and follow the steps for how do you change descendants in the first descendant to start using them immediately.
The first thing you’ll need for almost every unlock is Descendant Shards, a rare resource that drops from boss fights, weekly missions, and high-difficulty co-op runs. Each descendant requires a different number of shards, with rarer S-tier characters needing up to 150 shards to unlock, while common starter alternatives only need 30-50. You’ll also need to collect specific character-specific materials, like genetic samples, that drop from missions tied to that descendant’s backstory.
It’s a good idea to prioritize unlocking 2-3 descendants that cover different playstyles early on, so you can swap depending on the mission you’re running. For example, if you’re taking on a boss with high AoE damage, you might want to swap to a tank descendant instead of a squishy sniper to survive longer. If you’re running a co-op mission with random players, swapping to a support descendant can make the run way smoother for everyone in your group.
You don’t have to grind for every descendant right away, either. Start with 2-3 that fit playstyles you already enjoy, then branch out to more niche characters once you have a solid stock of resources built up.
Tips to Keep Your Progress Intact When You Swap Descendants
One of the biggest fears new players have when swapping descendants is that they’ll lose all the progress they made on their first character, but that’s never the case if you follow a few simple rules. The only thing that doesn’t carry over between descendants is their individual ability upgrades – weapon upgrades, cosmetics, and account-wide resources like gold and crafting materials stay with you no matter what character you’re using.
First, always make sure you save your ability loadout presets before you swap away from a descendant you’ve spent time upgrading. The game lets you save up to 3 different loadout presets per character, so you can have one for solo play, one for co-op support, and one for boss fights without having to re-upgrade every time you swap. If you don’t save your preset, you won’t lose your upgrades, but you will have to rearrange your ability slots and modifier selections every time you switch back, which wastes a lot of time.
Another common mistake new players make is equipping character-exclusive cosmetics on a descendant before swapping, then wondering where the cosmetic went. Character-exclusive skins only work on the descendant they’re made for, so you won’t see them in your cosmetic inventory when you’re using a different character. That’s not a bug, it’s intentional design, so don’t panic if you don’t see your favorite skin after swapping.
You should also take a minute to check your weapon loadout after you swap, especially if you’re switching between a melee-focused descendant and a long-range one. Some weapon perks only work with specific descendant abilities, so a shotgun that works perfectly with your brawler descendant might be almost useless with your sniper. A quick check of your loadout before you start a mission will save you from getting stuck with a weapon that doesn’t fit your new character’s kit.
When Should You Swap Descendants for Better Mission Performance?
Swapping descendants isn’t just for when you get bored of your current character – it’s a core strategy that can make even the hardest missions in the game feel trivial, if you swap at the right time. A lot of new players stick to one character for every mission, and they end up struggling with fights that would be easy if they just picked a better fit for the mission’s requirements.
The first time you should always consider swapping is when you’re about to run a high-difficulty boss fight. Every boss in The First Descendant has specific weaknesses and attack patterns, and some descendants are built to counter those patterns perfectly. For example, the boss Voltaic has constant area-of-effect lightning attacks that can one-shot squishy characters, so swapping to a tank descendant with high health and shield regen will let you survive those attacks while you deal damage. If you’re running the boss with a group, swapping to a support descendant that can heal and revive teammates will cut your clear time in half.
You should also swap if you’re joining a co-op group that’s missing a specific role. Most random co-op groups are full of damage-focused characters, so swapping to a support or tank will make the group way more effective, and you’ll get extra rewards for filling a needed role at the end of the mission. Even if you prefer playing damage, taking one for the team and swapping to support will almost always result in a faster, smoother run with fewer wipes.
Finally, don’t be afraid to swap if you’re just not having fun with your current character. The whole point of having multiple descendants is to let you play the way you want, so if you’re getting bored of running the same abilities every mission, swap to a new one. You can always swap back later if you miss your old main, and you won’t lose any progress by trying something new. A lot of players end up finding their favorite character weeks after they start playing, just because they decided to swap and try something different.
At the end of the day, swapping descendants is one of the most powerful tools you have in The First Descendant, and it’s way easier to do than most new players realize. Whether you want to try a new playstyle, counter a tough boss, or support your co-op team, knowing how do you change descendants in the first descendant will help you get way more enjoyment out of every hour you put into the game. Don’t feel locked into the first descendant you pick – experiment with different characters, find the ones that fit your playstyle, and don’t be afraid to swap whenever you need to for better performance or just for fun. If you follow the tips we’ve laid out here, you’ll be able to swap without losing progress, and you’ll be dominating even the hardest missions in no time.