The First Descendant doesn’t give you access to all of its characters from the start. You can only choose from three starting Descendants, each with radically different powers on the battlefield.
When you start The First Descendant, you will have access to three characters: Ajax (the tank hero with defensive powers), Lepic (the expert in DPS demolition) and Viessa (the expert in penalties and frost attacks). These characters are intentionally easy to use, giving you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the game’s systems.
Ajax, Lepic, and Viessa all have different attributes that will make them appealing to fans of different playstyles. So here is the best starting character to choose in The First Descendant.
The best choice to start in The First Descendant
The choice between Lepic and Viessa is difficultas Ajax’s support style is best for those more familiar with The First Descendant’s mechanics.
Of the two remaining characters, Lepic is the ideal choice for a true beginner. His Belle Escape skill and explosive playstyle, both easy to master and visually impressive, are particularly effective against groups of enemies.
Players more experienced with shooting games will probably like Viessa as a starting character. His skills require a bit more knowledge to use effectively, but they can be devastating and extremely satisfying when done well.
Ajax’s strengths and weaknesses in The First Descendant
NEXON GAMESAjax is a frontline fighter with support skills, thanks to the fact that he can use shields on the battlefield. It also has offensive capabilities, with useful debuffs that can be inflicted on enemies, as long as you’re not afraid to get close.
Ajax has a mechanic called Void Energywhich fills every time the player uses a skill. Once Void Energy is full, it enhances all of Ajax’s other skills.
For defensive powers, Ajax has Orbital Barrierwhich is a shield in the form of a wall, and Dimensionwhich is a domed shield. When Void Energy is full, these two shields reflect a portion of the damage received back to the enemy.
Nexon GamesFor offensive powers, Ajax hasExpulsionwhich repels enemies, and Voidwalkwhich is a crushing jump that can stun enemies. Remember that both of these abilities have a short rangeso you need to be careful when using them with low health.
Ajax is the best choice for more experienced shooter fans. His skills require the player to take care of their teammates and the flow of the battle in order to best use their shields to keep everyone alive.
Strengths and weaknesses of Lepic in The First Descendant
NEXON GAMESLepic is a complete DPS character who uses the fire element with his explosives. With the exception of his passive skill, Lepic’s playstyle involves combining all four of his offensive skills into a short burst of fire that can deal a ton of damage.
The skill Grenade de Lepic throws an explosive towards the enemy, while Overarmament gives its bullets a Burn effect that deals constant damage where they hit. These two skills can be strengthened by Overkillalthough the latter burns mana points (MP) as long as it is active.
In addition, Lepic has Grenade of Attraction which uses gravity to attract enemies to a specific point. You can easily see the combo potential here, as the Pull Grenade brings together a group of enemies, allowing you to Grenade or Overarm on them, while Overpower is in effect.
Nexon GamesIn contrast to his other skills, Lepic’s passive skill, Beautiful Escapeis essentially a second life. If you die, Belle Escape protects you from all damage for a short time, before restoring some of your health. However, it will not save you indefinitely, because Belle Escape has a long cooldownso you will be extremely vulnerable after using it.
Lepic is about blowing everything up. His skills are simple to understand and very effective in a game where you face many groups of enemies. You just need to combine a few skills to maximize their effectiveness.
Strengths and weaknesses of Viessa in The First Descendant
NEXON GAMESViessa is a debuff specialist whose main gimmick involves her passive skill Ice Sphere. This floating sphere hits nearby enemies and inflicts the Ice Bind effect, which works in tandem with its other abilities.
Viessa’s skills focus on increasing the levels of Ice Bindings, the higher the level, the more effective their effects will be.
Ice Shards creates a beam of damage that damages enemies and inflicts Ice Binds, while Cold Snap is a short-range bow with the same effect. Its most powerful move is Blizzardwhich has a wide range, deals a ton of damage, and is even more powerful on enemies with Ice Binds.
Viessa also has a buff: Ice Path. Not only does it increase her movement speed and Shield, but it creates layers of Ice wherever she passes, inflicting Ice Binds on any enemy that comes into contact with them.
Nexon GamesViessa requires knowing how her skills work to play effectively. You need to know how to maximize the use of Ice Binding to make your skills more damaging when used.
Want to know more about The First Descendant? Make the right choice of Legatee using our tier list of characters, then discover our ranking of the best weapons in The First Descendant before heading out on a mission.
