Warhammer Survivors Character Unlock Guide – How to Unlock

Warhammer Survivors has a huge collection of playable champions from the Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar universes. Each character comes with a unique weapon, and unlocking more of them gives you different ways to deal with the endless waves of enemies. However, you won’t get access to the entire roster immediately, as several characters are hidden behind specific challenges and exploration objectives.

While some champions can be purchased with Coins, others require you to defeat thousands of enemies, collect Warhammer Paint Pots, or complete special tasks during a run. There are also characters trapped in different stages, meaning you will need to explore the maps and defeat their guards before adding them to your collection.

Here, I’ll cover all 32 characters in Warhammer Survivors, including their starting weapons, unlock conditions, and the locations of hidden champions. I’ll also share useful directions for finding rescue targets and tips for completing some of the more difficult objectives without wasting too many runs.

Warhammer Survivors Character Unlock Guide – How to Unlock

Before getting into the individual unlock methods, it’s worth knowing which characters belong to each universe. The game separates its roster into Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar, and both have different challenges to complete.

Warhammer 40,000: All 18 Champions

You can unlock 18 characters from the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Malum Caedo is available from the start, while the remaining champions require Coins, collectibles, combat objectives, or stage exploration.

Here are all the characters and what you need to do to recruit them.

Malum Caedo

• Starting Weapon: Chainsword
• Unlock Requirement: Available by default.

Malum Caedo is your starting champion in the 40K universe. You can select him immediately without spending Coins or completing any challenges.

Trooper Bartosz Kozlowski

• Starting Weapon: Lasgun
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on Imperial Bastion.

Bartosz is one of the hidden champions on Imperial Bastion. You need to travel north from your starting position and find him near a crossroads. Defeat the enemies surrounding him to complete the rescue.

Brother Luca Amasius

• Starting Weapon: Boltgun
• Unlock Requirement: Purchase for 200 Coins.

You can unlock Brother Luca by spending 200 Coins. If you are saving currency for other characters, continue collecting Coins during your normal runs.

Sister Superior Amalia Novena

• Starting Weapon: Shield of Faith
• Unlock Requirement: Purchase for 400 Coins.

Amalia costs twice as much as Brother Luca. Save 400 Coins to add her to your collection.

Canones Aurora Veritas

• Starting Weapon: Flamer
• Unlock Requirement: Apply Burning to 100 Death Guard enemies.

This objective is about applying the Burning status effect. Make sure your attacks actually inflict Burning, as simply defeating 100 Death Guard enemies is not the stated requirement.

Max Mahon

• Starting Weapon: Combat Shotgun
• Unlock Requirement: Defeat 1,000 Nurglings in a single run.

Max Mahon has a demanding enemy-count challenge. You must defeat all 1,000 Nurglings during one run, so kills from previous attempts won’t help.

I recommend using weapons with good area damage and focusing on survival. You need enough time to find and defeat the required number of enemies.

Captain Tor Garadon

• Starting Weapon: Whirlwind Battery
• Unlock Requirement: Defeat 10,000 enemies across all runs.

This is a long-term objective, but you don’t have to complete it in one attempt. Your kills accumulate across multiple runs, so you can work towards it naturally while unlocking other characters.

The Legend of Catachan

• Starting Weapon: Frag Grenade
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on Imperial Bastion.

The Legend of Catachan is hidden deeper inside Imperial Bastion. Unlike Bartosz, you need to travel a considerable distance across the map and defeat several mini-bosses before you can recruit him.

K9 Mastiff

• Starting Weapon: Mechanical Bite
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on Gallowdark.

K9 Mastiff is trapped on one of the repeating metal platforms in Gallowdark. Once you find him, six giant monsters will appear. Defeat all of them to finish the rescue.

Commissar Sebastian Yarrick

• Starting Weapon: Power Klaw
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on Ork Stronghold.

Yarrick is held inside an arena-like location on Ork Stronghold. Six Meganobs guard him, and you must defeat all of them before he joins your roster.

Saint Celestine

• Starting Weapon: Ardent Blade
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue her on Imperial Shipyard.

Saint Celestine is hidden on Imperial Shipyard. You must first reach Level 50 during an Ork Stronghold mission to unlock access to this stage. Once there, follow the elevator route to Level 6 and search towards the right.

Sergeant Furan

• Starting Weapon: Storm Bolter
• Unlock Requirement: Reach Level 5 with Gauntlet and Lightning Bolt passives on Ork Stronghold.

Both passives must reach Level 5 during your Ork Stronghold run. Make sure you upgrade them instead of focusing entirely on your main weapon.

Knight-Commander Pask

• Starting Weapon: Battle Cannon
• Unlock Requirement: Defeat 100 Ork vehicles.

Keep an eye out for Ork vehicles during your runs. You need to defeat 100 of them to complete this unlock.

Celestian Sacresant Aveline Aboye

• Starting Weapon: Spear of the Faithful
• Unlock Requirement: Collect 10 Relics.

You need 10 Relics to unlock Aveline. Keep collecting them whenever you encounter them during your exploration.

Chaplain Fo’Baran

• Starting Weapon: Crozius Arcanum
• Unlock Requirement: Recover 1,000 Wounds in ‘Eavy Metal mode.

You must play in ‘Eavy Metal mode and recover a total of 1,000 Wounds. Keep an eye on your recovery opportunities while trying to survive longer runs.

Black Templars Castellan

• Starting Weapon: Boltgun
• Unlock Requirement: Collect the Abaddon Black Paint Pot.

You only need one specific Paint Pot for this champion. Find Abaddon Black during your runs to complete the requirement.

Chief Librarian Mephiston

• Starting Weapon: Smite
• Unlock Requirement: Collect these four Paint Pots:
  • Abaddon Black
  • Leadbelcher
  • Mephiston Red
  • Rakarth Flesh

Mephiston requires four different Paint Pots. Pick up these colours whenever you find them so you can gradually complete his unlock.

Lieutenant Titus

• Starting Weapon: Chainsword
• Unlock Requirement: Collect all six Paint Pots:
  • Abaddon Black
  • Agrax Earthshade
  • Celestra Grey
  • Reikland Fleshade
  • Retributor Armour
  • MacCragge Blue

Titus has one of the longer collection requirements in the 40K roster. You need all six colours, so don’t overlook Paint Pots while exploring different stages.

Age of Sigmar: All 14 Champions

The Age of Sigmar roster contains 14 characters, including three champions available from the beginning. The remaining characters require rescue missions, enemy challenges, or Paint Pot collections.

Here is how to add every Age of Sigmar character to your roster.

Neave Blacktalon

• Starting Weapon: Tempest Axes
• Unlock Requirement: Available by default.

Neave is one of your starting champions. You will also need her specifically for Hendrick’s unlock challenge, so make sure you are comfortable using her.

Armand Callis

• Starting Weapon: Brace of Pistols
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on The Great Parch.

Armand is located close to your starting position. Move slightly left and then head south to find him surrounded by enemies.

Lorai, Child of the Abyss

• Starting Weapon: Nebulous Sea-Fog
• Unlock Requirement: Available by default.

Lorai is unlocked from the beginning, so you don’t need to complete any additional objectives.

Juntar Bernskyn

• Starting Weapon: Fusil-Cannon
• Unlock Requirement: Available by default.

Juntar is the third starting character in the Age of Sigmar roster.

Shakana Goldenblade

• Starting Weapon: Boltstorm Pistol
• Unlock Requirement: Apply Slowed to 100 enemies.

You need to apply the Slowed status effect to 100 enemies. Focus on attacks that inflict this effect to make progress towards the requirement.

Sharynn Azurwrath

• Starting Weapon: Not specified
• Unlock Requirement: Defeat 10 Troggoths.

This is a straightforward combat objective. Defeat 10 Troggoths to unlock Sharynn.

Hendrick, The Silver Wolf

• Starting Weapon: Not specified
• Unlock Requirement: Defeat 10,000 Gloomspite Gitz in a single run while using Neave Blacktalon.

Hendrick has one of the more specific unlock requirements in the Age of Sigmar roster. You must select Neave Blacktalon and defeat 10,000 Gloomspite Gitz during the same run.

Don’t forget to use Neave for this challenge. Other characters won’t count towards the stated requirement.

Hanniver Toll

• Starting Weapon: Flintlock Pistols
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on The Great Parch.

Hanniver is further away from the starting area than Armand. You need to travel towards the northeastern part of the map to find him.

Gotrek Gurnisson

• Starting Weapon: Firestorm Greataxe
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on Skrappa Spill.

Gotrek is found while travelling towards the right side of Skrappa Spill. Several mini-bosses surround him, so prepare your weapons before approaching his location.

Rostus Oxenhammer

• Starting Weapon: Stormcharged Warhammer
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on Bloodwind Spoil.

Rostus is located five grid squares north of your starting position. Look towards the southwestern corner of the target grid square to find him.

Ulgromthier

• Starting Weapon: Not specified
• Unlock Requirement: Rescue him on Under-Empire.

Travel through Under-Empire and find the hidden champion. Defeat the surrounding enemies to complete the rescue.

Maleneth Witchblade

• Starting Weapon: Poisoned Throwing Knives
• Unlock Requirement: Collect the Leadbelcher Paint Pot.

Maleneth has a relatively simple Paint Pot requirement. You only need Leadbelcher to unlock her.

Lyssa Revenya

• Starting Weapon: Not specified
• Unlock Requirement: Collect these four Paint Pots:
  • Abaddon Black
  • Leadbelcher
  • Agrax Earthshade
  • Mechanicus Standard Grey

Collect all four colours during your runs to complete Lyssa’s unlock.

Valius, the Keeper Aqshian

• Starting Weapon: Not specified
• Unlock Requirement: Collect these six Paint Pots:
  • Leadbelcher
  • Celestra Grey
  • Reikland Fleshade
  • Retributor Armour
  • Drakenhof Nightshade
  • Runelord Brass

Valius requires six different Paint Pots, making this another long-term collection objective.

Hidden Champions: Where to Find Them and How to Rescue Them

Several characters in Warhammer Survivors won’t appear through normal purchases or simple combat challenges. You must travel to their specific stages, locate their positions, and defeat the enemies guarding them.

Here are the routes for all the rescue missions covered in this guide.

Imperial Bastion: Finding Bartosz and The Legend of Catachan

Imperial Bastion is the first stage, and it contains two hidden champions: Trooper Bartosz Kozlowski and The Legend of Catachan.

You can use the Auspex Relic to help locate hidden characters. It can be obtained from Desert Wasteland after unlocking ‘Eavy Metal mode.

Bartosz’s Location and Rescue

Bartosz is relatively easy to find if you follow the northern route.

1. Begin your run on Imperial Bastion.
2. Move north from your starting position.
3. Pass the first military building.
4. Continue towards the crossroads.
5. Look for Bartosz surrounded by enemies with blue outlines.
6. Defeat every highlighted enemy.
7. Follow the pointer that appears and approach Bartosz.

Once rescued, Bartosz becomes your companion for the rest of the run. An additional benefit is that his weapon upgrades alongside your character’s default weapon, so you don’t have to upgrade it separately.

Reaching The Legend of Catachan

The Legend of Catachan is much harder to reach because his location is further away from the starting area.

Follow this route:

1. Move five grid squares to the right from your starting position.
2. Travel five grid squares upwards.
3. Look for a turret in the target area.
4. Check the left side of the turret to find The Legend of Catachan.
5. Defeat the mini-bosses guarding him.

One useful navigation trick is to use fixed pickups as landmarks. Magnet pickups always appear in the same location, so you can use them to help identify where you are on the map.

Gallowdark: The Route to K9 Mastiff

K9 Mastiff is the hidden champion on Gallowdark, and his location follows the map’s repeating platform layout.

When the run starts, you will appear on a metal platform with two eagle icons. From there, simply keep moving right and inspect each platform you encounter.

The platforms repeat across the map, so continue checking them until you find K9 Mastiff standing in the middle of one.

However, don’t approach him without preparing for a fight. Six giant monsters will spawn next to him when you find his location.

Recommended weapon: Storm Eagle Rocket

Storm Eagle Rocket is particularly useful for dealing with these monsters. If you see it during a level-up, I recommend picking it and upgrading it as much as possible.

If the rocket doesn’t appear, Blast Templates and Promethium Canisters are alternative pickups that can help you clear the enemies.

Ork Stronghold: Rescuing Commissar Sebastian Yarrick

Yarrick is trapped inside an arena-like area on Ork Stronghold. To reach him, you need to travel towards the southwestern part of the map.

Follow these directions:

1. Start your run on Ork Stronghold.
2. Move four grid squares to the left.
3. Travel four grid squares upwards.
4. Find the arena in the southwestern corner of the target grid square.
5. Locate Yarrick inside the arena.
6. Defeat the six black-armoured Meganobs guarding him.

These Meganobs can take quite a while to defeat if your weapons aren’t upgraded. Storm Eagle Rocket is a particularly effective choice for this encounter.

One thing worth considering is Yarrick’s Power Klaw. It deals damage horizontally, so combining him with a character or weapon that covers vertical areas can give you better overall damage coverage during the rest of the run.

Imperial Shipyard: Unlocking Saint Celestine

Saint Celestine is hidden on Imperial Shipyard, but you cannot access this stage immediately.

First, you need to reach Level 50 during an Ork Stronghold mission. Once Imperial Shipyard becomes available, you can start searching for her.

Use this elevator route:

1. Start your run and head north.
2. Find the Level 1 elevator and use it.
3. On the next level, move slightly left.
4. Locate the Level 2 elevator and use it.
5. Once you reach the next level, move right.
6. Find and use the Level 6 elevator.
7. After reaching Level 6, move all the way to the right.

You will eventually find Saint Celestine surrounded by giant monsters similar to the ones guarding K9 Mastiff.

Storm Eagle Rocket is once again a strong option for this fight. You can also use the Banish and Reroll passives to improve your chances of getting the weapon during level-ups.

The Great Parch: Finding Armand Callis and Hanniver Toll

The Great Parch contains two hidden Age of Sigmar champions: Armand Callis and Hanniver Toll.

You can make locating them easier by defeating the Plague Furnace to obtain the Arcanoscope Relic. The location information from this Relic applies to the Gnarlwood stage.

Armand Callis: Easy Rescue Route

Armand is relatively close to your starting position.

1. Begin your run on The Great Parch.
2. Move slightly to the left, around one-fourth of a grid square.
3. Start heading south.
4. Continue until you spot Armand.
5. Defeat the highlighted enemies around him.

You don’t need to travel very far for this rescue, making Armand one of the easier hidden champions to find.

Hanniver Toll: Northeastern Map Route

Hanniver is located further away, so you need to follow a longer route.

1. Start from your initial position.
2. Move three grid squares to the left.
3. Travel five grid squares upwards.
4. Look in the southwestern corner of the target grid square.
5. Defeat the highlighted enemies guarding Hanniver.

After clearing the enemies, you can approach him to complete the rescue. He will then join you as a companion for the remainder of that run.

Skrappa Spill: Tracking Down Gotrek Gurnisson

Gotrek Gurnisson is hidden on Skrappa Spill. Unlike some other rescue missions, you don’t need to follow a complicated grid-square route here.

Simply keep moving towards the right side of the map until you encounter him surrounded by mini-bosses.

The enemies guarding Gotrek aren’t particularly difficult if you have upgraded your weapons to Level 4 or 5.

However, Skrappa Spill has a narrow layout, and enemies can approach from both directions. This makes crowd control especially important.

I recommend choosing weapons that can hit several enemies at once. Having good coverage will help you avoid getting trapped while trying to reach Gotrek.

Bloodwind Spoil: Locating Rostus Oxenhammer

Rostus Oxenhammer is the hidden champion on Bloodwind Spoil. His location is fairly straightforward once you know which direction to travel.

From your starting position, move five grid squares north. Check the southwestern corner of the target grid square to find Rostus surrounded by enemies.

The rescue area is quite small, so you should prepare your weapons before entering it.

For this encounter, Nebulous Sea-Fog, Tempest Axes, and Boltstorm Pistol are useful crowd-control options. Try to upgrade these weapons to Level 4 or 5 before approaching Rostus.

Best Ways to Complete Character Unlock Challenges

If you want to unlock the full roster without spending too much time repeating runs, it’s worth planning your objectives in advance.

Here are some things I recommend focusing on:

• Save Coins for early purchases: Brother Luca requires 200 Coins, while Sister Superior Amalia needs 400 Coins. These are straightforward unlocks if you collect currency regularly.
• Prioritise Paint Pots: Don’t ignore Paint Pots during exploration. Several champions require multiple colours, and collecting them early helps you avoid extra farming later.
• Use the correct character for specific challenges: Hendrick requires 10,000 Gloomspite Gitz kills with Neave Blacktalon. Make sure you select her before starting.
• Choose weapons with area damage: These are useful for large enemy-count challenges, especially Max Mahon’s single-run requirement.
• Prepare before rescue missions: Some hidden champions are protected by six mini-bosses or giant monsters. Upgrade your weapons before travelling to their locations.
• Remember the difference between cumulative and single-run objectives: Tor Garadon’s 10,000 enemy kills count across runs, but Max Mahon’s 1,000 Nurgling kills must happen in one run.
• Use Relics for navigation: Auspex and Arcanoscope can help you find hidden champions in their respective stages.

Total Playable Characters in Warhammer Survivors

There are 32 characters listed across the two universes in this guide.

• Warhammer 40,000: 18 champions.
• Age of Sigmar: 14 champions.
• Total: 32 champions.

The quickest way to start expanding your collection is to use the default characters, purchase the Coin-based champions, and gradually complete the remaining combat and exploration challenges.

I recommend keeping track of your Paint Pots and Relics from the beginning, as several characters require specific combinations of these collectibles. Once you have completed the easier objectives, you can spend more time exploring hidden areas and taking on the tougher rescue missions.

That should give you a clear path towards collecting all 32 characters in Warhammer Survivors.