If you’ve spent any time running missions in The First Descendant, you know your playable character’s kit makes or breaks every run, from void battles to boss raids. Figuring out how to get new descendants in the first descendant is one of the first big hurdles new players hit, especially if you want to move past the default starter options and test out unique abilities like crowd control, heals, or high-dps AoE attacks. I’ve spent over 120 hours grinding for every currently available descendant, and I’ve sorted out the fastest, least frustrating ways to unlock every character without wasting days on redundant missions.
Core Requirements to Get New Descendants in The First Descendant
Before you start chasing specific characters, you need to unlock the core system that lets you research new descendants first. You can’t unlock any new descendants until you complete the first three main story missions, that unlocks the Descendant Research menu at your home base. I made this mistake when I first started playing, I spent 2 hours farming for a rare material I thought I needed for a descendant, only to realize I hadn’t unlocked the research menu yet. Don’t do that.
Once you have the menu unlocked, every descendant follows the same basic unlock structure. You’ll need a character-specific blueprint, a set of common and rare materials, enough gold to cover research costs, and occasionally void shards for higher-tier descendants. Blueprints unlock as you progress through the main story, or as you complete hidden side quests for secret characters. That means you don’t have to waste time guessing what you need, every requirement is clearly listed in the research menu as soon as you have the corresponding blueprint.
Some high-tier descendants are locked behind level 30+ difficulty missions, so don’t waste time trying to unlock a S-tier damage character when you’re still level 12. You won’t be able to access the missions that drop their required materials anyway, and you’ll have more fun testing out mid-tier characters while you level up your account.
Fastest Farming Routes for Unlock Materials
Most of your time unlocking new descendants will be spent farming required materials, so it pays to use the most efficient routes possible. Generic materials like metal alloys and polymers drop from almost every mission, but descendant-specific rare materials only drop from designated boss fights. Always run missions on the highest difficulty you can clear reliably, because drop rates for rare materials are 2x higher on hard mode compared to normal, and you’ll get extra gold and experience as a bonus.
I’ve tested every mission in the game for drop rates, and these are the most efficient farming spots for common unlock materials:
For example, if you’re trying to unlock the support descendant Lifeless, you’ll need to farm the Void Worm boss specifically, no other boss drops the required spinal cord component you need for her research. Don’t dismantle any rare boss drops until you’ve checked all your unlocked descendant blueprints, I can't tell you how many times I wasted a rare drop by dismantling it before I unlocked the blueprint for the descendant that needed it.
How to Unlock Hidden and Limited-Time Descendants
Not all descendants are available in the permanent research menu. Some are locked behind hidden side quests, and others are only available during limited-time seasonal events. Event descendants usually don’t come back for 6+ months after their initial run, so if you see an event running for a new descendant, prioritize that grind first before working on permanent unlocks.
Hidden descendants don’t show up in your research menu until you trigger their unlock quest. Secret descendant quests are triggered by finding hidden data logs scattered across open world zones, so take 10 minutes after each main mission to explore the surrounding area for glowing collectibles. These logs are usually tucked away in hidden caves or on top of abandoned buildings, and most of them are easy to spot if you keep an eye out for yellow quest markers that pop up when you get close.
Limited-time descendants are usually easier to unlock than permanent high-tier characters, even for new players. Their required materials drop exclusively from event missions, which are tuned for lower level accounts, and you don’t need to beat endgame content to get all the materials you need. I unlocked my first event descendant at level 15, and it was way stronger than the permanent mid-tier characters I was using at the time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Unlocking New Descendants
It’s easy to slow down your unlock progress by making simple mistakes that waste hours of grind time. The most common mistake I see new players make is farming for materials before they have the corresponding descendant blueprint. Material requirements can change slightly when you finally unlock the blueprint, so you might end up farming the wrong items entirely if you jump the gun.
Another big mistake is wasting all your gold on low-level weapon and mod upgrades. Most high-tier descendants cost 100k+ gold to research, so don’t spend all your gold upgrading a common weapon you’ll replace in a week. Only upgrade items you know you’ll use for at least 10 levels, and save the rest of your gold for research costs.
Never spend premium currency to skip research timers, the timers are only 1 to 4 hours long, and you can use that time to farm materials for your next descendant unlock instead of wasting real money. Co-op missions also give a 10% extra material drop rate, so running missions with random players or friends will speed up your grind significantly, even if you don’t need help beating the boss.
At the end of the day, unlocking new characters doesn't have to be a slog if you plan your grind and avoid common pitfalls. Once you know how to get new descendants in the first descendant, you can mix and match kits to find the playstyle that fits you best, whether you prefer supporting your team as a healer or melting bosses as a high-dps attacker. Take it one unlock at a time, prioritize the descendants that fit your preferred playstyle first, and don't be afraid to team up with other players to cut down your grind time significantly.