Darkest Dungeon: The Fire's Edge is the first paid DLC in six years

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Fire’s Edge launched on August 18, 2026: it is the first new Darkest Dungeon DLC since The Butcher’s Circus, released on May 28, 2020. Red Hook Studios brings two Darkest Dungeon II heroes into the first game, ten years after its 1.0 version on January 19, 2016.

Update, October 26, 2026: the Nintendo eShop listing confirms August 20 for the Switch version, and several balance patches followed in September for the Duelist and the districts. A new mod manager is in testing on the coming_in_hot branch. On Steam, 78% of the 243 DLC reviews are positive.

Two heroes from Darkest Dungeon II

The two recruits, the Runaway and the Duelist, made their debut in Darkest Dungeon II. Each one expands your roster by one slot, and Red Hook says the additions do not touch existing heroes or enemies.

The Runaway is a position-flexible damage dealer built around a unique damage type, Burn. The studio describes her as highly synergistic with teams that like stuns and pull, knockback and shuffle effects. Dressed in tatters and armed with a crude poker, she favors fire and stealth when pressed.

The Duelist is a more complex damage dealer. She dances between the party’s ranks, freely maintains Riposte and alternates between two stances, Defensive and Aggressive. According to the publisher, planning her future turns is the key to getting the most out of her.

Trinkets, districts and events

The DLC introduces three new trinket mechanics: Trigger Uses, Quest Charges and Progressive Trinkets. Some arrive loaded with powerful but limited effects, while others transform as you complete expeditions.

Three districts join the Hamlet: the Academie Duello, the Craftworks and the Archaeological Base Camp. According to Red Hook, they offer new bounties, such as weekly heirlooms and trinkets, along with damage boosts for heroes. New town events round out the content.

Price, platforms and first patches

The DLC costs $6.99 on Steam, which is 6,49 € in France. It has been available since August 18 on Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG, as well as on PlayStation and Xbox. The Nintendo Switch version arrived on August 20.

The launch had a hiccup. Right before release, Red Hook spotted a text problem in the town activity log and the graveyard, with possible achievements granted by mistake. The fix was already live on PC, Mac, Linux and PS4. An Xbox fix was targeted for the end of the week, and the Switch one was in progress.

Several updates followed on August 21, 25 and 27.

For modders too

The studio invited members of the mod community to test the DLC for a month. It promises a new mod loader and a follow-up release planned for the end of August.

What to watch

For players who have already exhausted the first game, The Fire’s Edge adds two distinct kits and three buildings, but not an overhaul. How Burn and the new trinkets fit into such a punishing system is worth watching closely. The price stays modest, and player feedback will show whether the balance holds.