Halloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanHalloween DealsAmazon USOctober picks are moving - compare before checkoutAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Blog › gameplay comparison

Kintarō vs. Other Ravenswatch Heroes: Which One Should You Play?

By Freedom251 Team · · 12 min read

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Choose Kintarō if you want Ravenswatch combat built around a controllable companion and two distinct stances. You direct Kuma, his bear partner, while switching between mounted and dismounted ability sets. That makes Kintarō a strong playstyle fit for players who enjoy multitasking, positioning and learning a larger toolkit. It does not make him objectively stronger than the rest of the roster: the official material currently provides no comparable win rates, damage tests or difficulty scores.

If you prefer a simpler identity, compare each hero by the decision you enjoy most: transforming, commanding summons, controlling crowds, moving constantly, setting up defenses, or trading offense for healing and resources. The guide below uses those mechanics to help you decide without pretending there is a definitive tier list.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What Kintarō adds to Ravenswatch

Kintarō arrived on October 12, 2026, with version 1.6.0. Passtech Games made the base-game update free on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, while Kintarō is sold as separate hero DLC. Updating the game and owning the hero are therefore two different things. The current price depends on your platform and region, so check the store page for your edition rather than assuming one universal amount.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The character’s defining idea is a dual gameplay style: Kintarō and Kuma are both active parts of your combat plan. You can control Kuma with the right joystick on a controller. With a mouse and keyboard, point toward the target and press A to direct him. When Kintarō is mounted, you use one set of attacks; when he is dismounted, the commands change. The result is not merely a cosmetic transformation. You are choosing which character state and ability group best fits the next few seconds of a fight.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
Ravenswatch Legendary Edition Nintendo Switch
  • BANISH THE NIGHTMARE FROM YOUR REALM; The Nightmares are spreading within Reverie, corrupting everything in their path
  • You must hone your skills and find the strength to defeat the creatures of the Nightmare using unique hero abilities
  • To defeat the Nightmare and reach the final chapter, you will need a strong build, focus and excellent teamwork
  • The world of Reverie is built on old folk tales and legends; from the Three Little Pigs to Norse mythology to One Thousand and One Nights
  • Run after run, play as different heroes, make the most of the upgrades and items you find, and explore

That structure matters in Ravenswatch because a run is a sequence of decisions rather than a fixed campaign route. The game presents random maps, activities, enemies, upgrades and items, and you develop power through battles before facing a chapter boss. A Kintarō build that feels excellent in one run can play differently when the available upgrades, team members or map activities change.

Passtech’s Steam listing also describes two Ultimates, seven exclusive outfits and a narrated story told through seven Memories. The outfits and Memories add presentation and story content; they are not evidence that Kintarō deals more damage or survives longer than another hero.

How Kintarō’s two stances work

The most important thing to learn is which command belongs to which stance. The official patch notes list the following abilities:

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Stance Attack Power Special Defense
Mounted Claw Swipes Charge Leap Roar
Dismounted Axe Whirl and Pound Double Leap Roar and Shout

Mounted play gives you Claw Swipes, Charge and Leap, with Roar as the listed defense ability. Dismounted play replaces those actions with Axe, Whirl and Pound, Double Leap, and Roar and Shout. The exact timing and resource interactions depend on your build, but the practical lesson is constant: do not press a familiar button expecting the same behavior after changing stance.

Controlling Kuma

Kuma can be directed independently while Kintarō is dismounted. On a controller, use the right joystick; on mouse and keyboard, aim the pointer and press A. This makes target selection part of Kintarō’s skill expression. You may be moving Kintarō away from danger while asking Kuma to pressure a different enemy, interrupt a threat or occupy space. If you dislike splitting attention between a hero and a companion, this is the main reason Kintarō may feel demanding.

Using the two ability sets

Mounted and dismounted states are best treated as complementary tools, not as a permanent “correct” form. Mounted abilities give you one rhythm of attacking, charging and leaping. Dismounted abilities give you another rhythm built around the axe, Whirl and Pound, Double Leap, and the Roar-and-Shout defense option. Learn the transition first in ordinary encounters, then add Kuma targeting and Ultimate timing. Trying to memorize every interaction before you are comfortable with the basic stance switch can make the hero feel more complicated than necessary.

Rank #2
Ravenswatch - Nintendo Switch 2 (Cartridge)
  • BANISH THE NIGHTMARE FROM YOUR REALM: The Nightmares are spreading within Reverie, corrupting everything in their path. You must hone your skills and find the strength to defeat the creatures of the Nightmare using unique hero abilities inspired by characters from folk tales and legends.
  • DYNAMIC GAMEPLAY: To defeat the Nightmare and reach the final chapter, you will need a strong build, focus and excellent teamwork. Increase your fighting power in battles then face the level boss when you feel ready… or when you no longer have a choice.
  • DARK TALES: The world of Reverie is built on old folk tales and legends. From the three little pigs to Norse mythology to One Thousand and One Nights, the best-known tales are revisited in a dark-fantasy style and add their timeless appeal to the atmosphere of Ravenswatch.
  • HIGH REPLAY VALUE: Run after run, play as different heroes, make the most of the upgrades and items you find, and explore a randomly generated map with new activities and new enemies.
  • 2021, Curse of the Dead Gods, a game developped by Passtech Games, published by Focus Home Interactive.

Ultimates, Talents and progression

Kintarō has two Ultimates and his own Talents. Those choices let a run develop in different directions, but the available official information does not establish a single best Ultimate, Talent path or item combination. Select upgrades according to the enemies, map activities and teammates in the current run instead of treating the DLC as a guaranteed damage upgrade.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Is Kintarō right for your playstyle?

Pick Kintarō if you enjoy multitasking

Kintarō is a natural fit if you like controlling a companion, changing stance to solve different combat situations and making positioning decisions for more than one body. Players who enjoy learning a character’s full kit rather than repeating one primary attack will get the most from him. The appeal is the coordination itself: Kintarō’s movement, Kuma’s target and the choice between mounted and dismounted actions all compete for your attention.

Try another hero if you want one simple combat question

If your ideal hero has one immediately readable mechanic, Kintarō may not be the best first choice. Every stance has its own commands, and Kuma adds another target-selection layer. That does not prove Kintarō is harder than another hero—the official sources provide no shared difficulty scale—but it does mean there are more decisions to practice before the kit feels automatic.

Use the roster’s signature mechanic as your shortcut

Ask yourself which sentence sounds most appealing:

  • “I want to transform and play two forms.” Choose Scarlet.
  • “I want direct attacks plus a summon.” Consider the Pied Piper.
  • “I want a weapon and a companion effect.” Look at Beowulf.
  • “I want to slow, freeze and reposition.” Consider Snow Queen.
  • “I want a resourceful wish mechanic.” Try Aladdin.
  • “I want a stance choice tied to positioning.” Consider Melusine or Sun Wukong.
  • “I want to build units and support them remotely.” Consider Geppetto.
  • “I want to spend a resource for power while managing a drawback.” Consider Carmilla.

Kintarō compared with the other Ravenswatch heroes

The following comparison uses each hero’s official concept as an entry point. It is not a ranking: the descriptions do not provide controlled damage tests, win rates or equivalent difficulty measurements.

Hero Signature mechanic Best fit for players who want How the decision differs from Kintarō
Kintarō Mounted and dismounted stances with controllable Kuma Companion control, stance switching and active positioning You manage Kintarō’s state and Kuma’s target at the same time.
Scarlet Huntress by day; werewolf after sunset Transformation and changing forms The form change is the central identity rather than directing a separate bear.
The Pied Piper Flute attacks and rat summons Direct attacks combined with summoned pressure You compare instrument attacks and rats, not mounted and dismounted kits.
Beowulf Runic broadsword and a baby dragon that boosts the next attack Weapon-focused combat with a companion effect The dragon augments an attack; Kuma is a controllable partner in Kintarō’s kit.
Snow Queen Ice that slows and freezes, plus a slide Crowd control and mobility The core question is where to control enemies and move, not which stance to use.
Aladdin Magic scimitars and a genie granting up to three wishes A wish-based mechanic and flexible choices You plan around wishes rather than coordinating a companion’s position.
Melusine Singing stance that summons a will-o’-the-wisp, or a mobile stance Stance choice and positional play Both involve states, but Melusine’s official description centers on singing, summoning and mobility.
Geppetto Builds puppets and repairs them from a distance Setup, deployment and remote support You prepare and maintain units instead of actively directing Kuma.
Sun Wukong Yin heals; Yang doubles damage An explicit offense-versus-healing stance decision The trade-off is clearly framed around damage and healing, while Kintarō’s states change the ability list and companion play.
Carmilla Drinks blood to strengthen powers while managing the monster within Resource and power management You balance a resource and an internal drawback rather than splitting commands between hero and bear.

What each alternative feels like in practice

Scarlet: transformation as the whole game plan

Scarlet is the clearest alternative if your favorite part of Kintarō is changing identity during a run. Her official concept is a huntress by day who becomes a werewolf after sunset. Choose her when you want the time-of-day transformation itself to dictate how you approach encounters. Choose Kintarō instead when you want to decide actively when to use mounted or dismounted abilities and where Kuma should act.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The Pied Piper: attacks plus a swarm

The Pied Piper attacks with his flute or sends rats against enemies. This is a good comparison for players who like a companion or summon but want a more direct split between personal attacks and summoned pressure. Kintarō asks you to control Kuma, while the Piper’s appeal is choosing when to rely on the flute and when to deploy rats.

Rank #3
Ravenswatch: Legendary Edition (PS5)
  • You must hone your skills and find the strength to defeat the creatures of the Nightmare using unique hero abilities inspired by characters from folk tales and legends.
  • To defeat the Nightmare and reach the final chapter, you will need a strong build, focus and excellent teamwork.
  • Increase your fighting power in battles then face the level boss when you feel ready… or when you no longer have a choice.
  • The world of Reverie is built on old folk tales and legends. From the three little pigs to Norse mythology to One Thousand and One Nights.
  • Run after run, play as different heroes, make the most of the upgrades and items you find, and explore a randomly generated map with new activities and new enemies.

Beowulf: a weapon with a dragon-assisted payoff

Beowulf fights with a runic broadsword alongside a baby dragon that boosts his next attack. Pick him if you want your companion to function as an enhancement to a weapon-centered sequence. Kintarō is the better fit if you want the companion’s target and location to be an active control concern rather than an effect attached to your next strike.

Snow Queen: crowd control and movement

Snow Queen slows and freezes enemies with ice or slides across the battlefield. Her concept suits players who enjoy deciding where enemies can move and when to reposition quickly. If your main priority is controlling groups rather than operating two stances, Snow Queen offers a more focused starting point.

Aladdin: choices through wishes

Aladdin uses magic scimitars and a genie who grants up to three wishes. Choose him when the idea of planning around limited wishes sounds more exciting than stance practice. Both heroes can create variety from run to run, but their choices are different: Aladdin’s defining decisions come from wishes, while Kintarō’s come from stance, movement and Kuma direction.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Melusine: state changes with positioning consequences

Melusine can select a singing stance that summons a will-o’-the-wisp or a mobile stance. She is the closest roster comparison to Kintarō’s stance-based identity, but the official descriptions point to different priorities. Melusine emphasizes the relationship between singing, summoning and mobility; Kintarō adds a separately directed bear and two full ability lists.

Geppetto: preparation and remote repair

Geppetto builds puppets to fight and repairs them at a distance. Choose him if you enjoy setup, maintaining units and supporting a battlefield plan from range. Kintarō suits players who want more immediate movement and target-by-target companion control rather than a workshop-like deployment loop.

Sun Wukong: a clearly stated offense-or-healing trade

Sun Wukong changes between Yin for healing and Yang to double his damage. This is the most explicit offense-versus-sustain comparison in the roster descriptions. Pick him when you want your stance decision to answer a straightforward question—survive now or deal more damage. Kintarō’s stance decision is broader because each state changes attacks, powers, specials and defense behavior.

Rank #4
Ravenswatch Legendary Edition - PS4 - UK PAL (EU Version)
  • UK PSN account may be required for any online features

Carmilla: spend a resource, manage the consequence

Carmilla drinks blood to strengthen her powers while managing the monster within. Her concept fits players who enjoy a resource loop with a built-in risk or drawback. If you prefer resource tension to companion targeting, Carmilla may be a better match than Kintarō.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

How team composition changes the choice

Ravenswatch describes teamwork, focus and a strong build as important to success. Because maps, activities, enemies, upgrades and items vary between runs, choose a hero for the role your group actually needs rather than assuming one character always covers every situation.

When Kintarō complements a team

  • Another player already specializes in crowd control, leaving you free to use Kintarō’s movement and Kuma targeting to pressure priority enemies.
  • Your group enjoys coordinated positioning and can communicate when you are switching stance or sending Kuma to a separate target.
  • The run’s upgrades support the way you are already playing; do not force a mounted or dismounted plan that the available build does not reinforce.

When a different hero may reduce friction

  • Your group needs a clearly defined healing-versus-damage stance, making Sun Wukong’s Yin and Yang concept easier to communicate.
  • The party lacks crowd control and would benefit from Snow Queen’s slowing and freezing identity.
  • You want a setup specialist who can build and repair units, making Geppetto a more natural fit.

These are coordination guidelines, not performance guarantees. No official source reviewed reports a hero-by-hero success rate under identical team conditions.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

A practical method for choosing your hero

  1. Name the decision you want to make repeatedly. If it is “Where should my companion act?” choose Kintarō. If it is “Which form am I in?” compare Scarlet or Melusine. If it is “Do I need healing or damage?” compare Sun Wukong.
  2. Decide how much setup you enjoy. Geppetto asks you to build and repair puppets. The Pied Piper uses rats. Kintarō is more immediate: movement and Kuma direction happen during the fight.
  3. Choose your preferred battlefield influence. Snow Queen emphasizes slowing, freezing and sliding; Kintarō emphasizes stance-specific actions and a companion target.
  4. Check your control method. On controller, Kintarō’s Kuma command uses the right joystick. On mouse and keyboard, point with the mouse and press A. If that input feels awkward, practice before judging the hero.
  5. Test one run without changing your plan every minute. Start by learning mounted commands, then dismounted commands, then Kuma targeting. Constantly swapping before you understand each state makes it difficult to tell whether a problem is the hero or your unfamiliarity.
  6. Re-evaluate after seeing the run’s upgrades. Random upgrades and items can change which stance or ability sequence is most attractive. A hero choice is a fit for the current build and team, not a permanent ranking.

Common Kintarō mistakes and fixes

Pressing the wrong ability after a stance change

Symptom: you expect a mounted action and receive a dismounted one, or vice versa. Fix: pause your attack rhythm long enough to identify the current stance, then use the matching row of the ability table. Practice the transition in low-pressure encounters before adding Ultimate timing.

Ignoring Kuma’s target

Symptom: Kintarō is attacking one threat while Kuma is pointed somewhere irrelevant. Fix: treat Kuma’s direction as a regular combat input. Use the right joystick, or aim with the mouse and press A, and make the target decision before committing to a movement sequence.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Assuming the DLC guarantees higher damage

Symptom: disappointment when another hero appears to clear an encounter faster. Fix: compare the decision loop you enjoy, the current build and the team’s needs. The official material does not establish that Kintarō is stronger, weaker or harder than a specific hero.

Best Value
Ravenswatch: Legendary Edition - Compatible for XSX - UK PAL
  • Brand new UK Import PAL version. Game in English.

Confusing the free update with the paid hero

Symptom: version 1.6.0 is installed but Kintarō is unavailable. Fix: confirm that the separate hero DLC is owned on the same platform account. The free update adds the version changes; it does not automatically grant the paid character.

What the official evidence can—and cannot—tell you

Passtech Games’ June 2026 Community Spotlight reported more than 300 million hours played and more than 40 million runs since Early Access began in 2023. Those figures describe overall engagement, not hero performance. They cannot tell you whether Kintarō wins more often than Scarlet, deals more damage than Beowulf or is easier to learn than Snow Queen.

The official roster overview supplies concise mechanical concepts, and the Kintarō patch notes supply his controls and ability names. Neither source supplies a common test environment, damage-per-second chart, win-rate table or difficulty rating for every hero. A responsible answer to “Which one is best?” is therefore “the one whose decisions fit your preferred playstyle and current team,” not a fabricated tier list.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Passtech’s October 12 announcement said, “At Passtech Games, we are so excited to finally release the ‘Kintarō joins the Ravenswatch’ DLC, along with its accompanying free update.” That statement confirms the release, but it is release sentiment rather than a claim about comparative strength.

Release, platforms and buying notes

Kintarō’s DLC and version 1.6.0 went live on October 12, 2026. The free update is available for the base game on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. The DLC is separate, and its price is not stated here because storefront pricing can vary by platform, region, taxes and promotions.

Passtech also announced a limited-edition physical Nintendo Switch 2 edition for fall 2026. That announcement does not by itself confirm current retail inventory, and it does not establish that Kintarō’s hero DLC is sold as a physical product. Check the current retailer and platform listing if the edition matters to your purchase.

The bottom line on Kintarō versus the roster

Kintarō is the right pick when you want mounted and dismounted ability sets, direct Kuma control and a combat loop that rewards coordinating movement, targets and stance. Scarlet, the Pied Piper, Beowulf, Snow Queen, Aladdin, Melusine, Geppetto, Sun Wukong and Carmilla are better starting points when their individual hooks—transformation, summons, crowd control, mobility, wishes, setup or resource management—sound more enjoyable than bear coordination.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

There is no official evidence that one of these heroes is universally best. Start with the mechanic you want to practice, then let the run’s upgrades and your team’s composition shape the final build.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 3
Bestseller No. 4
Ravenswatch Legendary Edition - PS4 - UK PAL (EU Version)
Ravenswatch Legendary Edition - PS4 - UK PAL (EU Version)
UK PSN account may be required for any online features
$59.99
Bestseller No. 5
Ravenswatch: Legendary Edition - Compatible for XSX - UK PAL
Ravenswatch: Legendary Edition - Compatible for XSX - UK PAL
Brand new UK Import PAL version. Game in English.
$59.99

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

gameplay comparisonhero guideKintaroKumaRavenswatchroguelike games

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.