Ravenswatch Kintarō launched on October 12, 2026 as a Hero DLC on all platforms, and it costs $7.99 in the US. Kintarō fights alongside his bear Kuma in two stances, mounted on Kuma or on foot beside him, with eight abilities and two Ultimates. The DLC also adds seven outfits and seven narrated Memories, while a free update reworks talents for every hero. However, as of the latest update I could not find a confirmed list of Kintarō’s talents, so the build advice below relies on his abilities.
Summary: Ravenswatch Kintarō
- Release: October 12, 2026 on all platforms.
- Price: $7.99 in the US, with the DLC including the hero, seven outfits and seven narrated Memories.
- Playstyle: two stances, mounted on Kuma or on foot with Kuma beside him.
- Free update: version 1.06 reworks talents for all heroes and adds custom lobbies.
- PC: the base game’s published requirements start at a Core i5-4670K and a GTX 960.
Release Date, Price and Platforms
The Kintarō Hero DLC went live on October 12, 2026. One content tracker lists the start as 08:00 UTC, which is 4 AM ET and 1 AM PT. The DLC arrived on all platforms at once.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release date | October 12, 2026 |
| US price | $7.99 |
| Other prices | 7.99 euros and 6.59 pounds |
| Platforms | All platforms, including PC, Xbox and Switch |
| Developer and publisher | Passtech Games and Nacon |
Kintarō is the fourth paid DLC hero, after Merlin and Romeo and Juliet, and he joins the nine original heroes. A free update came out on the same day, so every player gets the talent changes even without the DLC.
What the Kintarō DLC Includes
The $7.99 pack adds more than a new character.
- A new hero: Kintarō, based on the golden boy of Japanese folklore, with his own abilities and talents.
- Two Ultimates: each one gives your builds a different finishing move.
- Seven exclusive outfits: cosmetic options for Kintarō and Kuma.
- Seven narrated Memories: a fully voiced story that follows his journey across Reverie.
In the story, Kintarō was raised by Yama-uba, an ogress of the mountain, and lives in harmony with nature before he joins the fight against the Nightmare.
How Kintarō and Kuma Work
Kintarō’s trait is called Animal Bound. It lets you switch between a Mounted stance and a Dismounted stance with the trait button. Because the two stances have different abilities, you effectively play two hero kits in one.
Shared health and Internal Damage
Kintarō and Kuma share one health bar. When Kuma takes a hit, part of that damage passes to Kintarō as Internal Damage, and the game shows it as an overlay on his health bar. Getting back on Kuma recovers Internal Damage over time.
So your health management has a clear loop. Take hits on foot, then remount to heal back what Kuma absorbed.
Controlling Kuma
When you are dismounted, you can move Kuma independently with the right stick on a controller. Passtech also says you can control Kuma with keyboard and mouse. That matters on PC, because the pre-release information left it unconfirmed.
Kintarō’s Abilities
The details below come from Passtech’s October 1 gameplay reveal and the Ravenswatch wiki. Because that information is from before release, names and numbers may differ slightly in the final game.
Mounted stance
| Slot | Ability | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | Claw Swipes | Kuma attacks with a series of claw swipes that ends in a big finisher |
| Power | Charge | Kintarō commands Kuma to charge forward and damage enemies along the path |
| Special | Leap | Kintarō jumps off Kuma and slams the ground with his axe |
| Defense | Roar | A battle cry and a roar block all incoming attacks while it lasts |
Dismounted stance
| Slot | Ability | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | Axe | A three-hit axe combo that ends in a ground slam, while Kuma swipes a nearby enemy on its own |
| Power | Whirl and Pound | Kintarō spins forward with his axe, and Kuma pounds the ground at its target |
| Special | Double Leap | Kintarō and Kuma swap places by leaping to each other’s spots and damaging an area at each landing |
| Defense | Roar and Shout | Both of them shout and roar in place, which blocks all incoming attacks while it lasts |
Kintarō and Kuma Dual Playstyle Build
The best way to play Kintarō is to treat the stances as tools, not as two separate characters. Here is a simple plan built from his abilities.
- Open mounted. Use Charge to cover ground and hit groups, then use Claw Swipes on single targets.
- Dismount with Leap. The slam gives you area damage and puts you in the on-foot stance.
- Fight as a duo. Combo with the Axe while Kuma attacks nearby enemies, then use Whirl and Pound when enemies bunch up.
- Swap with Double Leap. It repositions you and Kuma, and it damages enemies at both landing spots.
- Block with Roar. Use either Roar to stop incoming damage during boss attacks or crowded fights.
- Remount to recover. Climb back on Kuma to heal Internal Damage over time.
If you like learning a new hero’s skill set before a run, our Risk of Rain 2 Enforcer guide follows the same approach for another roguelike DLC hero.
Co-op tips
Ravenswatch supports up to four players, so a Kintarō player can anchor the front line. Because Roar blocks all incoming attacks, you can protect teammates during dangerous moments. Keep Kuma near your allies when you are on foot, since his automatic attacks add damage without extra input.
Best Talents for Kintarō
I could not find a confirmed list of Kintarō’s talents in the sources I checked, and Passtech has not published a talent tier list. So I will not name specific talents or rank them.
What I can say is how to choose, based on his kit:
- Match talents to your main stance. If you stay mounted, favor talents that improve Charge, Claw Swipes and Roar.
- Support the swap. If you switch often, favor talents that improve Leap and Double Leap.
- Protect your health. Because Kuma’s damage becomes Internal Damage, defensive talents help the whole pair.
- Read the new descriptions. The free update changed many talents, so old advice may be wrong.
Talent changes shake up roguelike builds. For another game where picks decide your runs, see our Slay the Spire 2 cards guide.
What the Free Update Changes
The free update, version 1.06, arrived with the DLC and applies to every player.
- Talent rework: over 50 talents across the heroes were rebalanced, merged, added or removed.
- Balance and quality-of-life changes: Passtech adjusted several systems alongside the talents.
- Custom lobbies: a new option for hosting your own games.
Because talents changed for all heroes, your favorite old builds may need new choices. Check the in-game descriptions before you start a run.
PC System Requirements
Passtech has not posted separate requirements for the Kintarō DLC in the sources I found. The DLC needs the base game, so the base game’s listed requirements apply.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit, version 1909 or newer | Windows 10 64-bit, version 1909 or newer |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD FX-8350 | Intel Core i7-6700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| GPU | GeForce GTX 960 or Radeon RX 470, 2 GB | GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon R9 Fury |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 3 GB | 3 GB |
Steam Deck players should set Proton to Experimental if they see a DirectX 12 error, according to Passtech’s support page.
Common Mistakes and Clarifications
- Expecting DLC-only talents changes. The talent rework is free and affects every hero.
- Treating Kuma as only a pet. Kuma shares your health bar and takes Internal Damage for you.
- Forgetting to remount. Getting back on Kuma is how you heal Internal Damage.
- Trusting old builds. The free update changed more than 50 talents.
- Assuming pre-release names are final. Ability details came from a pre-launch reveal.
What Could Change Next
Passtech may patch Kintarō’s numbers after launch, and a new hero is planned for later. Everything above is accurate as of October 13, 2026, so check the in-game descriptions and Steam patch notes for updates.
Conclusion
Ravenswatch Kintarō is a $7.99 hero who plays two ways, mounted on Kuma or on foot beside him. Remount to heal, swap with Double Leap and use Roar to block big hits. The free talent rework also changes every hero, so rebuild your favorites with the new descriptions in mind.
FAQs
When was the Ravenswatch Kintarō DLC released?
It launched on October 12, 2026 on all platforms.
How much does the Kintarō DLC cost?
It costs $7.99 in the US, 7.99 euros in Europe and 6.59 pounds in the UK.
What does the Kintarō DLC include?
A new hero, two Ultimates, seven outfits and seven narrated Memories.
How does Kuma work with Kintarō?
You switch between mounted and dismounted stances, and Kuma shares your health bar. Damage to Kuma becomes Internal Damage, which you heal by remounting.
Do I need the DLC for the talent rework?
No. The talent rework comes in the free update for all players.
What are the PC requirements?
The base game’s minimum is a Core i5-4670K or FX-8350, 8 GB of RAM and a GTX 960 or RX 470, with 3 GB of storage.
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