The Anacrusis: How To Change Characters

TL;DR

  • Characters are assigned by join order: first player gets Guion, second gets Nessa, third gets Liu, fourth gets Lance
  • Full parties can coordinate specific roles by controlling who joins the lobby in what sequence
  • Solo players are locked as Guion, while three-player groups get AI-controlled Lance
  • This temporary system will likely be replaced with direct character selection in future updates
  • Each hero has unique cosmetics and personality, though no gameplay differences currently

Navigating The Anacrusis’s character selection requires understanding its current Early Access limitations. Unlike fully released titles with polished interfaces, this cooperative shooter’s hero assignment system operates on a straightforward but restrictive join-order basis that many players find initially confusing.

The game’s availability through Early Access on PC and Game Preview on Xbox means you’re experiencing development in progress. While this grants early gameplay access, it also means core features like character selection remain works in progress. The development team at Stray Bombay has prioritized core gameplay mechanics over interface polish during this phase.

From left to right, meet Guion, Nessa, Lance, and Liu.

From left to right, meet Guion, Nessa, Lance, and Liu.

The Anacrusis currently features four distinct survivors, each with unique personalities and cosmetic progression paths. While they don’t function as traditional classes with specialized abilities, their individual character development and unlockable cosmetics provide compelling reasons to develop preferences among the roster.

The four heroes—Guion, Nessa, Liu, and Lance—maintain fixed assignment positions based strictly on lobby join sequence. This system ensures every session has consistent character availability, though it limits player choice during this development phase. Understanding each character’s background can enhance your connection to the game’s narrative elements.

Cosmetic unlocks represent the primary progression system tied to specific characters. As you accumulate playtime with each hero, you’ll unlock visual customizations that allow personal expression while maintaining gameplay balance. This cosmetic-focused approach ensures no pay-to-win elements while providing meaningful rewards.

The current character assignment system follows an unchangeable sequence that determines which player receives which hero. The party founder automatically assumes control of Guion, with subsequent slots filling as Nessa, Liu, and Lance respectively based on join timing.

This arrangement means specific characters become unavailable depending on your party size. Solo adventurers find themselves permanently playing as Guion without switching options, while three-player squads will always have Lance controlled by AI companion systems. This fixed assignment structure represents one of the key areas targeted for improvement based on community feedback.

For those familiar with squad-based shooters, this system differs significantly from traditional class selection in games like our BF6 Class Selection Guide, where players have complete freedom to choose their combat roles. The temporary nature of this arrangement suggests substantial interface improvements are planned for future updates.

Coordinated groups can strategically manage character assignments through careful lobby join sequencing. To ensure specific players receive desired heroes, the party leader should instruct members to join in the predetermined sequence: first position as Guion, second as Nessa, third as Liu, and final slot as Lance.

While this workaround feels somewhat cumbersome compared to direct selection systems, it provides the only method for role assignment in the current build. Players should communicate their preferences before session initiation to avoid confusion and ensure everyone receives their intended character.

Single players should understand they have no alternative to playing as Guion currently. This limitation may influence your decision to play solo versus seeking cooperative partners, especially if you have strong preferences among the available heroes.

For those seeking to maximize their effectiveness regardless of character assignment, our BF6 Weapons Unlock Guide offers transferable strategies for mastering various combat scenarios with different loadouts.

Stray Bombay has indicated this character assignment method represents a temporary solution during Early Access development. The development roadmap likely includes implementing direct character selection similar to systems found in more established cooperative shooters.

As The Anacrusis evolves through weekly, monthly, and potentially yearly updates, players should anticipate significant quality-of-life improvements to the hero selection process. Community feedback plays a crucial role in prioritizing which features receive development attention.

For comprehensive guidance on navigating evolving game systems during development phases, our Battlefield 6 Complete Guide provides valuable insights into adapting to changing mechanics and meta-strategies.

Beyond character selection, mastering The Anacrusis requires familiarity with its weapon systems, alien enemy types, and the versatile Matter Compiler tool. These interconnected systems create the strategic depth that distinguishes this cooperative experience from similar titles in the genre.

Action Checklist

  • Coordinate with your team about character preferences before starting a session
  • Join lobbies in specific sequence: Guion first, Nessa second, Liu third, Lance last
  • Accept that solo play means permanent Guion assignment currently
  • Monitor official channels for updates about character selection improvements
  • Provide constructive feedback about the current system through official channels

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