Jester (Darkest Dungeon II)

* Base
* Upgraded

The **Jester** is a hero in Darkest Dungeon II.

## Class Description

* ANY RANK
* BLEED
* STRESS HEAL
* SUPPORT

## Skills

The Jester starts the game equipped with  **Razor's Wit**,  **Fade to Black**,  **Slice Off**,  **Battle Ballad**, and  **Inspiring Tune**. All other skills must be unlocked through the Shrine of Reflection, after which they are permanently unlocked and available for subsequent playthroughs.

Razor's Wit

Fade to Black

Slice Off

Battle Ballad

Inspiring Tune

Harvest

Finale

Solo

Play Out

Encore

Echoing March

*Act-Out Attack*

## Unique Trinkets

🔸Each Hero has their own 3 unique Trinkets, exclusive only to them.

Indelible
**65**  | If Target  : +25% DMG
Slice Off Skill: +2  Dealt
Indelible
**65**  | When Moving  (10%)
Target: Play Out Skill: Destroy 1 Negative Token
Indelible
**65**  | Random Ally on Turn End: If Rank = 1: Add 1 Positive Token
Self: Solo Skill:  (50%)

## Hero Paths

🔸 All Heroes Start The Game with No Hero Path. Each Hero has access to 3 unique Paths available only to them once they Invest into The Living City.

## Strategy

🔸The Jester is a particularly mobile Hero, as most offensive skills of his skillset require him to change position around the team composition to unleash his full potential. Due to his rather erratic movements, the Jester may present risk when fit into a team who requires Rank consistency or lacks flexibility in movement. Notably, the Jester excels at applying **Combo**, possessing 4 skills that can inflict said Token in total, more than any other Heroes. Due to his highly flexible skillset with a good target reach, the Jester can reliably perform on any Rank, especially on middle Ranks. Jester has a more supporting role on Rank 3 where he can effectively **Stress** heal, buff his team or **Pull** targets, while on Rank 2 he can use  **Finale** to deal a strong blow on resilient targets.

🔸**Offense:** The Jester's skillset mainly revolves around movement, and as such, it it better to pair him with Heroes with high Rank flexibility to adapt to allies' movement (Highwayman,Grave Robber, etc.). While theLeper, who is severely lacking in terms of mobility, may seem like a bad companion for the Jester, he can use  **Bash** to apply **Immobilize** on himself to avoid being moved by Jester's said skills. At the same time, if used in a right way;  **Bash**, as well as similar skills that apply **Immobilize** (Hellion's  **Toe to Toe** orMan-at-Arms'  **Hold the Line**), can also lock the Jester in his place and give him extra chances to use certain movement skills. For example, if theLeper has **Immobilize** on Rank 1, the Jester can use  **Razor's Wit** on Rank 2 without losing access to it.

* One of the Jester's primary offensive moves is the combination of  **Razor's Wit** and  **Fade to Black**, both of which move the Jester back and forth and reduce enemies' accuracy, potentially forcing them miss highly damaging attacks. Both skills can apply **Combo** on enemies, which enable additional effects of allies' skills (**Stun** fromMan-at-Arms or higher CRIT chance forGrave Robber).

* Jester can utilize a combo of  **Solo** and  **Finale** to quickly take down tough enemies (especially large-sized ones).  **Solo** will be the prime move to inflict **Combo** and apply **Dodge+** on the Jester for defense, then followed by  **Finale**, which deals double damage to targets with **Combo**. If  **Solo** is not available, use  **Razor's Wit** or upgraded  **Fade to Black**. To avoid spending a turn for  **Solo**, the player may want to bring Heroes with **Combo**-inflicting skills (Highwayman,Man-at-Arms, etc.). Notably,Highwayman's  **Tracking Shot** can both apply **Combo** and remove all **Dodge** and **Dodge+** from Jester's targets, guaranteeing his destructive  **Finale** hit.

* Sometimes, maintaining the Jester's position to avoid disrupting party compositions can be a better option. In such cases, use either  **Slice Off** or  **Harvest** to assault mid-Rank targets and apply **Bleed** to them. While  **Slice Off** does not apply **Combo** like  **Razor's Wit** and  **Fade to Black**, it applies a **Vulnerable** Token for a harder subsequent hit.  **Harvest** can simultaneously apply **Combo** on multiple targets, albeit with a significantly lower chance (25 - 33%).

🔸**Survivability:** As the Jester has a particularly low HP, he mainly depends on his **Dodge** and **Dodge+** Tokens gained from  **Razor's Wit** and  **Solo** to avoid taking too much damage.  **Fade to Black** is equally useful as well, applying **Blind** on enemies to make them miss their attacks.

🔸**Support:** The Jester can be considered to be among the most effective **Stress** healers.  **Inspiring Tune** can be used on Jester himself and his teammates alike, healing up to 3 **Stress** and removing  **Horror**. However, the **Stress** heal only applies if allies have at least 5 **Stress**, a typical drawback of most **Stress**-healing skills.

* Beside **Stress** heals, the Jester's arsenal offers skills that either move teammates forward or backward if they are displaced by enemies.  **Play Out** is primarily used to protect back-Rank Heroes, providing them with **Block** or **Block+**, while also pushing them back if they are pulled to the front.  **Play Out** will have more use if the Heroes' party encounters enemies that tend to target back-Rank Heroes and deal a huge amount of damage to them, such as Arbalist. In contrast to  **Play Out**,  **Battle Ballad** pushes a Hero the front and applies a **Strength** Token for a stronger attack. It is preferably used on front-liners with limited mobility (Leper) or with skills that have strict Rank requirement but deals great damage (Highwayman,Man-at-Arms, and Hellion).

* **Echoing March**, unlike other similar skills, does not only pull enemies to the front, but also applies on them an additional **Pull** effect that triggers every time they begin their turns. As such,  **Echoing March** is highly effective against troublesome back-Rank enemies that always attempts to move away from the front if given the chance, particularly Cherubs. Furthermore, the constant **Pull** effect from the skill may disrupt enemy Ranks, preventing them from using certain effective skills.

* **Encore** is a quite unique skill among Heroes, being the only one that can grant extra actions.  **Encore** allows teammates to perform demanding skill combos within just a single turn. For example, theLeper can use  **Ruin** and  **Withstand** (or  **Intimidate**) to prepare a lethal hit. Similarly, the Hellion can use  **Bleed Out** and  **Bloodlust** for extra damage on**Bleed** targets in the next turn. TheMan-at-Arms can gain **Block** and **Block+** through various skills ( **Stand Fast**,  **Hold the Line**,  **Defender**, etc.) and immediately use  **Courageous Abandon** for massive damage against Rank 1.

## Shrine of Reflection

🔸The Jester gains access to 6 skills over 5 Chapters through accessing memories in the Shrine of Reflection.

## Barks

* Combat
* Generic Positive Act Outs
* Specific Positive Act Outs
* Generic Negative Act Outs
* Specific Negative Act Outs
* Affinity
* Inn Items
* Hero Shrines
* Locations
* Quirks/Diseases
* Travelling Stress
* Travelling path type reaction

## Landing a CRIT

* ***HA HA HAAAA!***
* ***Hee heee heeeeee!***
* ***HA!***
* ***AH-HA HA HAAAAA!***
* ***Truly amusing...***
* ***Slice, slice, slice!***
* ***Can't let things grow boring.***
* ***Got a little confident, did we?***

## Stalling

* ***Nobody wastes my time but me!***
* ***Prefer to gamble with coin, not my life.***

## Bleed

* ***Patch me up!***
* ***... Perhaps more than a scratch.***

## Blight

* ***Oh, I feel wretched...***
* ***Can't keep my stew down...***

## Burn

* ***I have plans for this skin!***
* ***They're cooking me alive!***

## Horror

* ***CEASE YOUR LAUGHING!***
* ***No way of knowin' if I'm already dead, is there?***
* ***What's that? Slice off the rest of my fingers?***

## Stress

* ***No great loss if I fall - or vanish.***
* ***Never penned one song worth remembering...***
* ***I am mad already! Let the blows come!***

## Entering Death's Door

* ***At last, the greatest joke of all...***

## Ally On Death's Door

* ***It ain't over 'til it's over!***
* ***Nothing a sawbones can't fix.***

## Surviving Hit on Death's Door

* ***Seems an encore is in order.***
* ***My lucky day.***

## Ally Surviving Hit on Death's Door

* ***Afraid we need you alive.***
* ***Live - if only to spite them!***

## Ally Hit by CRIT

* ***If you keep moving, you won't feel it.***

## Resolute

* ***They declared me mad at court years ago!***
* ***I've played to tougher crowds than you!***

## Meltdown

* ***HA... ... ha... \*laughter becomes weeping\****
* ***I LISTENED to you all...! I DARED to hope...!***

## Fog Appears (Shroud)

* ***This foul mist grows thicker!***
* ***The air stagnates...***
* ***Damn this fog!***
* ***Insufferable fog!***
* ***I hear them moving in the fog...***
* ***This fret assaults my eyes!***
* ***Stay close, lest they pick us off!***
* ***Be wary, they stalk us from the fog!***
* ***Malign currents on the wind...***
* ***This is no common storm...***
* ***We grow vulnerable to ambush...!***
* ***This fog veils some treachery, no doubt.***
* ***I've lost sight of them!***
* ***What trickery, this mist?***
* ***Illusion and deceit, this weather!***

## Fog Fades (Shroud)

* ***Strike now, the fog abates!***
* ***The air clears...***
* ***At long last, a breeze!***
* ***The air stirs!***
* ***Their trickery falters!***
* ***Our foes once more in sight!***
* ***A break in the weather!***
* ***Their cover lifts!***
* ***Mind our flanks! The fog lifts!***
* ***I see the fiends! Press hard!***
* ***The wind shifts in our favour!***
* ***Begone, unearthly mist!***
* ***Now, while our blades strike true!***
* ***Lo, the enemy! Press them!***
* ***Regroup, the fog is lifting!***

## Stress Heal Ally

* ***Steady those hands. We shall win this.***
* ***Steady there. You've got this!***

## Heal Ally

* ***Hard to tend your own wounds. Let me.***

## Stress Heal Partner - Hopeful

* ***All is not lost.***
* ***Together we can push through this.***

## Stress Heal Partner - Amorous

* ***One night together while the world burns - what do you say?***

## Skill Praise Partner - Amorous

* ***I hope there's more where that came from...***

## Stress Heal Partner - Respectful

* ***If anyone can lead us through this, it's you.***

## Stress Healing Ally

* ***There, there. You've had worse!***
* ***Didn't think you one to give up.***

## Buffing Ally

* ***You hold this little crew together.***

## Stress Healing Partner - Hopeful

* ***You'll land on your feet. Probably.***
* ***Ah, the songs we'll write together...***

## Buffing Partner - Hopeful

* ***I'll conspire with you any day, heh heh.***

## Healing Partner - Amorous

* ***A silly thing, infatuation. Yet here I am.***

## Guarding Partner - Amorous

* ***And ruin my plans for you tonight?! Pfah!***

## Skill Praise Partner - Amorous

* ***It pains me how fond I am of you.***

## Combo Attack - Respectful

* ***That move always got a laugh at court.***

## Retaliation - Respectful

* ***I've decided - you don't get to die.***

## Skill Praise Partner - Respectful

* ***Finally, a brain worth takin' hints from.***

## Attack Praise Partner - Respectful

* ***I never know what you'll hit 'em with next.***

## Stress Damaging Partner - Suspicious

* ***You're watching me closer than the enemy...***

## Stress Damaging Partner - Envious

* ***You have no idea how lucky you have it.***

## Attack Insult Partner - Envious

* ***Just wait 'til your luck runs out.***

## Stress Damaging Partner - Resentful

* ***And we're supposed to trust your genius?***

## Attack Insult Partner - Resentful

* ***Spare me the excuses.***
* ***Up to your usual tricks.***
* ***Another rare misstep, I'm sure.***

## Attacking Partner - Hateful

* ***You're gambling with our fates!***
* ***Suffer.***

## Stress Damaging Partner - Hateful

* ***Go on, walk us right into their jaws, then.***

## Skill Insult Partner - Hateful

* ***May you fall before I do.***
* ***Wastrel!***
* ***I'd almost think you drunk!***

## Attack Insult Partner - Hateful

* ***Blast it, you're not helping!***
* ***Shape up or step aside!***
* ***Do you wish us dead?!***

## Skill Insult Partner - Suspicious

* ***Did that look sneaky to anyone else?***

## Stress Damaging Partner - Envious

* ***You'd probably outshine me if you practiced...***

## Attack Insult Partner - Envious

* ***I'll write the ballad now. Idiot.***

## Attacking Partner - Hateful

* ***If I break your knees, they'll get you first.***
* ***Who's laughing now?***

## Attack Insult Partner - Hateful

* ***I hate you with particular gusto.***

## Adding Buff

* ***Oh, I'll cheer you on if I* must*.***

## Guarding Ally

* ***Oho, not without a fight.***
* ***Allow me to draw their ire.***
* ***Relax. I'm sturdier than I look.***

## Follow Up Attack

* ***What a pair, you and I.***
* ***I trained as a soloist, but...***
* ***On three...***

## Healing Ally

* ***I'll fix that if you stop bleeding on me.***
* ***You can't leave me short-handed.***
* ***We'll fix it up proper on the coach later.***

## Revenge Attack on Enemy

* ***That'll do!***
* ***I'm touched.***

## Removing DoTs

* ***Not your finest moment. Here.***
* ***Cuttin' it close, friend.***
* ***Fine. From my stash.***

## Stress Healing

* ***Think on it - you ain't died yet.***
* ***Don't count yourself out.***

## Jealous of Guarded Ally

* ***Did I tick you off somehow?***
* ***I'll carry on alone, thanks.***

## Jealous of Token

* ***We'll see who's laughing when* you *need help!***

## Jealous of Food (Unused)

* ***You don't get to take this from me!***

## Jealous of Healing

* ***I mistook you.***
* ***I'll carry on bleeding, then.***

## Moving Positions - Negative

* ***What's the matter - don't trust me?***

## Jealous of DoT Removal

* ***Think me useless, do you?***
* ***I'll sort myself out, then.***
* ***So it's come to this.***

## Positive Road Banter

* ***Heh heh. Good one.***
* ***Tell you 'bout my travels? Suppose I can.***
* ***You're a good egg.***
* ***Can you carry a tune?***
* ***... Good one.***
* ***Clever head on those shoulders.***

## Negative Road Banter

* ***Oh, you're no fun.***
* ***Goodness, who let you aboard?***
* ***Your presence is a drain on morale.***
* ***You exhaust me.***
* ***Entertain yourself. I'm done.***
* ***Won't let YOU of all people crash my pity party.***

## Armor Repair Kit

* ***There* is *a breastplate under this.***

## BOOK: My time in the Desert

* ***Endless wastes. Could distract me from these endless wastes.***

## Book of Creative Insults

* ***It's a little insulting I have to read this.***

## Calming Incense

* ***Had a patron named Neroli once. \*sniff\****

## Clarifying Poultice

* ***For dancin' long into the wee hours.***

## Clotting Poultice

* ***Prefer not to get nicked, choosy beggar that I am.***

## Dartboard

* ***No sleights of no hands, I swear.***

## Ceremonial Drum

* ***Most nights I have to play it all myself.***

## Slime Mold

* ***Sure this wasn't growing on the real food?***
* ***(If full) - Had my fill of that slimy stuff.***

## Stale Bread

* ***Which will grow older - this old bread or us?***
* ***(If full) - I know I appear starved, but no.***

## Apples & Cheese

* ***A satisfying snack... Got more?***
* ***(If full) - A full belly! Luxorious.***

## Steak and Spuds

* ***I prefer mine a little bloodier... heheh.***
* ***(If full) - Would that I could...***

## Flapjacks

* ***Shall we sell these by the roadside next?***
* ***(If full) - Fed and fit for whatever awaits.***

## Holy Beads

* ***Prayer - or poetry for desperate souls.***

## Impermeable Poultice

* ***Snakes, spiders - a humiliating way to die.***

## Meditative Totem

* ***What a weird little trinket! Who made you?***

## Nightshade Concoction

* ***As if I needed to anger Death further...***

## Playing cards

* ***Why d'you lot always assume I'm a cheat?***

## Restorative Herbs

* ***I did not actually wish to smell more of this place.***

## Roast Pig

* ***Without the pageantry of a banquet? Even better.***
* ***(If full) - My stomach rumbles no more!***

## Songbook of Amorous Ballads

* ***Careful - might write a new one for you.***

## Songbook of Rousing Tunes

* ***\*fierce strumming\* I can hardly keep up!***

## Soothing Poultice

* ***I do fear I'm dreadfully flammable.***

## Invigorating Stew

* ***And here I was going to make my stomach do the singing.***
* ***(If full) - A second bowl? Where would I put it?***

## Stitching Kit

* ***My skin is a patchwork of scars by now...***

## The Wine

* ***A rare treat, pilfered from some louche estate.***

## Tinned Delicacies

* ***So this is how the other half travels.***
* ***(If full) - No, no, none for me.***

## Wax Inoculant

* ***Whatever keeps the voice box clean.***

## Whiskey Barrel

* ***Let's gather round for... A round...***

## Whiskey Bottle

* ***You won't regret splittin' this with me...***

## Whiskey Flask

* ***A nip to loosen our over-tight strings.***

## Whittling Tools

* ***A pipe, perhaps. Could always use another.***

## Wild Tea

* ***They say symphonies are written on this stuff.***

## Oddly-Tuned Lute

* ***Liven up, would you?***
* ***I love a captive audience.***
* ***\*melodious humming\****

## Shrine 1

* ***That accursed melody was a trap beyond all cunning.***

## Shrine 2

* ***That song found ambition buried dead in my heart and made it dance...***

## Shrine 3

* ***And so the trap snapped shut on me.***

## Shrine 4

* ***Just as it was meant to, the song loosed the leash of my inhibitions...***

## Shrine 5

* ***Ask any animal if it was worth it to gnaw off a limb for freedom.***

## Shrine 6

* ***I'll get my audience in the end...***

## Oasis

* ***Something reeks most foul. Is it me?***
* ***\*glug\* Oh, look. My flask has run dry.***
* ***We shall march to our deaths smelling of soap.***
* ***And risk making myself ill?***

## Exiting Oasis

* ***Eugh. My stockings got wet...***
* ***I daresay that was almost pleasant.***

## Creature Den

* ***Reeks of musk and critters. (Fight)***
* ***I've tangled with street curs. They're no tougher. (Fight with Advantage)***
* ***Surely we've more interesting foes ahead. (Flee)***

## Resistance Encounter

* ***Ah, bloodshed, my muse. (Fight)***
* ***A rousing ballad, for the charge! (Fight with Advantage)***
* ***A retreat ballad? Why not? (Flee)***

## Resistance Encounter Success

* ***Ahh, the melody of murder is on the wind...***

## Assistance Encounter

* ***Relics. Gold. Silver. Give it here. (Steal)***

## Exiting Assistance Encounter

* ***Heh heh. So long, then.***
* ***To their tenuous survival. Hear, hear!***

## Exiting Hospital

* ***She should lighten up a little.***
* ***Infirmaries - all the same.***

## Exiting Hoarder

* ***All that and no accordion? Ridiculous.***
* ***More clutter, eh? Just what we need!***

## Exiting Valley Hoarder

* ***A full flask and a foolish quest!***
* ***The epics I'll write if we survive this...***

## Exiting Watchtower

* ***\*quiet, off-kilter laughter\****
* ***A beautiful day, wouldn't you agree? Heheh.***

## Exiting Academic's Study

* ***Must've dozed off...***
* ***\*yawn\****

## Cultist Encounter Success

* ***That melody... I've killed to it before...***

## Tangle Lair Success

* ***How very like soldiers - dying in rank.***

## Tangle Lair Retreat

* ***That drumming... it's IN my HEAD...!***

## Foetor Lair Success

* ***You won't be dining on us tonight, fiends!***

## Foetor Lair Retreat

* ***\*sniff\* Skin blackening over meat...***

## Sprawl Lair Success

* ***Talk about a pyrrhic victory. Heheh.***

## Shroud Lair Retreat

* ***I prefer to die where they can find my corpse!***

## Exiting Academic's Cache

* ***Will any of this stuff even matter?***
* ***Where are we going to put all this?***

TBA

## Travelling Stress Heal

* ***Perhaps there is hope for us yet...***
* ***We are not so dissimilar...***
* ***I accept you. We all do.***
* ***Chin up, shoulders back. We can do this.***
* ***The road is tough but we're going to make it.***
* ***Let us share tales of merrier times.***
* ***Come what may, we are united!***
* ***Hang in there.***
* ***Can I get you anything?***
* ***It's a long road, but we've got each other.***
* ***Want to share? I've got extra...***
* ***You're even tougher than you look.***
* ***I'm glad you're here, for what it's worth.***
* ***You're going to live. I won't hear otherwise.***
* ***At least we aren't facing this alone.***
* ***Maybe all hope is not lost...***
* ***There are times I almost feel hopeful.***
* ***I had a pleasant dream, for once...***
* ***Whatever comes, we are united.***
* ***Perhaps we'll find glory after all...***
* ***This world is worth saving.***
* ***We are making a difference out there.***
* ***Hope is seductive, isn't it?***
* ***We're making good time.***
* ***If this is my fate, I'm content.***
* ***All is not lost.***
* ***We will best these fiends!***

## Travelling Stress Damage

* ***Buffoon!***
* ***We're not going to make it, are we?***
* ***Everywhere, the world comes undone...***
* ***Stuck in a coach with the likes of you - feh.***
* ***I'm hungry and tired!***
* ***This cursed coach is a bouncing racket!***
* ***Let me out of this blasted coach!***
* ***Here we are, four corpses in a rolling coffin...***
* ***I can't bear to look out the window...***
* ***It's like a nightmare out there.***
* ***Like rats in a trap...***
* ***What if it's all for nothing...?***
* ***Can I really trust you to have my back...?***
* ***Can't sleep. Awful food. Worse company.***
* ***A waking nightmare...***
* ***We never seem to make any progress...***
* ***Just leave me by the roadside.***
* ***This was all a mistake...!***
* ***We're driving in circles...***
* ***Are we lost?***
* ***This is not the life I dreamt for myself...***
* ***Everywhere we pass - ruin, destruction...***
* ***Fools, fools we are...***
* ***We were damned before we set off.***
* ***Why us? Why me?***
* ***I'm not crying...! Look away!***
* ***I grow so weary of this fight.***
* ***Would it be so bad to give in...?***
* ***Won't let YOU of all people crash my pity party.***

## Safe path

* ***Perhaps I'll write something new...***
* ***Quiet along this route... odd.***
* ***\*quiet strumming\****
* ***Take a good break when it comes.***

## Rough path

* ***Watch my lute!***
* ***Ouch!***
* ***Mind the lanterns!***
* ***This is worse than any bandits.***

## Hazardous path

* ***Cheap trick, I say!***
* ***Heh heh. You get used t'this on stage.***
* ***Is that the ruins of another coach?***
* ***A curious art form.***

## Combat path

* ***No rest for the wicked.***
* ***Need to stretch the legs anyhow.***
* ***They're upon us!***
* ***Someone else take point.***

## Oblivion tear

* ***hahaHAHAH!***
* ***N-not that song! NO!***
* ***Cease your laughing this instant!***
* ***What do you mean? This mask* is *my face.***

## Trivia

* The Jester is one of the eleven Heroes returning from *Darkest Dungeon*, and one of the first nine Heroes to be available in the sequel.
* Jester's final Shrine of Reflection describes him cutting off his own finger, which is accurately depicted in his character model. He is missing the tip of his left pinky finger.
* His predetermined name is Sarmenti.
* The Jester's backstory fights are the only one not using the regular Mountain battle soundtrack.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.pcgamer.com/pc-gamer-uk-july-issue-darkest-dungeon-2/