Unlocking new characters in Gatekeeper is more than just ticking off a checklist, each one is a mini quest designed to teach you a core mechanic, from endgame loops to environmental puzzles. Once you’ve unlocked these powerful new Guardians, the next big question is deciding who to play. For a full breakdown of which characters are dominating the current meta, be sure to check out our Ultimate Gatekeeper Tier List to see how they all rank.
Quick Unlock Reference Table
Here’s a quick summary you can glance at during a run.
| Character | How to Unlock | Key Location / Event | Important Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pandora | Activate the Apothesis gate | After the Stage 10 Siren | Ends your current run! |
| Bastion | Activate Dawnbreaker | Aurora – Runewood | Requires 10 Omni Stones |
| Tech Hunter | Visit Aurora twice | Must “loop” your run | Your intro to the endgame |
| Mediator | Clear 60 total locations | Any game mode | Unlocks naturally over time |
| Echo | Activate 4 generators in order | Barren Basin (Aridune) | Follow the Roman numerals |
| Void Model | Deliver the Umbra item | Elden Tree (late-game) | A multi stage quest |
| Aegis | Beat the final boss | Throne Room | The ultimate endgame reward |
What Is in Our Gatekeeper Uunlock Characters Guide?
The Starting Duo: Hybrid & Nidum
Just to get it out of the way, you start the game with two fantastic characters unlocked by default. Hybrid is your reliable ranged gunner, perfect for learning the ropes. Nidum is your high risk, high reward melee berserker for when you feel like getting up close and personal. Every other character must be earned through specific in game feats.
How to Unlock Pandora
The Task: Activate the “Apothesis” gate after defeating the Siren boss on Stage 10.
Pandora is a powerful “nuke mage,” and unlocking her is your first lesson in sacrifice. After you defeat the Siren boss, two portals will appear. One continues your run, and the other is the special Apothesis gate. To get Pandora, you have to enter the Apothesis gate, which will immediately end your current run.
Pro Tip: Don’t do this on a run where you have an amazing build going! Wait for a mediocre run, beat the Siren, and then take the portal to unlock Pandora for all future attempts.
How to Unlock Bastion
The Task: Find the “Dawnbreaker” hammer in the “Runewood” area and activate it with 10 Omni Stones.
Bastion is a ridiculously tanky melee brawler, and his unlock is a test of resource management. First, you need to collect and save up 10 Omni Stones (the orange currency). Then, you need to get lucky and have the game send you to the Aurora – Runewood map. Once you’re there, find the giant hammer sticking out of the ground called Dawnbreaker and spend your stones to unlock him.
Pro Tip: If your main goal is unlocking Bastion, just bank those 10 Omni Stones and don’t spend them. If you find the Runewood map, great! If not, you can always spend them later in the run.
How to Unlock Tech Hunter
The Task: Visit the planet Aurora for a second time in a single run.
Unlocking the Tech Hunter is your official introduction to the endgame. To do this, you need to “loop.” After you beat the final boss of the first set of worlds, you’ll get an option to end the run or continue. Choose to continue. This will start the game over at a higher difficulty, and when you eventually cycle back to the first world, Aurora, Tech Hunter will unlock the moment you arrive.
How to Unlock Mediator
The Task: Successfully clear a total of 60 locations across all your runs.
This one is a reward for persistence. You don’t need to do anything special to unlock Mediator; you just need to play the game. Every level you clear counts as one location, and the game keeps a running total across all your playthroughs. Once you hit 60, he’s yours.
Pro Tip: Don’t even try to grind for this. Just focus on unlocking the other characters, and Mediator will pop up naturally before you know it.
How to Unlock Echo
The Task: Activate four hidden generators in the correct sequence on the “Barren Basin” map.
This unlock is a fun environmental puzzle. On the desert planet, Aridune, you might get a map variant called the Barren Basin. On this map, there are four generators you need to turn on. The key is to activate them in the right order. Look closely at the ground next to each generator; you’ll see Roman numerals (I, II, III, IIII). Activate them in that order (1, 2, 3, 4), and Echo, a sound based mage, will be unlocked.
How to Unlock Void Model
The Task: Take the “Umbra” item from the hub and deliver it to the “Elden Tree” area.
This is the most quest like unlock. First, in the hub area between levels (Quiet Bay), go to the far left side to find and pick up a hidden item called the Umbra. Now, the hard part. You have to start a new run and survive long enough to reach one of the final areas, the Elden Tree. Find the interaction spot in the southeast of the map to “release” the Void Model.
Pro Tip: Once you have the Umbra, your entire run becomes an escort mission. Play it safe and prioritize survival to make the delivery.
How to Unlock Aegis
The Task: Defeat the final boss, Chaos, and touch the Heart of Time.
Aegis is the ultimate prize. To unlock this crystal armored powerhouse, you simply have to beat the game. Fight your way through a full run, enter the Throne Room, defeat the final boss, Chaos, and interact with the Heart of Time. Do that, and the game’s most powerful character is yours.
And that’s it! Now you know how to assemble your full team of Guardians. Each one offers a unique way to play the game, so get out there, complete these challenges, and find your new favorite character. Good luck!
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