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First expedition
Prepare, finish an objective, and return with the party alive.
Overview
Darkest Dungeon rewards preparation and disciplined retreat. The first goal is not to clear every room; it is to learn navigation, light, stress, and the upgrade loop without destroying the roster.
A safer route into the first mission
After the tutorial, assemble four heroes with complementary roles. Check the region, objective, and difficulty before buying supplies. Skill dots show required hero ranks and reachable enemy ranks. An unlocked but unequipped skill is unavailable in combat. An editorial learning formation, from the screen's left to right, is Vestal → Plague Doctor → Highwayman → Crusader: back to front, ranks 4 → 3 → 2 → 1. This is not a universal solution. The Doctor interrupts rear threats, the Highwayman reaches varied targets, the Crusader anchors the front, and the Vestal sustains health. Check the rest of the formation when the Highwayman advances.
Four checks before entry
| Check | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| Objective | Room exploration, room battles, or a specific task: finishing matters more than touching every Curio. |
| Upgrades | Check actual weapons, armor, and selected skills; unlocking building upgrades does not automatically buy every hero upgrade. |
| Sustain | Health healing and stress management are separate problems. |
| Retreat | A failed expedition can cost less than a trained hero's death. |
Before the expedition
- Read mission objective and length before buying provisions.
- Place heroes where their selected skills work.
- Cover healing, control, and reliable damage instead of relying on critical hits.
- Retreat when the risk to the roster exceeds the remaining reward.
Visual reference
