When you first step into the stunningly animated, war-torn world of
Talamh in the critically acclaimed roguelite beat 'em up,
Absolum, you'll be faced with a daunting task: overthrowing the tyrannical rule of
Azra the Sun King. It's an epic journey of magical martial arts, difficult choices, and constant death—and rebirth—at the hands of the high enchantress Uchawi.To survive the increasingly brutal environments of the
Grandery and beyond, you'll quickly realize that your two starting heroes,
Galandra the dark and brooding knight and
Karl the brawling dwarf, won't be enough. While Galandra offers high-mobility swordplay and Karl provides brute-force power, neither possesses the specialized tools needed to consistently overcome the game’s toughest challenges.To truly lead the rebellion, you must unlock the remaining two playable characters: the nimble rogue
Cider and the powerful spellcaster
Brome. These heroes fundamentally change the game's dynamic, offering unique playstyles and powerful abilities that are essential for deep progression into Jaroba and your final confrontation with Azra.This ultimate guide breaks down exactly how to recruit both of these critical allies, detailing the precise steps and offering insight into why you need them in your roster.
Absolum: How to Unlock Characters
Why You Need All Four Heroes
Absolum is a game that rewards variety and mastery. Each character doesn't just look different; they offer a completely new moveset, unique inspirations, and distinct interactions with the world’s Rituals (boons).
- Galandra (Starting Hero): Excels at quick, combo-heavy melee combat with necromantic power.
- Karl (Starting Hero): A tanky brawler with powerful, slow attacks, high stagger resistance, and a blunderbuss for ranged options.
- Cider (Unlockable): A technical, combo-focused character with unmatched mobility.
- Brome (Unlockable): A powerful ranged wizard with crucial defensive mechanics.
Without
Cider's grappling hook for mobility or
Brome's deflecting attacks for survivability, certain late-game Ritual builds and boss fights become significantly harder. The path to defeating
Azra the Sun King is a marathon, and you’ll want every edge you can get.
How to Unlock Cider: The Grappling Rogue
Unlocking Cider is a comparatively straightforward quest chain that takes place entirely within the first region, The Grandery. It's a progression-gated task that can be completed within a few successful runs.
Step 1: The First Encounter
Your first run-in with Cider happens after a key milestone in The Grandery. You must defeat the first mini-boss you encounter. Absolum's roguelite structure offers branching paths,but don't worry—it doesn't matter which path you take or which mini-boss you defeat.
Once the fight is over, and you enter the safe area immediately following the boss, Cider will appear. They’ll engage you in a conversation, hinting at a shared history orknowledge of your character, before disappearing. This initialconversation successfully triggers the next part of the quest.
Step 2: The Brief Glimpse
After your first successful meeting, start a new run from the Sanctuary. As your hero begins their descent into Talamh, Cider will briefly appear at the start before quickly vanishing once more. This confirms the quest is active and ready for the final step.
Step 3: The Forest Rescue (The Unlock)
Now, focus on pushing deeper into The Grandery. You need to reach the second major area, specifically the forest area near the Underking's castle.
As you progress through this dark forest, you will encounter Cider onceagain, but this time they will be under attack and need your help. Youmust engage in the battle and help Cider defeat all the enemies.
Once the fight is cleared, Cider’s gratitude solidifies their commitment to the rebellion. They will immediately head back to the Sanctuary, and from this point forward, Cider is unlocked and available as a playable character for all future runs!
Mastering Cider’s Unique Playstyle
Cider is often considered the tricky character on the roster to master, but their potential payoff is immense.
- Best Grapple in the Game: Their most defining feature is their grapple, which is uniquely tied to their special attack. This allows for unparalleled crowd control andthe ability to reposition enemies or start devastating air combos.
- Acrobatic and Technical: Cider excels at air juggling and movement. Their overall kit demandsprecise timing and a high understanding of spacing. While their skillscan be situational, they can turn a tough room into a high-octaneacrobatic showcase, making them a treat once you have a few Inspirations (character-specific upgrades) under your belt.
How to Unlock Brome: The Powerful Frog Wizard
Unlocking Brome requires significantly more effort, as his quest doesn't even beginuntil you've successfully cleared the first region entirely. This makesBrome a true mid-game unlock, reserved for players who have mastered the basics of Absolum's combat.
Step 1: Defeat the Underking to Reach Jaroba
Before you can even start Brome's quest, you must beat the Underking, the final boss of the Grandery. This victory grants you access to Absolum's second major region: Jaroba.
Jaroba is a massive difficulty spike compared to the Grandery, featuringtougher enemies, more complex environments, and deadlier traps. Beprepared for a few failed runs in this region before you successfullycomplete Brome’s unlock quest.
Step 2: Free Vikhana the Joyful
Once you successfully start your run in Jaroba for the first time, the path is generally linear for the first few areas. Keep pushing forward until you trigger a short cutscene showing a character being kidnapped.
This scene takes place in a room where you will find Vikhana the Joyful trapped in a plant restraint. Defeat all the enemies in this area and then interact with Vikhana to free her.
Step 3: Receive Brome’s Location
Upon being rescued, Vikhana immediately recognizes your quest and tasks you with rescuing the great wizard. She will mark Brome's position on your map for you, initiating the final rescue quest.
Step 4: The Final Rescue (The Unlock)
With Brome’s marker visible, all that's left is to follow the directions.Continue following the main path forward for a short distance, then look for the path that turns North toward the marked tunnel.
Once you find him, Brome will immediately join you in battle. Assist the Mowlaï wizard in clearing the room of enemies.
After the encounter is finished, Brome is successfully recruited. He will return to the Sanctuary, and like Cider, he is now ready to be selected as a playable hero for all subsequent runs.
Mastering Brome’s Unique Playstyle
Brome, the Mowlaï wizard, is a fantastic addition to the roster and a personal favorite for many players. He offers a blend of power and defense thatno other character can match.
- Versatile Combat: Brome is equally effective at long and close ranges thanks to his staff and powerful magic spells. This gives himincredible flexibility in dealing with different enemy types and mobcompositions.
- Deflecting Heavy Attack: Brome's heavy attack is one of the best defensive tools in the game, allowing him to deflect incoming attacks and projectiles. Mastering this timing makes him exceptionally safeagainst many of Jaroba’s toughest foes, drastically increasing your runsurvivability.
With Cider’s mobility and Brome’s magical versatility now at your command, you have the full might of Talamh's rebels behind you. The road to Azra the Sun King is still long and fraught with danger, but you now have the completeroster needed to craft game-breaking builds and finally claim victory.
Which of the four Absolum heroes—Galandra, Karl, Cider, or Brome—will you use for your next run against the Sun King?
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 PS4, PlayStation 5 PS5
Genre(s): Beat'em up, roguelike
Developer(s): Guard Crush Games, Supamonks, Dotemu
Publisher(s): Dotemu, Gamera Games
Release date: October 9, 2025
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